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davbut50 New user 11 Posts |
The first time I saw "ultissimo", I knew how it was done. The truth is though, that I was well into doing magic when I first saw it. I was not a layman. My question is simple and is, of course, up for discussion. Can this effect entertain and "fool" the normal (if there is such a thing) people? I look forward to your thoughts before I start construction on this effect.
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KMFrye New user 78 Posts |
I've just watched a youtube video of Ultissimo, and I can't see through it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfmG3zZLw4c Regards, Keith F. P.S. I also have a minor reputation around my fellow magicians of not being able to see through an effect. Paul Hallas tells me it's a blessing. |
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
The gaff involved is common to magicians, but not to laymen.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
It looks really good.
I have an idea of what's happening, but I can't see it happening. If it's doing what I think it's doing... it is really fast! Still a very good trick. Randi |
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Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5444 Posts |
It fools! It even fools many magicians. Easy to do, lends it self to becoming a bit of a personality piece, and fools. That's a pretty good deal for a trick.
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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gimpy2 Special user 960 Posts |
I saw just a few months ago and it fooled the pants off me. I had to have it. I have done it for several groups since and it kills them every time. It is so simple to perform that you are able to concentrate on doing a nice performance. I cant think of a better piece of magic to do for guests in my home everyone always loves it.
Gimpy
www.gimpysmagic.com |
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kosmoshiva Loyal user Canada 255 Posts |
Never let your left hand know what your right middle hand is doing! The best effects are the simple, direct ones. Love it.
Don't forget to breathe.
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randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
Ok... I see it now...
It was what I thought, but not to the extent I was thinking... I was thinking there was a mechanical something that happened really really fast, but now I realize that doesn't even happen. Can't believe I didn't notice that... that's good and very very simple. Randi |
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-12-05 14:16, randirain wrote: Funny how that sometimes works, huh?
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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volto Special user 603 Posts |
Such a beautiful principle.
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DanielCoyne Special user Western Massachussetts 544 Posts |
I love it! Totally got me the first time I watched it.
I went back and looked for anything sneaky...and of course it's so simple, I couldn't see any dirty work until about the 3rd viewing. I even had to rewind a few more times to make sure I was seeing what I thought I was seeing. : ) Absolutely dastardly. -Daniel |
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gimpy2 Special user 960 Posts |
The audience obviously wont have a chance to rewind and watch it over and over. I don't think the lay person has a chance on this one.
Gimpy
www.gimpysmagic.com |
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DanielCoyne Special user Western Massachussetts 544 Posts |
Would it work with (special) jumbo cards for stage presentations? Or are everyday familiar cards part of what makes it so deceptive?
-Daniel |
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tstark Loyal user Arizona 267 Posts |
There is a passage in Paul Curry's book "Worlds Beyond" which has not been mentioned any time the subject of Ultissimo arises and I find that fascinating. I, like many others, have a tendencey to bypass the lengthy introductions and histories to effects when reading books but the intro. to "Touch" was one that I read and found very interesting.
