|
|
Go to page 1~2~3~4 [Next] | ||||||||||
hoodrat Veteran user Southern California 388 Posts |
Just received this effect the other day in the mail and thought I'd write a review. I'm a hobbyist and not a professional performing magician, so my review represents that of the hobbyist.
The instructions to "White Star" are in booklet form, and it is very nicely made. The text is written well with no abundance of grammatical errors found in other instructions, and the directions are quite clear and easy to follow. The supplied 28 antique photographs of victims of the Titanic disaster look like real photographs. They are not cheap, flimsy pictures made on a computer. They look like real, authentic photographs from the early 1900s. While the photos do NOT depict actual people who were on the the Titanic, the information on the back of each photograph IS true. This information includes the name of the victim, age, ticket number, a little biographical blurb about them, and whether or not they survived the sinking. The effect itself is based on the "Out of This World" card effect. The use of the Titanic subject, though, gives the effect a nice spin. Basically, two spectators decide whether to keep or discard the photographs as you show them. In the end, one spectator will turn over her photographs to find that she selected people who all died on the Titanic. The other spectator will turn over his photos to find that he inadvertently chose people who all survived the disaster. The discarded cards that neither selected are turned over, and they are a mix of both passengers who died and passengers who survived. Eerie! Everything can be examined. There are no gaffs, gimmicks, doctored cards, etc. Everything is totally examinable by anybody. The only complaint would be that the effect should've included an old coin (pre-1912) and an old fountain pen (also pre-1912) as props. The instructions mention using these two props several times. The props are not needed to do this effect, however, but using them might add an bit of "atmosphere" to the effect. Including these two props probably was not practical or cost-effective. Not a big deal. The high quality of the 28 supplied antique passenger photographs more than makes up for that. While I haven't yet performed this for family or friends, I can see where this will be an intriguing and somewhat eerie effect for them. I recommend that owners of this wonderful effect also purchase the cookbook called "Last Dinner on the Titanic: Menus and Recipes From the Great Liner" by Rick Archbold and Dana McCauley. This cookbook features all the recipes that were used on the Titanic including the meals served the night of the sinking in the First Class, Second Class, and Third Class dining rooms. Other interesting info is included about the ship. You could re-create the "last meal" that was ever served on the Titanic for dinner-party guests and then, at the end, perform "White Star". Now that would be a GREAT evening of entertainment! I plan on doing this. Here is a link to the cookbook on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Last-Dinner-Titani......0&sr=8-1 |
|||||||||
goldeneye007 Inner circle London 2423 Posts |
The idea of the menu is indeed nice! The idea of the effect is just tremendous.
|
|||||||||
JPK Loyal user 272 Posts |
Good afternoon hoodrat.
Thanks for the review and for a great idea with the menu. John Kardel
John Kardel
|
|||||||||
Bill Veteran user and Pretty Nice Guy 373 Posts |
Hoodrat, nice review. I too received this in the mail just days before I left on a cruise (out of San Diego, small world). I performed this several times and it went over big. Not a "HOLY ****!" kind of reaction, but a more quiet sense of absolute wonder from the spectators. I followed a few times with a haunted key, claiming it was made from metal salvaged from the Titanic. Now that gave some of them the creeps.
This is a very different kind of trick. This is the kind of trick you can build an evening around. |
|||||||||
Alan Rorrison V.I.P. 2494 Posts |
The effect is stunning. I need to do a party which is on a boat and is titanic themed. The dinner with this effect will be a nice final thank you for the idea
|
|||||||||
Fitty New user 13 Posts |
Is there anyone in England who stocks White Star or better still are there any dealers going to the magic Convention in Blackpool who have it ?
|
|||||||||
danielellis_5 Loyal user Sheffield 211 Posts |
Best quote from a spectator"I know how he did that,it was sleight of hand"(spectator then sits back looking pleased with himself)
|
|||||||||
Jamie D. Grant V.I.P. as seen in Ripley's Believe It or Not! Twice! 2413 Posts |
Hiya!
If you love this effect (which we would all do), you might want to check out an idea I had: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......orum=109 ~jamie http://www.whatizit.net
TRICK OF THE YEAR: Industrial Revelation, BOOK OF THE YEAR: The Approach, The AIP Bottle, and my new book Scenic 52, can all be found over here: SendWonder.com
Kindness takes practice. My TEDx talk |
|||||||||
goldeneye007 Inner circle London 2423 Posts |
Nice indeed.
|
|||||||||
smartboysports New user 53 Posts |
I recently purchased this and absolutely love performing it.
