When you sift through the annals of magic, you’ll find the name Dr. Jacob Daley popping up like a cheeky rabbit from a hat, especially when it comes to card tricks. Dr. Daley wasn’t just any old doctor; he was a New York plastic surgeon who moonlighted as a magician, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Dai Vernon, Charlie Miller, and Al Baker. Not only was he a whiz with sleight-of-hand, but he also conjured original routines that graced the pages of Stars of Magic and Annemann's Practical Mental Effects. Tragically, he passed away in 1954 at the tender age of 56, but not before dazzling everyone with an idea that would live on: the transposition of the red Aces with the black ones, lovingly immortalised by Dai Vernon in The Dai Vernon Book of Magic as The Last Trick of Dr. Jacob Daley.
On this DVD, prepare to be entertained by six talented performers, each presenting their spin on Dr. Daley’s classic. They kick off with the fundamental yet powerful premise of two pairs of cards miraculously swapping places right under the noses (and possibly the hands) of a spectator. Bill Malone starts us off with the version he learned as a teenager, and let me tell you, it's as straightforward and impactful as they come. Daryl takes a detour through a card count typically used for a different trick to make his handling smoother than a well-aged whiskey. Next up, Gregory Wilson wows with a two-phase routine that sets the stage for an unsuspecting spectator before the jaw-dropping transposition. Dan Harlan gets his audience involved in a guessing game before pulling the rug out from under them. Michael Ammar keeps it traditional, adding some delightful nuances, while Martin Nash cleverly disguises the transposition within a card game. Sneaky!
When two objects magically swap places, it’s a real head-scratcher. But when it unfolds right in the spectators’ sweaty palms, the reactions are nothing short of electric! With the brilliant performances and crystal-clear explanations on this DVD, you’ll be well-equipped to pull off the impossible with just four playing cards!
Dr. Daley's Last Trick - Bill Malone The Last Trick of Dr. Daley - Daryl Weighted Aces - Gregory Wilson Intuition - Dan Harlan The Last Trick of Dr. Daley - Michael Ammar Dr. Daley's Last Trick - Martin Nash
