Volume 30, Number 9
January 15th, 2010

Greetings from all of us here at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. The holidays have come and gone. The kids are back at school. It’s a brand new year! I hope your holidays were just great. I hope that the gifts you received were exactly what you wanted. And, that the gifts you gave put a smile on the recipients’ faces. I hope that you celebrated New Year’s Eve in a safe and sane manner. And I am really glad that you are reading this month’s HankoGram, having weathered the storm that was 2009. No looking back; keep your eyes focused straight ahead!

We have great plans for 2010. Our web site will, very soon, be taking on a whole new look. If my crystal ball is correct, it will happen in the next two weeks. So, keep your eye on www.magicfact.com and you will be pleasantly surprised.

We have made some resolutions for the New Year, most involving the direction Hank Lee’s Magic Factory will be taking this year and into the future. I think the direction is correct and proper, and that the future will look much brighter as a result.

As always, lots of new items coming in, all the time. We sift through them, and offer you the best items at the best prices, right here in the HankoGram. I will not keep you from them for another second. Read on!

See you next month,
Hank

Copyright © 2010
Hank Lee's Magic Factory.
All Rights Reserved.

Hank Lee's Magic Factory ~ PO Box 789 ~ Medford, MA 02155
Telephone (781) 391 8749
FAX: 781-395-2034
EMail MagicFact@aol.com
Internet: magicfact.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/magicfact
Toll-free: Orders Only: 1-800-874-7400

(1) Sound Reading Training CD
For the first time ever, a complete system for learning "pencil reading," one of the great mentalism skills.
Hand a pen and a piece of paper to a member of the audience. Ask them to write a word, number or name on the piece of paper. As they are writing, you instantly know what they have written. Your back is turned. You never see the paper. There are no peeks, no gimmicks, no sleights. You do this purely with your own skill.
How is it possible?
Sound Reading!
Sound Reading is the secret technique of listening to how a word or number sounds as it is being written, and instantly knowing what it is. This program will help you learn and practice the technique.
Once you have learned the technique, the possibilities are endless.
Will Brierly’s Sound Reading Training CD offers two modes.
The Practice Mode in which you learn and practice “reading” the alphabet, numbers, common words and common names. Simply click on individual buttons to play the sound you want to hear. The more you hear the sounds, the better you get.
The Game Mode in which you get to test your skills on the categories you have learned in the Practice Mode. The higher your score, the better you are doing.
We cannot over-emphasize how valuable this technique is. Remember, it’s all you. There are no props or gimmicks. This put you as close to real mentalism as is humanly possible.
Sound Reading Training CD works with either PC or Mac. $79.95; yours for $60.00 (40.703)

(2) Street Wise DVD - Gazzo
An invaluable tool for any performer. Whether you work the streets or not, you will become a better performer after watching Gazzo, both outdoors and indoors. Learn how to turn a few simple tricks into a show worthy of a standing ovation.
Gazzo, widely recognized as one of the greatest street performers in the world, gives you an in depth view into the noble, yet much maligned world of the street performer.
In a candid interview filled with insights, advice, suggestions and of course humor, Gazzo sheds light on the life of the street performer; the world's second oldest profession!
See Gazzo in action in his world famous, or should we say infamous, Street Show performed at NYC's famed South Street Seaport. Watch the master as he insults, prods, pushes and cajoles his audience with irreverent, sometimes caustic, often sarcastic, but mostly good-natured humor, to everyone's delight.
Learn from this guru of the streets how to draw an audience, how to keep them watching, how to get them to give you money and how to avoid mishaps while working the concrete jungle.
• Gazzo teaches his world famous version of "Three Card Monte"- great for any indoor parlor show
• Learn "A Gentleman's Game" a fun, easy & very good card con!
• A candid interview; Gazzo pulls no punches!
• Watch Gazzo's World Famous Street Show at the South Street Seaport in New York City
• Bonus: Hilarious clips of Gazzo having fun with his audience. His patter lines are priceless!
$29.95; yours for $24.00(DVD01090)

