Dai Vernon’s Revelations – 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Box Set
Complete Set Includes:
The 17 original volumes re-mastered on 8 DVDs
Vernon Lectures – 1973, 1976, 1977 restored on 3 DVDs
Vintage Vernon Audio Tapes, Now on Four CDs
Notes on Dai Vernon’s Farewell Lecture by Dr. Gene Matsuura
1983 Videonics Catalog Facsimile
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David Ben’s introduction that appears in the beginning of Gene Matsuura’s notes booklet:
Will wonders never cease? When it comes to Dai Vernon, apparently not.
This celebration of the 30th anniversary of Revelations, the series produced originally in 1982 by Hans Zahn in Newfoundland, attests to that amazing legacy and it provides yet another generation of magicians – old and new – the chance to experience Dai Vernon and his magic.
This compilation is much more than just a repackaging of the original discs. With additional footage from the celebrated $1,000 Lecture Tour in the mid-1970s, private videos shot by Bill “The Prez” Larsen at The Magic Castle, and supporting documentation and ephemera, magic aficionados and historians now have an accurate portrayal of perhaps the most celebrated thinker and performer in magic during his “Late Period.”
Let me explain.
Vernon was an artist and, like other great artists of the 20th century, had several “periods” defined by the magic he performed, the roles he played and the company he kept. The sub-title of my biography on Vernon is “Artist, Magician, Muse” and I chose those words because they indicate the varied roles he played in the three periods of his artistic life: Early Vernon, Middle Vernon, and Late Vernon.
Early Vernon covers the period between roughly 1915 and 1941. Then, Vernon explored card table artifice, traveling around the country, ferreting out the secret practitioners such as Dad Stevens and Allen Kennedy. He developed the Cups and Balls, the Linking Rings, Coins Through the Table, close-up magic at the Casino De Paree, the Harlequin Act, and Dai Yen. His circle included, among others, Larry Gray, Leo Horowitz, Paul Rosini, Charles Miller, Dr. Jacob Daley and Francis Carlyle. It ends with his devastating fall from scaffolding in New York that broke his arms but not his spirit. It is the era of his most groundbreaking work and artistic achievements.
Middle Vernon encompasses the period from 1942 until 1962. Here, Vernon willingly began to share his personal secrets with the rank-and-file of magic. Yes, he still performed, spending the better part of a decade on cruise ships from New York to South America. But what separates Middle Vernon from Early Vernon was his accessibility and desire to share information through books, lectures, and roundtable discussions. His circle during this period included Bill Simon, Herb Zarrow, Ken Krenzel, Howie Schwarzman, and Persi Diaconis. Fortunately, L & L Publishing has consolidated much of the material he created in the Early and Middle Periods in The Essential Dai Vernon.
Late Vernon dates from 1963 until his death in 1992, and began with his traveling to Hollywood and what would become his new home – after one week – The Magic Castle. Here, Vernon became the muse. Although he still performed on occasion, and with much self-deprecation, his primary role was to act as raconteur, offering his musings and technical annotations through the pages of Genii, from the couch in the corner outside the close-up room of the Castle, or at conventions when escorted by Bill Bowers, Bill Larsen, or Vernon’s own muse, Irene Larsen. Much of this work is documented in The Chronicles, written by Stephen Minch, The Castle Notebooks by Bruce Cervon – both published by L & L Publishing – and The Vernon Touch, released by the Genii Corporation. Interestingly, his circle of students came in waves.
The first wave, in the mid to late 1960s, included Larry Jennings, Bruce Cervon and Mike Skinner. The second wave in the early and mid ’70s included, among others, David Roth, Earl Nelson, Steve Freeman, Jeff Altman and Brad Berlin. Finally, the third wave of the late ’70s and early ’80s included magicians such as Michael Ammar and John Carney.
While there is little film or video footage of Vernon from either the Early or Middle Periods, there is now an abundance of footage – thanks to this box set – of the Late Period and, in particular, Vernon during the second and third waves.
