Post by MarloFanHey MarloFan, are you familiar with the "Sprong Shift"? =EF=BF=BDIt
is
Post by MarloFandescribed in Vernon's ULTIMATE CARD SECRETS (probably my favorite
Vernon book, second only to Revelations). =EF=BF=BDSprong performed
the pass
Post by MarloFanwith the third finger inserted in the deck instead of the little
finger. =EF=BF=BDI absolutely love this thing, but I don't think I
have the
Post by MarloFannads to actually use it under fire.
I hear Ricky Jay is the only card mechanic in the world who can do it
flawlessly, from any angle! =EF=BF=BDThat kills me. =EF=BF=BDI've
been working on it
Post by MarloFannow and then for 15 years and I'm still unsure.
I have this crazy character flaw...I can't pass by a mirror without
taking my deck out (I said DECK...lol) and checking out my various
passes and shifts. =EF=BF=BDThis is a real pain in the ass if I get
up in the
Post by MarloFanmiddle of the night to take a leak-- 45 minutes it took me last night.
Have you ever pulled out a deck in public from a steel card clip?
Everytime I do this people look at me like I'm crazy and ask "What the
hell is that thing???" =EF=BF=BDThe shit we have to we have to
endure...
Post by MarloFanSometimes I wish I could just stay home for the rest of my life with a
briefcase full of Bicycles and my stacks of books. =EF=BF=BDSomeday
I'm going
Post by MarloFanto accumulate enough take-out menus to give this a try. =EF=BF=BDI
only go out
Post by MarloFanin the middle of the night now anyway. =EF=BF=BDI think the waitress
at
Post by MarloFanDenny's is starting to get ideas about this 3:AM wierdo obsessed with
his deck of cards.
Damn, look how I drifted. =EF=BF=BDI bring up John Sprong because I
just
Post by MarloFandiscovered a little bit of new information about him. =EF=BF=BDIt's
from the
Post by MarloFanbook, THE MAGICIAN AND THE CARDSHARP, so you probably already know
this if you've read the book (a fantastic read). =EF=BF=BDHe lived
in Chicago
Post by MarloFanand was a doorman by day and a night watchman by night.
=EF=BF=BDBoth low
Post by MarloFanpaying jobs, then and now. =EF=BF=BDEven at his low pay he offered
Vernon $100
Post by MarloFanfor any information on the Center Deal. =EF=BF=BDThis was in the
1920s and
Post by MarloFanthat was like $1000 today. =EF=BF=BDThis was when Kennedy was still
just
Post by MarloFanrumored to even exist.
Vernon said Sprong was obsessed with Expert at the Card Table, too.
And that Sprong had invented many new sleights after reading the book
over the years. =EF=BF=BDThat's another one who took his secrets to
the grave
Post by MarloFanwith him. =EF=BF=BDI wish Vernon has included more of Sprong's work
in his
Post by MarloFanbooks.
Oh well, what good would it do me? =EF=BF=BDIt will take me the rest
of my
Post by MarloFanlife to perfect the "Sprong Shift" anyway. =EF=BF=BDI hope there's
cards in
Post by MarloFanthe afterlife...and I mean the good ones like Bikes. =EF=BF=BDI'm
going to be
Post by MarloFanpissed if I get here and all they have are those damned
Aviators...or
Post by MarloFanworse, those shitty .50 cent Walgreens decks.
-Leary-
I've come across the name Sprong before (Not sure but he maybe gets a
mention in a Scarne book?), and know the pass you mean - I must
confess I've never really taken the time to get that one down - It
seems very 'angley', and so far all my other passes are up to the job
(I've got 5 or so passes that I'm genuinely happy with). I bet it
takes someone of Ricky Jay's skills to pull off the Sprong Shift, and
can't imagine it flying at all without some sort of misdirection
(well, that's how you'd mostly use a shift anyway, so it might
work..?)
Vernon was obsessed with the search for the perfect center, and with
good reason - if you can deal a card from the center, by implication,
you can also deal a card from anywhere else in the pack. If you can do
this at the card table, you don't need to be able to do anything
else! ;o)
Interesting you mention the card clip - When starting an impromptu
set, I will often pull my bikes or bees from it's real leather card
case. It's a small but subtle sign that they're about to see the
'proper' stuff, and gets them curious...
Funnily enough I always use the mirrors around our house for
practicing back palm productions - I've woefully neglected the area of
back-palm card production, and can manage a grand total of two!
