WRITTEN BY DENNIS LOOMIS
          For the June 2005 issue of Smoke and Mirrors

      This month, let’s take a look at my version of the Milt Kort/Dai Vernon Classic “Think of a Card.” My old Michigan pal, Ron Bauer, has recently released the 19th Volume in his Private Studies Series. I recommend this series highly and have all of them in my personal library. You can get them at www.loomismagic.com or from most magic dealers. The 19th is called “All-Outs Think-of-a-Card.” It’s Milt Korts version of the Vernon “Think of a Card from More Inner Secrets Of Card Magic.

      The routines differ in some particulars. In the Vernon original, a spectator thinks of one of 13 cards. They are shown to him one at a time and are numbered 1 to 13. The spectator has to remember both the number and the card at that number. In the Kort routine, only nine cards are used, but the magician simply shows a fan of nine cards to the volunteer who remembers any one of them. He need not take note of nor remember any number. In both versions, the magician then holds the deck behind his back or under the table and does “something” to the cards. Later, the deck is fanned to show that he reversed one card. In both cases, this card might be the thought of card, but is usually not. Then, the performer gets some information from the volunteer. In the Vernon routine, the spectator reveals the number his card was at, but not the identity. In the Kort version, the spectator names the actual card. Then, the magician shows that he had predicted the card by counting from the reversed card to the selection.

      In both cases, a simple set up is required. For Vernon’s original you need to get a deuce in the fourth position from the top of the deck. In the Aronson stack, the two of hearts is in forth position, and you can do the Vernon trick with no other preparation. The routine will disarrange your Aronson stack a bit, but not badly. In the Kort version, you need to get a trey fifth from the top of the deck. While the fifth card in the Aronson stack is not a trey, the three of hearts is in position seven. It’s a simple matter to get a break under the top two cards and undercut them to the bottom. Now the three of hearts is in the fifth position.

      I have a little preference for the Kort version since it does not require the spectator to remember both a number and a card. So, my version is based on the Kort Routine. I’m not going to tip any more right here, because you really should get Ron Bauer’s #19 manuscript. Once you do, you may prefer to do the original Kort Version. But, if you are carrying a deck set in Aronson stack with you, then you may want to try mine. If, like me, you have the top card (Jack of Spades) as a scallop short, then you do not have to put the “work” into one card that Kort used.

      To do my version, false shuffle the deck, and than double undercut the top two cards to the bottom. Form a fan of the first 9 cards. The three of hearts should be right in the middle of the fan. The spectator now thinks of any of the cards. You now return the fan to the top of the deck and cut it to the middle. When the deck is out of sight, you cut the scallop card to the top, and then transfer six cards from the top to the bottom, retaining their order. Flip the top card face up (it’s the three of hearts) and cut it to the center and bring the deck in view. Following the Kort procedure, you now have the spectator name their card. As soon as they do, you explain that you reversed one card in the deck, and ribbon spread the deck widely on the table. Of course, if they named the three of hearts, you have just done a miracle. But if not, you explain that you did not turn over the thought of card, but a card that would lead to the thought of card. Then, use the series of outs so thoroughly explained by Ron Bauer in the manuscript. Your deck is still in Aronson stack order, although you will need to cut at the scallop card to get to home position.

      For those of you not familiar with the Kort routine, mine is quite a bit stronger because it is not necessary for you to look at the cards. In Kort’s version, once you bring the cards back into view, you have to fan them so that you are obviously looking at the faces. But with the deck memorized, the cards remain ribbon spread face down on the table. When the spectator names his card, you count to it “blind.” You’re going to fry your brother magicians that know the Kort routine, so this is a good version to do for the guys at the Magic Club meeting.

      I’ve reworked a lot of “standard” magic routines like this one to utilize a memorized deck. The advantage of this is that you can carry your memdeck, and at any time, do two or three good card effects. At that point, it seems unlikely that the cards could be in any kind of stack or order, so you can then go into a strong routine based on the memorized deck, and really kill your audience.

       If you want to look up any of my previous Smoke and Mirrors Articles on memorized deck work, I’ve posted them on my web site. Just go to www.loomismagic.com and click on the link to the memorized deck magic. There you will find a few items for sale that are of interest to memdeck workers, and you’ll also find the full text of the prior 19 articles.

      Loomis Magic has a couple of new products which have recently hit the market. There will be a full page ad in MAGIC magazine for the new 2005 edition of my Cups and Balls Routine. We’ve added a lot of new material, taken all new photos, and the new layout, typography, and full color cover done by Larry Utley are just gorgeous. You can find the book at www.loomismagic.com and at fine magic dealers everywhere. (If your dealer doesn’t have it, tell him he can get it from Murphy’s or Fun.)

      Also just out is a new version of Mentalism 101. This is my reworking of the classic Koran prediction with the Koran 101 deck. We’ve added a DVD with the instructions, two performances, and a demonstration of how to make one of the necessary gimmicks. The set comes with a special Koran 101 Deck in which the force cards have all been marked. This simplifies the performance enormously. Watch for the full page ad in the July issue of MAGIC magazine. Of course, you can get it at Loomis Magic and at fine dealers around the country.

        We’re actively working on a new DVD at Loomis Magic. This one will be a video version of the Workshop plans for my Doll House Illusion…. plus a LOT more! Back in the eighties I sold hundreds of these plans in printed form. They were endorsed by a virtual who’s who of magicians including Doug Henning and David Copperfield. The new DVD will contain all of the diagrams (which you can print out by putting the disk into your computer) and tons of still photos and live action footage. All of the deceptive details are included. In this format I can discuss them while showing examples of both good and bad design. But, we don’t stop there. I’m also including my version of the Sword Temple, based on my Doll House plans. And, for the first time, I’m tipping the details of my Horse Production Illusion. This shares some deceptive elements with the Doll House, but has a couple of new wrinkles that can be used in many illusions. We’re not sure how quickly this project will be finished, but hopefully some time this summer.

      I’ll be at the IBM Convention in Reno. Should you spot me, feel free to come up and say hello. Perhaps we can chat over a cup of coffee. I’d like that.

Feel free to come and visit us at www.loomismagic.com for all your magic needs.