Hello,

When I first started into magic (1980), I remember a card effect called "The Gypsy Curse". While looking at various posts in the Bizzare forum, my mind flashed on this title. But I can't for the life of me remember the effect. I'll have to dig thru my old magic packed away to see if I still have the effect.

Does anyone have this effect or know the theme of this effect? I purchased this in my early days in magic, so I would bet that the handling wasn't that difficult but I'll bet that the story line could be reworked into a great bizzare effect.

Any info on this effect would be appreciated.

Thanks for any help.

Turk

Ahhh yes,

In short, it's about a gambler that plays cards with a gypsy woman. Kind of like a three card monte style but with 7 cards. 6 9s and 1 Queen of hearts. He beats the old woman a few times, till she gets angry and places a curse on the cards.

"From now on, anyone that plays your game will be a winner!" She mutters some strange words under her breath. The next morning when our Gambler wakes up to start a new day of cheating people, he looks at the cards. The curse has taken effect! Now all the cards have changed to Queens!

Derek Dingle has a great routine and uses Tarot cards! It's in his book "Complete Works."

Magickman

Wonderful effect.

I often wondered what its appeal really is to me since I rarely performed it professionally but I alway kept playing with it. Then I saw Kaps do it on an old video (performing for Br. John Hamman) and the effect goes into the realm of the miraculous. Add to that the story of Christian Chelman from Capricornian Tales and it became an obsession to me!

I have now a version that is gaffless and a story I'm very proud of and finally after many years it got into my A material.

Turk, as far as I know there are currently two sets available, the one that is still named Gypsy Curse, and one sold by Aldo Colombini, called Hungarian Guessing Game. Both sets of cards are plastified which I personally don't like.

References for good routines:

-Derek Dingle's Complete Works
-The Commercial Magic of J.C.Wagner
-Capricornian Tales by C. Chelman
-52 Lovers by Jose Carrol
-Scams and Fantasies by Darwin Ortiz

This is one of those tricks that people perceive as more than a card trick!

There is a much more bizarre effect on the R. Paul Wilson Video (Knock'em Dead) called "Gypsy Monte". In this version you use tarot cards and the working for the Color Monte. I have done it using just regular cards as well, but feel the strength surely lies in the tarot and the story.
If you get a chance, check it out.
Doug

I second Doug. I do the Wilson version all the time. I aged the Cards & I keep them in a piece of old parchment. I always have this with me. I adapted the routine & made it my own. It is a great piece of bizarre magic.

OK, but than you have to ask yourself if your motives for doing the routine are the effect in itself or the presentation of it.

If you go for the effect, Gypsy Monte will not do, for it is not a Gypsy Curse-effect but a Color Monte-effect (with a Gypsy Curse patter/presentation).

If you go for the presentation, than Gypsy Monte is a very nice and interesting alternative.

I like it too, but I prefer the Gypsy Curse (wildcard) effect. I think for formal performances, the bigger end display plays as a very large climax.

By the way, do any of you guys have some advice on "aging" cards?

You can either soak them in strong coffee for a couple days or use a light oak wood stain to get the desired effects. I also burn them a bit afterwards. Just run them lightly over a candle & rub the soot in with a rag.

Another method for aging cards, especially Tarot: lightly smear with brown and cordovan shoe polish, rub in/polish and you'll also have nice slick cards to go along with the aged look.

We used to use tea for aging paperstock in theatre in college.
:stircoffee:
Ellen
harryandersonfan.com

So which would be the best method if I want my cards to look old but (from a technical viewpoint, you know, Elmsley, Hamman, Jordan) handle like Bicycles?

"The Gypsy's Curse" is a variant of the "Wild Card" routine. Christian Chelman created a beautiful set of cards for a bizarre version of this. All of the original printing are sold, but Chelman may know if the packet has been reprinted. (Refer to Capricornian Tales for pictures of the cards.)

Thanks all for the information.

Bill (or anyone), do you have Christian's email or address so I can contact him? Obviously, not having the Capricornian Tales is an impediment. BTW, is Capricornian Tales a single routine or multiple routines? And, does Christian sell the Tales directly?

The reason that I stopped using The Gypsy Curse is because I felt that the playing card theme was kinda hokey and I did not want to go out and buy multiple packs of Tarot cards just to put together the more mystical (bizzare?) presentation. Not being comfortable with the original presentation and being too cheap to solve my own dilemma, I quietly retired The Gypsy Curse to my "back room". So, I'm excited to learn that Christian made up a Tarot card versions of this excellent effect.

Thanks again for all the help and info.

Turk

P.S.

Although I'm not a Collector "nut", if possible I try to purchase directly from the originator and have my item autographed by same. In this regard, I have read somewhere that a personal autographed item (i.e., autographed with reference to the buyer's name) is not as valuable as a "generic" autograph (just the originator's name) but, if true, I don't care.

As I say, I'm not a Collector "nut". I just like to establish a personal connection with the originator. It imparts some "speciality" to the item as I handle it. I seem to treat the item with more respect (and with just the slightest reverence) than I might if I merely had purchased the item "off the shelf". I also seem to become more "inspired" and creative and to have the creative juices flow more freely as I handle the item. I know that this might sound weird--but that's just me.

He posts here as "Curator".

Turk,a I like your thoughts about establishing personal connection with the creator of an effect.
I feel the same way.

BTW, the cards Chelman uses in his GC version are not Tarot cards. They have a more gothic appearance.
I heard stories that he has an incredible collection of bizarre items in his home.
As a matter of fact, he even invited me once to come and visit the place, but it never got that far.

For those interested, you could PM Mr Chelman. Here is his profile:

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/bb_pr......ser=5652

Maybe he'll return your call .

His gypsy curse patter is one of the best, though Darwin Ortiz' version I find great too (especially the punch line he uses).

Well, I don't sell Capricornian Tales nor any effect I created. Alas ! In Legendes Urbaines (French language) I developped a second routine for the gypsy Curse, far more theatrical and darker than the original one.

And I usually return calls on the internet, just because I'm a polite person.
The soon to be published "Compendium Sortilegionis" contains totally never published before material, but once again in French. If the logical question is: "Why not in English ?" The answer is: "Ask Richard Kaufman." He has a book called "Hauntics" in his hand since 1997 or 8 already translated by John Racherbaumer.
Otherwise, http://www.surnateum.org was created to help bizarre magicians, among other purposes.

I asked Richard Kaufman and he hasn't set a publication date yet. If any other French-impaired bizarrists would like to see more Chelman routines come to light anytime soon, why not show your interest by dropping Mr. Kaufman a note?

http://www.geniimagazine.com/kaufmanandco/contact.html

If anyone is still following this topic, I recently filmed my take on this routine. Due to the Corona Virus 2020 and being self quarantined, I have had time to film some effects that have been on the shelf far too long.

This one combines the ideas and props I love from Christian Chelman (basic story), Doug Gorman for the card routine/props along with Vic Nadata at Gemini Artifacts. The props are gorgeous.
The last sleight I had to create my own "move" to accommodate the unforgiving camera.

Overall very happy with the outcome as this has been a favorite routine of mine for a long time and never had the chance to do anything with it.

Hope you like it (if anyone is still following this thread years later!)

Greg
https://youtu.be/PRhLRlPSwnE

Disappointing to see that nowhere among the above references to 'Gypsy Curse' is PETER KANE'S name mentioned; and he was the originator of this wonderful piece of magic.

Leslie Melville

Yes of course! My fault in my omission! One of the great plots in magic IMHO!