Steve Shufton & Ben Harris
X-RAY
$20
Sorry, No Discount on This Item
THE BLURB:
When I was young, my uncle Peter fooled me badly with a
simple X-Ray Vision stunt. It played serious havoc with my
developing mind. Pete had been using his X-Ray Vision to
"see through" the table top in order to identify how many
fingers I was holding aloft. He hit it time and time again.
I was later crushed, when dad explained that he'd simply
been coding the information, to my uncle, via surreptitious
foot tapping. In due course it was I who was performing the
demonstration, and I've been fascinated with the X-Ray
Vision plot ever since.
My one man show, HELLucinations, is my core act-the one I
fall back upon for all of my highly paid professional work.
Purporting to replicate the demonstrations of the legendary
Dr. Elmer William Bishop, the show commences with some
direct and perplexing "card reading" and then quickly moves
through a series of unbelievable-looking demonstrations of
supposed X-Ray Vision. These, among other demonstrations,
include "seeing through" a heavy iron box to reveal which
card a spectator has reversed in the deck, AND IT'S EXACT
POSITION in said deck. It is a demonstration repeated over
and over, the conditions becoming more stringent every time.
The show, presented in all seriousness, can play for thirty
minutes or an hour and a half. It leaves the audience
completely convinced that I have the powers of X-Ray
Vision-even with a full disclaimer. This, my friends, is
real bread and butter stuff.
Secretly, I have always wanted a "casual" demonstration of
these supposed powers-something that could be performed with
any deck of cards, at any time!
And, that's exactly what we have here, in THE XRAY DECK.
Steve has done a wonderful job, completely solving the
problem-creating a practical, perform anywhere solution for
the effect. He's then gone on to clearly and concisely
detail every nuance of his clever and direct method.
The XRay effect
The performer removes a deck from the case and gives it a
complete shuffle. He thumbs through the deck to demonstrate
that all the cards are different, and the deck is complete.
Placing the deck on the table, he instructs the spectator
that he will leave the room. While the performer is gone,
the spectator is to cut the deck anywhere with a simple cut,
turn the card cut to face up, memorize the card, and put the
cut off portion back on the deck, leaving the selection face
up. The spectator is then to take the deck, put it in the
case and seal the case, leave the cased deck on the table,
and signal the magician to return to the room. The performer
leaves the room, the spectator does as instructed and the
performer returns.
The performer explains that he has developed an uncanny
ability to see the hidden-almost a type of X-Ray vision.
Without ever touching the case, the performer focuses an
intense gaze on the boxed deck. Much to the astonishment of
onlookers, he reveals the name of the card that has been
inverted!
But now things get even crazier. He again focuses his gaze
on the box, and finally calls out a number. Again, he never
touches the box. He instructs the spectator to take the
cards out of the box, and deal the cards one at a time onto
the table face up, counting for each card dealt. Tension
builds as the spectator nears the number called. When the
number is reached, there is the spectator's face up card!
Not only has the performer accurately perceived the chosen
card in a deck sealed in a box, but he named the actual
position of the card as well!
Features
�All can be examined-the deck is found to be normal in every
way.
�Once in the spectator's possession, the performer never
touches the deck again.
�The deck is complete with 52 different cards-no duplicates.
�Any deck can be used, the effect can even be performed
impromptu with a borrowed deck.
�No stooges, confederates, peeks, electronics or mirrors.
�No gaffs or gimmicks.
�No prepared box, the deck and box are REAL.
�Can be done one on one, or for a group of any size.
�Astonishing, strong impact, mentalism at its finest!
Once you fully understand Steve's approach, you'll be able
to perform The X-Ray Deck anywhere.
Pages: 28 - Black and White - 8 1/2" x 11" - Saddle-Stitched
Here's what some professional mentalists and scholars have
said about THE XRAY DECK:
"X-RAY is one of the most fantastic effects I have come
across. I like simple, easy-to-perform effects that require
subtlety and sleight of mind rather than sleight of hand.
This is an effect that Al Koran would have been proud to
have invented. I can not wait to perform it and I know it is
going to become a magical classic."
- Martin Breese
"Not only did I immediately absorb every last detail and
nuance employed in the development of the X-RAY routine, I
was blown away by the number of well known and respected
names I encountered that had a collaborative role in its
construction. X-RAY is an extremely powerful and
entertaining effect. Watching Steve Shufton and Ben Harris
concoct a recipe for a satisfying and delicious mental
effect is as sweet as the frosting on my cake. Do I like it?
You bet I do. Highly recommended."
- Larry Becker
"A wonderfully clear cut plot. This is very powerful and
appears utterly impossible."
- Marc Paul
"Great idea, great routine and great thinking! Another
winner!"
- Greg Arce
MY COMMENT:
The cover of this proclaims it to be a "plot by Ben Harris
with a solution by Steve Shufton." As I was reading it, I
got the distinct impression that this effect was a result of
an interesting discussion and not one that has been fully
tested and honed in front of audiences. That's the sense I
got when reading this, but I know that a number of
purchasers have tried it and it works quite well and I see
no reason to doubt them.
Shufton's solution is very clever. It does require a
specially prepared deck of cards (it takes a few minutes to
prepare the deck). That means that I know many of you will
stop reading this right now, as it's not your style. Also,
it's strongly suggested that you do a false shuffle, but
it's not absolutely necessary.
Other than that, the blurb is accurate. Once instructions
are given and demonstrated, the performer does not touch the
deck again and that's best kind of mentalism with cards.
