In Close Up Card Magic you make a point about saying that this is the card effect you are most known for. I didn't really think much of it to be honest, there's a lot of redundant dealing and shuffling, and shuffling and dealing and the end effect is a little confused with the addition of the third mixed pile. My personal preferance is to keep things as direct as possible so I'm not too keen on repeatedly dealing through the deck or for that matter having a spectator deal through it. :|

What do you feel Out of this universe adds to Paul Curry's original creation?

Euan

Get Harry's L&L tape where he perform this. It is in miracle status!!!!

Euan: The best advice I can give you - that is, if you want my advice - is, DON'T DO OUT OF THIS UNIVERSE. Please, don't.
I never said that it was good, bad or indifferent. I just said that it was, at that time, what I was most known for. Seems as if you've added your own interpretation to my words. I think I once published the letter in APOCALYPSE, not sure - but I had one letter from a guy who said he wanted to build a cathedral where I walk because of OUT OF THIS UNIVERSE. That's what HE said, not me. Obviously, I have the feeling that if he built it, you'd raze it!
As to what I added, read the second paragraph of that item in CUCM.
You, also obviously, don't know how, or where or when, to present it if you're not getting a great response with it. But, Euan, it's a simple thing, as everyone knows. If an effect or routine doesn't work for you - DON'T DO IT. Incidentally, I fooled Paul Curry with it, and he thought it was one of the best things he'd ever seen.
However, to paraphrase Voltaire - I will fight to the death for your right to your opinion. I'm assuming you will do the same for me. But I'd rather not voice my opinion publicly as you felt obligated to do. Thanks for your interest. HARRY LORAYNE.


Posted: Feb 5, 2004 5:22pm
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MagicChris: It wouldn't do much good. HARRY.

RIGHT ON HARRY!!!

It fooled Paul Curry-that's enough for me!

I don't do the effect, I was just wondering as to your thinking which led to Out of this universe. Do you feel that the process of having the spectator deal the two piles only to have them shuffle them and deal them out again adds to the effect? Or do you think that the once through approach offers greater clarity? Just interested to hear your thoughts.

Ta

Euan

I think Mr.Lorayne had answered to Euan's second question without mentioning it. Please read between the lines.

Hideo Kato

Thanks, Hideo. You've answered Euan's question. I can't. My feeling is - if you don't "see" it by now (I originally published OUT OF THIS UNIVERSE in HUGARD'S MAGIC MONTHLY, in 1952, for God's sake!) you "ain't" gonna' see it. HARRY.

Harry:

When I heard you were going to be here I felt I had to stop in and say hello.

Euan:

I can’t speak for Harry and, in fact, he may not agree with everything I’m going to say. But, as someone who has performed "Out of this Universe" many times, I thought I’d pass along my thoughts.

The mistake many magicians make is to view "Out of this Universe" as a version of "Out of this World." This is understandable in light of the title and some of the patter Harry suggests. (Harry developed his trick right when magicians were going crazy over the Curry effect. Some of his patter suggests that he was interested in using "Out of this Universe" to fool the pants off those magicians.) In fact, however, Harry’s trick is not a version of Curry’s and, therefore, comparisons are pointless.

"Out of this World" is an effect in which the spectator psychically separates the red cards from the black cards. "Out of this Universe" is an effect in which the performer brings order out of chaos despite thorough and repeated randomizing of the deck. This randomizing is achieved by a combination of the spectator’s dealing and the performer’s shuffling. Viewed in this way, none of the procedure is either redundant or muddling. Presented in this way, "Out of this Universe" is one of the strongest impromptu card effects.

The best performance of "Out of this Universe" I’ve seen was by Juan Tamariz on national television in Spain. Anyone who knows Juan knows the care with which he picks his performing material, so I consider that quite an endorsement.

Sincerely,
Darwin Ortiz

An endorsement by Darwin Ortiz is quite an endorsement too.

--Rick

How do you know if something is worth while if you don't try it?

I performed Out of This Universe sometime back to a group of about 20 people in a bar, they went nuts.

