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Troels Loyal user Denmark 205 Posts |
Jell92
You asked: "I have been thinking about buying the vernon biography, but due to the price I do not know if it is worth it. What do you think about the book?" Nobody has commented on this yet, so here is my opinion: I Suppose you refer to the book by David Benn: Dai Vernon - A Biography. I think it depends upon your interests. If you have a serious interst in the history of Magic, ans especially in the development of the modern art of card magic, I think this book is a must. I am not sure every young street magician will appreciate the style and the language. But I was captured and fascinated by the book from the first to the last page. It is a great portrait of a man and his struggle for perfection. I found it exciting and got complete involved in the fate of this strange and rare personality. I am looking forward to the second half of this work, although I almost can't beleave the author can fulfill the high expectations he has created himself. Trolle |
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Harry Lorayne 1926 - 2023 New York City 8558 Posts |
Hey Jell00: Thanks for my second laugh of the day!! It's always good to see such KNOWLEDGEABLE people here. Talk about "laughable." Hey, a favor do me - please DON'T buy any of my books (as if you ever have; stop trying to kid a kidder) - my "sick behavior" in them would only be more laughable to you! HL
[email]harrylorayne@earthlink.net[/email]
http://www.harrylorayne.com http://www.harryloraynemagic.com |
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DomKabala Inner circle I've grown old after diggin' holes for 2827 Posts |
Jell92...
You are shortchanging yourself if you don't investigate The "Best Of Friends" series (3 vols) By H. Lorayne...really. Add to that "The Classic Magic of Larry Jennings" by M. Maxwell, & "Jennings '67" by R. Kaufman. Cardamagically, Dom. :)
We don't stop playing when we grow old...we grow old when we stop playing.
God is enough, let go, let God. Gal 2:20 "Anything of value is not easily attained and those things which are easily attained are not of lasting value." |
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Harry Lorayne 1926 - 2023 New York City 8558 Posts |
Thanks, Dom. But be careful - I tried to help Jell00, and you see the lovely response I received. (No good deed goes unpunished!) Let him listen to Ted - the "old news" remark should "grab" him. Interesting, I'm reminded of the cliche - these "knowledgeable" people who'd come into a magic shop and always ask "What's new?" As if they already knew all the "old" stuff, the good stuff. People all over the world use my "old news" stuff for "the money." All people like Ted and Jell00 have to do is check some of the threads in this, and other, forums. For example, people rave abour my item Stop!, which was in my first book in 1962! Old news? I'm willing to wager that Id fool Ted with just about ALL my "old news." Anyway... HL.
[email]harrylorayne@earthlink.net[/email]
http://www.harrylorayne.com http://www.harryloraynemagic.com |
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Loopback Veteran user Lincoln, Nebraska 359 Posts |
To quote Mr. Lorayne's Wikipedia page:
"Mr. Lorayne is generally considered in magic circles to be a living legend and his card magic, especially his innovations in card sleights, some originally created nearly 60 years ago, are still being used by professional magicians to this day. In fact, it can be argued that there isn't a single card magician in the world who doesn't perform a trick with a deck of cards that doesn't borrow something from Mr. Lorayne's vast teachings in one way or another." Nuff said!! |
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Harry Lorayne 1926 - 2023 New York City 8558 Posts |
Loopback: Thank you for posting that - I didn't know about that - I'm a lousy computer person. But you know, I doubt if that will alter the thinking of Mr. Ted and Mr. Jell00. Thanks again. Best - HARRY L.
[email]harrylorayne@earthlink.net[/email]
http://www.harrylorayne.com http://www.harryloraynemagic.com |
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Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
It's amazing how mention of my book "Magic of The Overground" (without any mention of Harry) became almost a Harry Lorayne thread. I didn't see Ted's thread as attacking Harry at all, in fact he mentioned he had most of Harry's books so he MUST have good taste Generally if you don't like an author's work you don't continue to buy his books. Ted admits to finding "keepers" from them.
Looking at this thread, Harry actually dissed Ted (a former customer, with his HL books)then Jell92 had a go at Harry. Of course, I'm just as biased about "Magic From The Overground" as Harry is about his books, so maybe AFTER people have read it we can pass a rule about everybody having to read Harry Lorayne books before buying any new books or DVD's that come out. Personally, I think my own favorite 'old news' book may be "The James File" and yes I do have some of Harry's books, and I have used some of Harry's effects. John said "If you don't recognize the value in Harry's books, fine, leave it for the rest of us who do. " Ted obviously did as he bought several, but are you suggesting he cannot recognise value in a book by someone else you yourself have not read??? Strangely I can recognise value in books by many authors, James, Harris, Marlo and no doubt many you've never heard of. To me, it seems someone who has been in magic a long time and read a lot of books should have his opinion respected a little more than someone who has been in magic a short while and votes a book as book of the year because he only has the one he's read. As for "Magic From The Overground," with fewer people reading books these days and no 'legendary' name behind it, it perhaps has not reached the readership it deserves. But time will tell, and I'm glad H & R Books had enough faith in me and the book to publish it. I'm sure in the future it will be looked back on affectionately as are many of Harry's books. Paul. |
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Vlad_77 Inner circle The Netherlands 5829 Posts |
Old NEWS??? I will repeat here what I have said in other threads: ANYBODY wanting to unburden him/her self of ANYTHING published that s/he considers "old" may IM me. I will pay the shipping!
