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Ace Assembly: Difference between revisions
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One of the first to have the Aces move one at time (rather then appear all at once) was [[Stanley Collins]]' ''The Alpha Ace Trick'' in [[J. G. Thompson, Jr.]]'s book [[My Best]] (1945). | One of the first to have the Aces move one at time (rather then appear all at once) was [[Stanley Collins]]' ''The Alpha Ace Trick'' in [[J. G. Thompson, Jr.]]'s book [[My Best]] (1945). | ||
Another variation dubbed "O'Henry Four Aces" by [[Frank Garcia]]'s in [[Super Subtle Card Miracles]] (1973) which added a surprise ending was first published by [[Roger Smith]] | Another variation dubbed "O'Henry Four Aces" by [[Frank Garcia]]'s in [[Super Subtle Card Miracles]] (1973) which added a surprise ending was first published by [[Roger Smith]] as ''Slow Motion Ace Switch-A-Roo'' in [[Revolutionary Card Compositions]] (1971) and [[Tevor Lewis]] as ''Topsy Turvy and Slow Motion Plus'' in The [[New Pentagram]] (1972). | ||
Another surprise ending is the "Backfire Assembly" in which the Aces travel back to their original packets. | |||
Progressive Aces is the term used in which the first ace joins the second, then those two join the third and finally all arrive in the last packet in sequence. | |||
[[Lin Searles]] created the variation where the Aces had a different color back then the rest of the cards in "Red and Blue Backed Aces". | |||
[[Peter Kane]]'s [[Jazz Aces]] popularized a streamlined Ace Assembly where just 4 indifferent cards were used. | [[Peter Kane]]'s [[Jazz Aces]] popularized a streamlined Ace Assembly where just 4 indifferent cards were used. | ||
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[[Larry Jennings]] took it took the extreme with the "Invisible Palm Aces" (also known as Open Travellers) where the four aces assemble one by one under the performer's hand. | [[Larry Jennings]] took it took the extreme with the "Invisible Palm Aces" (also known as Open Travellers) where the four aces assemble one by one under the performer's hand. | ||
The most popular marketed gimmmicked Ace Assembly was [[MacDonald’s Aces]]. | |||
== Variations == | == Variations == | ||
Revision as of 14:54, 18 July 2008
The Ace Assembly or Four Aces is a classic plot in card magic described by Hofzinser around 1850 called "The Power of Faith" and by Jean-Nicolas Ponsin in Nouvelle Magie Blanche Dévoilée (1853).
Effect: The performer takes out the four aces. One ace is designated as the "Leader ace". Three indifferent cards are placed on top of each ace. Magically all the aces jump out of their pile and assemble in the "Leader ace" pile.
Copperfield performing his Grandpa's Aces
One of the first to have the Aces move one at time (rather then appear all at once) was Stanley Collins' The Alpha Ace Trick in J. G. Thompson, Jr.'s book My Best (1945).
Another variation dubbed "O'Henry Four Aces" by Frank Garcia's in Super Subtle Card Miracles (1973) which added a surprise ending was first published by Roger Smith as Slow Motion Ace Switch-A-Roo in Revolutionary Card Compositions (1971) and Tevor Lewis as Topsy Turvy and Slow Motion Plus in The New Pentagram (1972).
Another surprise ending is the "Backfire Assembly" in which the Aces travel back to their original packets.
Progressive Aces is the term used in which the first ace joins the second, then those two join the third and finally all arrive in the last packet in sequence.
Lin Searles created the variation where the Aces had a different color back then the rest of the cards in "Red and Blue Backed Aces".
Peter Kane's Jazz Aces popularized a streamlined Ace Assembly where just 4 indifferent cards were used.
Larry Jennings took it took the extreme with the "Invisible Palm Aces" (also known as Open Travellers) where the four aces assemble one by one under the performer's hand.
The most popular marketed gimmmicked Ace Assembly was MacDonald’s Aces.
Variations
There have been many gaffed and ungaffed versions created.
Ricky Jay performing Exclusive Coterie
- Slow-Motion Aces by Dai Vernon (aces move one by one)
- Red and Blue Backed Aces by Lin Searles (Aces are different colors)
- Dai Vernon's "The Four Blue Backed Aces" (Further Inner Secrets of Card Magic)
- Progressive Aces by Ken Krenzel in which the ace joins the second, then the two join the third and finally all arrive in the last packet in sequence.
- "SecaRouf" (FourAces in reverse) by Phil Goldstein in which the aces start out together and end up in the other packets.
- MacDonald’s Aces
- Jazz Aces by Peter Kane
- A Dream of Aces by Gary Ouellet
- Criff Green "The Evaporationg Aces", Professional Card Magic
- "JC's Collins Aces and JC's Collins Kings" in The Commercial Magic of J. C. Wagner [1987] written by Mike Maxwell.
- Al Koran "Koran's Solo Aces", Lewis Ganson Routined Manipulation Part 1
- Edward Marlo's "Bluff Ace Assembly"
- "The Exclusive Coterie" from the card trick section of Expert at the Card Table
- Dyslexic Queens by J. C. Wagner
- Stencel Aces by Bob Stencel published in Richard's Almanac, vol. 3. Feb. 1985.