I prefer the White Star Revisited version. Now, in no way am I criticizing the photos, but being a perfectionist to detail, I had to change them. There is nothing wrong with the quality, etc., but I personally felt they appeared too "new" for the story. I bought vintage turn of the century cabinet photos -many look identical to the included photos. There's the larger size ones that measure 4 1/2" x 6" inches... but I found some 2 1/2" x 4" inch cabinets. They're easy to find at almost any antique shop or online. I reproduced the back info onto my cabinets (with minor changes), and they look incredible. Easy to replace, etc. Granted, it was a $30.00 investment and a few hours worth of work, but now all the props are dated to the time period. After they've chosen their photos, I than explain that they were "souvenir pictures" of passengers boarding the Titanic (who hasn't taken photos boarding a cruise ship or other tourist attraction?), and used afterwards to identify the passengers. Seriously, it seems to creep people out more |
|||||||||
plainoldjay New user 16 Posts |
Hoodrat, Thanks for the review. I am fairly new to magic, so a hobbyists review sometimes means more to me than a professionals. I have been torn between White Star and Heirloom and now think White Star is the way to go for me . . .
|
|||||||||
edh Inner circle 4698 Posts |
Smartboysports, what do you mean by cabinets?
Magic is a vanishing art.
|
|||||||||
smartboysports New user 53 Posts |
Edh - I wish we could put photos on here Here's the definition: "The Cabinet card was the style of photograph which was universally adopted for photographic portraiture in 1870. It consisted of a thin photograph that was generally mounted on cards measuring 4 ¼” by 6 ½ inches." I believed that they continued just through the turn of the century. They're very thick cardboard and work perfect.
I guess the best way for you to view one is to go on Ebay and type in: vintage cabinet photo - there's literally thousands for sale. If you shop around, they can be bought at less than a dollar each. |
|||||||||
edh Inner circle 4698 Posts |
Smartboysports, ahhhh...O.K. So it is just a cardboard frame. Thanks. What confused me was I relating the word cabinets to wood cabinets. Not the same thing. That's where the confusion lay.
I have seen those "cabinets". Thanks for the response.
Magic is a vanishing art.
|
|||||||||
The great Gumbini Inner circle 3062 Posts |
This is a very good effect. Yes the photos do have that "new" look, but I just say that they are reproduction cabinet photos---which starts a lot of questions and consequently even more interest. But I have to admit I do like the ideas above!
Good magic to all, Eric |
|||||||||
smartboysports New user 53 Posts |
Eric - I agree, it's easy to state that they're reproductions, which does peak interest. I have never had anyone question or comment about the original photos, especially negative. The effect grabs them and the photos aren't an issue.
I decided to use vintage cabinet photos as a personal preference. It would be impossible to mass produce using the cabinets, plus the cost would be much higher, and we don't want that . Also, cabinets are not cardboard frames... but a heavy cardboard photo. You'll see many mounted in old albums. Not that it matters -all the same. |
|||||||||
daghank Loyal user 290 Posts |
Can the information sheets about victims be re-written in another language? English wouldnt suit me.
|
|||||||||
daghank Loyal user 290 Posts |
Also , whats the difference compared to derren browns 'dead & alive' routine?
|
|||||||||
BroDon New user 23 Posts |
Need to put in my "two cents"
Whitestar has become the closer for my after dinner performances...I've gone a bit over the top (I guess!) with repro newspapers, menus, an ocean scented candle burning, "Nearer My God to Thee" playing in the background, a picture of a married couple seperated by death for the "discard" pile (Thanks Jamie!!). However, these investements have elevated an already strong effect to the level of complete mystery. On more than one occasion, I have had spectators actually moved to tears. Truth be told, I cannot say enough good things about this piece! Br. Don |
|||||||||
daghank Loyal user 290 Posts |
Well 2 questions werent enough and I couldn't edit my previous posts so I guess I will have to make a new one.
Can we adapt this to another story easily? Like something just about people or a national disaster? |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Tricks & Effects » » "White Star" by Jim Critchlow -- A Review (8 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page 1~2~3~4 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.04 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |