Monthly Update #26 (February 2025)
I share a new variation of "Revolving Aces", also known as "Emerald Isle Aces", and reflect on how magicians are depicted in mass media and popular culture.
Welcome to the delayed February 2025 Monthly Update for Marty’s Magic Ruseletter. This month, I spent most of my spare time exploring the concept behind the Christ Force, invented by New York magician Henry Christ, not Jesus! (Henry’s surname actually rhymes with “twist” or “missed”.) I’ve been experimenting with the so-called “203rd Force” for a long time; it’s one of the best “direct line” forcing procedures ever invented. I first heard Max Maven use the term “direct line force” during the Essential Magic Conference (EMC) several years ago. He used this phrase to describe any technique that employs a straightforward method to force a card on a spectator, such as spreading the cards for a selection or, in this particular case, cutting to a card at random. I love the Christ Force and will publish more tricks based on it soon.
I’ve also been reflecting on the broader cultural presence and impact of magic and magicians in popular culture. It’s fascinating to observe how the art of illusion is depicted by mass media. From the silver screen to the glowing box in our living rooms, magicians and their craft are woven into grand narratives that shape the public perception of magic, often in ways that both intrigue and, at times, misrepresent the art form. In this update, I discuss some of these portrayals, exploring how films, television shows, and literature construct the image of the magician while considering what these depictions mean for those of us who practice the art in the real world. Are we all mysterious figures with hidden agendas, or simply entertainers seeking to evoke wonder?! Let’s explore the captivating, sometimes confounding world of magic as seen through the lens of popular culture.
Satanic Sorcery! 👿
Reading time: 9 minutes
I’ve finally finished the third edition of Tricks, Tricks & More Tricks: Satanic Sorcery. In this regular Ruseletter column, I explore seven card tricks inspired by legends and folklore involving encounters with the Devil in disguise. The full article is exclusive to paid subscribers, but I’ve made the first half available (including the write-ups for three of the tricks) for everyone to read.
Considering the theme of these tricks, you should be cautious about whom you perform them for, as discussions of pacts with the Devil and losing one’s soul to Satan may upset or disturb individuals who are deeply religious or spiritual.
However, if you are a fan of this peculiar style of bizarre magick presentation, you might also appreciate the blog articles I have written about folklore, such as the migratory legend “The Card Players and the Devil”. In the future, I will write more about folktales and legends like this one, and how you can use them to make your magic more engaging, entertaining and memorable.
Emerald Isle Aces ☘
Reading time: 11 minutes
You can also read the fourth installment of Corrupting the Classics, in which I share a new variation of Herb Zarrow’s “Revolving Aces” (based on the same principle behind the Christ Force).
In May 1961, an excellent Ace-cutting card trick titled “Emerald Isle Aces” was featured in Genii Magazine. Credited to the Canadian magician Dai Vernon, the trick received its evocative name in honour of his purported Irish heritage. (This entire issue of Genii was a special edition celebrating the magic of Ireland; most of the content was compiled and written by Irish magician Hubert Lambert.) However, this trick did not originate with Vernon; it was, in fact, the invention of American magician Herb Zarrow and was published in Harry Lorayne’s Close-Up Card Magic (1962) under the title “Revolving Aces” (see pages 98-100). It was mistakenly attributed to Vernon by Hubert Lambert owing to a communication error with Faucett Ross. This mistake went uncorrected for 28 years! In 1989, Stephen Minch set the record straight in The Vernon Chronicles: Further Lost Inner Secrets, correctly stating that the trick originated with Herb Zarrow, not Dai Vernon.
Years ago, I inadvertently reinvented “Revolving Aces” while experimenting with The Christ Force, which Ted Annemann called “The 203rd Force”. Essentially, this method involves repeating this force four times consecutively. It wasn’t until I read about the routine in Close-Up Card Magic that I realised Herb Zarrow had beaten me to the punch by well over forty years! I also began exploring the idea of finding a Royal Flush instead of the four Aces. Once again, I discovered that Zarrow had already struck upon the same basic idea; see “Revolving Royal Flush” in Zarrow: A Lifetime in Magic by David Ben (2008).