So, why am I slotting Vernon’s artistic output in periods and, in particular during the Late Period, in waves? The answer: context. I believe it is important to put Vernon’s work in context, particularly the work presented in this series of DVDs. Just think of your magical confreres, friends or family who are in the same age bracket as Vernon was when he performed on these discs. In this context, it is more than impressive; it is astounding.
Initially, I was going to provide commentary on the material you are about to screen. But then I thought, “Why spoil it?” Few will have seen the non-Revelations footage. How often can you attend a Vernon lecture and see it unfold in real time, that is, without knowing where he is going or what he will say? So, please resist using the menu to jump to your favorite trick or area of interest. Watch each disc from start to finish and imagine that you are there, in the audience, seeing and hearing him for the first time.
Start with Vernon’s lecture at the Washington Press Club in August 1973, courtesy of Arthur Emerson. (Still images of Arthur Emerson and Vernon were inserted for the first minute or so because the initial quality of the video was suspect. Your patience, however, will be rewarded.) Vernon is 79 years old at the time. That’s right, 79! It is Late Vernon, Second Wave.
Next, screen the October 9, 1976, lecture at The Magic Castle. Here Vernon is reprising the content of the $1,000 Lecture Tour. He is now 82. Again, it is Late Vernon, Second Wave.
Take a break and turn to the notes provided by Dr. Gene Matsuura. Dr. Matsuura was a confidant of many of the most esteemed sleight-of-hand magicians of the 20th century. He is a real student of magic and, in particular, the magic of Vernon. He is also renowned for the quality of his observations and notes. We thank Dr. Matsuura for agreeing to release his personal notes on Vernon’s $1,000 Lecture Tour appearance in Sacramento. His observations are astute, and the nuance he flags worth studying.
Next up: the April 1977 presentations filmed at The Magic Castle. Shot by and because of Bill Larsen, they represent yet another extraordinary gift of the Larsen family to the magic community. In fact, it is hard to imagine what magic would be like today without the Larsens – Genii magazine, The Magic Castle, the Academy of the Magical Arts, and now this. The family, in its fourth generation in magic, continues to contribute to the growth of magic and the preservation of magic history. Vernon, by the way, would soon turn 84! It is the tail end of the Second Wave of the Late Period.
Only then, it is time to revisit the monumental series that is Revelations. Recorded in 1982, when Vernon was 88, it is the Late Period, Third Wave. Here, Vernon provides more coaching and commentary than actual performance. Michael Ammar, Gary Ouellet and Steve Freeman are there to assist, performing and demonstrating magic, and to spark the conversation. We see how things are meant to be done, and how not. The breadth of material is staggering. Fortunately, this commemorative package of discs and other material includes a reproduction of a booklet that provides a detailed description of each section so that viewers can zero in on their particular area of interest.
And yes, it can be overwhelming, so much information.
If I can offer one final word of advice, it is to heed what Vernon said to a young Albert Goshman: take one trick and learn to do it better than anybody else. Goshman did exactly that, and built his initial reputation with “Spellbound.”
With this 30th anniversary celebration of Revelations, you have that same opportunity.
I look forward to seeing your magic.
David Ben
Toronto
The Academy of Magical Arts has graciously opened their members-only video vault and allowed L&L to publish one of their rare private videos. This is your chance to watch vintage lectures by Dai Vernon taped at the world-famous Magic Castle by Bill “The Prez” Larsen who had the foresight to preserve Vernon’s genius for posterity. These videos are also valuable for their historic importance as they are among the first lectures ever videotaped at the Magic Castle.
