Magic of Milt Kort, The
Minch, Stephen
Hermetic Press
(Based on 1 review)
Reviews
(Top ▲)
This is a great book that teaches over 50 tricks using cards, coins, handkerchieves, dice, razor blades, gimmicks, impromptu tricks, close up, and stage.
The book is divided into 3 sections. One on cards, one on coins, and one on other objects. In between each trick taught is a little story that involves a personal experience with magic or other magicians. These alone are worth the price of the book.
The first section of the book (Kort Cards) about cards is great overall. He teaches 20 some tricks and sleights. They use for the most part un gimmicked cards with either minimal or little set-up. He has a section of the chapter devoted to his favorite card plot, the odd backed card plot. My favorite card trick is probably Security Express that uses the classic sandwich plot and is a magician favorite. You take the four aces and sandwich them between the two black jacks and they vanish to only reappear between the two red jacks and you are left completely clean with no extra or gimmicked cards.
The next chapter is Kort's Coins which obviously focuses on coin tricks. Their are a nice 16 coin tricks. However I do have an issue with this chapter. At the end their is a whole section on Okito box routines. One Okito box routine in particular uses four different Okito boxes which some aren't even on the market. So unless you have these special boxes you can't perform them. It isn't a "problem" but something to consider. With that in mind he teaches a very visual Okito box routine that doesn't even use a box of any sort, I know different, where they pass through your hand. He teaches a really neat and fooling vanish with a handkerchief and different applications of the vanish.
The third chapter is on tricks using different objects such as dice and razor blades. The first seven tricks are dice tricks that utilize a switch he invented. Which is very clever. This chapter was probably my least favorite because of the fact that a big portion of it they don't even recommend because it is manipulation with razor blades. With that being said there are many other gems in this chapter.
Overall it is a good book, well written and clear instructions. Stephen Minch did a good job honoring one of magics lost greats. It has a lot of funny and nice stories in it. I think it deserves a rightly earned 4 stars.
The book is divided into 3 sections. One on cards, one on coins, and one on other objects. In between each trick taught is a little story that involves a personal experience with magic or other magicians. These alone are worth the price of the book.
The first section of the book (Kort Cards) about cards is great overall. He teaches 20 some tricks and sleights. They use for the most part un gimmicked cards with either minimal or little set-up. He has a section of the chapter devoted to his favorite card plot, the odd backed card plot. My favorite card trick is probably Security Express that uses the classic sandwich plot and is a magician favorite. You take the four aces and sandwich them between the two black jacks and they vanish to only reappear between the two red jacks and you are left completely clean with no extra or gimmicked cards.
The next chapter is Kort's Coins which obviously focuses on coin tricks. Their are a nice 16 coin tricks. However I do have an issue with this chapter. At the end their is a whole section on Okito box routines. One Okito box routine in particular uses four different Okito boxes which some aren't even on the market. So unless you have these special boxes you can't perform them. It isn't a "problem" but something to consider. With that in mind he teaches a very visual Okito box routine that doesn't even use a box of any sort, I know different, where they pass through your hand. He teaches a really neat and fooling vanish with a handkerchief and different applications of the vanish.
The third chapter is on tricks using different objects such as dice and razor blades. The first seven tricks are dice tricks that utilize a switch he invented. Which is very clever. This chapter was probably my least favorite because of the fact that a big portion of it they don't even recommend because it is manipulation with razor blades. With that being said there are many other gems in this chapter.
Overall it is a good book, well written and clear instructions. Stephen Minch did a good job honoring one of magics lost greats. It has a lot of funny and nice stories in it. I think it deserves a rightly earned 4 stars.