Practical Mental Magic
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Book Overview
Mind reading, thought transmission, prophecy, miracle slate routines, and other "psychic" effects are among the most impressive tricks in any magician's repertoire. Their power to amaze and dumbfound an audience is unparalleled in the domain of stage magic. In this volume, one of the greatest of all mental magicians reveals the secrets behind nearly 200 astonishing feats of mental magic.
The routines encompass 12 major categories: Effects with Billets and Pellets; Envelope Necromancy; Publicity Effects; Miracle Slate Routines; Dead or Alive; Money Mentalism; Book Tests; Blindfold Reading; Thought Foretold; Mentalism with Cards; Miscellaneous Mental Masterpieces; and Psychic Codes.
Theodore Annemann, through his own performances and editorship of Jinx magazine, probably did more than anyone else to popularize this branch of entertainment. Now, his extensive knowledge, experience, and know-how are at your fingertips in this comprehensive collection. Here are the closely guarded tricks of the trade behind such astonishing effects as Pseudo-Psychometry, one of the greatest one-man psychic effects ever achieved; Who Killed Mr. X? -- a classic routine that combines both magic and mind reading with a triple mystery and a novel presentation; and The Swami Test, a demonstration of prophecy first popularized around 1920. Annemann himself came up with some 16 variations on this popular and much-practiced effect. My Own Swami Test is one of his best.
These and scores of other crowd-pleasers are here, each thoroughly explained and diagrammed, with insiders' tips on techniques, staging, patter, plants and confederates, diversions -- everything you need to make any trick a foolproof success. No special equipment is required; just traditional magic props and a willingness to learn from one of magic's legendary figures. Although written for professional magicians, the step-by-step detail, clarity and inclusiveness of this collection, along with the author's intimate knowledge of the stage performer's needs, make this a volume that will benefit magicians at every level of expertise.
The routines encompass 12 major categories: Effects with Billets and Pellets; Envelope Necromancy; Publicity Effects; Miracle Slate Routines; Dead or Alive; Money Mentalism; Book Tests; Blindfold Reading; Thought Foretold; Mentalism with Cards; Miscellaneous Mental Masterpieces; and Psychic Codes.
Theodore Annemann, through his own performances and editorship of Jinx magazine, probably did more than anyone else to popularize this branch of entertainment. Now, his extensive knowledge, experience, and know-how are at your fingertips in this comprehensive collection. Here are the closely guarded tricks of the trade behind such astonishing effects as Pseudo-Psychometry, one of the greatest one-man psychic effects ever achieved; Who Killed Mr. X? -- a classic routine that combines both magic and mind reading with a triple mystery and a novel presentation; and The Swami Test, a demonstration of prophecy first popularized around 1920. Annemann himself came up with some 16 variations on this popular and much-practiced effect. My Own Swami Test is one of his best.
These and scores of other crowd-pleasers are here, each thoroughly explained and diagrammed, with insiders' tips on techniques, staging, patter, plants and confederates, diversions -- everything you need to make any trick a foolproof success. No special equipment is required; just traditional magic props and a willingness to learn from one of magic's legendary figures. Although written for professional magicians, the step-by-step detail, clarity and inclusiveness of this collection, along with the author's intimate knowledge of the stage performer's needs, make this a volume that will benefit magicians at every level of expertise.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0486244261
ISBN13:9780486244266
Release Date:February 1983
Publisher:Dover Publications
Length:336 Pages
Weight:0.80 lbs.
Dimensions:0.6" x 5.4" x 8.5"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
One of the two mentalism Bibles
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
This, along with Corinda's "13 Steps to Mentalism" is an absolute essential for anybody that wants to get into the art of mindreading. It covers all of the main ruses, and Anneman's work with Billets is, in my opinion, unparalleled. Some effects are somewhat dated (i.e. some effects encorporate the "magician's force", which is now widly known by the layman), but considering it was first published in 1944 this is to be expected. Beautifully written and compiled, and very cheap for the amount that you have to work with. An absolute must.
Excellent Book!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
Excellent book! This is the best book on magic I have read. It contains well over 100 routines (I started to write tricks, however most of these routines are too complete and well developed to be called tricks.) Each routine tells the effect, any preparation necessary, and the details of performing the routine. These details are were I feel this book shines. It gives suggestions on exact hand placement at all times, the type of patter to use and when to use it, as well as many other forms of misdirection. Being an older reprint some materials suggested are a little out dated, however I found it easy to find modern substitutes. If you like magic and particularly mental magic, this book is a must have.
Excellent
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 27 years ago
The book is literally packed with excellent routines and techniques, most of which require little or no sleight of hand skills. Though somewhat dated (you may have a litlle trouble finding some of the materials used) it is chock-full of "how'd he do that" stuff. The variety of material contained is wonderful also. From billets to cards to envelopes to codes to blind-folds to money routines. Just get it! You won't be sorry. I hear that Mark Striving has modernized some of it with a book "Annemann Updated" or something to that effect. I would be interested in that but can't find it
One of the classics, deservedly so.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 27 years ago
If you want to do mentalism you need this and 13 STEPS TO MENTALISM by Corinda. These two texts can take you far.
Essential book on Mentalism
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 27 years ago
Although dated, this collection of mental effects was and remains one of the best ever written for this subject. (only surpassed by Corrinda's 13 Steps to Mentalism) Not to be taken lightly, there were performers whose entire acts are condensed on but a few pages contained within. Not for the young or for the beginner, this book is a requirement for any serious magician's bookshelf or one interested in psychic phenomena. I bought this book hardbound for many times this price and felt it was one of the best purchases I made in the field
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