(3) Wizard Dark Flat Band PK Ring
A new era in Wizard PK Rings. Invented by Jim Trainer, the Wizard PK Ring is one of the most versatile utility devices in magic today. The new Wizard Dark is a 100% neodymium rare earth magnet fashioned into a black contemporary finger or thumb ring.
Information on the Wizard Dark and DVD:
The Wizard Dark provides a host of unique opportunities to amaze and impress that are limited only by your imagination. Included with your ring is a full instructional DVD starring David Penn and Craig Petty who demonstrate some amazing effects that you will be able to perform after very little practice.
Cap In Bottle - David Penn's handling which is acknowledged by leading professionals as the cleanest method available.
Pierced - A safety pin visually penetrates a playing card.
Watch Stop - Stop a spectator's own watch at your command
Kinetic Cutlery - Move a fork that is balanced on top of a bottle with the power of your mind
Coin Thru Glass - A visual penetration of a glass whilst it is held by a spectator
Available in several ring sizes. Please specify.
$35.00; yours for $28.00(10.1555)

(4) Miller & Vernon Greeting Cards
It’s time to write those all-important Thank You Notes. These cards are just perfect!
This beautiful greeting card designed by Akemi Yoshida features Charlie Miller and Dai Vernon cheating Houdini in a game of cards. Charlie Miller and Dai Vernon were two of the most influential close-up magicians of the 20th century. Houdini is the best known magician in the history of magic. Inspired by the 1890s Knaffl & Bro. photograph "The Skin Game" and the 1940s Irving Sinclaire painting "The Poker Game." Released with permission from the Dai Vernon and Charlie Miller estates.
Each card and envelope is packed in an individual plastic bag to insure the protection of the card.
These cards are professionally printed and barcoded greeting/invitation cards.
Package of 10. $29.95; yours for $24.00 (70.980)

(5) Prinkle's Chip Can
You’ve just finished one of your best tricks, and offer some Potato Chips to the youngster who has just assisted you. A reward for being such a fine assistant.
The kid looks at you like you’re crazy! He knows for sure that if he opens the Potato Chip can, snakes will come flying out. He’s seen this way to many times to be suckered in.
So, you open the can, and much to everyone’s surprise, it is full of chips. You have a couple of chips then casually close the can.
Later, another assistant is offered the same reward from the same can. The second assistant is still a little hesitant, so you open the can yourself. The can is full of chips, some of which you eat, then return to performing.
A while goes by and you offer a third assistant a reward. He opens the same can and BAM! Snakes jump from the can! What a surprise! Everyone laughs and tries to figure out where on earth the snakes came from.
Only one can is used. No switch. The Prinkle Chip Can is designed to do the work for you. Snakes are included. You will love the method. And the chips!
Priced very low at $20.00; yours for $16.00 (50.966)

(6) Mercury Coin - Alan Wong
A completely new and impossible Pen Through Coin effect where the coin can be shown before and after the penetration. On both sides!
Show a Half Dollar on both sides. Bring out a pen, hold the coin between your fingers and slowly push the pen through the center of the coin until the coin is clearly seen in the middle of the pen..
Now, while holding both ends of the pen at your finger tips with the coin in the middle, slowly turn the pen around to show the other side of the coin. It looks exactly the same from the front with the pen penetrating the coin. There are no trapdoors, no mirrors, no switching of the coin.
Finally, you slowly remove the coin from the pen and immediately show both sides of the coin to be solid. The very same coin.
Comes with the special coin, special pen and full instructions. $99.50; yours for $80.00 (20.437)

(7) Rainbow Waterfall
Mikame Craft's Rainbow Waterfall is the ultimate production item. Colorful shimmers as it flows out of the silk. This large version measures 4 inches (10cm) in width.
Easy to use
Manufactured with the finest quality material
Comes complete with all necessary gimmicks.
$60.00; yours for $48.00 (60.1642)

(8) Springboard
Springboard is the very latest from Jesse Feinberg. It’s an exciting new gimmick that will allow you to perform amazing card magic! Add Springboard to any deck, and you’re ready to go. In this DVD, you will learn how to build your first Springboard gimmick, and how to use it! Everything is explained in full detail, including four easy to do effects. Unlock the full potential of Springboard with practice and a little imagination.
Special material included!
No Magnets or Invisible Thread
Durable & Reliable Construction
Simple to Learn and Easy to Perform! $30.00; yours for $24.00 (30.1464)