The passage is lengthy so I will only hit the highlights and if you have the book give it a read. Touch was the invention of Paul Curry and spawned one of the hotter "someone stole from someone else" arguments that I have ever come across and it came to a head in the mid-40s with the "invention" of "Ultissimo". In the beginning (c1937) there were two effects marketed in the Sphinx, one month apart. The first was a UF Grant invention called "Touch a Card Prediction" and was advertised by Grant. One month later Max Holden advertised Paul Curry's Touch in the same publication. No one believes that either man was the sort to pirate material and I personally believe that it was primarily independent invention although UF Grant was none to pleased and vocalized it loudly, supposedly, in a letter that Max Abrams reported in his book "Anneman, the Life and Times of a Legend". In both effects for those not familiar, a prediction is made on the face of a card and a card is freely selected from a face up deck by a spectator. The prediction written on the face up card matches the selected card. There are no forces and no apparatus is used. Ottokar Fischer reports that both tricks were preceded by Hofsinzers trick from the mid-1800s called "Predetermination of Thought", described in a 1910 book by Fischer. The method by Hofsinzer used the same type of cards but the method was far more complex than the Curry method. It has been written that Fischer research and statements were often flawed when it came to the subject of Hofsinzer so the method by Fischer mentioned in his book may not have been the same one used by Hofsinzer so no one can be sure if it in fact bore a closer resemblance to the Curry effect than noted by Mr. Fischer. Both Jean Hugard and Fred Braue both backed Paul Curry as the inventor of Touch. The next significant improvement to the original idea was made independently by Morris Stein in connection with the Grant effect (calling it "Predicto") and RH Jamison with Curry's Touch. In these improvements predictions were now made on blank faced cards instead of the face of a playing card, a problem that many had with the original effect (why would anyone write on the face of a playing card was the problem being addressed). The methodology was still the same however. Now we come to Ultissimo which was released in 1946 by Merv Taylor as "Maury" Kain's Ultissimo with no credit given to Grant, Curry, Jamison, or Stein. The effect and deck were the same with the only addition being the stand. The stand was ungimmicked and took care of the same move used in the original Touch effect, which was a simple and well known sleight, by simply pivoting on a base. This was the final straw for Curry who wrote about it in his "Curry Favors" column in the Phoenix, No. 129 in July of 1947. "...Shortly after it apeared on the market someone got the idea of writing the prediction on blank cards instead of regular cards, as was done in the original method. This improver then re-christened the trick "Predicto", tagged his own name onto it and pocketed whatever royalties came in." Later in the article Curry writes "Now along comes one "Maury" Kain with an effect called "Ultissimo", which according to the ads, won the PCAM award for the best mental effect of the year 1946. For the price of ten dollars Mr. Kain generousl offers you-"Touch" (or "Predicto", if you will), plus a frame to hold the cards until time comes to show the predictions. Since "Touch" sells for $1.50, Lucite, of which the frame is made, seems to have taken on the properties of gold. Eight dollars and fifty cents is a lot to pay for an ungimmicked frame, even in these times! I personally will come around to your nest fifty shows and hold the cards for you for half the price! Just give me a little advance notice and throw in my carfare." For those of you who made it through this post I hope you find the quagmire surrounding "Touch" as interesting as I did and if you have access to "Worlds Beyond" give the article a read and fill in some of the rest of the details. Touch is credited as the second most "purloined" effect from Paul Curry behind "Out of this World" with many other examples released by others under different names but using the same method. According to the article UF Grant in 1953 may have surrendered the battle to Curry with an article in the Linking Ring in 1953. In the "Parade" section Grant contributed a suggestion the "Touch" could be adapted to a phone presentation, using Curry's name for the effect instead of his own. |
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TommyJ Inner circle Foxboro, MA 1750 Posts |
I have never seen that before. I can imagine it is very powerful to the lay audience.
I'm wondering why the two volunteers were given blank cards in the routine. To me that part just doesn't make sense, as they do not play a part in the routine except maybe to verify that actual blank cards are being used? Tommy
"Keep the Kids Laughing!"
https://www.tommyjamesmagic.com/store |
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tbaer Inner circle Pennsylvania 2003 Posts |
It took me a couple of viewings to get it.
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tstark Loyal user Arizona 267 Posts |
To TommyJ, I believe that Joe Stevens is trying to address the point that many magicians do not like when using blank playing card stock. It would seem more natural to use a piece of paper to make a prediction and not something that looks like a playing card without a face. In the classic presentation you simply run through a face up deck and the spectators call out any card that they like and those two cards are removed as in Joe's presentation of the effect. I think you are probably right in that it is unnecessary and can prove confusing to the effect.
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Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
Joe's presentration would be stronger (to magicians, at least) if he took back the two blank-faced cards and without any fanfare seemingly used those on which to write his predictions...
Julie |
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robwar0100 Inner circle Buy me some newspapers.Purchase for me 1 Gazette and 1747 Posts |
I purchased a Christmas version of the effect a couple of years ago but had not used it in a while. Because of this thread, it is going into my Christmas show.
Thanks for spurring my memory. Here is the effect I purchased: http://www.spsmagic.com/products.asp?product_id=t062 Bobby
"My definition of chance is my hands on the wheel," Greg Long.
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DanielCoyne Special user Western Massachussetts 544 Posts |
What do you all think of doing this with jumbo cards for a stage show?
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