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Mike Powers Inner circle Midwest 2983 Posts |
There has recently been a discussion on the EG of an item called the “Wonderland Bill.” I think Brad Burt sells it. I have seen something that sounds similar long ago using a card. It’s basically a topological thing where there’s a trap door in the middle of the bill that is opened outward and held by the spec. This leaves a square hole in the middle of the bill. By folding the remaining portion of the bill in a special way, the magi reverse the orientation of the bill so that if the spec had been seeing the front side, s/he will now see the backside. What makes it interesting is that the spec is holding the flap (trapdoor) throughout the folding process.
Evidently Peter Marucci published the card version in The Linking Ring a long time ago. If I understand the discussion, the idea is based on an item called “Parallax.” Tom Craven believes the Wonderland Bill to be far superior to previous incarnations in that it uses 6 folds instead of 4. I’m not sure what this means… Can anyone describe the differences between the Wonderland Bill ($24.95) and earlier incarnations e.g. Parallax, the item in Lifesavers or Marucci’s column… Is it worth $25 for any differences which may exist??.. Opinions anyone? Mike
Mike Powers
http://www.mallofmagic.com |
Dan LeFay Inner circle Holland 1371 Posts |
To me this effect reads a lot like Bob Neale's Trapdoor Card. It is published in his book The Magic Mirror.
It is a wonderful presentational piece but I wouldn't know why you'd pay 25$ for it, since it can be made from any bill or card in seconds... (It's also on his video with Michael Weber).
"Things need not have happened to be true.
Tales and dreams are the shadow-truths, that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes, and forgot." Neil Gaiman |
Mike Powers Inner circle Midwest 2983 Posts |
Hi Dan,
I think the effect is virtually the same. On EG, Tom Craven has been posting that the Wonderland is much better evidently because it uses 6 folds instead of 4 (whatever that means). I'm hoping to find someone who actually has compared Wonderland to the previous versions and can help decide the value of Wonderland over the other... Thanks for the help! Mike
Mike Powers
http://www.mallofmagic.com |
dpe666 Inner circle 2895 Posts |
I am the one who sits around making these things. If I did not think this was any good, I would not be wasting my time with it.
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Mike Powers Inner circle Midwest 2983 Posts |
Hi dpe666,
Could you shed some light on what makes the Wonderland Bill better than these predecessors? I have no opinion, just curiosity. Please give us a feature comparison. Mike
Mike Powers
http://www.mallofmagic.com |
dpe666 Inner circle 2895 Posts |
All I know is that Brad says it is better. As to WHY, I don't know. For me, though, I like the fact that it is now done with MONEY. It can be kept in your wallet. As far as I know, the card methods could not.
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Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
Is this the thing Weber was doing LONG ago with a piece of paper?
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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Mike Powers Inner circle Midwest 2983 Posts |
It seems to be related to Parallax and to the Weber thing. I've seen it done with both a bill and a card. It can be done with virtually anything which folds like paper.
Tom Craven says that there are 6 folds with Wonderland instead of 4 with predecessors and that this makes it better somehow. I'm hoping that someone can describe the differences and whether they are significant. Mike
Mike Powers
http://www.mallofmagic.com |
spfranz Regular user Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 137 Posts |
I bought the Wonderland Bill because of the discussion on the EG. I have known and done the old four fold version for quite some time. I liked it but it always felt like more of a puzzle than a trick.
For some reason (and I'm having a hard time putting my finger on it), this new 6 fold version just seems more like magic. There are two slightly different presentations that come with it. The one that particularly impressed me was the second one on the tape. The bill is held horizontally and the little door actually opens like a door (that is, it's hinged along the left long side). When the first part of the bill is folded, they will either see the back side of the bill or the front side of the bill through the door opening. When performed with the front side being visible, the bill is slowly folded with ONLY the front side visible at all times. The first part of the unfold happens and still, only the front of the bill is visible. Then, you unfold the rest of the bill all at once, and within a split second, they are on the back side of the bill. I don't know if I did a good job in explaining the differences but I can tell you that I like this version much better than the 4 fold and I'm not at all unhappy that I dropped the $25 for it. Now, I just want to take it to the next level and come up with a really good performance routine to go along with it. I'm thinking I can print it up on computer paper and have anything I want on each side. This will really open up the possibilites for story lines. Scott
Never ask a dog to watch your food.
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dpe666 Inner circle 2895 Posts |
In this version. Nothing Puzzly happens. It is done slowly, and openly. The spectator does not have to close his eyes or anything of the such.
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Tim Hannig Inner circle Chicago area 1147 Posts |
I just purchased the Wonderland Bill, and am glad that I did.
It really is puzzling and amazing. I'd love to work on a routine that makes it even more "magical" and less "puzzling". Anyone come up with a presentation for it other that what is on the video?
Author of PERFORM, the 2020 Magic Cafe Book of the Year
"I loved this book!" Ken Weber "4 out of 4 stars!" Nick Lewin "This will be a classic of magic!" Mark Pocan performbettershows.com |
Larry Davidson Inner circle Boynton Beach, FL 5270 Posts |
I haven't seen the video, but am generally familiar with the effect. How about if following the effect you restore the bill, for example using the $100 bill switch? That way you have a magical ending to a puzzle.
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Mike Powers Inner circle Midwest 2983 Posts |
Thanks for the description Scott. I may purchase it on the strength of what you wrote. Everyone who has mentioned that they purchased it has been happy. I guess it's time to shell out.
Mike
Mike Powers
http://www.mallofmagic.com |
benrl Regular user 127 Posts |
I know little of the history of the effect. However, I wish every $25 magic investment created such wonderment on the part of the spectator.
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