(9) Versatile Tossed Out Deck
One of the best decks to present this incredible classic mind reading effect. A complete mind reading act in which up to 7 people can take part. It can be presented in 3 stages, with different presentation climaxes, and each stage can be changed according to the performer's choice.
1st Stage: Warming Up:
The deck is shown, and 2 spectators are asked to think of any cards they see. It is a warm-up activity so you are not expected to be perfect, yet you absolutely name the correct cards.
2nd Stage: Confirmation:
The deck is wrapped up with rubber bands and given to a spectator who peeks into it in order to choose a card. You name the color, suit and number of the card, not showing any doubts at all.
3rd Stage: The Full Monty:
Emboldened by your many correct guesses, you decide to perform the next try by reading 4 minds simultaneously. The deck is handed out to 4 spectators and each one chooses a card. You are able to name each card quickly and with 100% accuracy. Could a standing ovation be in your future?
You can show the deck and shuffle it.
Completely versatile; you can choose the quantity of cards and their location to perform different presentations with a different number of participants (from 1 to 7 or 8)
Very easy to do. The very special deck does all the work! Bicycle poker-size cards are used.
$50.00; yours for $40.00(30.1461)

(10) Up Levitation
A deck of cards cuts itself by levitation to reveal a spectator's selected card or to magically find your favorite four of a kind.
If you have ever wanted to perform a levitation close up and personal, without the many drawbacks of prior methods, now you can!
No more threads
No more magnets
No more gimmicked decks (yes, you can just as easily use a borrowed deck!)
Michael Boden and Troy Hooser are releasing the Up Levitation gimmick to the magic community with the realization that, yes a levitation that looks this good can easily be accomplished by the everyday performer.
The gimmick's brilliant design takes the worry out of "is this a levitation I will actually use?"
The gimmick has been designed to be worry-free of extensive set ups or concealment. Now you can use a normal deck of cards that has been in play, or even borrow one, without having to worry about how difficult it is to get in and out of the effect.
The spectator's freely selected card is returned to the deck and the deck is openly ribbon spread on the table, (showing the lack of card control and hand concealment of any kind) the deck is then squared and openly held in your left hand as the magic begins. The deck slowly separates, levitating upwards, dividing itself into two halves. Then just as eerily the top half of the deck floats back down into the palm of your waiting hand. The deck is then separated at the point of separation to reveal that the spectator's selected card has been found by levitation.
Finding your favorite four of a kind has never been more magical. The deck slowly separates once again, levitating upwards into two halves, but this time you take the bottom half completely away as the top half slowly floats down into your empty waiting left palm! Now the two halves of the levitated deck are tabled and displayed to reveal four Aces at the point of separation.
The gimmick's unique design stabilizes the up and down movement of the deck for you and its streamline shape makes it easily added to any deck of cards. Michael and Troy's DVD will teach you with step-by-step instruction, just how easily this amazing levitation is to perform.
Bonus effect includes Michael's The Vanish. Now you see it, now you don't. has never been more visually real, as you watch Michael's vanish of a full deck of cards!
Learn how to make your own gimmick that will let you display a full deck of cards and, without anything more than between the hands cover, the deck instantly vanishes and is found in your pocket!
$30.00; yours for $24.00 (30.1463)

(11) Bamboozlers Vol. Two -
- Diamond Jim Tyler -
The Second Book of Bankable Bar Betchas, Brain Bogglers, Belly Busters & Bewitchery. 75 more amazing and funny things with common objects found around the house or in a restaurant. It is a collection of bar bets, brain teasers, jokes, puzzles and magic effects that Diamond Jim Tyler has collected over the last 20 years. Many of the classics between these covers have been injected with DJ's own twists and sense of humor.
The book measures 3 by 5 inches, has a black faux leather-binding, has silver gilded edges, a black ribbon marker, etc. There are 75 effects, with 136 pages and over 100 illustrations.
The book was designed as a reference guide to fit in one's shirt or pants pocket when out for a fun night on the town.
Pages 136 - Leather Bound (Pocket Sized Book) $20.00; yours for $16.00 (BK01688)

