Price$79.95
Media TypeDVD
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedMar 06, 2006
Royal Road To Card Magic
R. Paul Wilson
L&L Publishing
(Based on 4 reviews)
For more than half a century, Jean Hugard and Fred Braue's landmark book, The Royal Road to Card Magic, has been a touchstone for all who love and endeavor to perform great card magic. Because of its building-block style of teaching sleights followed by tricks that utilize those sleights to reinforce the lesson, it's been called by many the greatest self-instruction book on magic ever written.
Now for the first time on DVD, expert card magician R. Paul Wilson accompanies you down this time-honored path to show you, in crystal-clear digital clarity, every important sleight and effect from the Royal Road to Card Magic in the precise order it appears in the book. Thus, this video study guide has the potential to take you from beginner to expert - and you can learn at your own pace. What's more, Paul Wilson has added his own valuable insights and updates to the classic Hugard and Braue text, making this Royal Road a not-to-be-missed journey to becoming an accomplished entertainer with nothing more than a deck of ordinary playing cards.
Since its initial publication, The Royal Road to Card Magic by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue has been regarded as the most complete course in sleight of hand with playing cards ever written, teaching essential sleights from the Overhand Shuffle to the Pass and Palm.
Each chapter explores a new sleight followed by several tricks using what the student has already learned - tricks that, incidentally, include many of the best card effects ever created.
Many of today's finest magicians began with Hugard and Braue's classic book, including world-renowned card expert R. Paul Wilson. On these DVDs, Paul guides you along this Royal Road, demonstrating the sleights and effects from the book along with many important touches from his own repertoire. Paul guides you effortlessly through each chapter, using clear and concise instructions combined with multiple camera angles. He also performs most of the tricks in the book for an informal audience, allowing the student to see each effect before learning it.
This DVD series is a complete course in card magic that expands and updates the material from The Royal Road to Card Magic with new effects, improved methods, and advice from many of today's finest exponents of card conjuring. If you follow this course from beginning to end, learning each sleight before moving to the next chapter, you will soon be on your way to becoming an excellent card magician.
"I have always loved the title. The image of a road succinctly conveys the valuable idea that the study of card magic is a journey, not a quick fix. And, by defining that journey as being royal, the issue of worthy respect is immediately established."
- Max Maven
"The Royal Road to Card Magic holds a special place in my heart, as it is the very first book on magic that I picked up from the Larchmont Public Library as a young teenager. I must have renewed it dozens of times. It is this book that opened the entire world of sleight-of-hand magic to me and thus, changed the course of my life!"
- Paul Cummins
"Some books bury themselves in your soul and stay there forever; Royal Road is such a book. I am relieved that I am not the only one who is influenced so deeply by a 'beginner's' book. The writing and selection of material are first class. My magic still reflects its teaching."
- Steve Draun
"The Royal Road to Card Magic is the first book on card magic I ever read, and one of the best. I regularly give it to people who tell me they are interested in learning magic with the pasteboards. A person could become a professional by just learning the wonderful things within this book's covers."
- Jim Swain
"The Royal Road to Card Magic was my first magic book and the only book I ever learned from cover to cover. I guess that says it all. I still use many of the techniques I learned from it, and even published my 'take' on a couple of effects."
- Martin Lewis
"The name of this great book sums up the enjoyable, thoroughly engrossing and never-ending quest that is the study of card magic. Whenever I crack open the cover of my copy, I'm reminded of the many hours of pleasure I've had in poring over this, one of my first card books. While Braue collated much of the material, it was Hugard who gave the descriptions life. His succinct and charming style, with its genteel approach to card magic, has been extremely influential-setting the standard for magic authorship in the 2oth century. As an Australian, it gives me great pleasure to see Hugard honored with this series-I'm sure it will guide many future magicians onto that fabulous Royal Road."
- Andrew Wimhurst
"Whenever someone asks about learning card magic, The Royal Road to Card Magic is one of my first suggestions. It is one of the first books I had when learning magic and I spent many hours as a teenager with book in front of me and a deck of card in my hands."
