Back in the day—September 2-6, 1982, to be precise—history was made in a rather unassuming filming studio in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Dai Vernon, the grandmaster of magic, had his life and tricks recorded for posterity. This little gem was inspired by Bill Larsen and brought to life by the folks at Videonics, led by the one and only Hans Zahn. Co-hosting this magic extravaganza were the illustrious Michael Ammar, Gary Ouellet, and Steve Freeman.
L & L Publishing has taken that original footage, kicked it into high gear with digital remastering, and slapped it on 8 DVDs. This means you can not only see and hear the Professor in action but also pass it down through generations (yep, even to your great-grandkids who’ll be scratching their heads over the whole magic thing).
Here are some of the highlights you won't want to miss:
- The format is like a jam session, with Vernon chatting about his tricks, moves, and routines while holding court like a true legend.
- Every trick and technique is either performed by Vernon himself or one of his co-hosts, complete with full explanations (not just a vague wave of the hand).
- Half of the material is from the published record; the other half? New stuff that was disclosed for the first time (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, or at least before smartphones).
- Vernon spills the beans on important new techniques for his classic tricks, including some juicy updates on the famous Stars of Magic effects.
- World-renowned routines like the Coins in Champagne Glass and Fred Kaps Coins and Silk (the one he taught to Kaps) make their grand debut.
- Vernon’s lifelong obsession with Erdnase techniques gets plenty of airtime—seriously, it’s a big deal.
The whole point of these videos was to capture Vernon live, letting future magicians experience the man himself (and not just his Instagram stories).
No magician worth their salt should miss these DVDs. Dai Vernon was the Dean of modern magic, and his wisdom is packed into these tapes. Plus, now that it’s on DVD, you get: Superior Picture Quality, Dolby Digital Sound, Interactive Menus that whisk you to every trick and explanation with just a click of your remote (take that, VHS!), and it’s multi-region for all you globe-trotters out there.
Volume 13
Gary Ouellet Intro
The Drunken Mitt
How to Tell Backs from Fronts by Feel Alone
Tips on the Overhand Shuffle
The Erdnase Full-Deck Control
The Vernon Full-Deck Control
The Charlier False Shuffle
The Push Through Shuffle
The Strip Out Shuffle
Vernon Gives Tips on the Push-Through Shuffle
The Kid Royal Shuffle
The Up the Ladder False Cut
Up the Ladder used in Triumph
Volume 14
Vernon - Three Card Monte
Ammar - Beanie Wienie, Cards to Pocket
Ouellet - Three Shell Game
Freeman - Time Machine, Cutting the Aces, Slow Motion Ace Assembly
Ammar - The $2 Bill Tear, The Yeast Card, Card on Ceiling
Ouellet - Kiss Trick, Ring on Rope
Ammar - Coins & Silk
Ouellet - Silver Passage
Ammar - Roll-Over Aces
Ouellet - The Two Goblets
Vernon - Symphony of the Rings
Volume 15
Gary Ouellet Intro
Why Vernon Changed his Name
How he Got the Name "Professor"
Interest in Magic Since a Young Boy
Enjoyed Watching Gamblers
Talks About Erdnase
Vernon's Favourite Book: Erdnase
School Magic Show
No Use of the Word Damn or Egg Bag
Great Weakness of Magician
Meeting Cliff Green
Producing a Card in the Shower
First Time Seeing Max Malini
Malini Egg Bag - Russia Story
Malini at the GM party
Malini Card Stab
Antique Table Story
Advice from Malini
Malini's Best Tricks Were Never Performed
Malini's Vanishing Tobacco
Malini's Opener
Malini at Buckingham Palace
