Price$39.90
Media TypeBook
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedMar 16, 2003
Classic Magic of Larry Jennings, The
Maxwell, Mike
A-1 Multimedia
(Based on 1 review)
Reviews
(Top ▲)
L & L Publishing produced a classic in 1986 when they published Mike Maxwell's The Classic Magic of Larry Jennings. Within its 267 pages are countless classics by the late card and coin manipulator Larry Jennings. Larry was a student of the great Dai Vernon, and it most definitely shows in his work. With Forewords by Dai Vernon and Charlie Miller, and a Preface by John Thompson, it is evident that Larry ranks among the masters. The book contains 66 items with cards and coins, along with Larry's famous Single Cup and Balls routine.
Jennings' routines are all wonderful examples of his genius, and his card moves are testimony to his tremendous technical skill. His tricks range from the most surprising, knuckle-busting routine to his take on a classic, almost self-working effect.
A few of Mr. Jennings’ moves really stand out when reading through the large tome. The first is his Angle Palm Steal. It is Larry’s variation of the Erdnase Diagonal Palm Shift, wherein the card ends in a modified right-hand Tenkai Palm. The move has much potential and can be used successfully as a card control or palm for a card-to-impossible-location effect.
The LJ Display is a wonderful series of in-the-hands cuts, that, when applied to Triumph, very convincingly shows the mixture of face-up and face-down cards. It is used in Out-Standing Triumph, which will be discussed more later.
Also featured is Larry’s wonderful and widely used Snap Lift. It requires a bit of misdirection to perform deceptively, but it is fairly easy and exceptionally convenient.
Next, of course, is Larry Jennings’ infamous Larreverse. It is executed as you correct a reversed card, and is a wonderful utility move.
The Classic Magic of Larry Jennings is chock full of wonderful routines. A Problem with Hofzinser is one of the best routines in the book. It is Larry’s take on the Hofzinser Four Ace Problem. It is clean and simple. I’m surprised I haven’t heard more people mention this. Oh well, I’ll keep using it!
The Bet is a magician in trouble card revelation. The spectator is asked to shuffle the deck, and then remove eight cards. You then fan the cards and have the spectator remove one. It is replaced and the packet is shuffled. You pull out a card - an incorrect one - and “accidentally” flash the face to the spectator as you set aside the remainder of the packet. You bet him that you can correctly find his card, and he, of course, bets against you. The look of astonishment upon the spectator’s face when you turn over the previously flashed card to reveal his selection is so extremely satisfying.
The Jennings Revelation is a production of any four cards under near impossible conditions. The magician cuts the face-down deck into four piles and merely waves his hands over the piles. One at a time, face-up Kings (or whatever) appear on the top of the piles. Your hands are completely empty before and after the routine. Dai Vernon told LJ that if someone were to perform this effect at the FISM competition, they would take first place.
Dai Vernon’s Triumph is, without a doubt, one of the top ten card effects known to man. Many cardmen still use the original, as do I. However, for those times when there is no table present, I’ve found Out-Standing Triumph one of the best alternatives to the Vernon original. It utilizes The LJ Display to thoroughly convince the spectator of the mixed state of the cards. Only a moment later, the cards are spread, and there lies the spectator’s selection – the only reversed pasteboard.
Four effects have been described, and they are all done with cards. This is because I work primarily with cards, and I chose the effects which I use most. However, I do not wish to relay the message that there are no coin effects in the book, as the tricks with money are plentiful. Because of my ignorance in this area of magic, though, I feel unauthorized to review any of the coin effects.
The writing style of this book is often spoken unkindly of. It has been said by many that Mr. Maxwell was too inexperienced at the time he was writing this book, and it therefore has many writing flaws. I noticed a few mistakes, and learning Gambler’s Aces, a great ace-cutting display, was hell, no less. However, the material in the book makes up for the writing style and descriptions.
In conclusion, I am very, very happy with this book. It ranks among my favorites, and the vast amount of material simply cannot be beat.
Jennings' routines are all wonderful examples of his genius, and his card moves are testimony to his tremendous technical skill. His tricks range from the most surprising, knuckle-busting routine to his take on a classic, almost self-working effect.
A few of Mr. Jennings’ moves really stand out when reading through the large tome. The first is his Angle Palm Steal. It is Larry’s variation of the Erdnase Diagonal Palm Shift, wherein the card ends in a modified right-hand Tenkai Palm. The move has much potential and can be used successfully as a card control or palm for a card-to-impossible-location effect.
The LJ Display is a wonderful series of in-the-hands cuts, that, when applied to Triumph, very convincingly shows the mixture of face-up and face-down cards. It is used in Out-Standing Triumph, which will be discussed more later.
Also featured is Larry’s wonderful and widely used Snap Lift. It requires a bit of misdirection to perform deceptively, but it is fairly easy and exceptionally convenient.
Next, of course, is Larry Jennings’ infamous Larreverse. It is executed as you correct a reversed card, and is a wonderful utility move.
The Classic Magic of Larry Jennings is chock full of wonderful routines. A Problem with Hofzinser is one of the best routines in the book. It is Larry’s take on the Hofzinser Four Ace Problem. It is clean and simple. I’m surprised I haven’t heard more people mention this. Oh well, I’ll keep using it!
The Bet is a magician in trouble card revelation. The spectator is asked to shuffle the deck, and then remove eight cards. You then fan the cards and have the spectator remove one. It is replaced and the packet is shuffled. You pull out a card - an incorrect one - and “accidentally” flash the face to the spectator as you set aside the remainder of the packet. You bet him that you can correctly find his card, and he, of course, bets against you. The look of astonishment upon the spectator’s face when you turn over the previously flashed card to reveal his selection is so extremely satisfying.
The Jennings Revelation is a production of any four cards under near impossible conditions. The magician cuts the face-down deck into four piles and merely waves his hands over the piles. One at a time, face-up Kings (or whatever) appear on the top of the piles. Your hands are completely empty before and after the routine. Dai Vernon told LJ that if someone were to perform this effect at the FISM competition, they would take first place.
Dai Vernon’s Triumph is, without a doubt, one of the top ten card effects known to man. Many cardmen still use the original, as do I. However, for those times when there is no table present, I’ve found Out-Standing Triumph one of the best alternatives to the Vernon original. It utilizes The LJ Display to thoroughly convince the spectator of the mixed state of the cards. Only a moment later, the cards are spread, and there lies the spectator’s selection – the only reversed pasteboard.
Four effects have been described, and they are all done with cards. This is because I work primarily with cards, and I chose the effects which I use most. However, I do not wish to relay the message that there are no coin effects in the book, as the tricks with money are plentiful. Because of my ignorance in this area of magic, though, I feel unauthorized to review any of the coin effects.
The writing style of this book is often spoken unkindly of. It has been said by many that Mr. Maxwell was too inexperienced at the time he was writing this book, and it therefore has many writing flaws. I noticed a few mistakes, and learning Gambler’s Aces, a great ace-cutting display, was hell, no less. However, the material in the book makes up for the writing style and descriptions.
In conclusion, I am very, very happy with this book. It ranks among my favorites, and the vast amount of material simply cannot be beat.