- Paul Gertner
"The Royal Road to Card Magic remains as one of the great books on card magic for both the beginner and well-seasoned card magician. It is an absolute must-read for anybody who is serious about card magic."
- Simon Lovell
"R. Paul Wilson teaching the Royal Road is one of the very best ways to learn card magic. The production values are superb! This is the best DVD course on card magic available today!"
- Bill Malone
Paul Wilson has performed card magic since he was eight years old and hasn't left home without a deck of cards since! Now a world-renowned, award-winning magician, Paul is respected not only for his creative approach to magic but also for his remarkable skill with cards. He is a regular performer at the Magic Castle in Hollywood and has traveled the world performing and lecturing on sleight of hand. Paul has also authored fifteen booklets and manuscripts on his magic and has also produced five instructional videos of his work. Paul now works in film and television. His credits include technical advisor and second-unit director of the movie Shade, producer of A&E's Mondo Magic, co-producer and star of Court TV's The Takedown, producer and star of the BBC show The Real Hustle, and technical advisor on the movie Smokin' Aces.
The Royal Road to Card Magic remains one of Paul's favorite magic books and he continues to use the tricks and sleights it contains to this day. In this course, Paul guides you along the Royal Road with clear, concise instructions, multiple camera angles, improved methods and invaluable advice from one of today's masters of the art.
For anyone who wants to learn card magic, this course amounts to over eight hours of private instruction. If you follow the course from beginning to end, learning each technique before moving on to the next, by the end, you will be well on your way to becoming an excellent card magician.
VOLUME 1
Introduction
Overhand Shuffle Hand Position
Execution
Controlling the Top Card
Controlling the Bottom Card
Top Card to Next to Bottom and Back
The Run
Injog
Double Undercut
Control
Retaining Top Stock
Full Deck False Shuffle
Topsy-Turvy Cards
Poker Player's Nightmare
Pocket Discovery
Telepathy Plus
Thought Stealer
Pinkie Does It
A Card and a Number
Riffle Shuffle Intro
Refinement
Retaining the Top Card
Retaining the Bottom Card
In the Air
An Instinct for Cards
Ultra Card Divination
Flourishes Intro
Ruffle
Spread and Turnover
Springing the Cards
Waterfall Shuffle
The Fan
One Hand Fan
One Thumb Fan
Bonus Material
VOLUME 2
The Glide Intro
The Glide
Glide Refinement
Design for Laughter
Observation Test
Glimpse Intro & The Bottom Card Glimpse
The Top Card Glimpse #1
Gray's Spelling Trick
Key Card / Undercut / Card Under
Do As I Do
The Three Piles
The Twenty-Sixth Card
Meeting of the Minds
Non Poker Voice
Sliding Key Card
Bonus Material
VOLUME 3
Palm Intro
Top Palm 1
Holding Card / Holding Deck
Multiple Top Palm
Palm Glimpse
Replacing Top Card
Refinement
Card in Pocket
Now You See It
Gathering of the Clan
Spring Catch
Piano Trick
Back Slip Intro
Back Slip
Lightning Card
The Tantalizer
Under Your Hat
Overhand Shuffle 2 Intro
Overhand Break Control
Overhand Lift Shuffle
Lift Shuffle Force
Spread & Break
Holding a Break
Spread & Break Control
Refinement
Obliging Aces
Leapfrog
Spectator's Card
Poker Puzzle
False Shuffles and Cuts Intro
Optical Shuffle
Charlier Shuffle
False Cuts
Palm Cut
An Incomprehensible Divination
Circus Card Trick
Blackjack Detective
Bonus Material
VOLUME 4
Double Lift and Turnover
Refinement
Double Lift Glimpse
Reverse
Rapid Transit
Ambitious Card
Throughth and Consequences
Insidious Dr. Fu Lui Tu
The Pass Intro
Pass Technique
Refinement
Roy Walton's Pass at Red
Kangaroo Card
Righting a Wrong
Blindfold Pack
Double Speller
Color Change
The Changing Card
Self Cutting Deck
A Pretty Cut
Pop-Up Card
Charlier Cut
Acrobatic Aces
Reverses Intro
First Method
Second Method
Third Method
Fourth Method
Reversed Location
Tipsy Turvy
Double Reverse
Mentalivity
Mountebank Miracle
Bonus Material
VOLUME 5
Hindu Shuffle Control
Hindu Force
Hindu Glimpse
The Step
Natural Injog
All Change Here
Classic Force Intro
Now You See It
One Hand Force
Bottom Force
Two Card Force
