Double-Faced
Helpers
Back in June 1986 I was honored
for the second time by being the cover subject
of the MUM magazine. It's great for the ego,
but I'm the first to admit that carrying a copy
of that issue, combined with two bucks, will
only get me a beer in any bar in Escondido.
Still it was fun. The magic in the issue was
devoted to one subject only, the use of double-faced
cards in card magic. It started this way.
If one were to evaluate the
many concepts in card magic, the use of double-faced
cards would have to rate high on the scale.
Jean Hugard wrote extensively on effects using
these cards, and most marketed packet effects
rely on them. Even the "Stop Light" effect seen
in children's shows uses a double-faced card.
However, the existence of double-faced cards
is something laymen seldom understand. Perhaps
that's why they are of such value to us. This
lack of understanding is true even when the
layman actually holds such a card in his own
hands. The simple "Two-Card Monte," for years
a slum pitch item and an advertising giveaway,
throws the layman for a loss. Through the years,
I have given away thousands of "Two Card Monte"
effects at trade shows. Even after explaining
it, and providing written instructions having
illustrations, the laymen still have problems.
For some reason (lucky for us!), they can't
seem to accept the fact that a playing card
can have a face on each side.
Incidentally, it should be
mentioned that many of the marketed packet effects
using double-faced cards are quite mediocre.
My dear friend the late Lloyd Jones even published
a booklet of many effects using same-both-sides
double-faced cards, and I'm sorry to say that
the effects in that publication are, for the
most part, also quite mediocre.
Through it all, though, the
use of these specially printed cards has made
some card effects shine like gems when it comes
to quality card magic. Many clever card men
have built reputations by intelligent use of
these gaffers.
Consider the "McDonald $100
Aces. Whether it's the Garcia routine, the Johnny
Thompson routine, or the original from Vernon's
"Inner Secrets" series, it's difficult to find
a better effect with cards. How about "Wild
Card"? All the gaffed versions I've seen use
double-faced cards in some manner. Moreover,
Allerton's wonderful "Two Card Trick" uses a
double-faced card, not to mention the "Million
Dollar Transposition" as performed by Frank
Garcia and the late Francis Carlyle. Then, too,
the Martin Lewis "Ghost Deal" can't be beat
when it comes to a gambling routine with mystery.
Ask J. C. Wagner; he know its value. Another
is Leipzig's "Sympathetic Cards." The trick
cannot be done without the use of double facers,
and consider how many thousands of spectators
have been entertained by the late Al Koran with
his "Five-Star Prediction." Johnny Thompson
alone has probably entertained thousands with
his version. Moreover, how many realize that
Don Alan and Roger Crabtree have a sure-fire
force that's a fooler using double-faced cards?
Finally, there isn't a cleaner method for making
a card vanish or change than using a double-
face card.
Thus, the concept deserves
some thought and appreciation. My guess is,
if the methods of magic are ever influenced
by high technology, the double-faced card will
still be around.
In coming months I'll will
submit various effects making use of such cards.
Let's kick things off with this offering which
I had in the Linking Ring magazine back in November
1985.
ALLERTON
TWO CARD TRICK VARIATION
It is
said that this was one of Bert Allerton's favorite
effects. The handling is not difficult, yet
it is easy to get confused as to where you are
while doing it. My handling, though extremely
similar to Allerton's, eliminates this confusion.
I've also added an ending that's different.
Effect:
The Ten of Spades and the Jack of Hearts are
removed from the deck. The magician comments
that these two cards have the value of 20 in
the game of Blackjack. The spectator holds one
card face down while the magician places the
other in his pocket. The two cards transpose.
An explanation of sorts is given, yet the two
cards again transpose. To conclude, one of the
cards changes to an Ace making the value of
the hand total 21, a winner in the game of Blackjack.
Method:
Before getting into the actual handling, memorize
this simple formula. Once memorized you'll never
get confused as to where you are in the trick:
1. Any
card or cards in pocket ALWAYS have lowest value
facing OUT.
2. Any
card placed in pocket ALWAYS go BEHIND what's
already there.
3. Any
card removed from pocket ALWAYS is taken from
the FRONT of what's there.
4. Any
card taken from pocket is ALWAYS placed on TOP
of what's already showing.
That's it. If it makes no sense
stay with me, it will. Follow along with the
cards in hand and refer back to the formula
as we go through it. You'll quickly see what
I'm talking about.
A double-faced card is used.
Let's assume the one you are using is the Ten
of Spades/Jack of Hearts. (That's one of the
standard DF cards from Haines.) The double faced
card is in the breast pocket, Ten side facing
out (Rule 1).
