Magie Duvivier, by Jon Racherbaumer, illustrated by Ton Onosaka. $40 pp, including the trick cards and card case for Duvivier's world-famous "Printing" routine. Available from Richard Kaufman, 4200 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 106-292, Washington, DC 20016, Phone or Fax (202) 237-0497.

Over a lifetime of reading magic books, I've encountered a few books whose subjects have leaped right off the pages for me as fully realized, larger-than-life characters. This short list includes, for example, The Artful Dodges of Eddie Fields, The Magic of Matt Schulien, and Bert Allerton's The Close-up Magician. What evokes this air of romance about these characters I cannot rightly say. Certainly the skill of the author must play some part. Regarding the Duvivier book, the author here is Jon Racherbaumer, and he had a direct hand in my early appreciation of Eddie Fields. Certainly the common thread that these are all close-up performers with a keen knowledge of human nature must be a factor. Indeed Chicago plays a role: one imagines oneself armed with but a deck of cards, effortlessly dealing any hand called for at Chris' Pool Room, hurling a deck against a wall of a N. Halsted cafe, or developing the likeness of a selected card in a little aspirin tin at the Pump Room of the Ambassador East Hotel. I experienced this same rush upon reading Magie Duvivier. Here again is a fellow who seems more significant than the average sleight of hand artist. There is certainly a uniqueness suggested in Racherbaumer's physical description of him: "tall . . . rumpled . . . ever-present cigarette . . . not-quite-a-beard . . . long ponytail." Jon raises such evocative words as whimsy and weirdness, and he cites Duvivier's love of "the unexpected and surreal." Duvivier's day (and night) jobs add to the glamor. He owns Le Double Fond, a bistro and underground magic-theater, and he operates a magic shop, Mayette Magie Moderne. This makes him part Rick in Casablanca and part, say, Al Flosso. And of course there is Paris: one imagines oneself armed with but a deck of cards (although in this case an extremely gaffed deck of cards, or an ordinary card destined to wind up in an extremely gaffed wallet) entertaining jeune filles from a nearby university. But even larger in this evaluation than these background details -- and this is true of the Chicago magicians as well -- are the performer's unique approach to method and attitude toward the entertainment value of the material. Of the various things that Jon pointed out that characterize Duvivier's magic, the two that stood out the most for me regarding the methods are that (1) the effects are easy (and fun) to do and (2) there is a lot of cheating going on. The "French Tap False Cut" and the oft-used "Double Drop-Cut Control" are total frauds, yet I am convinced they would work. (The latter reminds me, in terms of boldness, of Blackstone's "Revolving Pass" popularized by Tom Mullica.) And these moves are utterly safe compared with Duvivier's "Daring Face-up False Count" that he uses in "The Card that Wasn't There." (In that move, a face-up Elmsley of supposedly four aces actually displays three blacks and a red.) This too is a strong effect. There is similar "cheating," if that is the word, in the plots, several of which don't even come close to following a linear path. But enough of generalities; let's consider a few specific effects.

Dominique Duvivier

I had the pleasure of taking Magie Duvivier to the beach with me this summer, where it was the favorite book of my summer reading list. The following notes describe effects that stood out for me as I sat beneath a beach umbrella and those girls from the Miller Lite commercial kept walking past. The strong effects in the book are by no means limited to these items. "Seven-Card Assembly" -- This looks as if you're about to do "Jazz Aces," but the cards suddenly transpose. Specifically: you deal the four aces into the standard T-formation. You then place the three indifferent cards onto the leader ace, and the leader packet suddenly becomes all four aces while the remaining three laid-out "aces" are shown to be indifferent cards. "Mulligan's Moot" -- Lots of magic with a small packet. You show eight blue-backed cards in alternating red-black order. These are separated into two piles. One becomes red-red-red-red, and the backs also change to red. When you look to see if the remaining packet is still alternating red-black, it is turned up to reveal four jokers. (My beach notes read, "Pointless but cool.") "Tri-Umpteenth" -- A "Triumph" effect with a cutting sequence similar to Daryl's, but with a lot more cuts. "Ghost Kings" -- This was my favorite of the completely impromptu routines. Four kings are displayed and placed aside. A card is selected, remembered, and cut into the deck. Attention is again called to the kings, and the spectator chooses red or black. Let's say red is named. Suddenly you show that you have only the black kings -- the reds have vanished. The deck is spread to show the face-up red kings, which now sandwich the selected card. Looks like great sleight of hand, but Duvivier makes it pretty easy. "Pocketful of Miracles" -- One of those effects in which the spectator gets to fish around in your pocket, three times! Briefly -- a card flies magically to your pocket, and then as a shocker the entire deck (sans the aces) does. Nice method here and lots of entertainment potential. "The Duvivier Deck" -- This is a specially printed deck, but (unlike "Chameleon" below) the audience never realizes it. The deck can be used for a variety of Nudist Deck or Brainwave applications, yet does not utilize the rough-smooth principle. An entertaining routine is supplied in the book, but the deck is capable of more. "The Shpoo Prophecy" -- In the introduction I mentioned whimsy, and I also mentioned nonlinear plots. Many of Duvivier's effects are surreal little dramas (or surreal little comedies, depending on how you play them), and none more surreal than this. It's an effect involving a rainbow deck, three special cards labeled "Zarkoff," "Poongog," and "Hoffzinger," a story about the planet Shpoo where "apparently everybody on the planet is telepathic," and five cards being turned over to reveal a royal flush. (As Jon says elsewhere of Duvivier, "he is not a slave to logic.") It's easy to perform, as usual, but if you screw this one up, it doesn't matter, because nobody has any idea where you're headed with it.