Lecture DVD 1
April 1, 1977 lecture:
Wand Spin Vanish
Retention of Vision Coin Vanish
Card Handling
Pull-Through Shuffle
“Dad” Stevens Shuffle
Erdnase Top Palm
Hofzinser Palm Control
Top Changes
Top Palm
Elmsley Count/Twisting the Aces
Larry Jennings’ Ambitious Classic
Hamman’s Pinochle Trick
Deal Controls/Stop Trick
Reverses
Color Changes (Leipzig, Malini, Tenkai)
Spectator Cueing
Push-Through and Block Shuffle
Henry Christ’s Off the Table Shuffle
Diagonal Palm Shift and Card Transfer
Action Palm
Cover for Erdnase Shift
Double Lift Get Ready
The Trick That Fooled Marlo
Double Lift-Handling and Application
The Trick Without a Name
Coin Under Glass
Three-Card Monte
Cards Up The Sleeve
General Advice
Card Switches
Vernon’s Mental Card Miracle
Lecture DVD 2
April 15, 1977 Lecture:
Five Coins and a Glass
Leipzig’s Slow Motion Coin Vanish
The Tale of the Treasury-Worm
The Daivergent Silk
The Peripatetic Walnuts
Balls in the Net
The Cups and Balls
The Linking Rings
Cut and Restored Rope
Knot in Rope Bar Stunt
Joe Berg Knot
Upsetting a Square Knot
Ball Handling/Wand Spin Vanish
Also featured are Vernon’s anecdotes including how he first came to the Magic Castle, early Castle memories, and his infamous X-rated Japan story.
October 9, 1976 Lecture:
Introduction by Bill “The Prez” Larsen
Vernon’s Introductory Remarks
The Cups and Balls
The Peripatetic Walnuts
Five Coins and a Glass
Retention of Vision Coin Vanish
Han Ping Chien
Wand Spin Vanish
The Daivergent Silk
Lecture DVD 3
In August of 1973, Dai Vernon lectured for a large and extremely enthusiastic audience at the Press Club in Washington D.C. and host Arthur Emerson was prescient enough to have a video camera on hand for the occasion.
Contents include:
The Cups and Balls
Coins Through The Table
Retention of Vision Coin Vanish
Five Coins and a Glass
The Linking Rings
The Cylinder and Coins
Matching the Cards
Larry Jennings’ Ambitious Classic
Color Change (Tenkai)
Top Changes
Cards Up The Sleeve Advice
VINTAGE VERNON VOLUMES 1-4 (AUDIO CDs)
On April 9, 1963, a very select group assembled at the newly-formed Magic Castle to hear Dai Vernon lecture. This was a historic moment because it was on the strength of this presentation that Vernon was asked to become the Castle’s resident magician – and now, through the magic of audio recording, you can be there, too, almost 50 years later. Volumes 3-4 record another lecture on December 6, 1964. Vernon was performing regularly at the time; his methods were brilliant and his timing perfect.
CD 1 (1 hour)
1. Introduction
2. Five Coins and a Glass
3. Cups and Balls
4. The Daivergent Sillk
5. John Ramsey Cylinder and Coins
CD 2 (1 hour)
1. McDonald’s Hundred Dollar Ace Trick
2. Penetration of Thought
3. Top Change
4. Bottom Change
5. Ambitious Card
6. Tips
7. Conus Aces
8. Erdnase Bottom Palm
9. Hofzinser Bottom Palm
10. Mental Card Miracle
11. The Travelers
12. Palming
CD 3 (1 hour)
1. Introduction
2. General Comments
3. Jerry Andrus and Lies
4. Conversational Approach
5. Double Lift
6. The Pass
7. Getting a Card to the Top
8. A Trick with a Double-Faced Card
9. Aces Up or Down
10. Color Changing Deck
CD 4 (1 hour)
1. Coin and Glass
2. IOU
3. Brain Weave by Alex Elmsley
4. Four Pair Solitaire by Henry Christ
5. Spelling Trick (using a cull)
6. Thought of Card Trick
7. Silk from Bill Trick
NOTES ON DAI VERNON’S FAREWELL LECTURE BY DR. GENE MATSUURA
In this booklet, you’ll find comprehensive notes by Dr. Gene Matsuura, a lifelong student of sleight-of-hand magic – particularly Dai Vernon – who was in attendance at what was billed as Dai Vernon’s farewell lecture in Sacramento, California in March of 1976.
Matsuura’s keen observations of the material that Vernon presented at that lecture provides invaluable insights into many of the routines performed on the lecture DVDs in this set. Covered are the Cups and Balls, Five Coins and a Glass, The Tale of the Treasury-Worm, The Daivergent Silk, The Peripatetic Walnuts, Twisting the Aces, the Linking Rings, many, many effects and ideas from Erdnase, and much, much more.
