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Mr Amazing Special user 617 Posts |
I happened to catch part of a Zenon episode during a visit in Denmark the other day, and I was surprised to see how he had a much more "mysterious image" than what I've seen before.
Is this his "new image" (or was it an old episode and his newer is the light-hearted things I've seen?) Some things he did: Possibly a version of Goldman/Rutledges "Mental Yarn" where a (real) heart was thought of from a list of words. (I'm not sure it was Mental Yarn as I don't know that effect fully) A combination of a watch stop plus a pulse stop. (Brilliant brilliant brilliant combination! is this his idea?) A voodoo doll (electric chair) thing The web (a spider appears on the back of the specs hand) Swallowing needles + string .... Ring flight ...and more Even if I'm really not fond of having mental effects mixed with tricks/gags, I must say I liked the show. Zenon has a very folksy way perfectly suitable for the pubs etc that he visits. /M |
J_C New user Manchester, UK 59 Posts |
That show was called 'Trick or Treat' and was aimed for Halloween (obviously), so I can assume that he portrayed a more supernatural and mysterious character.
On the other hand, I may be talking tripe. He was a guest on another discussion board not long ago: http://magictricks.atinfopop.com |
Daniel Meadows Veteran user Manchester, UK 392 Posts |
Is that the one in Prague? Yeah it was a Halloween special from 2 years ago and there was some great magic. The two things my non-magician friend liked were: Wizard's manuel (it was using a "tourist"'s guide book) and the ring vanish to rose.
On the "Mental Yarn" thing above, I was the "awkward one" who picked the Knife, while my friend picked the heart. I was sat there with a smug look because Mr Zenon said you would thought of the heart, and then said you were thinking of the knife if you were the awkward one. A very nice effect and the first time that I had seen it.
Cerberus Wallet, Equilibrium, Counterfeit, Deadly Marked Deck, Infamous, Instinct
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John Smetana ???? - 2009 499 Posts |
Please tell us more about Zenon. I've nevr heard of the guy here in the US. Sounds like an interesting performer and I for one would like to know more about him. Are there any other sites relating to him, other than the one in the UK that was already mentioned?
Best thoughts, John Smetana |
A l a i n B e ll o n Veteran user 302 Posts |
Can anyone describe his "mental yarn"-type effect?
Sounds like an interesting variation. -Alain Bellon |
Mr Amazing Special user 617 Posts |
Mr Smetana
I have only seen a few of his TV-specials, so whatever it's worth: He does a mix of street and bar magic (bar in the sense of being a guest at the bar, not behind one), walking around the streets of London (?) at night. I think the shows are a response to Blaines street magic, but I could be wrong. Zenons style is simply funny and friendly. Clothing is just "relaxed everyday" - jeans, sneakers etc. A typical scene could be coming up to a bunch of ladies who've had a beer, do some chit chat, ask to borrow a ring - whoops he dropped it into the canal - well, "come over here - see that bottle over there?" - they all go over there and ... well, you get the rest. A lot are just crazy gags - e.g linking two persons earrings while in their ears and leaving them standing linked while walking away. Otherwise it's a mix of pretty much anything magical (all close-up though). I remember one end scene from a pub where he did bill into lemon in some bar for some drunkards (of the old kind) and their reaction and laughs are just wonderful. If you compare it to Blaine, Zenons magic is not as powerful in the sense that they just totally freak out (as they do for some Blaine things). But with Zenon they laugh out loud in relief and just think he is a great guy (which they don't really do with Blaine) Well, this is all I know. A jolly chap who does magic tricks and charms everyone. /M |
Daniel Meadows Veteran user Manchester, UK 392 Posts |
Memory is hazy about the effect but if you know the gist then I should be able to give enough details. Paul showed 10 "gothic" items, including the aforementioned knife and heart. He said something which hinted to one of the items (can't remember what!) and I tried to take the ambigious statement in a different way, which lead me to the knife instead of the heart. Sorry but it has been a while!
Paul Zenon first caught my attention years ago on a children's TV show where they "ran a theatre", he helped the kids out booking acts to appear and did magic frequently. He also did a lot of Street magic specials (in the Pre-Blaine era I believe) where he did all sorts of things, he has also appeared on tv doing stand-up, like knife through coat. He was also at Blackpool convention because I bumped into him. Matias- a fair description but some of the things he did made people freak out. There was alot of response from his "ripping a tax disc through a windshield" to name one. Also his snooker table trick made it to the "50 Greatest Magic tricks" that is discussed elsewhere.
Cerberus Wallet, Equilibrium, Counterfeit, Deadly Marked Deck, Infamous, Instinct
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Mr Amazing Special user 617 Posts |
Alain - I'm not really sure it was Mental Yarn.
As I remember it (please note that he does it to the TV viewers!): "Think of a number between 1-10.... most people think of even... Ok, look at this list and remember the word next to your number... now here on the table I have the various things from the list... we have [here some 10 things are shown].... now my feeling is that you chose... the heart! [he holds up the real heart] ... now, there is just one of you that is a bit odd and chose ... the knife! [he picks up the kinfe and shoves it into the heart]" FYI - the heart was object nr 7 and the knife object nr 8 if I don't miscall things. I probably don't remember all the crucial things... /matias |
Mr Amazing Special user 617 Posts |
Quote:
Neil wrote Please describe. I can't remember / didn't see those effects. /Matias |
Daniel Meadows Veteran user Manchester, UK 392 Posts |
He walked up to a car and pulled the tax disc from the inside of the car to the outside and handed it to the spectator to verify if it was the same one. That was very much as the name suggests. (on a tangent, do the US use tax discs on the windshield of a car? I don't remember seeing any, I think they were on the registration plate).
The other trick: A card is selected and remembered. The deck is spread all over a pool table and mixed up. The spec then throws the cue ball into the cushion hard trying to bounce of as many cushions as possible. The cue balls stops on one card. Suspense. It was the selection. I distinctly remember the table being a pool table rather than a snooker table as the name suggested. Maybe it is just me.
Cerberus Wallet, Equilibrium, Counterfeit, Deadly Marked Deck, Infamous, Instinct
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A l a i n B e ll o n Veteran user 302 Posts |
Thanks for the description Matias.
It is a variation of Mental Yarn, but to my displeasure it's too close to an item I developed and perform occasionally in casual settings. Oh well. Of course he uses different items and a different presentation with it. We have to keep coming up with new stuff... -Alain Bellon |
John Smetana ???? - 2009 499 Posts |
First a big thank you to Matias for giving me a run down on Paul Zenon's style. He does have a website which is quite interesting, including a number of pics from his TV appearances. (www.paulzenon.com)By the way Matias please call me John..Mr. makes me feel old..well older.
Just another point, sorry if it sounds a bit picky, but a number of people are talking about the effect 'Mental Yarn". Just how does this differ, in concept, from the original Ned Rutledge effect with 8 objects? Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks and as always, Best thoughts, John Smetana |
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