This a nicely produced 28 page, 8.5" x 11" booklet.
When I was young, my uncle Peter fooled me badly with a
simple X-Ray Vision stunt. It played serious havoc with my
developing mind. Pete had been using his X-Ray Vision to
"see through" the table top in order to identify how many
fingers I was holding aloft. He hit it time and time again.
I was later crushed, when dad explained that he'd simply
been coding the information, to my uncle, via surreptitious
foot tapping. In due course it was I who was performing the
demonstration, and I've been fascinated with the X-Ray
Vision plot ever since.
My one man show, HELLucinations, is my core act-the one I
fall back upon for all of my highly paid professional work.
Purporting to replicate the demonstrations of the legendary
Dr. Elmer William Bishop, the show commences with some
direct and perplexing "card reading" and then quickly moves
through a series of unbelievable-looking demonstrations of
supposed X-Ray Vision. These, among other demonstrations,
include "seeing through" a heavy iron box to reveal which
card a spectator has reversed in the deck, AND IT'S EXACT
POSITION in said deck. It is a demonstration repeated over
and over, the conditions becoming more stringent every time.
The show, presented in all seriousness, can play for thirty
minutes or an hour and a half. It leaves the audience
completely convinced that I have the powers of X-Ray
Vision-even with a full disclaimer. This, my friends, is
real bread and butter stuff.
Secretly, I have always wanted a "casual" demonstration of
these supposed powers-something that could be performed with
any deck of cards, at any time!
And, that's exactly what we have here, in THE XRAY DECK.
Steve has done a wonderful job, completely solving the
problem-creating a practical, perform anywhere solution for
the effect. He's then gone on to clearly and concisely
detail every nuance of his clever and direct method.
The XRay effect
The performer removes a deck from the case and gives it a
complete shuffle. He thumbs through the deck to demonstrate
that all the cards are different, and the deck is complete.
Placing the deck on the table, he instructs the spectator
that he will leave the room. While the performer is gone,
the spectator is to cut the deck anywhere with a simple cut,
turn the card cut to face up, memorize the card, and put the
cut off portion back on the deck, leaving the selection face
up. The spectator is then to take the deck, put it in the
case and seal the case, leave the cased deck on the table,
and signal the magician to return to the room. The performer
leaves the room, the spectator does as instructed and the
performer returns.
The performer explains that he has developed an uncanny
ability to see the hidden-almost a type of X-Ray vision.
Without ever touching the case, the performer focuses an
intense gaze on the boxed deck. Much to the astonishment of
onlookers, he reveals the name of the card that has been
inverted!
But now things get even crazier. He again focuses his gaze
on the box, and finally calls out a number. Again, he never
touches the box. He instructs the spectator to take the
cards out of the box, and deal the cards one at a time onto
the table face up, counting for each card dealt. Tension
builds as the spectator nears the number called. When the
number is reached, there is the spectator's face up card!
Not only has the performer accurately perceived the chosen
card in a deck sealed in a box, but he named the actual
position of the card as well!
Features
�All can be examined-the deck is found to be normal in every
way.
�Once in the spectator's possession, the performer never
touches the deck again.
�The deck is complete with 52 different cards-no duplicates.
�Any deck can be used, the effect can even be performed
impromptu with a borrowed deck.
�No stooges, confederates, peeks, electronics or mirrors.
�No gaffs or gimmicks.
�No prepared box, the deck and box are REAL.
�Can be done one on one, or for a group of any size.
�Astonishing, strong impact, mentalism at its finest!
Once you fully understand Steve's approach, you'll be able
to perform The X-Ray Deck anywhere.
Pages: 28 - Black and White - 8 1/2" x 11" - Saddle-Stitched
Here's what some professional mentalists and scholars have
said about THE XRAY DECK:
"X-RAY is one of the most fantastic effects I have come
across. I like simple, easy-to-perform effects that require
subtlety and sleight of mind rather than sleight of hand.
This is an effect that Al Koran would have been proud to
have invented. I can not wait to perform it and I know it is
going to become a magical classic."
- Martin Breese
"Not only did I immediately absorb every last detail and
nuance employed in the development of the X-RAY routine, I
was blown away by the number of well known and respected
names I encountered that had a collaborative role in its
construction. X-RAY is an extremely powerful and
entertaining effect. Watching Steve Shufton and Ben Harris
concoct a recipe for a satisfying and delicious mental
effect is as sweet as the frosting on my cake. Do I like it?
You bet I do. Highly recommended."
- Larry Becker
"A wonderfully clear cut plot. This is very powerful and
appears utterly impossible."
- Marc Paul
"Great idea, great routine and great thinking! Another
winner!"
- Greg Arce
MY COMMENT:
The cover of this proclaims it to be a "plot by Ben Harris
with a solution by Steve Shufton." As I was reading it, I
got the distinct impression that this effect was a result of
an interesting discussion and not one that has been fully
tested and honed in front of audiences. That's the sense I
got when reading this, but I know that a number of
purchasers have tried it and it works quite well and I see
no reason to doubt them.
Shufton's solution is very clever. It does require a
specially prepared deck of cards (it takes a few minutes to
prepare the deck). That means that I know many of you will
stop reading this right now, as it's not your style. Also,
it's strongly suggested that you do a false shuffle, but
it's not absolutely necessary.
Other than that, the blurb is accurate. Once instructions
are given and demonstrated, the performer does not touch the
deck again and that's best kind of mentalism with cards.
This a nicely produced 28 page, 8.5" x 11" booklet.