Coupled with a scholarly introduction by David Ben, Dr. Matsuura’s notes are a snapshot of a historic occasion – Dai Vernon presenting his life’s work one final time.
1983 VIDEONICS CATALOG FACSIMILE
This booklet is an exact reproduction of the Videonics catalog that was issued in June of 1983 which featured the Revelations series. We’ve included this to provide Revelations viewers with the historical context of the series in addition to other valuable insights.
You’ll find an introduction by Michael Ammar, one of the co-hosts of the series, where he describes the filming of Revelations in addition to offering some interesting perspectives on how the project was developed and realized. In addition, Sid Lorraine contributed comprehensive reviews on each of the 18 volumes, providing viewers with a “blow by blow” description of the vast and rich material covered in Revelations.
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Contents of the 17 original Revelations volumes re-mastered on 8 DVDs:
| VOL. 1 & 2 ON ONE DVD Volume 1 Gary Ouellet Intro The Story Behind the Stars of Magic Series Vernon on Think-of-a-Card, Dunninger, Brainwave Deck Vernon on Effects Triumph-the Vernon Triumph Shuffle and the Proper Presentation Story of the Vernon False Shuffle Practice & Improve Your Magic Keeping Notes on Your Magic Cutting the Aces- Another Vernon Card Classic Vernon on Passes, False Cuts Irv Weiner’s Opening to Cutting the Aces The Story is the Entertaining Part of the Trick Story of the Ambitious Card Vernon Performs the Ambitious Card Vernon Explains an Ambitious Card Move |
Volume 2 Gary Ouellet Intro The Vernon Double Lift The Fingerprint Card Trick Vernon Double Lift Replacement On the Strike Double Lift Vernon’s First Intro to the Pass Spellbound Story of the Purse Palm Vernon Demonstrates the Purse Palm & Spellbound Move Vernon on Coin Vanishes The Ring and the Wand Slow Motion Aces Performance (Steve Freeman) Story Behind Slow-Motion Aces The Slow Motion Card Vanish Story of the Last Card (Tent Vanish) Freeman Demonstrates Last Card Vanish Vernon Explains Slow Motion Aces Lay Down & Routine The Force with No Name Slow Motion Aces for Magicians |
| VOL. 3 & 4 ON ONE DVD Volume 3 Gary Ouellet Intro The Travellers (Michael Ammar performance) Explanation of the Travellers Vernon on Malini’s Method of Marking the Cards Proper Way to Turn the Top Card Over Why Vernon has the Cards Signed The Kangaroo Coins (Gary Ouellet performance) Kangaroo Coins Explanation Vernon Talks About Lapping The Balls in the Net (Steve Freeman performance) Vernon’s Story about The Balls in The Net Vernon Explains the Moves for The Balls in The Net Han Ping Chein with Ball Vernon Explains What Makes a Good Trick Jumping Jacks The Tenkai Palm Switch Vernon Explains How He Got the Name “Professor” |
Volume 4 Gary Ouellet Intro The Tenkai Switch – The Pivot Move Story Behind the Symphony of the Rings Vernon Tells a Silhouette Story Vernon Performs the Symphony of the Rings Explanation of Ring Routine – Counting the Rings First Link Spinning the Ring Unlinking the Ring Crash Link Chain of Three Linking Three & Unlinking Three The Continuous Linking The Falling Ring The Interlocked Rings The Figures The Long Chain Unlinking a Solid Ring Unlinking All the Rings The Symphony of the Rings - Vernon Performs for Live Audience The Coins and Champagne Glass – A Vernon Classic The Secret to a Good Coin Vanish More Coins & Champagne Glass Explanation |
