MJM Magic is a simple site, so it’s fitting that its current sale is as straight forward as it gets. For the next three days and 18 hours (give or take an hour or two depending on how long it takes to edit this article), over 500 tricks, decks, and tools will be on sale for 50% off. MJM also offers free shipping within the USA for orders over $50, a cool reward point system, robust price match options and a daily draw for a $10 gift card for everyone who’s spent more than $25 on the site.
The sale includes all kinds of magic paraphernalia, but the items currently in my gift basket are:
Monarchs are a solid entry-level “nice deck.”
I’ve settled on Bicycle Blues for my cack-handed attempts at card magic because so many gimmicks and effects are designed with these cards in mind.
Cheesy? Yes, but I need something to go with that sequin-covered waistcoat I bought on Amazon at 3am.
You can see a list of everything that’s on sale here.
The Mingus Magic Shop in Reading, Pennsylvania, will reopen April 19th following several weeks of interior and exterior renovations. Resident magician and “shop mascot” James Stilianos will perform outside of the shop starting from 4:45pm. After a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:00pm, punters will be able to browse the shop’s new displays, many of which contain artifacts dating back to the mid-thirties, until it closes at 8:00pm. A 15% sale will be running from the grand re-opening through Saturday.
The Mingus Magic Shop was founded by magician and businessman LeRoy Mingus, in 1938. Mingus was known for his ornate “flowers” made from brightly colored feathers, which can be seen in several movies, numerous TV shows, and in magic shows around the world. The current owner, Wayne Shifflett, a former protege of the late Mingus, bought the store in 1976 and still produces the flowers (and teaches Mingus’ famous cup and ball routine) to this day.
But the Mingus Magic Shop isn’t just a place to buy supplies and learn from other magicians; it’s also a micro-venue for magic acts. At the back of the shop is the Mingus Magic Mini Vaudeville Theatre, which boasts 18 original theatre seats. The venue is active year-round, with its most notable show being the 24 Hour Magic Marathon, which features a different 15-minute magic show every half-hour for 24-hours straight. The next Magic Marathon starts at 5:00pm on May 4th, and runs until 5:00pm the following day. $5 nets you a one-time ticket that lets you stay as long as you want while a $15 ticket lets you come and go as you please.
“We get lots of late night and early morning spectators after the local bars close,” Shifflett joked to the local press.
The shop is also the subject of an upcoming documentary by Ryan Adamowicz of Barely Upright productions. The 30-minute film will be screened at the Googleworks Theatre on Sunday, May 20th, and Saturday, May 26th.
In 1998’s The Matrix, the red pill represents knowledge, freedom and the brutal truth of reality. The blue pill represents falsehood, security and blissful ignorance. But forget that try-hard crap. Let’s talk capitalism! In this latest marketing stunt from magic retail outfit, Ellusionist, the red pill represents savings on the shop’s entire range of decks and magical gimmickry, and the blue deck represents a never-before-released, limited-edition deck. When you click on this link, you’ll be taken to a page with a countdown clock where you’ll enter your email address, and then, like Keanu Reeves before you, you must choose.
Unless you’re a sneaky press rat like me, who, in the spirit of Aldous Huxley and Hunter S. Thompson, has taken all the pills and returned unscathed. Without giving too much away, the exclusive deck is swank. The Ellusionist Deck is a beautiful monochrome deck with, and I quote, “more secrets than a Swiss army knife has tools.” It’ll run you $10 plus shipping. After this event, the deck will be taken off sale and will only be available during special promotions and contests, so it’ll be rare. Artificially rare, but rare nonetheless.
But whats a deck versus a pile of decks on the cheap? Take the red pill and you’ll gain access to the site’s SUPER SALE EVENT. Generally you’ll be seeing two-to-three dollar discounts on some very sexy decks and magic gimmicks, but there’s the occasional item with up to 90% off. Want a hot tip? Remember that Magic on the Go video about Joshua Jay’s Inferno trick set? Well Inferno is one of the items on sale. Just sayin’.
Psst. While you’re there, maybe pick up the pink edition of those Madison Rounders.
UPDATE: The $50-off presale pricing on the new Outlaws Vault is scheduled to end Saturday at midnight… so you’ve got just over 48 hours if you want in on that. Tick, tock, people!
Scam Stuff has been making tricky, hand-crafted puzzle boxes for years, and this one might be their most diabolical yet.
Made of ornate raintree wood, the Outlaws Vault is designed to vex and confound even the most clever of puzzle-solvers. The box itself is covered in symbols and secret codes etched into the box, along with two combination dials on its side. There’s even a little story built into to the puzzle box that you’ll follow along with as you solve it. But be careful—the box has actually been designed to become harder to unlock if you fiddle with it too much.
