Magicians Only Gags

160 entries in Cards / Effect Themes / Gags & Curiousities / Magicians Only Gags
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
Faire croire qu'on fait avec une adresse merveilleuse une opération qu'on fait sans adresse having made a classic pass before, pretend to make a fair cut, to then pretend to make an invisible pass from any movements, faking the pass
 		1786
Testament de Jérôme Sharp
180
Victor Farelli A "Sucker Gag" apparently strippers are used
 		1933
Farelli's Card Magic — Part Two
68
Harry Houdini The Houdini "Bluff" Change apparently top change is done
 		1933
Farelli's Card Magic — Part Two
71
Victor Farelli For Conjurers Only version of lazy man's card to pocket
 		1933
Farelli's Card Magic — Part Two
93
Tommy Tucker Sucker Card Change fake mexican turnover
 		1933
Expert Manipulative Magic
12
Tommy Tucker The Perfect Shift double lift to fake a pass
 		1933
Expert Manipulative Magic
13
T. Page Wright Magicians' Gag funny message on card, force gag
 		1933
Page Wright's Notebook
21
Comedy Relief gag for people that know the air pressure turnover, double backer
 		1937
Encyclopedia of Card Tricks
126
U. F. Grant The Vanishing Mirror Aces are found without looking at faces, apparently with mirror that vanishes, one-way backs
 		1937
Encyclopedia of Card Tricks
152
Russel Swan Gaglets gag, doing the pass openly
 		Mar. 1942
The Phoenix (Issue 3)
12
Joseph Keen A Keen Gag key card gag for magicians, key attached to card
 		Mar. 1946
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 3 No. 10)
202
Edward Marlo Super Reading apparently magician can read marks extremely fast, punch deal
 		1947
Marlo In Spades
24
Bruce Elliott Aces??? magician vs. gambler, doing all the moves but getting all four Aces, magician's joke
Related to Apr. 1948
The Phoenix (Issue 148)
595
Dr. Ben B. Braude Balloon Buster card in on of selected balloon, for magicians, three stooges (!)
 		Mar. 1951
The Phoenix (Issue 224)
897
Bill Simon 3. Misdirection Plus pretending to have stripper cards
 		1952
Effective Card Magic
143
"Senator" Clarke Crandall An Impossible Transposition gag description of impossible effect, Lester Overton
 		1952
The Last Word on Cards
26
Jerry Andrus Bounce Cut deck slapped on soft surface, top half bounces back, pass gag for magicians
 		1956
Andrus Deals You In
103
P. Howard Lyons Out of This Mind gag out of this world version in which one pile is all e.g. Sevens of Diamonds and the other all Six of Clubs duplicates
 		Apr. 1956
Ibidem (Issue 5)
8
P. Howard Lyons Clown Version 3&3, one color is never shown after the initial display (& switch), all one color at the end
Variations Mar. 1957
Ibidem (Issue 9)
21
Edward Marlo Full Deck - Five Faros returning 52 cards to their original order after only five faro shuffles
 		1958
Faro Notes
34
Ronald A. Wohl (Ravelli) Improved Clown Version fifty-one red cards, as a gag
Inspired by Mar. 1958
Ibidem (Issue 13)
2
Ric Schonblum When You Can't Face It gag when a magician gets handed a "wolf pack" (erotic images), chosen card is still normal
 		Sep. 1958
Ibidem (Issue 14)
7
Edward Marlo Let's Start Over aces are stacked with faro and four hands are dealt, yet aces are on top again
 		1959
Seconds, Centers, Bottoms
116
Squelch fellow magician cannot do air-pressure turnover, gag, double backer
 		1959
Feke Card Tricks
6
Tom Ransom From the Subliminal to the Ridiculous one-way forcing deck as gag force
 		Mar. 1959
Ibidem (Issue 16)
18
Edward Marlo The Illogical Routine Aces are stacked with faros multiple times, but each time come out in an unexpected hand for an unexpected number of players, Aces vanish as finale
Variations Dec. 1959
Ibidem (Issue 19)
18
David Bendix Dear Mr. Lyons one-hand riffle shuffle as a secret sleight, credit information
Related to Mar. 1961
Ibidem (Issue 23)
30
