Great teaching on the handling of the handkerchief ball. Old gadget but very effective.

First, I deduct from the rating because of Penguin's lack of a volume control when playing the downloaded lecture. Second, I take away from the rating, because there is no table of contents, or even a list of the subjects covered. Penguin needs to fix these ASAP.

CONTENT: Very good silk magic and updated versions of Tarbell tricks that you will not have seen before. I especially loved the UFO themed magic trick using paper or plastic plates as a flying saucer. UFOs are popular now, with Ancient Aliens, Hangar 1, and other shows on the History channel, and Dan's presents an edgy alien abduction themed effect (with an added but optional equivoque when compared to the Tarbell original that inspired Dan's version).

Dan presents a variation of 20th Century silks that uses socks, which is very strong. Another effect included is a variation of existing silk magic to which Dan adds a story with a nice inclusiveness message that works perfectly for the silk trick.

The only thing that did not excite me was the last, and probably longest effect in the whole lecture, which was a more complicated and/or difficult version of another similar silk effect taught earlier in the lecture. The earlier one was very good, and the one I would do first rather than the longer/more involved one taught at the end, which was also very good, but just more work for a similar effect.

Overall the content is one of the stronger in the series, which is a pretty good series to begin with.

As Dan says, modernizing silk magic can be a challenge, and yet he pulls through and delivers on this lesson. As with all the Tarbell videos the production quality is high, and Dan does his very best to update the original lesson. He has taken some classic effects like, the Soup Plate and Handkerchiefs and the Twentieth Century Silks and breathes new life into them. He gives a complete explanation of the Handkerchief Ball and explains how you can make one at home. In reading the text I personally found the Elusive Rainbow (an effect similar to the 20th century silk, but done with a rainbow silk) to be a trick with little core logic or practicability. Dan transformed that trick, using his comedy and heart, into a bit of magic about togetherness and unity, I loved it. However, even with the Harlan touch, I don’t see a few of these routines going into my working repertoire, but that’s just me. Dan’s take on using socks for the Twentieth Century Silks was great and I’m working on that routine myself. The lesson was a hard one but my final rating is 4.5 starts and if you do not have a subscription to these videos, please get one, it’s well worth it.

Super ideas to update classics ''au goût du jour''.

I performed Dan's 20th Century Socks last night during a show for patients and their families at the Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta, GA. The routine was well received. The lady assisting me was like, "where did the other sock go?" it appeared between two other socks. It's a great routine. Very easy to set up and perform. I really enjoyed performing it.

Some great updates to the material including 20th century silks done with... socks! Nice fun routines.

Harlan's care to this project will be enjoyed for many years to come. Labor of Love :)

Decent/'do-able' instructions and details from Dan, once more. Thanks.

Many local libraries in cities now have community/free or minimum cost laser cutting and laser printing services...along with poster sized laser printer services using 'peel off' contact paper using downloadable designs.

Thanks. Dan's the man and community library services might be a 'go-to' propmaking service in your part of the world.

There are useful gimmicks and concepts here, especially for anyone who has not done a lot of silk or handkerchief magic. Dan Harlan does his usual great job.

3 routines from this lecture are already in my family shows...great lesson! Thank You!