TAJ, you look so, so...how do I say it? You look so....familiar!

Ross, I think the Krenzel taped were made in the same timeframe as the Professor's videos. Somewhere in the early 80's. They were put out by Videonics in Canada. He had a neat thing. Since they were all his tapes, he rented them or you could buy them. I think it was Hans Zann. He had a large catalog of names. Pavel, Bernard, Cyprian and many others.

So it's been over ten years since anyone commented on this topic. L&L has come out with a lot more stuff in that time. Anyone have any new bests or worsts to add? I got thinking about it again since I just got L&L's annual Holiday $10 sale email. I have a good amount of L&L stuff but I'm wondering if there is anything I should add or avoid. Although still prior to the last comment from 2007 in this thread, my favorites are Easy to Master Card Miracles (1-6), Art of Card Manipulation Jeff McBride, and Bill Malone's On the Loose and Here I Go Again. Not sure if I have a worst, as I usually do a lot of review reading and research before buying (thank you all who sacrificed so I could avoid the trash -- not all heroes wear capes!). Oh wait! I remember not being thrilled with Jeff McBride's Magic at the Edge. Yeah, I love Jeff and I think he's a fantastic teacher, but I found that series to be a bit of a snoozer.

There is tons of good stuff on there, but for DVD's my tops are all four John G videos (Brainstorm are two of my all time top favorites), and the David Regal Videos. Premise, Power, and participation are very well done, and I love the first three in particular. Ironically, I believe PP&P were filmed the same weekend as Brainstorm. There is TONS of great material on those sets.

Check out my "Best Ever" 4-volume DVD set at harryloraynemagic.com. You guys gotta' start watching (and reading) the good stuff!!!

I still watch Docc Hilford's Monster Mentalism set to this day. His presence is superb. A huge inspiration. Richard Osterlind's 13 Steps to Mentalism set is another essential mentalism purchase in my opinion. The quality of L&L Publishing production ranks up there with the best.

L&L Best: Loved the TA Waters set, Bill Malone On the Loose, Here We Go Again, Regal's Premise Power and Participation, any set by Richard Osterlind (too many to list)... Harry Lorayne mentioned his set...I freely admit it was very, very good.
Worst: The jury is still out.

My favorites are Richard Osterlind’s Mind Mysteries and Simon Aronson’s wonderfu 3 disc set. Simon’s was the first magic DVDs I ever bought. What a great introduction to learn quality and unique card magic.
Not sure if I have a least favorite set. I think I’ve picked something useful up in just about all of them.

Some of the most important / best L&L release:
Michael Ammar Easy to Master series - they definitely a must for modern magician stepping stone into magic. We have to understand that Ammar film these back to early 90's his look and wear cannot compare with era these days such as Shin Lim, the magic and fundamental taught inside were golden regardless what level of magic you were in.

Vision of Wonder by the late Tommy Wonder - It think this is the Peak of L&L DVD Publishing era and everyone should own this set.

Worst release - I hate to say that but Dacri 3 vol. set definitely among those. Classic effects while method is very similar to original yet not so attractive presentation. Maybe I was wrong ...

I have to agree (As a Card Magician mainly) that Ammar's "Easy to Master Card Series" (1-6 specifically) is what it took to take me from "A guy who knew some card ticks" to a Semi-pro and eventually full time pro Table Hopper, Bar and Comedy Club magician. I'm only talking about the "card part" of my arsenal as it pertains to L&L. A great Mentor also had a lot to do with it.

The ETM series really taught more than just the effect. Even today, the material and advice hold up. These tapes/dvds were broken down into small sets like you would do in a real performance instead of a bunch of tricks tossed together. They flowed into and out of each other. Michael was a fantastic teacher. Just enough, never too much babble. The Super Practice sessions were a great idea. If you needed more, it was close up at a slow and repeated pace, if you didn't need it, ship and move on to the next effect.

I also have to chime in and say Banachek's 4 DVD set was nothing short of amazing. Also, John Gustaferro's Brainstorm (sorry John if I misspelled your last name) was excellent as well.

But I have to say, my wife of almost 20 years who patiently watched me through the years purchase books and videos to learn this art...she has only sat through one L&L performance. She walked in my office as I was laughing so hard. She thought I was losing my mind. She pulled up a chair and watched the performance of Bill Malone on his classic On the Loose. After watching it the performance segment on DVD 1, she asked for me to pop in the next DVD to watch the performance. After watching all 4 performances,she was chanting "Bill Ma-lone). She still does that from time to time and it has been YEARS since we watched it together.

The Encyclopedia of Coin Sleights was originally released as a video set in the 80s. L&L bought the rights and made a dvd set. It has stood the test of time, and has started many a coin magician on their journey.

I have to say, I have gotten SO MUCH value out of the Ammar ETM series. Still working on mastering a lot of those effects. And my Aldo DVD's I will NEVER part with for any price. Aldo was wonderful to watch and wonderful to learn from.

Me included.

Your Memory Book changed my life back in the 70's. Thanks for all you've done. Attended one of your lectures in in Houston in the late 80's maybe early 90's? I always loved your card stuff, and used it a lot. Thanks!

I love Mr Lorayne's memory book. I have freaked people out using the technique of meeting a person ONCE and bumping into that person YEARS later still knowing his/her name. Thanks to Mr Lorayne's book, my memory (especially with names) has become a superpower. Great books from the real deal.

Mr Ponchatrane! Nice to meet you!

LOL. I see I am not the only one to read that book!

Yeah! I “remember” it well!