Edward Marlo Impromptu Illogical Routine Aces are stacked with faros multiple times, but each time come out in an unexpected positions, then are spelled out, Aces vanish as finale, five phases
Inspired by Oct. 1962
Ibidem (Issue 27)
22
Don Tanner Fastest Pass in the World short card duplicate, to fool magicians
 		Jan. 1963
The New Phoenix (Issue 376)
333
John Robbins For Magicians Only double backer changes into selection, see p. 394 for idea by Martin Gardner and p. 398 for idea by Francis Haxton
 		May 1964
The New Phoenix (Issue 390)
388
Karl Fulves Babel impromptu levitation, Bob Still with magicians only gags, Charlie Miller, Al Flosso Cartoon
 		June 1967
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 2 No. 8)
102
Don Nielson Supremo Deck Switch gag with light switch on card case
Related to
  • p. 146 for comment by Lu Brent
 Oct. 1967
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 2 No. 12)
128
David Bendix Mirabile Dictu joke effect
 		Fall 1969
The Hierophant (Issue 1)
33
Karl Fulves What - No Reversal? stripper deck throw offs
 		1970
Faro & Riffle Technique (Issue Third Supplement)
84
Jerry Andrus Card Miracle Extraordinary gag description of impossible effect
 		Summer 1970
The Hierophant (Issue 4)
201
Pete Biro Funkenring Fun
1970
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1969-70)
55
Allan Ackerman Snap Change Idea card is exposed, it's another card, magician's gag
 		1970
Magic Mafia Effects
35
Val Andrews For Magicians Only... No. 33, magician's gag for six card repeat, cards glued together in sleeve
 		1970 (ca.)
The Idiot at the Card Table
12
Edward Marlo Mock Placement gag for magicians
 		Fall-Spring 1971
The Hierophant (Issue 5-6)
291
Roger Smith The One Handed Faro Miracle gag, deck in order is placed inside case and is found shuffled, one handed Faro shuffle
Variations Jan. 1971
Necromancer (Vol. 1 No. 6)
5
Roger Smith The Ultimate Shift apparently shifting card form center to top
Variations Feb. 1971
Necromancer (Vol. 1 No. 7)
5
A "New" Flourish - The Impromptu Card Square (published April, 1978), by "Mr. Amazing", impossible card move, joke
 		Aug. 1971
Talisman (Vol. 2 No. 22)
174
Jay Weiler Brainwave Gag
Mar. 1972
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 7 No. 5)
504
Double Backer Card Gag No. 488, apparently showing double backer by dealing turnover bottom deals from deck with bottom cards reversed
 		1972
Jacob Daley's Notebooks
136
Jimmy Grippo Double Lift Teaser saliva
 		1973
Super Subtle Card Miracles
160
Frank Garcia Double Lift Feint apparent switch
 		1973
Super Subtle Card Miracles
161
Karl Fulves Reverse Strippers openly using stripper deck in off-beat way to fool magicians
 		1973
Riffle Shuffle Technique — Preliminary Notes on Part Two
72
Edward Marlo "For Faro Shuffler Only" deck is separated in reds and blacks, a faro is shuffled, colors still separated
 		1973
Marlo's Objectives
23
Edward Marlo For Magicians Only overhand control to throw off those looking for jogs
 		1974
The Unexpected Card Book
32
Edward Marlo Simulated Master Move two methods
 		1974
The Unexpected Card Book
137
Gustave Southall Pseudo Strippers simulating a stripper deck with Zarrow shuffle
 		1975
Riffle Shuffle Technique — Part One
30
Harry Lorayne The Ultra Move and the Fast Pass
1975
Afterthoughts
19
Francis Carlyle One Hand Pass Locator glimpsing bottom card, for magicians
 		1975
The Magic of Francis Carlyle
81
Roger Smith The Short Card Faro Force peek force in IF condition, faking IF control
 		1975
The Faro Sorcery Trilogy — Number 1
13
Karl Fulves Tunnel Vision gaffed cards change into ungaffed cards (magicians' magic)
 		1976
Epilogue (Issue Special No 5)
305
Edward Marlo For Cardicians Only although they know that card is second from top it is shown on top
Also published here 1977
Marlo's Magazine — Volume 2
156
