CTW (Card Through Window) by David Forrest

Beyond his self-levitation, most lay-people seem to recall David Blaine’s "card through window" from his early television specials. The excellent “CTW” offers a two phase version of the effect that is powerful and relies on an innovative and clever gimmick. I thoroughly like this one and find it to be far better than Kevin Parker’s “Edge,” another card through window trick that we reviewed earlier.

The magician has a spectator select a card and then tears the corner and hands it to the spectator as a “receipt.” The spectator’s card disappears from the deck and is found to be taped onto the front of a nearby window. The magician shows that the missing corner on the taped card matches the corner (receipt) that the spectator has been holding.

Now for the second, killer phase of the trick. The magician fans some cards and holds it in front of the taped card. The taped card then disappears from the front of the glass and appears inside of the window. The spectators can run to the other side of the window and remove the card that is stuck inside. They’ll also find that the corner matches. This is fantastic.

The DVD walks you through the construction of the special gimmicks; displays live, on the street performances and includes materials required for the construction of the gimmicks inside the case. The DVD also has DVD-ROM features that allow you to use a PC to print out patterns that will assist you in making the gimmick.

This one takes some prior setup out of sight of spectators and the window where the card appears will have to initially be out of site as you begin the routine. The DVD also offers a pattern that allows you to create a “frame” that can be taped to a window. In this version, the penetration of the card occurs in the frame and allows you to begin the trick with the window that will be penetrated to be in view.

As a bonus, the DVD also teaches a good three-part false cut of a deck that allows you to secretly peek at the top card. This one is good and not that hard to learn and perform.

Kevin Parker’s “Edge” (click here to read our review) offers a similar effect where a magician places his hands on both sides of a glass door and causes a torn-off corner of a card to pass through the glass to the other side. It’s not as impressive as “CTW” or a standard card through window, but like CTW, it can be performed alone, and has one advantage in that it can be performed with no preparation.

If you’ve been wanting to perform “card through window,” definitely check out “CTW.” This one kicks glass.

-Wayne N. Kawamoto

Click here to watch a video.

MSRP: (US) $30

Dealers can purchase from Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.