Six of the items in the book rate the author's characterization as "A Duvivier Specialty." All involve special props but are well worth your study. "Printing" -- This is the routine that made Dominque Duvivier world famous -- thousands have been sold -- and the fact that the special cards and card case are supplied with the book makes this purchase a steal (they sold separately for $25). To quote from the "Effect" paragraph: "Eight cards are shown to have blue backs. One at a time during a sequential count, the magician produces four face-up Tens. The Tens are dealt face up to the table. The other four cards are shown to be blank and are dealt below the Tens, forming two rows of four cards. The magician uses the blank cards to print new faces, blank backs, double-exposures, and finally a green back and a back that matches the design of the card case. You have produced four cards and created seven different magical 'printings.'" As usual, there is cheating going on. When you count the cards and produce the tens, you count eight cards each time, even though you are tabling each ten as it is produced! (Sort of an eight-card repeat going on, but in the background -- the emphasis is on the appearance of the tens.) Also, as is typical of Duvivier's magic, you are clean at the finish. All these oddly printed cards can now be examined. The cards supplied, by the way, are beautifully printed, which will further add to your enjoyment in performing this routine. "Duvivier Omnibus Wallet" -- I'm not one of those guys who owns a large assortment of gimmicked wallets, partly because most of them appear to be the size of a small briefcase. If I were in the market for a gimmicked wallet, however, this is the one I would want. First, it's the size of a wallet, only 6 1/4 in by 4 1/4 in when closed. Second, it incorporates features of most of the leading makes, including Himber, Balducci (Kaps), and Bendix Bombshell. (I'm not conversant in wallet gimmickry, but there is even a magnet thrown in here somewhere.) The wallet comes supplied with a duplicate normal wallet, and Duvivier tends to routine his effects so that things are clean at the end. Two routines are supplied in the book. The first involves a spectator's credit card changing places with a selected card. The second, titled "Quicker Than My Shadow," is a version of Elmsley's "Between Your Palms." Neither routine involves palming. If you are either wealthy or just incredibly self-indulgent, this is the wallet for you. "Le Dark Room" -- This is a routine for the Jerry Andrus Linking Safety Pins, with the kicker that you leave two permanently linked pins in the spectator's hands. (Personally I don't favor that climax and would recommend instead the bent-up pin climax in Don Alan's Pretty Sneaky.) "Cups, Balls, and a Cup" -- This is an entertaining routine that appears to the spectators as a three-cup, three-ball routine that ends with the climax of producing three large balls and a fourth cup! Behind the scenes you are using five small balls, and one of the cups is a Chop cup. (Therefore you will need a Chop cup set with an extra cup to match.) If I were doing this, I would also see to it that the fourth cup came loaded with a large ball of its own (easy to do here). If you can find the props, this is a very commercial routine. "Nervous Breakdown" -- This is a variation on Max Maven's "B'wave" in which no equivoque is used. Given that there are only so many degrees of freedom unless you possess supernatural gifts, something has to be fishy, and in this case it's a small plastic wallet. The effect is nonetheless impressive. When opened, the wallet reveals two clear plastic compartments, each showing the back of a card or cards. Any king (suit) is named. Suppose it's the king of clubs. You remove from one side of the wallet four cards. Spreading them, you reveal that the king of clubs is face up. You turn it over to reveal that it has a different colored back from the other three, and then you replace it face up in its original compartment. What about the face-down card in the other compartment? You remove it and reveal that it is the ace of clubs, matching the suit of the named king. You then turn the other three cards face up and show them to be the remaining three aces. "Chameleon" -- We come at last to an item I like a lot, incorporating a specially printed deck. "Chameleon" is quite difficult to describe. It's another "surreal little drama" which starts as a wild-card/printing routine, then suddenly the backs develop pictures of chameleons on them, and then things really get wacky as the backs of the cards, and eventually the card case, pick up images of your fingers. Too bad Richard couldn't have included one of these decks with the book!