Roger Smith Some Ultimate Pass Ideas pseudo pass for magicians, duplicate
Inspired by 1977
The Ultimate Card Book No. 1
5
Martin A. Nash Slippery Strippers pseudo Stripper Deck demo with normal cards
 		1979
Sleight Unseen
401
Martin A. Nash Faro Flam apparently IF Control is used
 		1979
Sleight Unseen
404
Harry Lorayne Lorayne's Invisible Pass Routine first single cards come to top, then all aces (presented as invisible pass demonstration)
VariationsAlso published here 1979
Quantum Leaps
116
Simon Lovell Two Faced
Oct. 1979
Pabular (Vol. 5 No. 10)
750
Justin Branch Double Lifting a Conjuror sequence involving an ambitious card phase and transposition for other magicians, using one-handed triple lift
 		1979
Cards in Confidence — Volume One
52
Entre Magos false dealing gag
Also published here
  • Abbott's "50 Crazy Card Stunts"
 Sep. 1979
Circular de la Escuela Mágica de Madrid (Vol. 5 No. 57)
295
Edward Marlo Control Throw-Offs in foreword, magician thinks he follows control of card
  • First Approach
  • Second Approach
  • Third Approach (with riffle shuffle)
VariationsAlso published here 1980
Marlo's Magazine — Volume 4
Edward Marlo Control Fake-Outs - Jog Shuffle Fake-Out puzzle magicians that follow the control, two methods
Related to 1980
The Hierophant (Issue The Last Hierophant)
38
Edward Marlo I-F Control Fake-Out puzzle magicians that follow the control
 		1980
The Hierophant (Issue The Last Hierophant)
38
John Cornelius Fake 21 card trick fake for magicians
 		1980
Cornelius Card System
6
Steve Beam A Hairy Situation shaving deck gag
 		1980
Diary of a Deranged Deck
19
Steve Beam Finger Exercise pun about jogs
 		1980
Diary of a Deranged Deck
19
Steve Beam Relief! fanning powder the deck in the middle of the trick, gag
 		1980
Diary of a Deranged Deck
19
Kevin Justice Two Cuts Better Than One? pun with slip cut
 		1980
Diary of a Deranged Deck
20
Steve Beam Visual Magic running cut pun
 		1980
Diary of a Deranged Deck
20
Steve Beam Keep It Down! pun, rising card
 		1980
Diary of a Deranged Deck
20
Steve Beam Who's The Dummy? gag using Tally-Ho cards
 		1980
Diary of a Deranged Deck
20
Herb Zarrow Faro Throw-Off locator card changes into selection, faro is apparently used as part of method
 		1982
Best of Friends
201
Stephen Tucker Letraset magician's gag, prediction faking to write with a nail writer
 		Jan. 1983
Spell-Binder (Vol. 2 No. 21)
401
Stephen Tucker Drop-Out devano rising card gag, card attached to thread
Also published here Feb. 1984
Spell-Binder (Vol. 3 No. 34)
663
Steve Beam Leftovers a computer gag, Henry Pettit, Dan Garrett, Phil Young, Wayn Kyzer's bear handed production gag, , a coin gag by Dexter Cleveland, Don Morris, a probability impossible trick for magician's by Steve Beam
 		1985
The Trapdoor — Volume One (Issue 8)
140
Edward Marlo Gag Packet Transformation Aces to Kings, sucker flushtration count gag
 		1986
Thirty Five Years Later
1
Edward Marlo Are We Kidding Ourselves Ace of Spades and three blank cards shown, apparently they change into Aces, but remain blank
Also published here 1986
Thirty Five Years Later
50
Ian Baxter The Multifaked Card strange gaffed card as a gag
 		Mar. 1987
Apocalypse (Vol. 10 No. 3)
1321
Piet Forton Piet Forton's Impeccable Variations: Oops!...They Split! double apparently splits, session gag with Impeccable Double
Related to Oct. 1987
Epoptica (Issue 10)
514
Jim Hyams The Roach Trick dead roach appears from two playing cards
 		1987
The Trapdoor — Volume One (Issue 18)
306
Edward Marlo Magician's Transposition using pip-cover displays, for magicians
 		1988
M.I.N.T. — Volume I
105
Edward Marlo Sucker Throw Change pseudo duplicate, right hand empty afterwards
 		1988
M.I.N.T. — Volume I
355
Karl Fulves, Don Stewart on Splitting and Fusion for magicians, dated to 1950s
 		1989
Quick Card Tricks
33