Riffle Break Force
Sliding Key Force
Double Lift Force
Cut Force
Justice Card Trick
Fours of a Kind
Pulse Trick
Top & Bottom Changes Intro
Top Change
Refinement
The Changeling
Bottom Change
Arrangements
Jacks Wild
Think Stop
Reds & Blacks
Matching the Cards
Platform Intro
3 Cards Across
Ladies Looking Glass
Paul's Tips
Bonus Material
Beautifully encased in one fold-out keepsake package!
Disc 1 Running Time Approximately 1hr 52min
Disc 2 Running Time Approximately 1hr 25min
Disc 3 Running Time Approximately 2hr 8min
Disc 4 Running Time Approximately 2hr 11min
Disc 5 Running Time Approximately 2hr 13min
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Awesome companion for the book of the same name. This is a dvd that should be in your collection.
(Top ▲)
Overview
Five DVDs, hours and hours and hours of instruction on a classic/timeless magic book, R. Paul Wilson and $80 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.Effect/Method
Royal Road to Card Magic is one of the best books for a beginner to read, but what a lot of "non-beginners" (myself included) forget is that this book is full of incredible magic. I was a bit skeptical about this DVD set. I've had it in my collection for years. I bought it before I was a reviewer. I watched it with the expectation that I would already know the material well enough to skip most of it.To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. Saying that was an understatement is an understatement. I was not only humbled and fooled many times, but shocked at how much stuff I had forgotten since I'd last read the book.
The DVD is very clear - rightly so - about the fact that you should watch this DVD set with the book in hand. It is the equivalent of the school classroom instruction that goes with the text book. The book is, obviously, a must. However, seeing this DVD set, it is clear that the book and the DVD are a must. I've seen a few attempts at making DVD sets of classic literature. This is, by far, the best implementation of the concept.
This one book is definitely an all in one course in card magic that takes you from knowing nothing to a masters level of knowledge. That said, many people dismiss it as a beginner's book. You'd be foolish to do so. Sure, there are parts you may skip over, but I guarantee you that unless you've studied this book like Vernon studied Erdnase, you'll find "new" stuff and plenty to learn and study in this DVD and/or book.
Keep in mind that the book is sold separately, and though this is a review of the DVD set, I'm highly recommending that you purchase the book as well.
Product Quality
The DVD was very well produced. The teaching segments are well taught by Wilson. Most of the effects performed are done for a small audience of spectators surrounding a table. It follows the book very closely, and the DVD is "chaptered" well so that you can easily select the sleight, move or effect that you want to learn.Final Thoughts
If you're new to card magic, you absolutely must get this DVD set and the book (sold separately). If you've been performing card magic for weeks, months, years, decades, etc. you must get this DVD; you probably already own the book. This is a classic in magic, and after watching the DVD set, I guarantee that you're passion for one of the greatest card magic books in history will be rekindled. I dare say that you will, very likely, (re)add some effects from the book to your repertoire.Final Verdict:
5 Stars with a Stone Status of GEM!
(Top ▲)
"Why Don't We Do It On The (Royal) Road"
I always found the title of classic Hugard/Braue book to be a bit cliched, but the contents, like Tarbell, Annemann and only a very few others, has stood the test of time. The book's goal was always to provide a complete course in card magic and to do it syllabus style -- an academic-like approach that takes the student through card magic one step at a time. Each step builds upon the knowledge of the next. To this end the book is an immense success. And the tricks that accompany each chapter are really very, very good. I frequently revisit the text to grab some of the tricks that I had forgotten, dust them off and put them into my revolving repertoire.
