Monthly Update #43 (July 2026)
Three presentations for the same trick and the return of Hidden Gems. đ
Welcome to the July monthly update for Martyâs Magic Ruseletter. Weâre experiencing our fourth heatwave this year in the UK at the moment. đ British people make it a national pastime to moan about the weather. We complain about the cold and rain, then also complain when itâs hot and sunny. Nothing makes us happy! It doesnât help that most of our buildings are not designed to cope with extreme heat. I digress.
Apart from my concerns about global warming, I try to enjoy the hot weather while it lasts, although it does induce a little mental fatigue in me when I try to write or think about magic in such a tropical climate (weâre experiencing unusually high humidity and night-time temperatures). đ„” These changes also wreak havoc on the condition of my playing cards, so I keep my better-quality packs safely stored away when the air gets so humid. I heard that putting a bent or bowed deck in the freezer for a short period can help restore the cards to their original flat condition; Iâve never tried it, so I wouldnât do it with your rarest, most expensive decks.
This month, I managed to finish writing several new card tricks, which I shared in a new blog post, âFolk Song, True Crime or Nursery Rhyme?â, on developing more than one presentation for the same core method (in this case, the Automatic Placement, as named and popularised by Ed Marlo).
Iâve also decided to reboot my regular Ruseletter column, Hidden Gems đâIâve unlocked it for everyone using the link below.
Easy Does It #12: Gamblerâs Lament
If you missed it, I published another edition of Easy Does It. This time, I share a fun semi-automatic card trick called âGamblerâs Lamentâ. I also discuss my reasons for developing what turned out to be a very quirky presentation inspired by Appalachian mountain magic, a traditional folk song called âJack oâ Diamondsâ (or âRye Whiskeyâ), and an old English nursery rhyme about counting magpies!
New on MBOT: Folk Song, True Crime or Nursery Rhyme?
Process-heavy card tricks have a problem: if you donât justify the procedure, your audience assumes the process is the methodâand theyâre usually right. You canât always disguise the mechanics of a trick, so, in most cases, you might as well highlight them. As the saying goes, if you canât hide something, paint it red. đđš
In my latest blog post, building on the foundation of âGamblerâs Lamentâ, I paint a nearly three-hundred-year-old mathematical principle in three different colours, telling stories of an Appalachian folk song, the Axeman of New Orleans, and a much-loved British nursery rhyme, this time about stolen tarts.
All three are semi-automatic, fairly easy to perform, and completely free to learn. (A fourth is hidden at the end for the most dedicated of Ruseletter readers.) Along the way, I run each routine through Alex Elmsleyâs âfishermanâs analogyââhook them, play them, land them. đŁ
The Return of Hidden Gems đ
When I first started writing the Ruseletter, I had plans to publish a monthly column called Hidden Gems, digging up tricks that deserved more attention than they originally got. I only managed to write two editions of the column before it died, largely because I was also trying to write detailed magic reviews of new magic releases on my blogâa stupid thing to do in retrospect.
These days, Iâm not sure whether magic reviews, mine included, do more harm than good. Magic reviewers are partly responsibleâalong with magic creators, producers, dealers and customersâfor the over-commercialisation of magic as a hobby.
However, the issue isnât that new magic is inherently bad, or that magic reviewers are all dishonest or unethicalâitâs the crazy churn rate. So much new stuff comes out that good material gets buried within a couple of weeks of its release. It has nothing to do with the quality of the tricks. Magic reviews tend to focus on these new releases, so they speed up this ridiculous churn rate rather than slowing it down.
None of which means you shouldnât buy thingsâhalf the fun of being an amateur magician is playing with an ingenious prop or gimmick, reading a new book, watching a video download or opening a fresh pack of cards (mmm, that new deck smell!). But the thing that actually makes you better isnât your next purchase; itâs the practice, rehearsal and performance of something you already own. Concentrating on a single trick, practising it properly, and eventually building it into other routines to form an act will do more for your progress as a magician than a dozen you play with once, then throw into your magic junk drawerâwe all have one of those, right?
So Hidden Gems is back, providing recommendations that donât rely on buying and reviewing new releases, but on digging out the good stuff that got buried.
This month: âHarlequinâ by Eric Jonesâa fast, visual sandwich effect with a kicker ending that I donât think gets talked about nearly enough. Iâve had it for years, and itâs going back into my working repertoire. I also get into how to combine it with other sandwich routines to build something with a stronger theatrical structure, which is where most of the value lies.
If youâre not yet a paying subscriber, consider this a preview issue (the link below bypasses the paywall). Paid subscribers get every instalment of Hidden Gems, along with all the other member-only perks. Free readers get the even-numbered editions (my freeven model of publication).
One last thing. Eric has been seriously unwell for the best part of a year, and is currently being assessed for open-heart surgery. If youâd like to help, you can donate via GoFundMeâthe campaign is within a few thousand dollars of its target. Iâve written more about what heâs been through in âHidden Gems #3â (another reason Iâve made this issue free to all). Thinking of you, Eric. I hope your recovery is going well.
Three Videos Worth Watching
And, as usual, here are three videos worth watching. đș
Spread Sandwich
Duration: 1 minute
Hereâs a lovely idea by Italian magician Giacomo Bigliardi (heâs also a journalist and writes for One Ahead). The disappearance of the two black Kings is discrepant, but still looks very magical.
If you liked this video, you can join Giacomoâs Bottega mailing list for free on Gumroad.
Blue Seal Bikes
Duration: 15 minutes
If youâre a playing card collector like me, Iâm sure youâll enjoy this video from drummer and amateur magician Rayna Vandel, aka The Other Shuffle.
I still have a few Cincinnati-printed decks and can confirm that the quality of the cards coming out of the old USPCC (United States Playing Card Company) factory was much better than the standard Bikes you can buy today. The registration has certainly gotten a lot worse.
Mr. Jambo Music Video
Duration: 3 minutes
This has nothing to do with magic, but it made me laugh a lot. Graceland by Paul Simon is a favourite album of mine, and this spoof song by Kyle Gordon really tickles my funny bone. I canât get it out of my head!
Thatâs it for another monthly update. Stay cool! đ
Yours Magically,
Marty