Rafael Benatar El Mago Discreto routine with several techniques which eliminate each other
 		1989
Cartas Certificadas
83
Steve Pressley, Steve Hook, Steve Beam High Rise static electricity, cards stick on finger, also as a gag
 		1990
The Trapdoor — Volume Two (Issue 35)
635
Bill Whittington Sucker Card Switch open spread switch, but cards are not switched when checked
Variations 1990
Swindle Sheet (Issue 1)
3
Tom Craven Signed Wallet to Card Case
1991
Card to Wallet
159
Michael Close First Application of MC Spread Double Lift, as fake side steal to impress magicians
Variations 1991
Workers Number 2
43
Rudolf Braunmüller Aufsitzer & Bierwetten collection of bar bets
  • Verschiedene Wetten
    • Die dreifache Gemeinheit (drinking shot glass under hat without touching)
    • Für Trinkfeste (drinking three beers faster than someone else three shot glasses)
    • Beantwortungs-Wetten
    • Münzenwetten
    • Eine Pokerwette (cards taken openly from face-up deck, yet spectator loses)
    • Die nächste Karte, die ich umdrehe, ist Ihre! (Circus Card trick)
  • Zauberer-Wetten (for magicians)
    • Der Center Tear
    • Der Münzenschnipper
    • Mental-Farbwürfel
    • Der Faro-Mischkünstler
 		June 1991
Intermagic (Vol. 16 No. 2)
79
Al Smith Quarto deck distributed into four plastic wallets for packet tricks, gag
 		1991
Hot Stacks & Cold Decks
21
Bob King Ultra Mental Gag fair force, using Ultra Mental handling with normal deck
 		1992
The Breather
11
Edward Marlo Are We Kidding Ourselves Ace of Spades and three blank cards shown, apparently they change into Aces, but remain blank
Also published here 1992
A Final Farewell Lecture
17
Justin Higham Bluff Erdnase Change for magicians
Related to Apr. 1992
Tech-Notes (Issue 2)
19
Justin Higham Fake Jog Shuffle for magicians, jog squared up, Mahatma Control
Related to Apr. 1992
Tech-Notes (Issue 2)
19
Jerry Fulton Red Herring sucker problem of having spectator separate a small packet into reds and blacks
 		1993
Rigmarole (Issue 3)
32
Richard Bartram, Jr. The Bicycle Hoax apparently Bicylce cards have one-way design, using the Hole Shuttle card
 		1993
Mystification
15
Eddie Fechter Faro Pairs magician's gag, Faro with alternate pairs
 		1993
Fechter
71
Eddie Fechter The Three Devils joke with cards
Also published here 1993
Fechter
124
Sid Fleischman A Magic Club Roast card finding routine with gags for magicians, sleights listed on post-it
 		1993
The Charlatan's Handbook
136
Horace Goldin, John Northern Hilliard "How It Is Done", or "The Indeceptive Deception", or "One For The Wise Ones" sucker key card placement to throw off magicians
 		1994
More Greater Magic
1207
Robert Parrish All I Know About Cards (In About Five Minutes) funny sequence for magicians in which sleights are demonstrated with a deck of only two cards
 		1995
Great Tricks Revisited
76
Tony Corinda Beyond the 13 Steps: A Masterpiece of Mentalism spectators divine cards in shuffled deck, April's fool gag, cockroach deck switch
 		Apr. 1995
Vibrations (Vol. 17 No. 10)
1
Justin Hanes Strip Tease apparently stripper deck is used
 		Winter 1996
The Looking Glass (Issue 1)
36
Karl Fulves Fail Safe card case with "Ultra Mental Deck" sticker
 		1996
13 Prophets
24
Dominique Duvivier Setting a Trap sandwich routine, sucker effect for magicians
 		1996
Magie Duvivier
170
Stephen Tucker Durchgefallen devano rising card gag, card attached to thread
Also published here 1996
Intermagic (Vol. 20 No. 4 & 5)
182
Roger Klause Two Teasers - First Teaser fake multiple lift demo with apparently thick block
Variations 1997
Virtual Foolery
14
Roger Klause Second Teaser depth illusion / Vernon-Houdini ambitious phase teaser for magicians
 		1997
Virtual Foolery
15
Simon Lovell The World's Only Blue-Backed Double-Faced Card! gag
  • Bonus Magicians-Only Gag Number One
  • Bonus Magicians-Only Gag Number Two
 		1997
Simon Says!