However, I think I have now devised a variation worthy of publication. I’ve designed it in such a way as to create a playful, interactive dynamic between you and a spectator. The presentation is similar in tone to the one used by Chad Long in his modern classic “Shuffling Lesson”—you challenge a spectator to cut to the four Aces and, initially, they appear to fail. However, they end the routine on top, managing to locate both the four Aces and a Royal Flush in Spades! You could describe this plot as “spectator in trouble” because it resembles the well-worn “magician in trouble” one. The biggest issue with “magician in trouble” is that it isn’t particularly convincing, especially if the performer isn’t a good actor. However, the same problem doesn’t hold with the “spectator in trouble” plot because there’s no expectation that a layperson can perform magic or sleight of hand.
Here’s what happens: the four Aces are placed in different parts of the deck. You demonstrate to the spectator what you want them to do by cutting to the Ace of Spades. The spectator fails to locate an ace three times in succession, instead discovering the King, Queen, and Jack of Spades. With a flourish, you reveal the Ten of Spades face up in the deck to complete a Royal Flush in Spades! Remarkably, the spectator then successfully cuts to the three remaining Aces, bringing the routine to a mind-blowing conclusion!
Having Scottish, Welsh, and English heritage, I’ve chosen to take a leaf out of Hubert Lambert’s book and name my variation “Albion Aces” to celebrate my connection to the British Isles (Albion is the ancient name for Great Britain).
Magic at the Movies 🎬
One aspect that has always fascinated me is how magicians and magic are portrayed in literature, television, and cinema. Mass media often depict them as mysterious and charismatic figures capable of defying reality through clever tricks and illusions. Depending on the narrative, they frequently appear as flamboyant entertainers in classic top hats and tails, emphasising the showmanship and spectacle of magic and illusion. Notable examples include the classic stage magician archetype in films such as The Illusionist (2006) and The Prestige (2006), as well as more contemporary depictions like the Now You See Me series (2013, 2016, 2025), where we encounter an eccentric team of magicians with a rebellious edge. Additionally, films like Houdini (1953), starring Tony Curtis, and The Great Buck Howard (2008) showcase the struggles and triumphs of real-life and fictional stage performers, further romanticising the art of illusion.
Alternatively, magicians may be portrayed as powerful, sometimes even sinister, individuals possessing supernatural abilities. For instance, Jafar in Aladdin (1992) and Saruman in The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003) wield dark magical powers that enable them to manipulate reality and dominate others. They might be depicted as villains using their skills for criminal or malicious purposes, which creates suspense and intrigue, such as in The Mad Magician (1954), where a betrayed illusionist turns to murder. Other films, such as Lord of Illusions (1995), blend magic with horror and noir elements. In fantasy, magicians may be represented as powerful wizards whose magical abilities are often tied to ancient lore or mystical practices, like Merlin in Excalibur (1981) or the many wizards and witches of the Harry Potter franchise (2001-2011).
Rightly or wrongly, magicians are frequently ridiculed and serve as comedic relief in movies. Humorous portrayals of magicians often highlight the absurdity of their tricks and the persona they embody when performing their illusions. Films like The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013) and Magic Camp (2020) showcase bumbling or egotistical magicians whose antics provide laughter rather than awe. Even animated films, such as The Sword in the Stone (1963), depict magicians in a whimsical light, with Merlin’s playful rivalry with Madam Mim serving as a source of lighthearted comedy.
Why is all this important? Well, these characters from popular culture influence how the public perceives magicians and magic when they encounter them in real life. Therefore, it is wise to watch as many of these films as possible—regardless of their quality—if you perform magic. Doing so can also offer you inspiration and ideas for your own magical performances.
