The Magic of Johnny Thompson (Hardcover Set)

Called the greatest magician alive, Johnny Thompson has published the definitive collection of his life's work. EACH SET HAND-SIGNED BY JOHNNY THOMPSON.

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"We have been fans of Johnny Thompson for more than forty years. He has helped create and refine virtually every branch of our stage and television work." -Penn & Teller

"Johnny is not only the most knowledgeable and proficient magician I have ever met, he is also a great teacher who is happy to share his knowledge... I have learned more about magic from Johnny Thompson than anyone else in the world." -Lance Burton

"More than 40 years ago Johnny Thompson welcomed me into his home and into his confidence. Since that day, every time I've met with Johnny I have learned something valuable from him about the real secrets of magic. These books are a treasure trove of knowledge from a true Master who has seen it all, done it all, and is generous enough to share his wisdom with the rest of us." -Michael Weber

Johnny Thompson is one of the most respected minds in magic. His distinguished, decades-long career has covered all facets of magic. As a pioneer of trade show performances, as a legendary dove worker—performed as his iconic stage persona, The Great Tomsoni & Co.—as a bamboozling bar magician, as a charming mentalist, as a surprising illusionist, and as one of the most sought-after magic consultants… Johnny Thompson, truly, has done it all.

And now, he shares it all with you.

Written by renowned author Jamy Ian Swiss and the master magician himself, Johnny Thompson, The Magic of Johnny Thompson meticulously details the real secrets of seventy-eight of Johnny’s most cherished and celebrated routines, including The Cups & Balls, The Balls in the Net, The Egg Bag and The Gambler’s Ballad.

It also includes previously unpublished material from Johnny’s respected colleagues and mentors including Dai Vernon, Harry Riser and Ed Marlo. There is an extended chapter devoted to the close-up magic of Charlie Miller and Max Malini. There is the entire Johnny Thompson Trade Show Act (complete with a sample script), including the incredibly impossible $100 Dollar Prediction. There is also a chapter devoted to dove and silk magic by The Great Tomsoni & Co., which incudes a thorough essay on the development of a dove act.

This handsome two-volume, slipcased set is over 660 pages and is illustrated with nearly 1,100 photographs and features forewords by Jamy Ian Swiss and Lance Burton, and introductions by Teller and Levent. Every copy sold also features two original signatures: one by Johnny Thompson and one by The Great Tomsoni!

Everything you would expect—and much more—from one of the most respected magicians of this, or any other age!

Specifications

Two-volume hardcover, slipcased set: 12.5" x 9.25" x 2.75" (31.75 x 23.5 x 7 cm), approximately 10 lbs. (4.5 kg) with 78 routines spread over 663 pages, featuring nearly 1,100 photographs.

VOLUME I
FOREWORD by Jamy Ian Swiss

INTRODUCTION by Teller

THE GAMBLER'S BALLAD, Harry Riser (Everywhere Nowhere All Backs, The Ambilipstrous Card, The Kissed Card, Les Quick Cartes, The Bean Coins, Elmsley’s Brainweave, Expert Dunbury Delusion, Impromptu Shiner), ED MARLO (The Empty Balloon, KF + BC + EM2 = Another Universal, Stilted Tilt, Mental Card Miracle, Expert Estimating the Aces), BALLS IN THE NET, MIXED MACS, MORE CARDS (Zarrow Translating Deck, The Whispering Queen, The Prowling Jokers, Stopping Hofzinser, Location with a One-Way Back, The Classic Force, Underground Card Moves: Finlay Shift, Optical Shuffle, Carlyle Top Palm Replacement, Dribble Replacement), BENSON BOWL, MILLER & MALINI (Basic English, Charlie’s First Card Trick, Covering Erdnase, Malini Side Steal, Thompson Side Steal, The Trick That Cannot Be Explained, Manuel’s Phantom Cigarette, Han Ping Chien, The Vanishing Glass, Miller Cups and Balls, Sugar Cube Assembly), THE EGG BAG

