Photographs by George Bartlett. This book is a classic of magic and includes Dai Vernon's linking rings moves and cups and balls routine. It uses high quality B&W photos throughout to show many of the moves. Each routine ends with an outline of the routine, which is great for practicing from. Highly Recommended.
Contents:
7 Contents: full summaries are provided for each chapter
13 Foreword: How the book came to be, and some introductory remarks by Dai Vernon
15 Introduction: about writing the book, by Lewis Ganson
16 B&W photo of "The Professor"
17 Chapter One: The Background to a Legend. Biographical notes on the magical life of Dai Vernon
25 Chapter Two: The Vernon Touch. Lewis Ganson on why Dai Vernon's magic is so good, with excepts from audio recordings of Dai Vernon. Includes Vernon's approach to the "french drop" and lots of anecdotes about other magicians such as Nate Leipzig, Malini, and others.
39 Chapter Three: A Chinese Classic. Routine for Coins Through the Table. Dai used six half crowns and a metal ring about the size of a Jardine Ellis ring.
49 Chapter 4: Penetration of Thought.
Card thought of by a spectator passes from the packet held by the
performer to the packet held by the spectator. Uses 8 cards: 4 red
backed and 4 blue backed.
57 The Buckle False Count
59 Chapter 5: Three Ball Transposition. A 3 ball routine (using 4 1" balls). Uses a net or handkerchief to catch the balls. Three solid balls travel mysteriously from one hand to the other. Repeated with interesting variations until they all vanish.
71 Chapter 6: Application of the Tenkai Palm. Explains the Tenkai palm, The Svengali Color Change of a card, Stealing a card from the pack into the Tenkai Palm position, exchanging a card, and The Jumping Jack routine.
81 Chapter 7: The Linking Rings. Several of Dai Vernon's moves with 14" linking rings are detailed. Includes Spinning the Rings, the Crash Linking, the Pull Through Method of Unlinking, and The Falling Ring. See Dai Vernon's Symphony of the Rings for his excellent, full routine.
87 Chapter 8: Seven Card Monte: Six black cards and one red court card are dealt face up. The three black cards are turned face down, and the cards are squared up. The Deck is turned over and dealt. The spectator fails to find the court card after several tries. Uses one gimmicked card in addition to a regular deck
93 Chapter 9: Quick Tricks
94 Leipzig's Coin on the Knee: coin vanish on the magician's knee (while seated)
96 Martin Gardner's Cigar Vanish: Lighted cigar from beneath an
handkerchief. Sort of a hoax, but it takes a while before the
spectator's realize what's happened.
98 Five Coin Star: a five coin appearance, flourish. Can also be used for cards.
101 Dai Vernon's Pick Off Pip: A pip is taken off a three spot card (color change move)
103 Dai Vernon's Adaptation of Bill Bowman's Clipped: a note (dollar
bill) secured by two paper clips and a string comes free, linking the
clips and string
104 The Multiple Colour Change (Cliff Green): Face card of a pack changes rapidly time and time again
105 Malini-Vernon Three Coins from One: Close up quickie: a borrowed coin has two others broken from it (impromptu)
107 Chapter 10: Expansion of Texture: Copper & Silver placed in hanky. Selected coin is magically removed. Silver coin is placed in hanky and held by the spectator. The Copper vanishes and audibly joins the Silver. Uses two coppers, one silver, and a handkerchief.
113 Chapter 11: The Challenge. Two cards are shown. Spectator mentally selects one, and performer repeatedly reveals it. Only needs a double lift.
117 Chapter 12: Dai Vernon's Double Lift: with a well covered get ready.
123 Chapter 13: The Cups & Balls:
Dai Vernon's routine is a must study for effectiveness and routining.
Can use most any style cup, and produces three jumbo loads for the
climax. Also features a wand and the wand spin vanish. Five phase
routine. Photos feature Dai's engraved sterling silver cups.
137 The Vanish of a Ball Whilst Spinning The Wand: this vanish fully explained.
141 Chapter 14: Nate Leipzig's Card Stab: A knife stabbed through the deck wrapped in newspaper has two selected cards attached.
153 Chapter 15: Tips on Knots: Includes Dai Vernon's False Knot, Dai Vernon's Method for Upsetting a Square Knot, and Splitting an Atom: a tied silks fall apart at a "click"