I’ve enjoyed Harry Anderson’s magic square routine. He talks about it in his penguin lecture.

[/quote]

Rather than spend four posts giving you a bunch of guff, I'm just going to answer your question, since no one else has.

Here's a link to a performance of Harry's version, in which he explains it as he goes. It's self-explanatory. And above Harry says he gets a standing ovation from this. https://youtu.be/anHoo5Lw224

Now my own aside: Personally, I've never liked this trick, no matter who does it. For me, it's the worst trick I have ever seen. And no matter who does it or how, it never seems magical to me, and it's alway way too long. [/quote]

Thank you Dana. By the way, I eventually did a search but the posters in the first ten discussions I looked at immediately got into the meat of their issue without any explanation of the basic idea. Sorry that I contributed to this "clutter"...and I will leave it at that. Perhaps having been a research scientist in the first half of my life I never lost the "questioning reflex." However, as you kindly indicated, my question was easily addressed by a simple fix. Thanks again.

I would certainly listen to Dana - just DO NOT DO a magic square routine. Simple, right?

I would certainly stop doing my version - if only those darn standing ovations would cease.

Harry's magic square routine at https://youtu.be/anHoo5Lw224 is pretty darned impressive. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but in my opinion it was quite a dazzling display.

I guess there are a few who simply don't like tea! Thanks for your "opinion."

The world would be a better place.

Absolutely.

Hilarious! You're still the best Harry!

This is a great example of the understanding that it's not the effect, but the presentation and performance that matters the most.

Thanks, Mindpro. But not according to Dana, of course.

Rather than get insulted over the fact that I don't like the trick, consider my opinion a compliment to your skills. The fact that you can get a standing ovation out of such a craptastic trick is a testament to your performance, not the trick, imho. Good for you. But the material, imho, stinks. I don't even think of it as magic.

My opinion is that it's a cute little high school math thing, and once you get over the surprise, that's how it comes off. It doesn't appear to be magic. It doesn't violate the laws of physics. It's more, "that's really amazing that it works out that way," than, "that's impossible and could not have happened!" It's a long way to go and too much talking for the payoff, imho, and the payoff feels mathematical rather than magical. And it is mathematical. ABCD. Not magic. That's my opinion. If you think it's amazing magic, then hey, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it as much as I am to mine. But unless you invented this trick, you shouldn't be bothered that I don't like it, you should be flattered that I'm impressed you can get a standing ovation from such a turd.

Really, I can't believe you're so sensitive about my opinion of the trick. And out of all the versions I could have linked to, I linked to yours. Which is another compliment.

Thank-You-So-Much.

Ah yes! A man of culture.

It might not be "magic", Dana, but is was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.

Orthodoxy in thought is death.

Thanks KShepher. One thing should be made clear - Ms. Dana keeps up her "craptastic" (her word, not mine) remarks about my magic square presentation not being magic. Hey Dana - I DON'T DO A MAGIC ACT!!! I do a MEMORY act. Been doing it all over the world for over SEVEN decades. Guess I should know a bit about that area by now, NO?

So, after I've memorized the names and faces of hundreds of people in my audience - and then SO MUCH MORE of MEMORY stuff. If you really want to know what you're talking about - check out my one-hour memory performance for a lay audience on volume 4 of my "Best Ever" DVD set (thanks for the plug opportunity!) The closing piece is the magic square. I talk a bit about "the mind being the best computer..." etc. And go into the Magic Square.

Anyway, over the decades, I've heard people say after I did the square - "That's gotta' be the most magical thing I've ever seen!" Yes - they actually used the world "MAGICal." I didn't really want to mention that - don't want to give Dana a stomach ache!!

Well said!

You seem to be taking my dislike of the magic square very personally. Is there any other trick I dare not dislike, lest it offend your sensibilities? If someone asks about Out of This World, and were I to give a negative opinion of that trick, as well, would that also hurt your feelings? I'm also not a fan of certain foods. Would I garner your ire should I criticize them, as well? I don't want to hurt your feelings again. Perhaps there is a list of tricks I may not dislike, somewhere, that I could review before posting any further opinions. That would be helpful.

Dana defends her position with elegance.

Well done...-))

(I'n an agitator....) bye

Technically,the Magic Square is not a trick.

It WAS part of Harry's memory demonstrations.

Perhaps it does not belong in a Magic forum...but Harry was responding to the OP.

He didn't bring it up, the OP did.

Kevin

Well, let's put it this way, Dana - simply... whenever you mention anything - ANYTHING - that in some way "connects" - even a bit with me - I will state my OPINION OF YOUR OPINION. Not trying to hurt your feelings - just honestly think that my opinion IS AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR OPINION in any area that connects even a bit with me. Or if I feel that it does.

No, no negative opinion you ever give would hurt my feelings - after all, I know where that opinion is coming from - but it certainly may urge me TO GIVE MY OPINION OF YOUR OPINION. Can I make that any clearer for you?

There is no way you can hurt my feelings. But you sure as heck can get my anger up a bit. Like - oh was it about a year or so ago when I mentioned one of my books in a thread trying to help - which is usually why I mention any of my books - trying to help - and you posted - I'll paraphrase 'cause I don't want to take the time to look it up and it may have been deleted - you said in this "gritting your teeth" style:

"HE-ALWAYS-PLUGS-HIS-BOOKS!" Yeah, there you did "garner my ire" a bit. And doesn't it seem that I hurt YOUR FEELINGS by mentioning a book of mine? Seems as if you have that pretty "common" attitude -- okay when you do it but not okay when anyone else does! (I certainly didn't need to have a trained memory to remember that lovely "piece.")

So far as I'm concerned, so far as the silly magic square discussion is concerned - my little cliché comes to mind: I do wish that those who keep "talking about" knew what the heck they were "talking about." Hope I haven't "offended your sensibilities."