Run through the face-up deck
and openly remove the Jack of Hearts and the
Ten of Spades. Table them face up. While looking
for these two cards secretly cut any Ace to
the top (Back) of deck and table deck face down
to left side. Patter that you have removed the
value of 20 in the game of Blackjack. Explain
that one card will be the hole card and one
card the face-up card. (This is not entirely
true in some gambling joints where they no longer
deal a hole card .... But for this effect that
patter line fits.)
Turn the Jack face down, calling
it the hole card. Ask if they can remember it.
Regardless of what they say, tell them you will
take the Ten out of the game for the moment.
With that line, place the Ten in the pocket
BEHIND the card already there (Rule 2). Again
ask if they can remember the hole card. Make
sure they can, because if they can't recall
which card is where the effect won't register.
Turn the Jack face up and tell
them you will add still another dimension, the
sense of touch. Remove the Ten from the pocket;
however, actually take the double-faced card
Ten side showing (Rule 3). Place it on the face-up
Jack (Rule 4).
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Pick up the two cards and hold as shown in Figure
#1. Have the spectator hold his hand palm up
very flat. His hand will become the working
surface, or the card table. Deal the cards onto
his hand like this. Flash the single back of
the cards in the right hand and then, with the
cards face up, use your right thumb to push
the Ten onto his open palm. Now flash the back
of the Jack again and while it is face up use
it to flip over the Ten on his palm exchanging
the two cards as you do. It's sort of an odd-ball
Mexican Turnover; and, yes, it's illogical,
but it will pass. It's been used for years to
exchange a double-faced card for a normal card.
Your right hand carries away the Jack which
is actually the double-faced card. He thinks
he holds a face-down Ten, but it's actually
the real Jack. Openly place the double-faced
card, Jack side showing, in your pocket BEHIND
the card already there (Rule 2).
Recap what has happened. Ask
which card he holds. He'll reply that he holds
the Ten. You reply that you have the Ten, and
he has the Jack. With that remove the real Ten
from your pocket, the front card (Rule 3). He
holds the Jack.
Offer to explain how you did
it. Place your Ten ON his Jack (Rule 4). Tell
him you are using extra cards. Place the two
cards which are showing into your pocket face
side showing, but place them BEHIND the one
card already in the pocket (Rule 2). In the
same move take the two front cards (Rule 3)
from the pocket saying these are the extra cards.
The cards in your hand now
show as the Jack on the face and the Ten below
it. The Jack is actually the double-faced card.
You are all set to repeat what you did before.
Before you do, however, openly remove the card
in your pocket showing it and commenting that
they are to remember you are using extra cards.
Place it back in the pocket. It's the real Jack
incidentally.
Again have the spectator hold
his hand palm up and very flat. Again hold the
cards as in Figure 1, again flash the back,
and again push the face card, the Jack this
time, onto his open palm. Flash the back of
the Ten, use it to flip over the Jack, exchanging
them as you do, and walk away with the Ten side
of the double-faced card showing.
Patter that you will exchange
the Ten for the Jack in your pocket. Do just
that, which will leave you with the real Jack
in your hand. Tell him that explains how you
exchanged your card; what you want to know is
how he exchanged his! As he looks to discover
he is now holding the Ten, you pick up the deck
with the left hand as if the effect is over.
Just as he looks at his card, you top change
the Jack for the Ace which is on top of the
deck.
Apparently the trick is finished.
Twice the cards have transposed and the customer
is none the wiser even though you gave an explanation.
Now take his Ten and turn it face down. Place
it under your face-down card which he thinks
is the Jack. Shuffle the two cards around each
other a time or two and tell him that after
doing that very few people can say for sure
which is the Ten and which is the Jack. That's
true, incidentally.
Continue to patter that with
the value of 20 you could still lose. With your
magic you insist everyone go away a winner.
With that turn both cards face up showing that
you now have the value of 21, an Ace and a Ten.
You couldn't ask for a better
transposition which happens twice in their hands.
The final change to 21 gives the thing a nice
climax that makes sense.
Many readers will notice that
the first part of the effect duplicates the
Allerton handling. What I've added is the climax
plus the formula to keep things straight. Many
magicians, when using double-faced cards, get
confused as to which value is facing which way.
Then they have to peek, and this doesn't go
unnoticed by the astute viewer. My simple set
of four rules eliminates the problem .
One other final word of importance.
When doing transposition effects, whether it
be with cards or coins, it is essential that
the customer remember which card or coin he
should be holding. Hence, drive the point home
many times before actually making the switch.
How many times have we seen beautiful sleight
of hand performed in, say the copper and silver
effect, only to have the spectator comment that
he doesn't remember which he holds.
Have fun.
