Hi People,


In the well-known four-burglars trick, the Jacks end up at the top of the deck, where they can, for instance, be picked up by a "Getaway Helicopter" that carries them out of danger.


I got to thinking -- probably because I've read too much P. G. Wodehouse -- that an additional surprise, after the Jacks end up on the roof would be to say that they all slid down a convenient drainpipe to the ground and escaped. In other words the Jacks, after magically rising to the top of the deck, would next be seen at the bottom.


I know I've seen this sort of thing somewhere -- maybe in an elevator trick -- but I can't think where. If anyone has any ideas or references I'd be grateful. Palming, Passes, and culls are currently beyond my reach, though the number of tricks that I want to learn that use the Cull is steadily mounting. So if I'm willing to wait on my idea long enough to learn a cull -- which I gather takes a lot of practice -- that might be a solution.


Thanks for any help people can offer.


Bob

A switch would be a fast and neat way to achieve your aim.

For instance a Turnover Change which works with multiple cards would fit the bill: The 4 jacks are lying on the table face up and in the act of turning them face down they end up at the bottom of the deck and four indifferent face-down cards lie on the table.

Here’s a link to Conjuring Archive to Turnover Changes & Variations. Enter ‘multiple’ in the Filter Result field to bring up only the variations that work with multiple cards.

Here’s a handling of a Marlo Turnover Change. The performer changes one card, but you can change 3 or 4 if you want.

Thanks Claudio! I replied yesterday but must have forgotten to click "submit." I especially appreciate the time you took to gather those links. I watched the video and found that I own some of the books that include multiple turnover changes.


Call me picky if you like, but here's what makes me hesitate. To my mind, it isn't logical to put the jacks on the table and then magically move them to the bottom of the deck. Ideally it would be better if the audience saw the Jacks on the top, and then, after little procedure, saw that they had dropped to the bottom. That may be difficult, though, given the restrictions I've placed on the problem (e. g., no passes).

Hi Bob,

You may have already read this, but I published an article on the classic handling of "The Four Burglars" last month:

Easy Does It: The Four Burglars

I've almost finished writing a follow-up article that discusses a few variants with kicker endings. The cards don't end up on the bottom but become trapped between the two black Kings in the middle of the deck. Full disclosure: The method uses a Turnover Pass, but this move isn't as difficult as people think. You can also get away with a reasonably sloppy technique due to the logical "external reality" of this particular pass.

Marty

P.S. I'll post a link to the second article when I finish it, probably sometime next week.

How are you revealing the four jacks on the top? Turning them over one at a time to the table? Just spreading over four cards and flipping them over? Deck on the table or in the hands?

Thanks, Marty and Frank.


I look forward to reading your article and its followup, Marty. I've been getting kind of interested in the turnover pass, though I'm not sure my talent is great enough to learn it. Only one way to find out, but I'd prefer an easier handling.


Frank, I was thinking of just turning over the top four cards all at once, leaving them on the top, and spreading them on top of the deck to display them. I'm happy to modify that, but, as I mentioned above, the effect would be more magical, I'd think, if the jacks weren't removed from the deck. I suppose I could use the trick as a closer, have duplicate jacks on the bottom, and somehow bury the jacks that I've just displayed on top in the middle of the deck... Or maybe use a transfer cut, but too much procedure would ruin the effect.

Bob, I should have mentioned that my variation of the classic "The Four Burglars" doesn't need to use the Turnover Pass. You can get by just fine by openly cutting the pack, and the trick is still impressive. Although, the pass does make it more magical.

FYI, my trick involves the four Kings as four policemen tasked with guarding a priceless diamond necklace (the Ten of Diamonds). During the second phase, two Kings hide in the hotel while two stay outside in the van (the card box). This is a play on the Spies in a Van trope. The Jacks break into the hotel via four locations but get caught by the undercover detectives. However, when the cards are spread across the table, the Ten of Diamonds is missing! The card box is opened, and the Ten is sandwiched between the two Kings. It was an inside job!

I've moved this to the top of my "to write" list so that it will appear in The Ruseletter later this month.

Marty

P.S. I'd never use duplicate Jacks in this particular trick; it is the most obvious solution to the multiple card rise effect. You want people to suspect that you have extra Jacks, then later prove them wrong. The fact that it uses no duplicates is one of the best things about this trick.

Thanks, Marty. You've probably seen this already; if not, it may interest you because it uses the "inside job" idea.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyznIv0Np8c


Bob

Bob,

That trick was actually the inspiration for my variation, along with "The Three Knaves" in A Notable Discovery of Coosnage (1591).



Tom's trick is great. I like it a lot.

Marty

How about that! He's not only a creative magician but a good explainer. One could say the same of you now I think about it.


Thanks for moving your trick to the top of "to write." I like the "missing 10D idea" and am excited to try this.



Bob

I've just published my extended variation of "The Four Burglars" via my Ruseletter:

Corrupting the Classics: The Four Burglars

As this is an odd edition of Corrupting the Classic, I'm afraid it is only for paying subscribers. However, I've switched on an option for subscribers to claim the article for free in case anyone following this thread wants to learn new variations of this venerable card trick.

Marty

P.S. Bob, I've sent you a PM with a free link to the full article.

That was kind of your, Marty -- thanks! I've written a preliminary reply to your PM.

I like Bill Malone's version of the 4 bank robbers. In his version the trick is done with the 4 Aces but he keeps falling them Jack's and at the end of the trick the Aces turn into the 4 jacks.

Hi Magic Bob,

Yes, that's a great, offbeat variation, based on some ideas by Ed Marlo. I mention it at the very bottom of the article, along with two additional variations that I also like a lot. Here's a video of David Ung performing it:



Marty

Palm them off and they appear in different parts of the building (pockets)?

Hi Magicbob, Marty, and fonda,


Thanks for all these ideas. David Ung is charming! It's interesting how many variations of this trick are out there -- I had no idea.


I have to say, though, that -- except for Marty's "Inside Job" -- I'm really wedded to the idea that the spectators see the jacks on top and then, shortly thereafter, at the bottom. I'm beginning to have some success with the spread cull; maybe that would make what I have in mind possible? Heck, if there's a way to do an okay-ish Hermann pass with built-in misdirection, I'm willing to at least try that. (Or the Display Pass in Card College???)


Or a transfer cut, though that may be too obvious.


Or an adaptation of an elevator trick?


Anyway, I'm happy to hear about any variations on this trick, but if someone has a flash of inspiration for "top-to-bottom," please let me know!


By the way, the idea that the Jacks slide down a drainpipe (rather than being picked up by a helicopter) was inspired by one of my favorite authors, P. G. Wodehouse. If you haven't read the Jeeves stories, or seen the wonderful TV adaptation, give them a try.


See you,


Bob