VOLUME II
FOREWORD by Lance Burton

INTRODUCTION by Levent

THE CUPS AND BALLS, MORE COIN MAGIC (Presto Chango, The Golden Coin, Coin in the Bottle), DAI VERNON (Expert Vernon’s Variant, Cutting the Aces, Copper and Silver Transposition, Dai Vernon’s Magic Castle Act), COLOR-CHANGING KNIVES, EVEN MORE CARDS (The Five Senses, Card on the Seat, Quadruple Coincidence, Grippo’s Card to Envelope, The Genii’s Stop Trick, The Scoot, Ravelli Meets Rix, Parrish the Thought, Lazy Man’s Card Trick), MENTALISM (The Koran Medallion, Polish Epic, The Pump Deck), ILLUSIONS (The Color-Changing Dress, The Transformation Tunnel, The Trunk Trick, The JT Asrah), THE GREAT TOMSONI & CO. (The Act, On Birds, Pockets and Principles, Wings of Warsaw, Unprepared Serpentine Silk, Color-Changing Silk, Color-Changing Dove, Multiple Dove Vanish, Paper to Parakeet), TRADE SHOW ACT (The Act, Sample Script, The Opener, Miniature Invisible Deck, Micro-Macro, Triumph, Signed Card to Miniature Box, The Johnny Thompson $100 Prediction)

THE FINAL WORD
by Johnny Thompson

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Customer Reviews (showing 1 - 10 of 13)

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Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on April 12th, 2018

I remember the feeling, years ago, when I bought The Books of Wonder. It was as if one of magic’s greatest thinkers and performers had opened his brain for his readers. On reading I realized that he had not only opened his brain but his heart as well.
This, on a much larger scale, is what I felt when a very large package arrived at my door. The package contained the long-awaited set on the magic of Johnny Thompson. I make no claim to have read everything yet, much less worked through all of the material, but I know that this book not only contains gold, it is gold.
Every once in a while, a book or set of books comes along that is destined to be a treasure for years to come. This set is the epitome of such treasure. It opens with “The Gambler’s Ballad” which I had the honor of seeing Mr. Thompson perform years ago for a small, select group attending a “Card Clinic.” It was real magic! Seeing the piece written out and fully explained is an unbelievable gift to our community. Gold.
The books were written by both Thompson and Jamy Ian Swiss. Mr. Swiss is, in my opinion one of the finest writers in magic, both technically as well as stylistically. The photos are crystal clear and show exactly what is needed (as far as I have looked and I have no reason to doubt that this is true of the entire book). The set is beautifully produced for those of us who care about the aesthetics as well as the content of our books. They have been autographed by both Mr. Thompson as well as his character, “The Great Thompsoni.” They are housed in a beautiful case fitting for such wonderful words. Gold.
Inside, the reader will find magic. Not just tricks, and certainly not tricks that have been “invented” yesterday, tried out last night, and videotaped this morning. These are genuine pieces that have been worked on by the finest minds in magic (Vernon, Elmsley, Marlo, etc.). They are not “miracles” that have never seen the light of day, but workhorses that have been performed thousands of times until every small rough edge has been sanded off. Gold.
I purchased these as soon as the publisher began taking money for them. I was afraid that by the time they were published the set would be sold out. You have the opportunity to get them now. A lifetime of work shared by one of magic’s greats. I advise you to sell whatever you can and buy these books. They will teach you more that the last fifty DVDs and instant downloads. Working through them will give you a goal not for a week or two, but for your life.
The same chant that St. Augustine heard two thousand years ago should ring in your ears: Tolle Lege (take up and read). You will never look at magic the same way again.

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Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on July 26th, 2018

Absolutely magical, a both beautiful and insightful addition to any serious collection. The quality of the content is reflected in the quality of the books themselves. Would recommend to any passionate (and patient) magician amateur or professional (tho be warned it is , in my opinion, NOT for beginners who will be quickly lost among the assumed foreknowledge of effects, routines, references, lingo ect...).

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