The infamous card trick known as the Chicago Opener has roots that can be traced back to Al Leech's brainchild, initially dubbed Hot Card Trick No. 1, before being rebranded as Red Hot Mama. This trick took the magic scene by storm, quickly becoming a staple for many performers, with Frank Everhart and Jim Ryan often getting mixed up in the credit game (don’t worry, we won’t call them out). Everhart’s rendition appeared in a Frank Garcia book as Chicago Opener, while Ryan’s version strutted its stuff in Phil Wilmarth’s book on Ryan’s magic as Red Hot Mama.
Regardless of its tangled origins, it has remained one of the rare miracles of card magic – a show-stopping effect that's surprisingly easy to pull off. Here’s the scoop: the magician makes a freely-chosen card change its back colour (let’s say it goes from blue to red) and plops it on the table. Then, in a classic magician’s twist, another card is picked, but this time the second attempt flops – no second red card appears! But fear not, our magician hero flips over the first red card, revealing that it’s now transformed into the second selection. Ta-da!
This DVD brings together a bunch of world-class performers showcasing their own spins on this marvellous piece of card wizardry. First up, Bill Malone presents a mentalism twist on this classic, while Michael Close throws in some laughs with his own hilarious (and astonishing) version, complete with a unique method. Michael Ammar has two handlings for his beloved iteration of Red Hot Mama and also covers the traditional approach, just like Daryl, who adds some nifty finesses to the mix. And for a grand finale, Dan Fleshman spices things up with a jaw-dropping Card to Wallet kicker. Because why not?
There’s a reason why this effect has been a go-to for professional card magicians since it first hit the shelves in 1950 – it's an absolute killer! So, whether you prefer calling it Red Hot Mama or Chicago Opener, if you fancy keeping an audience entertained with a deck of cards, this trick is a must-learn. And trust me, you won’t find a better resource than the performances and explanations on this DVD!
- Mind Reading Magician - Bill Malone
- The Dumbest Casino in the World - Michael Close
- Bluefield Debut - Michael Ammar
- Bluefield Debut 2 - Michael Ammar
- Chicago Opener - Daryl
- Momma in My Wallet - Dan Fleshman
- Red Hot Mama - Michael Ammar
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