I performed out of this universe on national tv in Mexico with a blind guy...awesome

Confirmed by what Harry Lorayne writes in his opening remarks to Out of this Universe:

"I evolved this idea years ago, because I wanted something with which to fool the wise guys who got a knowing gleam in their eyes when I would start to do, 'Out of this World.' I found that this fractured them, and fooled magicians too." (CUCM, p.80)

Hey Darwin: Nice to "hear your voice." Been awhile. Thanks for answering Euan. What's interesting to me is his one remark, up a few posts ago, where he says, "I don't do the effect."
Are you a computer "maven"? If you are, plese go to the topic "Stumping Harry Lorayne" and see the question re: computers I asked Randy. I'm putting this in a few of my replies, just in case someone knows the answer. Godd to hear from you, Darwin. HARRY. (PS: Shall we talk about all those years ago - at the Roosevelt Hotel?!)

Nice to see you here Harry.
Many of the effects everyone is talking about here are "NEW" to me... I was born in 1979...

Michael Lam

Yes, old things are new and new things are old really.

Hideo Kato

I just wanted to say that I DO love the trick. However, I didn't know it was yours and I haven't got any of your books. I learned the effect from some website.

I don't know if it is copyrighted material mr. Lorayne. if so, I would post the link so you could take action.

I think "Out of this Universe" is a strong effect. It's a VERY simple idea, but strong.

Personally, I am not so sure about "Out of this World". Everyone says it's the "greatest card trick ever".... PLEASE! I first saw it performed when I was 10 years old. It was a good performance, but the method was obvious to me. I think it is a trick for magicians who think that "laymen" (as they so LOVE to call ordinary intelligent people) are not particularly astute. Yes - it can be made effective with proper presentation, but a moment's thought by any intelligent person will "tip" the method to them. (At least, that is my opinion - but I have always been sharp at discerning the method used to create magic effects, so maybe I am an unusual case!)

"Out of this Universe" is stronger because, as Darwin says, it is an entirely different concept with a legitimate, convincing, mixing build-up (incorporating natural time misdirection) that makes "mental reconstruction and solution" after the event, rather more difficult.

It's a good one, Harry...

Steve

P.S. I have just read the contents of Derren Brown's "The Devil's Picturebook" video which says he includes a version of "Out of this World" with just TWO (not four) piles. I have not seen the video, but am interested to know if anyone has, and what they make of his version... I got thinking last night and came up with a potential solution, but don't know Derren's actual method... yet!

Out of this Universe has been one of my favourite effects to perform with a borrowed deck.

Euan may need to look at the way he's presenting this trick, if every move you do is motivated then you cannot fail to stun with this one.

"Study to be entertaining first, and make your trick incidental." - Ted Anneman

Be positive in whatever it is you do and remember life's a game and we're here to have fun.

Socrates

'Opportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work' - Thomas J. Edison

Michael: Boy, you have a long way to go. Just my books should take you into at least the year 2012. HARRY.


Posted: Feb 6, 2004 11:02am
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Tielie: of course it's copyrighted material, but some people don't seem to care about that. One day, something will be done about it. I can stop these people ;but it's really not worth the legal fees. But do give me that site address, then if I can at least I can let him know how I feel about it. Okay? Harry.


Posted: Feb 6, 2004 11:07am
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SteveMartin: Interesting, and I've told this story in APOCALYPSE a long time ago. Before I was married, it was 1947, I bought Out of This World. It was Karrell Fox behind the counter here in NYC. It cost me one of my last dollars - no kidding. But, gee, I had to learn this trick. I did. I rushed home, got dressed, and ran to see Renee (I don't know how to get that acute accent over the next-to-last e in her name) to show her this trick.
Well, I did. And - she IMMEDIATELY said, "Well, you must have had the reds and blacks already separated!" And she didn't know the first thing about card magic. Of course, this was before I could do REAL false shuffles, etc.
I don't know ANY of Derren Brown's work, Steve. If you can find out that method, please let me know. I don't know him, but at the moment I have to assume it's a take-off on my routine. No? HARRY.

The Derren Brown method goes like this. The spectator shuffles the deck, no switches or false shuffles. He shuffles the whole deck himself. Now he deals the cards out into two piles, one for red one for black. The piles are turned over and shown to be correct. Very direct handling!

Euan