149
R. Paul Wilson Incomplete Inslow pseudo Incomplete Faro Control, actually a riffle force
 		1997
The Inslow Effect
15
Ken Simmons Dealing With the Aces Aces on top, two faro shuffles given, Aces are still on top, using Tilt Faro Shuffle
  • Second Method
Variations Oct. 1997
Onyx (Issue 1)
7
Edward Marlo, Don May Dealing With the Aces II Aces on top, two faro shuffles given, Aces are still on top, deck ends red-black separated
  • Second Method (Edward Marlo - Don May)
  • Third Method (Edward Marlo - Don May)
  • Fourth Method (Edward Marlo)
Inspired by Oct. 1997
Onyx (Issue 1)
10
Karl Fulves Shiner Gag mirror covered with tape
 		1998
Combo
39
Gesellschaftsscherze hiding several cards in apartment of magic friend
 		1998
Intermagic (Vol. 22 No. 1)
25
Milton Kort The Off-color Twenty-one-Card Trick twenty-one card trick with a color changing back ending, done as a magician gag/fooler
 		1999
Kort
49
Ellis Stanyon Pass to Deceive a Conjurer No. 20, fake pass demonstration
Variations 1999
Ellis Stanyon's Best Card Tricks
234
Karl Fulves Supplementary Note fake pass demonstration
Inspired by 1999
Ellis Stanyon's Best Card Tricks
235
David Malek Magicians Monte with sucker moves, two phases
 		2001
Rebel without a Pause
30
Harry Lorayne Lorayne's Invisible Pass Routine first single cards come to top, then all aces (presented as invisible pass demonstration)
Also published here Nov. 2001
Genii (Vol. 64 No. 11)
44
Lewis Jones Strip tease stripper functionality shown by locating a single card, but uses normal deck
 		2002
Ahead of the Pack
25
Tony Bartolotta Sorry I'm Late showing only the climaxes of different tricks, gag for magicians
 		2002
Discoverie (Issue 7)
90
Karl Fulves The Other Way apparently one-way back locations are done with a borrowed deck
 		2003
Off The Books (Issue 9)
175
Zenneth Kok A Touché Pass pseudo one-handed pass demonstration, card visually appears on top and vanishes again to the center with deck held in right-hand end grip
 		Mar. 2003
Ego (Vol. 2 No. 14)
5
Carl Mercurio For Magicians Only: Putting the Five of Hearts Face Up on the Table gag description
 		2003
Bar None
34
Karl Fulves Pseudo Hummer fooling magicians who know the Hummer CATO trick
 		2005
Combo II
46
Bob Ostin The 'Helical' Card Trick gag description of impossible effect
Related to 2005
Bob Ostin — A Lifetime of Magical Inventions
45
Bob Ostin The Serendipity Card Change backpalm gag for magicians, card shrinks on back of hand
Also published here
  • "The Serendipity Card Change" in "Abracadabra" Nr. 1564. January, 1976.
