Chris Philpott's French Postcards puts a cheeky twist on Paul Curry's classic Out of this World.
“A brilliant Out of this World experience! When Chris did this for me, I had one of those "*^%$@ why didn't I think of that?" moments. Presentational gold!” -Steve Valentine
In a recent eyebrow-raising study out of Cornell University, it was discovered that participants could predict whether an image would pop up on the left or right side of a screen—if, and only if, those images were of a certain adult nature!
So, to put this theory to the test, you present 12 postcards from various destinations and 12 vintage French postcards (think elegant, sepia-toned nudes with just the right amount of class). The cards are shuffled, and then, without peeking, a spectator sorts them by sensing whether a card has a bit of sexual energy or not. Spoiler alert: the outcomes are spot on!
This effect includes 24 specially designed postcards, straightforward written instructions, and links to video guides, updates, extra effects, plus a bonus comedy script by professional funnyman and magician Bruce Gold. You’ll also get Jon Armstrong's "Out of this Blah Blah Blah," which is, quite frankly, the slickest OOTW handling you'll find!
“Finally, a reason to do Out of this World that holds attention from start to finish. With French Postcards, they'll never forget you!” -Steve Valentine
What Makes French Postcards a Must-Have:
Paul Curry's Out of this World (first revealed in 1942) is rightfully hailed as one of the all-time great card tricks. The premise is clear and seems utterly impossible: a spectator uses their intuition to separate red cards from black ones. It’s powerful, empowering, and, crucially, easy to do...
But let’s be honest, it’s not the perfect trick. What do audiences actually see? Just someone sorting 52 bits of cardstock into two piles. Not magic, mate—more like filing!
While countless versions of OOTW have been churned out, most miss the mark on what really matters: how do you inject some excitement into someone sorting cards?
By swapping out playing cards for French Postcards, you achieve several key benefits:
- More entertaining. In "French Postcards," your volunteer isn’t just figuring out if the card is red or black—they're sensing if it feels sexy or not. Instantly, it becomes far more interesting, engaging, and yes, funnier. You won’t need to crack a single joke—the situation itself is comedy gold (though Bruce Gold's script is a riot if you fancy a few quips).
- More real. Given that the premise is based on an actual study, it makes the effect more believable and relevant—this can evoke laughter and even tears from spectators (you’ll see both in the trailer).
- Better visibility: the postcards are larger and easier for your audience to see. They come in two orientations (vertical and horizontal) and feature distinct colour palettes (reddish versus bluish) to enhance visibility. Visually, they’re far more captivating than standard playing cards.
- More fooling. The size of the postcards makes sleight of hand seem far-fetched, cutting off one possible explanation for how this trick is done.
And the best part? With all these advantages, French Postcards is just as easy as the original effect.
QUOTES:
“Love these! What a fun, creative spin on a classic!”
- Charlie Frye
“Chris Philpott's French Postcards is the best presentation of Out of this World I have ever seen, and the most 'magic for the buck' I have ever purchased!”
- Bob Meigs
(Five Stars) "This is a wonderful update to the classic Paul Curry plot, Out of This World. I very highly recommend this product!"
- Dr. J. M. Ayala de Cedoz, My Lovely Assistant
“Great, great, great reimagining of Out of This World! I love this routine!”
- Andy Hofer
“With French Postcards, Chris tells a compelling story in just a few sentences. Once interest has been generated, he then puts the participant INTO the tale. This is a brilliant combination and, along with being a retelling of a classic, is why the effect garners such strong reactions.”
- Bill Cushman
“French Postcards has a great hook, a justification, a clever prop, and an intriguing involvement of the spectator.”
- Simon Aronson
“It looked to me just how the real thing it might look and that's not something I see that often.”
- Sean Giles
“I've just used French Postcards at a gig tonight during that: 'show us something different moment'. WOW what great reactions! Can't thank you enough!”
- Graham Lowery
“They're friggin fantastic! It takes an amazing effect with a boring premise, flips it, makes it interesting and can engage a lot more people. An incredible effect!”
- Mystery Arts Inc.
“What a practical and brilliant idea to elevate a great effect even higher.”
- Tom Jorgenson
“The best version of the best card effect ever!”
- Rob Maron