If you're taking a forty five minute whizz I hope it's your practicing
to and from the john that's is the source of the delay... man, by the
end it'd feel like a cold, cocktail wiener :o\
I'd love to see Jesus' second deal, then see Him looking pissed off
when Vernon has a turn!
MarloFan- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
MarloFan, you are quite correct, the Sprong Shift is a VERY angley
mother. I think this is why most card men pass it by. I'm always
finding these obscure moves and ideas that really aren't worth the
effort. I'm the guy at the magic shop that buys the books and dvds of
stuff everyone else passes by. Take Buckley's CARD CONTROL book for
instance. Almost everyone says that book is full of pipe dreams.
Maybe so, but I love stuff that takes half a lifetime to learn.
I've also read that when the pass started to make the rounds in the
30s and 40s that almost nobody practiced it because they said it was
impossible. Then Charlie Miller got it down pat and all of a sudden
all the card men could "do it". It seems every now and then these
little barriers have to be broken through for something to be accepted
and gain standing as "do-able".
That center deal is another one. As soon as Vernon could do it it
became acceptable. I wonder what the card guys will be doing in 200
years that we think can't be done.
Everytime I watch Brian Tudor I see a guy who is at least 100 years
ahead of his time. He's doing stuff with a deck of cards that defies
logic. There are others who can do the moves, like the Buck twins,
but nobody has the speed Tudor has. This guy is from another planet.
His biggest advantage over the rest of us is the size of his hands.
F***ing meat hooks they are!
I went and bought all of his dvds, then I discovered Youtube. If you
search "card flourish" you'll have enough stuff to work on for several
decades. I'm trying to figure out how to burn that stuff to a disk so
I can slow it down and learn it. Youtube even has tutorials on
burning their videos to CD. What did we do before the internet.
Theory 11, Dan & Dave, Magic Video Depot, Youtube...there tons of
sites where one can learn flourishes and moves for free. I'm
convinced I'm a sucker for buying most magic dvds. If someone is
performing it somewhere on te internet, then it's possible to burn it
onto a disk for closer examination. It's time for me to become a
hacker and save my $$$.
It's funny when you think about it, Vernon and Marlo had none of these
books or dvds. From that simple little "Expert at the Card Table"
book they created the entire field of card magic-- made it all up. I
wonder where we'd be today if these two guys had never been born? A
void existed and these guys were born to fill it. Somewhere out there
the next Vernon is stirring around in the cosmic soup. One or two of
these guys appears every century amd turns magic on its ear. It's
2010, his parents should be meeting pretty soon.
-Leary-
bill page <***@msn.com> has sent you the following web link:
http://sg3.msntv.msn.com/apps/discuss/ShowGroup.aspx?groupname=3Dalt.magic=
secrets
i havesean2 of bozo the clown plus buzo special bous dvd that has boozo
with out his mac uptoo cool :)
i need season one dvd
my friend tommy story sai as a boy he wet to the bozo tvshow he siting
down in the bleachers on the tvshow
i didnt see him in season to dvd set i have so he gota b in season one
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Herbert L. Becker
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Herbert Becker (Herbert L. Becker)
Herbert Becker (right)
Born August 12, 1956(1956-08-12)
Hollywood, Florida
Occupation magician, escapologist, stunt performer, actor, historian,
writer, businessman and inventor
Website
www.magicweb.com
Herbert Lawrence Becker[1] (Born August 12, 1956 age 53.[2] in
Hollywood, Florida) is a magician and the inventor and patent/copyright
holder for BOIP (broadcasting over internet protocol). He is also the
founder of IPTV (internet protocol television broadcasting), an author
of many books, an actor, and the creator of the Masked Magician TV
specials for FOX TV.[citation needed]
Contents [hide]
1 Early life
2 Education
3 Magic
4 Personal relationships
5 Litigation
6 Other interests and career
7 Books
8 References
[edit] Early life
Born in Hollywood Florida in 1956 and grew up in North Miami Beach until
he was 3 years old. Lived in Central Florida for many years in the area
north of Orlando. For much of that time his family had a ranch in the
unincorporated area between Orange City and DeLand, FL. His family also
had a business in Lake Helen, FL.
Between the age of 3 and 16, the Becker family would spend time living
in Toronto, Canada and the ranch in Orange City, FL.
Herbert Becker always considered Florida his home.
Herbert began performing and acting at age 3.
He performed magic as well as acting in television and stage production.
Cast member of the Sky King television series.
According to Hollywood Insider, Feb., 1976, "Magic Man" was written
about love interest Herbert L. Becker
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_%28band%29
Becker wrote a weekly column called "It's Magic" which ran in a bunch of
newspapers including the DeBary, Deltona Enterprise in Central Florida
between 1972 and 1977.