One of my favourite films in this genre is Magic (1978), a psychological horror-thriller directed by Richard Attenborough (yes, the old guy from Jurassic Park) and starring Anthony Hopkins (famous for his depiction of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs), Ann-Margret, and Burgess Meredith. The film follows Corky Withers, a struggling magician who finds success as a ventriloquist with his foul-mouthed dummy, Fats. However, as Corky’s career rises, so do his psychological troubles, and it becomes unclear whether Fats is merely a puppet or a manifestation of Corky’s fractured and disturbed mind. Fleeing from his past, Corky reunites with a childhood love, Peggy, but his descent into madness threatens to consume them both. Blending psychological horror with a chilling character study, Magic explores themes of obsession, mental instability, and the thin line between reality and illusion. It is the perfect inspiration for performers like Rob Zabrecky, who are interested in magic’s more disturbing and macabre side.
Do you have a favourite magic movie? Reply to this email or post it in the comments section in Substack to let me know.
Magic on the Small Screen 📺
If you remain observant, you will also notice that magic is frequently employed as a plot device or trope in many popular television shows. In this context, a trope refers to a common, recurring, or stereotypical character, situation, setting, or theme often utilised within a specific genre. It serves as a storytelling device akin to an audiovisual “figure of speech”—similar to a common cliché or rhetorical device—used as a shortcut for illustrating something the storyteller can reasonably expect the audience to recognise. A whole website, TV Tropes, is dedicated to analysing this aspect of popular culture. This wiki is a helpful resource for magicians who wish to explore various aspects of their performance persona or character.
Recently, I’ve been revisiting the earlier series of Death in Paradise, a cosy crime drama produced by the BBC set on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie. While I don’t remember watching an episode featuring a magician as a character, I did notice a few references to magic. Firstly, in Lost Identity (Series 5, Episode 5), it is revealed that Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman, played by Kris Marshall, performed card tricks as a young boy for his aunt. At the end of the episode, he struggles several times to find a chosen card. This aligns with his clumsy, goofy character and reflects a common stereotype that suggests people who learn magic when they’re young do so because they’re socially inept or awkward.
In The Stakes Are High (Series 7, Episode 2), Detective Inspector Jack Mooney, portrayed by Ardal O’Hanlon, attempts (and fails spectacularly) to learn sleight of hand while investigating the murder of a high-stakes poker player. Mooney tries to discover how the murderer introduced a poison-laced playing card into the game without anyone noticing by consulting a book on magic for beginners. After struggling to shoot cards from his sleeve, he concludes that sleight of hand is more challenging than it appears. This, once again, reinforces—or reflects—the common belief that magicians and card cheats hide cards up their sleeves. Of course, we do, but not as often as people think!
As a child of the 1980s—a decade awash in neon hues and synth-driven soundtracks—one of the earliest and most vividly imprinted depictions of magic on my young mind wasn’t from Narnia or Middle-earth, but from the electrifying, techno-magic world of He-Man and The Masters of the Universe. This wasn’t the subtle sleight of hand or elegant illusions of a classic conjurer; it was a world where magic was raw power, crackling with energy, often manifested as laser beams and shimmering force fields. A muscle-bound hero wielding a sword imbued with mystical might battled a skeletal sorcerer of dark magic! “By the Power of Grayskull. I have the power!” remains a favourite magical incantation of mine!
In He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, magic is portrayed as a powerful, often mysterious force wielded by beings like He-Man, the Sorceress, and Orko—my favourite character as a child, second only to He-Man. Magic is typically connected to the mystical power of Castle Grayskull and the Pool of Power. It’s often combined with technology, such as He-Man’s Sword of Power, to enhance or focus it. It is also interesting to note that He-Man frequently uses his sword like a magician or wizard might use a wand or staff.
With their blend of science fiction and fantasy, the He-Man cartoons (as well as the action figures and comics) present magic as a tangible force in delicate balance with the advanced technology of Eternia—a far cry from the card tricks and coin vanishes we practice. This early exposure to magic as a larger-than-life spectacle undoubtedly shaped my perception of what magic could be and perhaps planted the seed for my fascination with the power of illusion to transport an audience to a world far beyond the ordinary.
I’m sure I’ll return to this fascinating topic. Perhaps it deserves a longer article or blog post?
Well, that’s it for another month.
Yours Magically,
Marty