Review: Close Up Magic #1 (World's Greatest Magic)

L&L's "World's Greatest Magic" DVDs compile routines from the instructional videos of famous magicians and each title follows a theme. As the name implies, this DVD features close-up, non-playing card routines taught by well known performers such Bill Malone, Michael Ammar, Bob Read, Bruce Cervon, Flip and Glen Falkenstein. This is the first in a set of three great titles.

Not Getting Burned

Bruce Cervon teaches "Hanky Panky," his strong version of an Al Koran effect. You wrap a coin in a borrowed handkerchief and then, using some matches, burn a hole in the handkerchief.

The handkerchief magically restores itself to its pre-burned condition. You end the effect by producing a series of coins, and then a cigarette and lighter. You end with the surprising production of a wineglass full of liquid. Very cool.

In "Ball and a Tube," Glen Falkenstein teaches a good routine using the well known dealer item. Here, a ball that is too big to fit into a tube continually descends into and rises out of the tube. At the end, the ball takes on a life of its own when wrapped in a handkerchief.

Michael Ammar, in "Self-Folding Bill," teaches you how to make a bill seemingly fold itself as you hold it in your hand - a stunning animation effect.

Bob Read teaches his Transpo Tumbler, a gambling style effect where a ball of paper can be found under a tumbler that's covered in newspaper or a hat. At the end, it's the glass that mysteriously travels - a surprising and jaw-dropping conclusion. This one was taught on Read's "mpromptu Miracles of Bob Read, The Lost Footage."

"Stay at Home Coins" is a coin routine where four coins travel, one-by-one into a tiny box and then vanish. This is Mark Leveridge's routine with an Okito box (actually, it's the "Boston" version), an item that you’ll need to purchase from your magic dealer. I liked Flip's linking and unlinking safety pins that relies on no gimmicked pins.

Rub-a-Dub

In "Rub-a-Dub-Dub/Cups and Balls," Bill Malone performs and teaches an excellent Cups and Balls routine that relies on an entertaining poem and uses a toy set of cups and balls.

Unlike the other World's Greatest Magic DVDs that tend to focus on an area of magic, this close-up collection features a wide variety of effects. I like the mix and you can learn an entire close-up routine on this DVD.

MSRP: (US) $19.95

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