Illusion Plans courtesy ot James P.

Riser of Riser Custom Magic

The Stocks
•Ho
This is the second in a series of
eight illusion plans con-
tributed to Genii by James P.
Riser. They were originally
sold through Riser Custom
Magic. We appreciate this con-
tribution as we know many of
•o-
our readers like to build their
own illusions. Next month,
"Cutting In Half".

EFFECT: The magician displays

the stocks and has a member of the
audience examine them, as well as,
two padlocks. The magician is locked
in the stocks and the keyholes on the
locks are sealed. A cabinet or screen
conceals the performer from the
audience. In just a few seconds, the
magician is free from the stocks
which are still locked with the sealed
padlocks.

—334— GENII, The Conjurors' Magazine

 WORKINGS: The wrist holes and
neck hole must be cut to the size of
the magician. The locks are ordinary
and may be borrowed. The station-
ary part of the hasps is bolted to the
bottom half of the stocks. The hasps
Ambitious Card Opening
By Doug Maihafer
The original version of the classic
"Ambitious Card" by Dai Vernon
appears in The Stars of Magic Series
#5. This is an opening some might
enjoy to lengthen the routine a bit. I
use it right after the first two moves,
in which the Ambitious Card has re-
turned twice to the top of the deck.
First, show the card on top of the
deck, then turn it face down. Lower
the deck slightly and look up, trying
to make eye contact with the
audience. At this moment execute a
pass, then immediately lift off the
top (former bottom) half, and use
this block to flip face up the top card
of the bottom (former top) half. This
is the Ambitious Card.
May, 1979
are bolted through a slot so that they
can slide up and down. They are
tightly bolted so that they are
difficult to slide. In the brief
examination, this will go unnoticed.
The performer is locked in the
Now, replace the top half, and
keep a break with the left little
finger and right thumb below the
Ambitious Card. As the deck is being
squared, use the left middle finger to
slide slip the Ambitious Card (now
the bottom card of the top half) into
the right palm. The right hand now
moves downward, and the Ambi-
tious Card is deposited on the bot-
tom of the deck. Almost simultan-
eously, revolve the deck face up to
show the card on the bottom, then
blank-pressure fan the deck to make
it appear all blank except for the
Ambitious Card.
Next, the left thumb secures a
break above the bottom card of the
squared, face-up deck. The left fore
stocks and concealed from view.
Immediately, he raises up the top
half of the stocks and withdraws his
hands and head. He forces the stocks
back together and makes his appear-
ance. The stocks and locks look un-
touched.
finger's tip rests on the upper middle
short side of this card, in prepar-
ation for a color change. A color
change is now executed, changing
the Ambitious Card on the face of
the deck into an indifferent card.
The right hand is shown empty, and
the deck is normally pressure
fanned, showing the deck to be all
different cards.
I now do a fast shuffle and cut, con-
trolling the Ambitious Card from
second from the bottom to the top,
and proceed with the rest of
Vernon's routine, after flipping the
card face up onto the table. This
opening series of moves is new, and I
am sure could be improved upon by
any "Ambitious Cardman".
—335—