Can someone PLEASE tell me why it seems that for some people, the only things of value and importance are those things that are "new"? Yes, we should move forward in ALL fields of human endeavor, but, we make a perilous mistake by dismissing our history. The core PRINCIPLES of the art of magic aren't old - they are ANCIENT. The human mind is hard wired to certain thought processes and we magicians exploit that to get our spectators to the moment of mystery and astonishment. We are connected to our sisters and brothers who came LONG before us. This temporal value that some place upon effects, books, or what have you is artificial. I really hope I do NOT need to repeat the great David Devant's comment about repertoire. I should HOPE I do not need to point out that Darwin Ortiz practices his act EVERY day. (That was a hint to Devant's statement by the way) In my own library I have barely scratched the surface. But I DO know that when I look into any book no matter how "old" I WILL find something that will enhance my education and make me a better performer. No, I may not add that effect to my working repertoire, but, I WILL find new slants that may make me reconsider how I am handling the effects and routines in my current repertoire. I have worked as a demonstrator in a number of brick and mortar shops. I would see these wonderful books lying on shelves, forgotten in favor of the shiniest new DVD released that very morning. I would learn a few things from these books and demonstrate them. Some would say WOW that HAS to be something new!!! What DVD is that on??? I would smile and reply: That was from The Card Magic of LePaul, or (insert title of book published before last Tuesday here). Jell: Mr. Lorayne is NOT exhibiting "sick behaviour". Have you LOOKED at the mammoth AMOUNT of material he has contributed to the art? You are REALLY doing yourself a GRAVE disservice by ignoring his work. Mr. Lorayne is not some second rate "ham and egger". He is a LEGEND and he DESERVES respect. Ask how many of the big guns in the art were "schooled" by Mr. Lorayne through all of his works. And not just the big guns either, I guarantee you that MANY on this Café owe their education in large part to Harry Lorayne. But, as to the big guns: Look at any volume of Best of Friends or any volume of Apocalypse. Look at the NAMES there. Look at the effects that, rather than being "old news" ARE in the working repertoires of the BEST magicians on the planet! His Close Up Card Magic was and IS considered to be a watershed book on card magic. Had he stopped THERE, his stature in the art would STILL be legendary. He DIDN'T stop of course, and his oeuvre would take any SERIOUS magician more than a LIFETIME to learn it all. Again, I get enraged at the DISRESPECT shown this man. He IS as legendary as Vernon, Marlo, Slydini, Miller, James, Judah, Annemann, Hugard and all the rest of our titans. I ALSO become enraged at the throw it away attitude some have concerning so called older books and effects. Such an attitude is self-limitation a.k.a WILLFUL IGNORANCE. But my rage turns to joy, because whilst some are throwing away these treasures, I am performing them and getting SCREAMS of astonishment from them. Don't misunderstand me, I do purchase and learn from the "new" as well. David Regal's Approaching Magic published last year is simply a MUST have! Shane's Pentalogy is PACKED with solid, STRONG material. Study our art holistically, please? Let's break the paradigm of old and new, and shift to one more simple: the study of magic. Yes, this IS an application of Occam's Razor. Of course, THAT to some is old news as well Best, Vlad |
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Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
Note to new Café members, please try and avoid using the words "old news". It is automatically interpreted to mean you have no respect for things published prior to 2008 whether this is the case or not.
Other than that I pretty much agree with Vlad's post and constantly recommend older stuff in my own writings. Even in "Magic From The Overground". Darn, did I plug my own book again. Paul. |
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Cain Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 1550 Posts |
Vlad- I just hope your apologetics earns you some kind of discount off Lorayne's material. (Hahahahahaha)
Ellusionst discussing the Arcane Playing cards: "Michaelangelo took four years to create the Sistine Chapel masterpiece... these took five."
Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes: "You know Einstein got bad grades as a kid? Well, mine are even worse!" |
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John Neely Loyal user Iowa 280 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-06-01 11:58, Paul wrote: No. Quote:
I'm not sure if these words were directed to me, but I have been in magic quite a while and have hundreds of books. I definitely think someone who has been in magic a long time and reads a lot of books should have their opinion respected and probably many people who have been in magic only a short while too. I don't make it a point to argue on the Café but I was put out by the comments made to Harry as you can see by my thread. I have seen you a lot on the Café and appreciate your posts, but I didn't know you had a book out. I'll have to check it out sometime. John |
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Jell92 New user Denmark 93 Posts |
Wow, Vlad and some of the other defending Harry, HOW THE HELL can the amount of material Harry has published justifie his SICK behavior. And yes sick is the right word. Where should I start first of look at harrys reply to teds first message, if this was written by someone else it would have been okay but it is written by harry himself. How selfish is that? His second reply to Ted is also crazy, so ted is not allowed to have his own opinion? Once againn I ask for someone to explain, why Harrys published material justifies this behavior...
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Harry Lorayne 1926 - 2023 New York City 8558 Posts |
Talk about Sick. I really don't think I should say anymore. Just wish I had a pill for Jell00's sickness. I know, I know, he'd like me to lie back and accept other's opinions without ever posting mine. No way, Ray; not my thing. Of course, as I posted above, I was trying to help - he SHOULD know about my books. As I said then, no good deed goes unpunished. Of course, if you read my replies to Mr. Knowledgeable (Ted) you'll see that the first one was, as I say, trying to help, and the second responding to HIS attack - "old news." As I said, I do hit BACK.
Hey Paul: Your book doesn't come into the picture here. I was responding generally to a general statement. Vernon's biography is also mentioned - do you think I was putting that down? I don't know your book, and I'm sure it's great, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with my disappointment in the two MR. KNOWLEDGEABLES here. So, cool it. Best - HARRY L.
[email]harrylorayne@earthlink.net[/email]
http://www.harrylorayne.com http://www.harryloraynemagic.com |
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Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
I always stay cool, Harry
I'm not sure everyone would see 'old news' as an attack. Simply contrasting older works with newer ones. After all, one would assume any serious student of magic already has some HL titles in their library, so suggesting a newer title people may not be aware of seems reasonable. Had Ted named a HL book and suggested he got more from it that other titles in his library I am sure you would have posted how knowledgeable he was But he did say he used material from the Lorayne books he owned so how this could be interpreted as an attack I'm not so sure. And nowhere did he claim he did not value older books. I think the attack was an over reaction. I'm not for anyone attacking anyone on the Café because it usually gets out of hand as people ramp it up, and so Jell92 is out of order too. But of course you are right, people should know about your books, and no good deed goes unpunished. John, re; "but I didn't know you had a book out. I'll have to check it out sometime." You might also want to check the archives for reviews of "Small But Deadly" and "Across The Void" sometime. I did not presume to know how long you had been in magic, though Ted has obviously been in magic awhile, having grown up on Harry Lorayne books, but many posters recommending books and DVD's on the Café have nothing much to compare them with. There are plenty of great books out there. Paul. |
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HMAC New user 60 Posts |
This thread is getting a bit... How could I say ?... offensive ?
Anyway, I am fairly new to magic and, I must confess, completely ignorant. But you guys got me interested in Harry Lorayne. Which of his books do you suggest I get first ? Thanks, Bob |
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John Neely Loyal user Iowa 280 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-06-01 18:21, Paul wrote: Thanks! I will do that soon. John |
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Larry Barnowsky Inner circle Cooperstown, NY where bats are made from 4770 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-06-01 18:44, HMAC wrote: Buy Lorayne The Classic Collection Volume 1. It contains Close Up Card Magic which is a goldmine of card magic. And that's only a fraction of the Classic Collection! Larry |
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Harry Lorayne 1926 - 2023 New York City 8558 Posts |
I have a new, incomplete, magic website, but I don't know if I'm allowed to print it here. If you email to my personal address, below this post, I'll be glad to reply with that website name. Best - HARRY L.
[email]harrylorayne@earthlink.net[/email]
http://www.harrylorayne.com http://www.harryloraynemagic.com |
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motown Inner circle Atlanta by way of Detroit 6127 Posts |
I seem to recall this topic started out with the poster asking for book and dvd recommendations for his one month trip to Spain. Perhaps we can help him out by staying on topic. Any takers?
"If you ever write anything about me after I'm gone, I will come back and haunt you."
– Karl Germain |
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kcg5 Inner circle who wants four fried chickens and a coke 1868 Posts |
I erased my original post. It has taken along time, but I have found its best to stay out of this subject.
Nobody expects the spanish inquisition!!!!!
"History will be kind to me, as I intend to write it"- Sir Winston Churchill |
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