| VOL. 5 & 6 ON ONE DVD Volume 5 Gary Ouellett Intro Vernon Talks About Fred Kaps Vernon Explains Coins & Silk Routine Verno Explains Coin Transfer Ammar Teaches Chanin Classic Palm Coin Productions Ammar Introduces the Cups & Balls Vernon Tells How He Got His Cups Vernon Demonstrates the Opening to the Cups & Balls Ammar Demonstrates Jay Marshall’s Bit with Cups Explanation of Depth Illusion Vernon’s Story About the Cups & Balls at the Magic Castle Vernon and Ammar Walk Through Cups & Balls Routine Vernon’s Advice On What To Do After Palming Something Explanation of Phase Two & Three Loading Sequence Large Ball & Wand Vanish Wand Spin Vernon Explains Ball Under Cup Vanish Vernon Explains Coins & Purse Swindle Malini’s Version Vernon’s Purse Palm Vanish Leipzig’s Coin on Knee |
Volume 6 Gary Ouellett Intro Color Change Section Intro (Freeman) History of Color Change Erdnase’s First Method with the Vernon Improvement The Erdnase Pivot Color Change The Malini Handling Picking Off the Pip Leipzig’s Handling Leipzig’s Side Slip and VernonÕs Variation Handling the Sucker Gag Steve Freeman’s Tips on the Color Change ” Softy” Color Change Vernon Passes on Good Advice The No Palm Color Change The Time Vernon Cheated the Cheats The Greek Crimp The Gambler’s Peek The Back Crimp The Suit Peek The Corner Crimp/Cutting to a Crimp Story About Larry Grey The Snap Crimp Story The Snap Crimp Mexican Joe Crimp Best Way to Reverse a Card The Breather Crimp |
| VOL. 7 & 8 ON ONE DVD Volume 7 Gary Ouellett Intro An Unpublished Linking Ring Move The Vernon No Key Linking The Five-Card Mental Force Some Thoughts on the Stop Trick Taking Advantage of Good Breaks The Trick That Cannot Be Explained The Cutting Trick How to Practice the Trick That Cannot Be Explained Vernon Talks About Card Palming The Hofzinser Bottom Palm The Diagonal Palm Shift and the Vernon Improvement The Hofzinser Bottom Palm Transfer |
Volume 8 Gary Ouellett Intro The Diagonal Palm Shift- a detailed description The Hand Washing Move The Gambling Palm The Vernon Gambling Palm Transfer Topping the Deck The Erdnase Top Palm Several Methods of Replacing the Palmed Card onto the Deck Skinning the Hand, Version 1 Vernon Color Change The Tenkai Palm Color Change Skinning the Hand Version #2 The French Pass Two Technical Descriptions of Bottom Palms Covering the Side Slip Dramatizing Revelations The Loewy Palm Some Moves for Cards Up the Sleeve The Vernon Card Switches A New Top Palm The Card to Jacket Pocket The Palm Change Story of the Mysterious Kid Vernon Talks About Shiners |
| VOL. 9 & 10 ON ONE DVD Volume 9 Gary Ouellet Intro The Berg Move Explanation of Berg Move Story of the Trick That Fooled Houdini Explanation of the Trick That Fooled Houdini Vernon Tells Horwitz Story Vernon Explains the Boat Trick Vernon Performs Three Card Monte for Live Audience Explanation of Three Card Monte Preparing the Cards Bent Corner Tips on the Hype Move Sucker Ploy Explanation of Hype Move The Torn Card The Broad Worker’s Story The Double Flash Removing the Bent Corner Bobby Fischer Story |
Volume 10 Gary Ouellet Intro The Vernon Cone and Ball Routine Basic Move for Cone & Ball The Ball and Silk Hand to Hand Ball Transfer Vernon on the Dye Tube / Color Changing Silks Loading the Silk Palming the Tube Start of Routine Steal of the Tube Routine Taught from Behind The Chopstick Double Lift Valuable Tip from Erdnase (Double Lift) The Overhand Shuffle Technique The Pinky Count The Greek Break Bottom to Top Transfer Vernon’s Simple Double Peek Control Triple and Multiple Peek Handling The Fan Force |