Prior to reading this book, a friend mentioned that he thought Richard might have trouble selling this book because of the feeling that special props were necessary to do the routines. This isn't really the case. Of the 45 titled items in the book, 32 can be done with ordinary cards and coins, 6 can be done with props you probably already have around your house, and 7 require truly special props (though one of those is provided, for "Printing"). Of these seven routines that require special gaffs, there is still considerable value in reading them. First, each extends your insight into the mind of Dominique Duvivier. All the traits praised above are especially true of the gaffed items. Second, the gaffs are completely explained, and you may therefore make an informed choice should you eventually choose to purchase the props. Finally, the routines contain some excellent patter lines that you can transfer to non-gaffed routines. This is a fun book, and it has been a joy, through its pages, to get to know M. Duvivier a little. Read it. It will uplift your spirits and make card magic fun for you again.

The good news is that Dominique Duvivier manufactures some useful and highly desirable props. The bad news is that they are quite expensive. There is also the limitation that the props are available in the U.S. only through Jeff Busby. Let's price the props first and get back to that limitation in a moment. Props described in Magie Duvivier: "The Duvivier Coin Box" -- This is a highly gimmicked Okito coin box plus a larger black box that contains it at times, the Okito box incorporating features of the Boston box, Mulholland, Al 'n Nate, and T.C. coin boxes, and which turns, at the end, into a solid block of brass. Very nice. $120 "Duvivier Deck" -- Described above, comes with additional routines not covered in the book. $48.50, matching Poker decks available for $7 per red/blue pair. "Chameleon Deck" -- Described above. $65 "Nervous Breakdown" -- Described above. $35 "The Ultimate Universal Wallet" -- Described above, includes both the gimmicked wallet and a matching normal wallet. Made from top quality black calfskin. $355 Props not described in the book, but available from Jeff Busby: "Einstein's Blackboards" -- Miniature spirit slates in which all four surfaces change during the routine, itself a strange plot involving equations, a Coke bottle, the Ten Commandments tablets, musical notes, etc. The downside, if I read the ad correctly, is that you must use these images and can't adapt the slates to your own routine. Perhaps a happy customer could fill us in on this. $125 "The Deck That Shuffles Itself" -- This is the item Jeff has been pushing recently, and it's very nice. You perform "Triumph" with the "astral body" (to use one of Vernon's terms) of the cards, and the cards off to your side rearrange themselves to suit your actions. While not described in Magie Duvivier, there is enough info there for you to figure this out and to want one. $53.50 Back to the limitations. As you can see, these are expensive items. When I am spending that much money on a magic prop, I want to go to a dealer or attend a magic convention and actually inspect the item. We've all been burned, and no one wants to be burned on a $355 wallet or a $65 deck of cards. It's too bad that Duvivier limited sole distribution of the items to a dealer in Idaho. Second, the dealer is Jeff Busby. (Magic is a small world, and the irony is noted that Richard Kaufman's publication of Magie Duvivier directly benefits Jeff Busby, with whom Richard has conducted a long-standing feud over the delayed publication of The Braue Notebooks.) To order from Jeff, you first need to obtain a copy of Thaumaturgist, his ad sheet that lists currently available items. On the plus side, the sheet is enjoyable reading. There are delightful cartoons by Don Albrecht, and Jeff writes extensive and compelling ad copy. There are also testimonials from happy customers. On the minus side, the extensive rules, regulations, warnings, and threats on the accompanying order sheet make this the most belligerent and user-hostile order sheet I've encountered in magic or anywhere else. Jeff reserves the right to change the price on you and bill you at that price without notice, he asserts that he checks contents three times before shipping, he essentially insists that you buy insurance and refuses to file investigative paperwork on lost items that weren't insured, he refuses any returns or exchanges without written authorization and threatens a 20 percent restocking fee even on authorized returns. Whether any of these situations ever arise I don't know, but it concerns me that Jeff is so emphatic about them. My own experiences in ordering from Jeff have been mostly pleasant -- he does carry some of magic's finest merchandise -- and I've been particularly happy with Gaeton Bloom merchandise. Fortunately, I missed out on the The Braue Notebooks ordeal. The prices above do not include shipping or insurance. To order the items described in Magie Duvivier, you would have to shell out $623.50 for the items alone. Throw in the blackboards and the self-shuffling deck, and the total climbs to $802. Include postage and insurance at Jeff's current rates, and you are out $824.50. Whew. (Little Egypt University students are automatically assessed this fee when enrolled in French 101.) My overall impression from reading Magie Duvivier is that these would be great props to own -- I'm particularly intrigued by the specially printed decks -- but I recommend you read the book first, try to see the props in person if possible, and don't give anyone your credit card number unless you know and trust him. These words are not intended as a knock against any particular dealer -- they are just good sense. Caveat emptor!

