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Miraskill: Difference between revisions
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[[Miraskill]] is a classic card effect and principle developed and marketed by [[Stewart James]] | [[Miraskill]] is a classic card effect and principle developed and marketed in 1935 by the Canadian magician [[Stewart James]] (1908–1996). | ||
The first description was published in the September 1936 issue of [[The Jinx]] | |||
<ref>James, Stewart. Miraskill. ''The Jinx''. 24:147, 151, September 1936.</ref>, | |||
a magic periodical published and edited by [[Ted Annemann]] (1907–1942). | |||
A description can also be found in the [[Encyclopedia of Card Tricks]] (1937). | |||
== Effect == | == Effect == | ||
| Line 16: | Line 19: | ||
It can then be repeated with a different result. | It can then be repeated with a different result. | ||
== Variations == | |||
Over the decades since its inception, many variations of Miraskill have been developed. | |||
The ''Conjuring Archive'' has a list of well over one hundred variations. | |||
<ref>Conjuring Archive. [https://www.conjuringarchive.com/list/category/2113 Miraskill & Variations].</ref>. | |||
Not very well known is that the first variation is actually due to Stewart James himself and was called ''The Candy King'', where the audience consists of kids and the deck of cards is replaced by a bag with candies in red and white wrappers; a description can be found in the same issue of ''The Jinx'' and follows that of Miraskill. | |||
In [[Stewart James in Print]], [[Allan Slaight]] devotes an entire chapter to variations on the “Miraskill” theme by James and other magicians. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* Culpepper, Joe. (2007). "Miraskill (1935)", ''Stewart James Exhibition''. [http://stewartjames.magicana.com/1935.html Magicana | {{reflist}} | ||
* Culpepper, Joe. (2007). "Miraskill (1935)", ''Stewart James Exhibition''. [http://stewartjames.magicana.com/1935.html Magicana] | |||
==Discussion threads== | ==Discussion threads== | ||
Revision as of 14:57, 11 January 2025
Miraskill is a classic card effect and principle developed and marketed in 1935 by the Canadian magician Stewart James (1908–1996). The first description was published in the September 1936 issue of The Jinx [1], a magic periodical published and edited by Ted Annemann (1907–1942). A description can also be found in the Encyclopedia of Card Tricks (1937).
Effect
A deck is removed and shuffled.
The mentalist asks the spectator to choose color that will be “his” color, red or black. Let’s assume he chooses “red”. The mentalist writes something on a piece of paper and hands it to someone to watch.
The mentalist instructs the spectator to turn over the cards two at a time making three piles. One will be the red pile if both cards are red. One will be the black pile if both are black. The last will be the discard pile if one is red and one is black.
Once completed, the spectator is asked to count the black pile. Let’s say it comes to 16 cards. He now counts “his” red pile. It may come to 20.
The prediction is opened and reads “You will have four more red cards in your pile than my black pile.”
It can then be repeated with a different result.
Variations
Over the decades since its inception, many variations of Miraskill have been developed. The Conjuring Archive has a list of well over one hundred variations. [2]. Not very well known is that the first variation is actually due to Stewart James himself and was called The Candy King, where the audience consists of kids and the deck of cards is replaced by a bag with candies in red and white wrappers; a description can be found in the same issue of The Jinx and follows that of Miraskill.
In Stewart James in Print, Allan Slaight devotes an entire chapter to variations on the “Miraskill” theme by James and other magicians.
References
- ↑ James, Stewart. Miraskill. The Jinx. 24:147, 151, September 1936.
- ↑ Conjuring Archive. Miraskill & Variations.
- Culpepper, Joe. (2007). "Miraskill (1935)", Stewart James Exhibition. Magicana
Discussion threads
- Mckay, Joe. (2016). "Stewart James". GeniiForum
- Waterman (2021). "Thoughts on Miraskill". The Magicians Forum
- http://www.geniimagazine.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=39257
Further reading
- Tuenter, Hans J. H. (2024). "Combinatorial Analysis of a Classic Card Trick", Mathematics Magazine, 97(5):551–558. [1]