VOL. 11 & 12 ON ONE DVD Volume 11 Gary Ouellet Intro The International Gambler’s Code The Zanzig Code The Spread The Miami Brothers Ploy The Vernon Card Switch The Gambler’s Hole Card Switch The Snatch The Verbal Code (Vernon) Teaching Method for Verbal Code (Memorized Cards) How to Memorize the Cards (Vernon Method) Vernon Tells the Story of Benny Vernon Tells the Names of Each Card in his Code Vernon Short Card Corner Short Freeman Demonstrates Short Card Control |
Volume 12 Gary Ouellet intro Freeman Quotes Erdnase The Erdnase Bottom Deal The Elliott Bottom Deal The Artanis Bottom Deal Gambling vs. Magic The Second Deal – The Erdnase Methods The Johnny Thompson Method Vernon’s Trick for Second Deal Vernon Gives Tips on Second Deal The Vernon New Theory Second Deal The Big Lie about the Strike Second The Elliott Million Dollar Secret Mexican Joe’s Shift The Side Shift Covering the One-Handed Shift The S.W.E. Shift The Kennedy Center Deal (The Real Work) Bad Habits Center Deal |
| VOL. 13,14,15 ON ONE DVD Volume 13 Gary Ouellet Intro The Drunken Mitt How to Tell Backs from Fronts by Feel Alone Tips on the Overhand Shuffle The Erdnase Full-Deck Control The Vernon Full-Deck Control The Charlier False Shuffle The Push Through Shuffle The Strip Out Shuffle Vernon Gives Tips on the Push-Through Shuffle The Kid Royal Shuffle The Up the Ladder False Cut Up the Ladder used in Triumph |
Volume 14 Vernon – Three Card Monte Ammar – Beanie Wienie, Cards to Pocket Ouellet – Three Shell Game Freeman – Time Machine, Cutting the Aces, Slow Motion Ace Assembly Ammar – The $2 Bill Tear, The Yeast Card, Card on Ceiling Ouellet – Kiss Trick, Ring on Rope Ammar – Coins & Silk Ouellet – Silver Passage Ammar – Roll-Over Aces Ouellet – The Two Goblets Vernon – Symphony of the Rings |
Volume 15 Gary Ouellet Intro Why Vernon Changed his Name How he Got the Name “Professor” Interest in Magic Since a Young Boy Enjoyed Watching Gamblers Talks About Erdnase Vernon’s Favorite Book: Erdnase School Magic Show No Use of the Word Damn or Egg Bag Great Weakness of Magician Meeting Cliff Green Producing a Card in the Shower First Time Seeing Max Malini Malini Egg Bag – Russia Story Malini at the GM party Malini Card Stab Antique Table Story Advice from Malini Malini’s Best Tricks Were Never Performed Malini’s Vanishing Tobacco Malini’s Opener Malini at Buckingham Palace |
| VOL. 16 & 17 ON ONE DVD Volume 16 Gary Ouellet Intro Cutting Silhouettes The Harlequin Act How Vernon Met Frances Rockefeller King Magician Spies on Vernon J. K. L. M. Dr. Daley’s Notebook The Book, “Our Magic” Cardini The Frogman Cardini’s Talking Act Cardini’s Tails Al Baker The History of Silhouettes Colorado Springs World’s Fair Vernon Cuts a Silhouette Twenty Dollar Gold Piece |
Volume 17 Gary Ouellet Intro King of Koins The Gimmick Emil Jarrow Jarrow Plays London Closing of his Act Partner in his Act Warren Keane Malini Block of Ice Fred Keating Canary Story Paul Rosini Herbert Brooks The Manner In Which Tricks are Presented Larry Grey Follows Hobos High School Dance Lance Burton at the Body Shop Garrick Spencer / Academy of Magic Allen Kennedy Center Deal Teaching John Scarne the Center Deal Vernon Takes Ted to See Allen Kennedy Mrs. Vernon Meets Mexican Joe The Greek Gambler The Hold-Up Story Jack Benny Joke Dr. Ross Meeting Dan Cummings at Restaurant Takes the Touch of a Billiard Player Frank Tobey / Vernon Sees Faro Shuffle for the First Time One Arm MacDonald – The Diamond Ring $100 Ace Trick Davis the Miracle Man |