Over the years, there have been complaints that the patter is dated (it is...but not too much) and that the mere age of the volume necessarily has left out some newer methods, slights and concepts that so many take today for granted (true ... no Elmsley Count here). So many newcomers to card magic prefer to read Roberto Giobbi's wonderful Card College set instead.
But what about Paul Wilson's nothing short of exhaustive DVD set?
It is marvelous.
It should be bought as an adjunct to the actual printed book. Read the chapter in the book ... watch the chapter on the DVD. Rinse. Repeat.
Wilson does a great job explaining the moves usually better than they are explained in the text. And his performance of the tricks have the dynamism that falls flat in the book.
Though I think Card College is a better overall text than Royal Road, the reverse is true of the DVDs. I believe Paul Wilson's "live" version of the book, and his impeccable instruction is better that Mr. Giobbi's live version of (the first two volumes) of his Card College series.
The video is shot with professionalism and the sound quality is perfect. It is clear Paul Wilson and the team spent quite a lot of time figuring out how to best execute this project and they kept with the plan resulting in a DVD set that actually performs its own miracle -- it makes a classic magic text even better.
I always found the title of classic Hugard/Braue book to be a bit cliched, but the contents, like Tarbell, Annemann and only a very few others, has stood the test of time. The book's goal was always to provide a complete course in card magic and to do it syllabus style -- an academic-like approach that takes the student through card magic one step at a time. Each step builds upon the knowledge of the next. To this end the book is an immense success. And the tricks that accompany each chapter are really very, very good. I frequently revisit the text to grab some of the tricks that I had forgotten, dust them off and put them into my revolving repertoire.
Over the years, there have been complaints that the patter is dated (it is...but not too much) and that the mere age of the volume necessarily has left out some newer methods, slights and concepts that so many take today for granted (true ... no Elmsley Count here). So many newcomers to card magic prefer to read Roberto Giobbi's wonderful Card College set instead.
But what about Paul Wilson's nothing short of exhaustive DVD set?
It is marvelous.
It should be bought as an adjunct to the actual printed book. Read the chapter in the book ... watch the chapter on the DVD. Rinse. Repeat.
Wilson does a great job explaining the moves usually better than they are explained in the text. And his performance of the tricks have the dynamism that falls flat in the book.
Though I think Card College is a better overall text than Royal Road, the reverse is true of the DVDs. I believe Paul Wilson's "live" version of the book, and his impeccable instruction is better that Mr. Giobbi's live version of (the first two volumes) of his Card College series.
The video is shot with professionalism and the sound quality is perfect. It is clear Paul Wilson and the team spent quite a lot of time figuring out how to best execute this project and they kept with the plan resulting in a DVD set that actually performs its own miracle -- it makes a classic magic text even better.
(Top ▲)
After 30+ years of doing self-working card tricks, I decided it was time to start fresh and learn the basics. I purchased both the DVD set and Book and diligently worked my way through the entire 5-disc series.
It was worth every minute. Mr. Wilson does an excellent job of explaining every move, subtlety, and provides presentational tips that are practical. The production value is spot on - not too cheap but not overly-flashy and unlike the typical L&L audience this is a small group who provides honest reactions.
If you want to learn the basics in a solid, systematic way, then the RRTCM from L & L is the way to go.
It was worth every minute. Mr. Wilson does an excellent job of explaining every move, subtlety, and provides presentational tips that are practical. The production value is spot on - not too cheap but not overly-flashy and unlike the typical L&L audience this is a small group who provides honest reactions.
If you want to learn the basics in a solid, systematic way, then the RRTCM from L & L is the way to go.