(12) Stick Man - Rodger Lovins
– Have a card selected from a shuffled deck. Explain to the spectators that on the back of your business card, sealed in plastic, is a drawing of a Stick Man magician. Tell them that the Stick Man has made a prediction of the card being selected.
Upon turning the card over, it is found that the Stick Man's prediction is wrong!
The drawing on the business card is then turned face down onto the spectators hand. Explain that the Stick Man can also do the vanishing rabbit trick. Turn your business card over, and the rabbit has vanished! And the prediction is revealed to be correct!
BONUS
Comes with a free interactive video download for your Cell Phone, PDA, iPhone, Blackberry, or any other device that is able to play available video files!
Imagine having your spectator hold the Stick Man drawing in their hands as they watch a video of the little Stick Man magician work his magic on your cell phone. The rabbit vanishes and the Stick Man correctly reveals the chosen card. You then ask the spectator to turn the business card over in their hands to show that it too has magically changed . The rabbit has vanished from the drawing and the chosen card is shown to be correct!
$20.00; yours for $16.00 (30.1465)

(13) Live From London, It's Meir Yedid DVD
Meir Yedid is the first person to ever win the Society of American Magicians' Close-Up Magic Championship more than once (1981 and 1988). His magic has been performed by many leading magicians. Many of the routines on this DVD have been used by Meir and others on stage, close-up, and on television. This is your opportunity to see him in action and experience his wacky style, creativity, and humor. This is a live one-hour lecture given in London, England.
As a special bonus the DVD also includes Meir's Stand-Up Pop-Jump routine which was originally released as a separate video.
Includes performances and explanations to:
• Hal Meyer's Laser Splice: A selected card is found by cutting it in half with a toy laser gun.
• Tip Top Aces: An impromptu card routine where four aces placed in four different parts of the deck rise to the top.
• W.O.W. Book Test II: A spectator thinks of the first word on a freely selected page and you reveal it with 100% accuracy.
• Cardinal Cards: A card's back and face are ripped off so it is blank on both sides. This new card, The Cardinal Card, is now used to turn six other cards into duplicates of itself.
• Zig-Zag Thumb: An impromptu finger trick where the center of your thumb vanishes leaving the tip and the base in full view.
• Card Marx: A twisting the aces type effect where the kicker ending has all the cards' backs change color and pictures of the Marx Brothers appear — proving that it was done with marked cards.
• Point The Way: The deck is spread to show that an arrow points to the selected card, which is the only odd backed card in the deck.
• Biting Sensations: A selected card is pulled out of the deck between your teeth as you bite a chunk out of the deck.
• Index Finger Vanish: A detailed explanation on how to make your index finger disappear.
• Stand-Up, Pop-Jump (originally released as a separate video): This is the quick, direct and visual routine that Meir uses to open all of his formal close-up shows. Four Queens are magically produced. Each Queen is then sandwiched between two face-down cards. One-at-a-time each Queen vanishes from between its cards and magically and visually appears in the center of the table. Your hands are repeatedly shown empty throughout the routine. This routine is a reputation maker.
Techniques explained within routines: Hamman Count, Flushtration Count, Vernon Strip-Out, Slip Force, Riffle Force, Meir Mix, Four Card Production, False Kick Cut, Zarrow-Biddle Steal, Longitudinal Steal, Utility Swipe, Unit Grip, and more. $29.95; yours for $24.00 (DVD01087)

(14) 2D Cube - Ton Onosaka
Show this flat six-sided cube and explain how to solve the puzzle using Magic.
Turn it around to show it partially solved.
Turn it again to bring it back to the original.
Each time it is turned there is a new surprise until the entire puzzle is solved.
And, the kicker ending will knock them for a loop!
$79.95; yours for $64.00 (60.1644)

(15) Cane Auto Flash
A great attachment for your Vanishing Cane. Ignite a flash and make the cane disappear or change into a silk, card, flower, etc. You are only limited by your imagination. Absolutely perfect for stage performances and a must for any Vanishing Cane routine! Uses Flash Paper or Flash Cotton, which are not supplied. $39.95; yours for $32.00 (60.1641)

Note: As this effect uses real fire, you must be 18 years of age or older in order to purchase.