French 101: Jon Racherbaumer's Oeuvre In the frontal matter of Magie Duvivier, there is a page that lists "Also by Jon Racherbaumer," and it lists only 15 titles, one of which is Magie Duvivier itself. I don't know if Jon was being modest or if Richard was saving ink, but the list is woefully short. A more complete list follows. Books and Manuscripts The Artful Dodges of Eddie Fields (1968) The Hierophant (A Quarterly) 7 issues, starting in 1969 Kabbala (A Monthly) 20 issues, starting in 1970 On The Clock Effect (1971) - Yod Series - 20 pages The Universal Card (1972) - Yod Series - 35 pages Piddlings & Pettifoggery (January, 1972) - xeroxed manuscript Edward Marlo's Further Flight (March-1973) - Yod Series - 20 pages The Ascanio Spread (1976) - Magic Limited - Lloyd Jones - 35 pages Kabbala Three (1976) - Louis Tannen - 159 pages Lecture Notes 1 (1976) - Magic Limited -Lloyd Jones - 29 pages The Mandarin Mystery Coin (1976) - Paul Diamond Magic - 11 pages Card - Coins (June - 1977) - Paul Diamond Magic - 11 pages Walker's Hyper-Twist (1975) - Pal Diamond Magic - 11 pages Good Turns (1977) - Magic Limited - Lloyd Jones - 21 pages Arch Triumphs (1978) - Magic Limited - Lloyd Jones - 44 pages Sticks & Stones (January - December: 1978) Magic Limited - Lloyd Jones Sticks & Stones (January - December: 1979) Magic Limited - Lloyd Jones Kabbala - Volume One (hardcover reprint) (October, 1980) - Danny Korem - 99 pages Lost Pages of Kabbala (May - 1981) - Danny Korem -96 pages Kabbala - Volume Two (hardcover reprint) (March, 1981) - Danny Korem - 93 pages Marlo Without Tears (1983) - Danny Korem - 317 pages Card Finesse (1982) - Danny Korem - 202 pages The Card Puzzle and Other Diversions (1983) - Miracle Press - 25 pages Unlimited (1983) - Second Edition - 44 pages At The Table (1984) - Danny Korem - 194 pages Gaffed To The Hilt (First Edition - 100 copies) (1985) - Kaufman & Greenberg - 76 pp. Card Fixes (1990) - L & L - 203 pages Card Finesse II (1992) - L & L - 278 pages Wild Card Kit (1992) - L & L - 82 pages Flashpoints (Full Tilt and Compleat Devilish Miracle) (1992) - L & L - 153 pages Back To The Future Classic (1992), 88 pages Gaffed To The Hilt (Second Edition) (1993) - Kaufman & Greenburg - 85 pages Magie Duvivier (1996) - Kaufman & Greenberg - 179 pages Privately Sold Manuscripts Facsimile 1 (1983) (issued free) Taming The Wild Card (1990) Racherbaumer Papers I (1991) - 26 pages Synergistic Sandwiches (1991) - 13 pages The Wild Card Kit: A Modular Experiment (1991) Cavorting Ladies (1991) Racherbaumer Papers II (1992) - 34 pages Pastiche: Recollections & Revisions (1992) - 68 pages Cabbages & Kings (1992) - 15 pages Full Tilt (1992) - 113 pages Compleat K.M. Move (1992) - 100 pages Compleat Devilish Miracle (1993) - 40 pages Inside Tracks - Lecture Four (1993) - 27 pages New Classical Foursome (1993) - 31 pages Ladies On The Loose (1995) - 11 pages Recycle (1995) - 100 pages MODUS OPERANDI (Quarterly) MO 1 (1993) - 33 pages MO 2 (1994) - 23 pages MO 3 (1993) - 23 pages MO 4 (1994) - 21 pages MO 5 (1994) - 27 pages MO 6 (1995) - 28 pages MO 7 (1995) - 29 pages MO 8 (1996) - 24 pages MARLO PHILE Marlo Phile 1 (1994) - 25 pages Marlo Phile 2 (1995) - 18 pages In the Works Marlo Without Cards Prime Moves Trade Secrets of Mike Rogers Counts & Concepts