Hey Sonny! Re: your post of Aug. 23, just above. An old geezer (his name is Oslund) tweaked Frank Ducrot's 20th Century Silks about 50 years ago, and is finally tipping his routine in his book. Dick likes "O. Henry" finishes, and his 20th C. silks is very "O. Henry"!

Now, to get back to the thread. I picked up a couple copies of later editions of CCIM. I like the format (illustrations adjacent to text). I think it's especially beneficial to beginners.

At least one "out dated handling of an old method" should be noted in CCIM, page 237, Cut & Restored Rope--first method".

Walter Gibson, who wrote the CCIM, was an "east coast" magician who knew anyone of note in the east. He should have read Leon Maguire's article in Hugard's Magic Monthly (August,1945). Maguire's article, by "changing the moment" cleans up the Edw. Victor C&R method (the "first method in CCIM) which is flawed by bad timing--and by focussing attention on the precise place where the "trip loop move" needs to be made.

I have NEVER seen a magician who used the Victor C&R "move", do it, without its being obvious, that "he did something". I think that too many magicians "hurry" through the move, hoping that no one will notice. Many magicians who do the ancient "pass", speed up, when doing it, hoping that no one will notice. They must actually believe the old line: "The hand is quicker than the eye!" Some "magicians" actually close their eyes at the "moment"! I think they believe that if "I can't see it, "they" wont either! Misdirection is the answer to the C&R "discrepancy", and, the pass "weak spot, too! (Maybe that's why the "cockroach" misdirection was "invented"! -- hee hee)

I typed a few thousand words on the C&R in my book. I adapted Maguire's idea and, IMO, made it even better. I've done it in my lecture for years.

Unfortunately,too many "magicians" wont change because "it has always been done this way". Harry Blackstone Sr. in 1945, did the 6 Card Repeat, using the glide, It worked, but it was an awkward technique. The buckle count made all the difference in the world!

End of rant!

This was my first magic book and I think it is great.

Absolutely. An all around classic and perhaps the pound-for-pound magic book GOAT (greatest of all-time).

As I kid back in 70's I remember this course was crazy expensive, I could not afford it.

As an adult, I bought the reissued hardback (without the props and tapes) for nothing at Barnes and Noble.
One of my top ten books.

Wasn't there a version with tapes also?