The card trick affectionately known as the Chicago Opener has a bit of a jumbled backstory. It all kicked off with Al Leech's original brainchild, Hot Card Trick No. 1, which later got a snappier name: Red Hot Mama. This trick took the magic world by storm, with many performers—most notably Frank Everhart and Jim Ryan—quickly adding it to their sets. (Both gents sometimes get credit for the creation, but let’s not get bogged down in trivia.)
Despite its slightly muddled origins, this gem remains one of card magic’s standout effects—a true miracle that’s surprisingly easy to pull off. Here’s the deal: the magician makes a freely-chosen card change its back colour (let’s say from blue to red), which is then placed on the table. The magician then claims he can repeat the trick with a second card. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t work out—no second red card to be found. But fear not! The magician flips over the first red card, revealing that it has transformed into the second selection. Ta-da!
On this DVD, you'll get to meet some world-class performers each with their own quirky spins on this delightful card routine. Bill Malone kicks things off with a mentalism twist on this classic, while Michael Close serves up a side-splitting—and equally jaw-dropping—presentation with an original method to boot. Michael Ammar offers not one but two interpretations of his version of Red Hot Mama, plus he teaches the traditional handling. Daryl also jumps in with his own take, adding some essential finesse. And if that wasn’t enough, Dan Fleshman spices things up with a killer Card to Wallet kicker, because why not?
There's a reason this effect has been a staple in professional card magicians' repertoires since its debut in 1950—it’s a belter of a trick. So, whether you're calling it Red Hot Mama or Chicago Opener, if you fancy dazzling an audience with a deck of cards, this is a trick you need in your toolkit. Trust us, you'll find no better guide than the performances and explanations packed into 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