 2005
Bob Ostin — A Lifetime of Magical Inventions
80
Bob Ostin Well Done! gag to use for kid magician, well done written on card
 		2005
Bob Ostin — A Lifetime of Magical Inventions
137
Arthur Trace Who You Fooling? (Gag for magicians) A top change is apparently executed, but card is shown not to have switched
 		2006
It's All Relative
28
Dai Vernon Cutting The Aces spectator cuts to the Aces, with sucker moves as magician fooler
 		2006
Prolix (Issue 1)
10
Dai Vernon A Revelation spectator reverses four cards behind his back, all turn out to be Aces, apparently a key card location trick is explained, SBS deck
Related to 2006
Prolix (Issue 1)
11
Doug Edwards Short Again stripping card out, deck can be examined
 		2006
Brass Knuckles
95
Bruce Cervon Faro Fooler from NDO to NDO with two faros, double index cards
 		2007
Bruce Cervon's Castle Notebooks — Volume 1
32
Tyler Wilson Ah, Very Near Sloth Control gag method to get control of a card after an incomplete faro control
 		2008
Deal or No Deal
18
Benjamin Earl Cloak & Dagger Top Tip... getting from Si Stebbins into Mnemonica, joke
 		Jan. 2009
Gambit (Issue 1)
21
Justin Higham Gambler's Cop Applications combined with Illogical Dribble Force
Related to 2009
Notes on the Illogical Dribble Force
29
Eddie Fechter The Three Devils joke with cards
Also published here 2012
The F.F.F.F. Book
185
Chris Mayhew Trinado gag flourish cut
 		2013
Seventeen Secrets — Volume 2
37
Kevin Ho The Box Prediction barcode gag
Also published here 2014
Stupid Horrible Immature Tricks
14
Kevin Ho Not Even Close Kolossal Killer spoof
Also published here 2014
Stupid Horrible Immature Tricks
22
Kevin Ho The Professor's Revenge
Inspired by 2014
Stupid Horrible Immature Tricks
29
Joseph Barry A Ruse for Magicians... "the false, real shuffle ruse"
Also published here 2014
Fifty
6
Daniel Madison FSWE Shift Method to fake an SWE Shift
 		2014
Placebo
37
Steve Mayhew Sloppy Seconds vanish of a card during humorous second deal routine
 		2014
Mayhew
163
Harapan Ong Have a Break, Have a Kit Kat kit kat bar appears from deck of cards
 		2018
Principia
190
Scott Robinson Count On Me destroying a card while doing a trick for another magician
 		2018
Semi-Automatic Card Tricks — Volume 11
46
Tom Gagnon Bluff Tilt pseudo tilt ambitious card phase
 		2019
Gagnon Unfiltered
157
Steve Forte Holding Out Ace cutting fails, then Aces shown to be palmed
 		2020
Gambling Sleight Of Hand — Volume 2
1012
Edward Marlo For Cardicians Only although they know that card is second from top it is shown on top
Also published here 2021
Output (Issue 17)
26
Edward Marlo Tilt For Magicians
2021
Output (Issue 17)
29
Scott Baird One Way, All The Way one-way forcing deck, card signed on the back, it is found from the faces
 		Sep. 2022
The Hermit (Vol. 1 No. 9)
432
Howard Hamburg The Heavy Deck extra card secretly added to the deck and the removed as skill demonstration
 		Sep. 2023
Genii (Vol. 86 No. 9)
64
Howard Hamburg Un-Faro-able gaffed card added to borrowed deck that jams in faro shuffles
 		Sep. 2023
Genii (Vol. 86 No. 9)
65
Tony Giorgio The Tony Giorgio Mercury Fold card folded in borrowed deck as gag
 		Sep. 2023
Genii (Vol. 86 No. 9)
65
Scott Baird Anti-Triumph cards do not right themselves, they might in optional second phase, gag
 		Nov. 2023
The Hermit (Vol. 2 No. 11)
1076
Kevin Ho The Box Prediction barcode gag
Also published here 2024
Good Tricks For Bad People
29
Kevin Ho Not Even Close Kolossal Killer spoof
Also published here 2024
Good Tricks For Bad People
32