[edit] Education
Attended Humber College in Canada and Daytona Beach Jr. College in
Florida.
[edit] Magic
Voted Best USA Magician in 1975 and 1976 by Houdini Magic
Magazine[citation needed], Becker performed under the name "The Kardeen
Brothers" with Marc Nicols. Later, he worked solo as "The Great
Kardeen". He helped open the first Guinness Museums, toured with
Guinness on Parade and performed at the Steel Pier and Radio City Music
Hall (1976) with the Guinness show. [citation needed]
As a magician, Becker toured worldwide until he retired in 1978. He was
the opening act for such bands as Elton John and Genesis. Later bands
which opened for him included Hall & Oates. He had long runs in Las
Vegas and Atlantic City. Becker appeared as himself (a magician) on the
television programs "Bozo the Clown" (1975-1977 appearing weekly) and
"The Maury Povich Show" (2001).[citation needed]
In his book All the Secrets of Magic Revealed: The Tricks and Illusions
of the World's Greatest Magicians, Becker explained how magicians such
as Harry Houdini, David Copperfield, Doug Henning, and Siegfried and Roy
created some of their most famous illusions, to the consternation of his
colleagues.[3] Becker caused more unhappiness among magicians when he
appeared on the television talk show of Maury Povitch in March 1997 and
exposed the secrets behind such well-known magic tricks as sawing a
person in half.[3] Becker is believed to be the anonymous Masked
Magician, who, in a series of Fox TV specials, explained exactly what is
behind the tricks of the magic trade. Becker has written Magic Secrets
and So That's How They Do It.[3]
Becker replaced Harry Houdini in the 1976 edition of the Guinness Book
of World Records.[4]
[edit] Personal relationships
1974 Began a relationship with Miss Florida and actress Delta Burke
after she became his assistant on the ABC TV show Bozo The Clown.
[edit] Litigation
Becker has been involved in legal disputes with David Copperfield.
Copperfield sued Becker in an attempt to prevent publication of All the
Secrets of Magic Revealed: The Tricks and Illusions of the World's
Greatest Magicians, Lifetime Books, Inc. (March 11, 1997); ISBN
978-0811908221 which Copperfield maintained revealed some of his
(Copperfield's) secrets; Copperfield lost and the book was published.
Becker then sued his publisher, Lifetime Books for purportedly colluding
with Copperfield to remove details of Copperfield's illusions.[5][6]
Becker and Copperfield have since become very close friends.
[edit] Other interests and career
Becker was involved in multimedia broadcasting over the Internet,
founding various companies based on software claimed to broadcast
television over the Internet without requiring special streaming
technologies or plug-ins. In 2000, Canadian dotcom GlobalMedia.com and
Becker's Montreal-based BEE Multimedia signed an agreement to use its
technologies to help develop content for an online motorcycle store.
Becker subsequently joined the company's board in February 2001. In
March 2001, after the dotcom crash, GlobalMedia.com declared bankruptcy,
but Becker acquired the business name.[citation needed]
Becker wrote and recorded Someone Special in 1972 at National Guild
Recording Studio, Deland, FL.
Becker taught in the Volusia County School system in Florida as well as
teaching at Daytona Beach Community College.
Becker owns EnterVision technology and Magicweb.[7]
Becker was CEO of boutique book publishing house Barclay Road, retiring
on July 2, 2008 but continuing as an advisor.[8]
Becker is currently President and CEO of Hacketts Stores, Inc. trading
as SEVA on the OTCBB.[citation needed]
[edit] Books
101 Greatest Magic Secrets Exposed, Citadel (March 2002); ISBN
978-0806521541
All the Secrets of Magic Revealed: The Tricks and Illusions of the
World's Greatest Magicians, Lifetime Books, Inc. (March 11, 1997); ISBN
978-0811908221
More Magic Secrets", Lifetime Books, Inc. January 1997 ISBN 1890167002
John Lennon: Between the Lines", Lifetime Books, Inc. October 1997 ISBN
978-1890167011
Typing By Design", McGraw Hill. March 1982 ISBN 978-0028307602
[edit] References
^ "People Filing Results - HERBERT LAWRENCE BECKER".
http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/PeopleFilingResults.aspx?PersonID=3D33=
64150&PersonName=3DHERBERT%20LAWRENCE%20BECKER.
Retrieved 2009-07-14.
