Nomad Aces by Ed Marlo

The Legendary Hierophant by Jon Racherbaumer
Page 307 et seq.

Personal Comment: Actually good. I would take away the fake stuff in the beginning. It just arouses too much suspicion. More than you get "proof" later on in the routine in my humble opinion. Also, there is a lot to mess up, even if you make a minor mistake. As in most assembly routines. That is kind of a bad thing I guess. But if you wanna study how a routine should not be, even though it is good. Study this one.

Difficulty: 4/5

This is a Four King Trick by Ed Marlo

The Legendary Hierophant by Jon Racherbaumer
Page 300 et seq.
also
Marlo's Magazine Volume 1
Page 59 et seq.

Personal Comment: What does the title of the trick have to do with the trick? Very, very little. Only two kings... it's like false advertisement. I assumed something in my book was wrong. It feels so unresolved. Good would have been if the black aces would also turn into the black kings. So why is this published the way it is? Food for thought!


Difficulty: 2/5

Bluff Sandwich by Ed Marlo

The Legendary Hierophant by Jon Racherbaumer
Page 192

Personal Comment: If you read the method you are all like "no way" if you try it you all like "no way".... It is deceptive, even thoug you wouldn't believe it at first glance. Is it any good because of it. No way! There are far better Sandwich routines out there. Most even by Mr. Marlo himself.

Difficulty: 2/5

"Trite" But All Right by Ed Marlo

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 8, Number 1 January 1985
Page 1010 et seq.

Personal Comment: Sorry, but this is a pipe dream. An eight for four pipe dream. And it is needlessly complicated. I'm sure Mr. Marlo would get away with this, and even other top card men. Yet this should not be in the book. This is clearly a filler item. I don't like it, even though the effect is strong. If you want a four for four change you better check out different sources. Phil Goldstein comes to mind.

Difficulty 4/5

That Joker! by Ed Marlo

The Cardician by Ed Marlo 1953

Page 10 et seq.



Personal Comment: Great quick trick. I own a Hat. Why not do tricks with it? Easy to do stuff. Lovely. Seems like a trick that could be in Tarbell. I agree with what is said in the book. The tossing of the card into the hat is important. A simple DL won't do it. The disconnect, the letting go of the card, that makes it seem so impossible. There are angle issues. And if the situation is not right... well then don't do it. But if you gonna do a transposition, why not include the hat?



Difficulty 2/5

OverWELM by Randy Wakeman, Doug Edwards, Harry Lorayne and Ed Marlo

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 12, Number 12 December 1989
Page 1717 et seq.

Personal Comment: An Ace production. Basically it all boils down to the moment where the Aces are produced. Doug Edwards, Randy Wakeman and Harry Lorayne each offer solutions of how to get into the setup needed for this. I didn't like either one. That doesn't mean that they aren't good, it just means, they are so personal that I cannot see me doing them. So I made up this version, which is my own. But unlike Mr. Lorayne who loves to see his own name in print, I wouldn't want to add me to the credits. The idea of turning the packets face down prior to the production to hide where the cards are coming from is Ed Marlo's contribution.

The production is one I have used on many occasions. But I do it slightly differently. Let me explain. Instead of getting two of the aces in the center holding a break above them, I just cut them to the bottom. Then I split the deck in two and in the act of separating the hands I turn the former bottom half face up. It will look like nothing has changed. Then I do the production and all is well. It has served me well over the years.

Difficulty 4/5

You Can Always Do Better by Edward Marlo

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 6, Number 2 February 1983
Page 738 et seq.

Personal Comment: Based on Marlo's own Ace-X-Ace (from Hierophant) this is his own improvement. I do not feel that it is an improvement, but do feel that the effect is really for magicians. Why bother with all the trouble (especially the setup) when you can do a straight on Sandwich or even a delayed Sandwich. I don't get it. To me it seems not to matter from a layman's point of view. But then again I stopped being a layman a long time ago. Maybe I'm wrong.

Difficulty 3/5

Over Here, Of Course! by Edward Marlo

The Legendary Hierophant by Jon Racherbaumer
Page 319 et seq.

Personal Comment: So this is Ed Marlo's version of "Where has it Gone" by Hideo Kato in terms of effect and method is is much closer to the original version and boring as hell. But I can see why. The whole routine was designed to fool magicians. And as such it should be treated. Don't torture your audience with this.

Difficulty: 2/5

The Delayed Sandwich by Edward Marlo

The Legendary Hierophant by Jon Racherbaumer
Page 199

Personal Comment: I like Sandwich effects. I certainly do. So naturally I have to like this one, as the final sqare up and spread can be done by the audience. And it is easy too.

Difficulty: 1/5

Have Another Sandwich by Edward Marlo

The Legendary Hierophant by Jon Racherbaumer
Page 200 et seq. March 1970

Personal Comment: There is a time and a place for everything. But the times and places for this trick are limited. The angles are not good on this one, but the method is certainly workable. Do I like it? Nope, yet I can see quite a few magicians with "huge" hands turning this into a full routine.

Difficulty: 4/5

All You Have To Do Is Watch by Edward Marlo

The Legendary Hierophant by Jon Racherbaumer
Page 173 et seq. March 1970

Personal Comment: Well it's collectors without selection. I see a serious advantage concerning the pace. As no selection is taken there is no "deader time". ("Dead time" is time where no magic effect happens. "Deader time" is the time where not even stuff happens that would lead to the magic effect.) Personally I love this in terms of method. Really straight forward and easy to get in to. And because the deuces appear face down within the face up collectors the feeling of separation is still maintained. I think.


Difficulty: 3/5

A Quickie and Exhibitionism by Edward Marlo

The Legendary Hierophant by Jon Racherbaumer
A Quickie Page 394 (1970)
Exhibitionism Page 395 (1971)

Personal Comment: Really easy and somehow this does resonate with the audience. Certainly not on magical level, but on a "Dude you are skilled!"-level. I like it. And it is impromptu FASDIU So what more could one want. Both of these tricks build on top of each others, as the second time the audience may cut the deck, which is strong as you seemingly lose control even more. I like it.

Difficulty: 1/5