^ "John Lennon; Between the Lines". Line notes of book.
http://www.amazon.com/John-Lennon-Between-Lines-Magicweb/dp/1890167010/ref=
=3Dsr_1_1/181-5953099-1143222?ie=3DUTF8&s=3Dbooks&qid=3D1270614662&sr=3D1-=
1.
Retrieved 2009-07-08.
^ a b c "More Magic Secrets".
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/More-Magic-Secrets-Herbert-L-Becker/97=
81890167257-item.html.
Retrieved 2009-07-14.
^ 1977 Guinness Book page 467, second paragraph. Sterling Publishers
ISBN 0-8069-0016-4.
^ "America's top two magicians locked in bitter legal battle". New
Straits Times. 1997-08-01.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3DpGcWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3DShUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=
=3D3748,3145539.
Retrieved 2009-07-13.
^ "Copperfield Loses Court Bid to Keep Rabbits in the Hat". San Jose
Mercury News. 1994-09-01.
http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=3DSJ&s_site=3Dmercu=
rynews&p_multi=3DSJ&p_theme=3Drealcities&p_action=3Dsearch&p_maxdocs=3D200=
&p_topdoc=3D1&p_text_direct-0=3D0EB71D865BD14B80&p_field_direct-0=3Ddocume=
nt_id&p_perpage=3D10&p_sort=3DYMD_date:D&s_trackval=3DGooglePM.
Retrieved 2009-07-13.
^ "Magicweb to Present, Moderate and Exhibit at IPTV World Forum in
London, England". Marketwire.
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Magicweb-Inc-736930.html.
Retrieved 2009-07-08.
^ "Form 8-K for BARCLAY ROAD, INC.".
http://biz.yahoo.com/e/080925/bclr.pk8-k.html. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
[hide]v =E2=80=A2 d =E2=80=A2 eMagicians
Historical Alexander =C2=B7 Theodore Annemann =C2=B7 Carl Ballantine
=C2=B7 David (Fu Manchu) Bamberg =C2=B7 Tobias Bamberg =C2=B7 David
Berglas =C2=B7 Harry Blackstone, Jr. =C2=B7 Harry Blackstone, Sr. =C2=B7
J.B. Bobo =C2=B7 Kuda Bux =C2=B7 Chan Canasta =C2=B7 Cardini =C2=B7
Charles Joseph Carter =C2=B7 Tommy Cooper =C2=B7 Joseph Dunninger =C2=B7
Br. John Hamman =C2=B7 Doug Henning =C2=B7 Alexander Herrmann =C2=B7
Black Herman =C2=B7 Harry Houdini =C2=B7 Burling Hull =C2=B7 Harry
Kellar =C2=B7 Al Koran =C2=B7 Max Malini =C2=B7 John Nevil Maskelyne
=C2=B7 Jean Eug=C3=A8ne Robert-Houdin =C2=B7 Tony Slydini =C2=B7 Howard
Thurston =C2=B7 Dai Vernon =C2=B7 The Zancigs =C2=B7 Herb Zarrow
Contemporary Ed Alonzo =C2=B7 Criss Angel =C2=B7 Herbert L. Becker
=C2=B7 David Blaine =C2=B7 Derren Brown =C2=B7 Lance Burton =C2=B7 David
Copperfield =C2=B7 Rudy Coby =C2=B7 Paul Daniels =C2=B7 Dorothy Dietrich
=C2=B7 Ahmed El Bayed =C2=B7 Terry Evanswood =C2=B7 Lennart Green =C2=B7
Ricky Jay =C2=B7 Mac King =C2=B7 Hans Klok =C2=B7 Jeff McBride =C2=B7
Gopinath Muthukad =C2=B7 The Pendragons =C2=B7 James Randi =C2=B7
Siegfried & Roy =C2=B7 Jerry Sadowitz =C2=B7 Cyril Takayama =C2=B7 Juan
Tamariz =C2=B7 Penn & Teller =C2=B7 Val Valentino
By nationality American =C2=B7 Australian =C2=B7 Austrian =C2=B7
Bangladeshi =C2=B7 Belgian =C2=B7 British =C2=B7 Canadian =C2=B7 Dutch
=C2=B7 Finnish =C2=B7 French =C2=B7 German =C2=B7 Indian =C2=B7 Irish
=C2=B7 Israeli =C2=B7 Italian =C2=B7 New Zealand =C2=B7 Saudi Arabian
=C2=B7 Singaporean =C2=B7 Spanish =C2=B7 Swedish =C2=B7 Ukrainian
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_L._Becker"
Categories: Living people | 1956 births | American magicians
Hidden categories: Articles with hCards | All articles with unsourced
statements | Articles with unsourced statements from July 2009 |
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