Once you actually solve the box, you’ll be treated with your reward: Outlaws Crimson, an all-new deck from Scam Stuff. It’s a special, red-colored variant on the original Outlaws deck (which is also included inside the box). People who figure out how to open the box will also receive an exclusive numbered token, which not only signifies you as a member of an elite club of master logicians—if you flash your token at Brian Brushwood in the wild, he’ll buy you a drink on the spot.
The Outlaws Vault normally retails for $149.99, but Scam Stuff is currently hosting a special pre-order price of $99.99, with an expected ship date of November 24—which means it should arrive just in time for the holidays. Scam Stuff is expecting them to sell out, however, and they will be shipped on a first come, first served basis. You can also try your hand at winning one of five boxes being given away. Of course, if you just want the cards, you can buy either the original or Crimson variant by themselves for $9.99.
The first part of William H. McIlhany’s collection of magical gimmicks and artifacts was auctioned off back in September, and it turns out we haven’t seen the last of it yet. Part two will be auctioned off on November 12 beginning at 10am PST. Here’s a description of the collection via Magicauctioneer:
Bill McIlhany (1951-2017) was the consummate collector of all things magical and was considered one of the most knowledgeable magic collectors in the world. His mind-boggling collection ranged from rare pieces of early 19th and 20th Century masters to spectacular quality modern day apparatus and everything in between. His fine collection, which includes apparatus, automatons, books, periodicals, catalogs and so much more will be offered at auction.
Items from the collection include an original David P. Abbot Talking Teakettle, an extremely rare clockwork talking skull made in the 1930s, and a one-of-a-kind, custom-built Hofzinser 52 Card Rise contraption.
Visit Magicauctioneer for more information on how to bid and to download a full-color pdf containing descriptions of the entire collection up for auction. To place online bids, visit the collection’s page on Liveauctioneers. Telephone and absentee bids are also available.
The collection of William H. McIlhany will be auctioned off on Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17. Here’s how the collection is described on Magicauctioneer:
Bill McIlhany (1951-2017) was the consummate collector of all things magical and was considered one of the most knowledgeable magic collectors in the world. His mind-boggling collection ranged from rare pieces of early 19th and 20th Century masters to spectacular quality modern day apparatus and everything in between. His fine collection, which includes apparatus, automatons, lithographs, books, periodicals, catalogs and so much more will be offered at auction.
A lot is going up each day, and both contain a wide variety of items like tricks, apparatus, posters, playbills and books. Items that caught our eye include this Thayer Wonder Clock, a copy of Magical Ways and Means that was signed to Cardini, and this super-rare Thayer Swastika Baffling Blocks.
You can check out the the collection and place online bids here for Saturday, and here for Sunday. Telephone and absentee bids are also welcome. Visit Magicauctioneer for more details about bidding or to download PDFs of the auction catalogs.
If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at magic, card tricks are a great place to start. Not only are there plenty to choose from in a robust array of difficulties, but all you need to get started is a three-dollar Bicycle deck from your local pharmacy.
But why be ordinary when you can add some real drama to your efforts with these incredible cards? Even if you don’t have the patience to put in the many, many hours it takes to become truly deft at sleight of hand, the following cards are affordable works of art that everyone can appreciate.
Metro Deck
Here’s one for the New York lovers. Made from discarded NY Metro subway cards, this deck also pays homage to New York landmarks by working them into the face cards. The King of Hearts grips the Brooklyn Bridge, the Queen of Clubs hosts an elephant from the Bronx Zoo, and the Jack of Diamonds can tell you when to catch your train at Grand Central. Given that they’re made from MetroCards, they’re less than ideal for practicing magic, but as regular playing cards, they’re great.
Buy the Metro Deck
The Legend of Zelda
It’s dangerous to go alone, so take this deck with you. It’s tough to say what’s more appealing about these cards inspired by The Legend of Zelda: the Goron face cards or the Triforce, Heart Container, Rupee, and Sword that serve as the suits. Available with red, blue, or metallic gold backs. What, no green?
Buy the Legend of Zelda Deck
Marked Vintage 1800 Bicycle Deck
This gorgeous deck has three things going for it: it looks like it’s an antique you found in your grandma’s attic, it comes in either a red or blue back, and *whisper* it’s marked. The card backs have hidden marks that let you tell cards apart, seemingly by magic. Probably not the best to use for poker night, though, unless you don’t really like your friends all that much.
Buy the Vintage 1800 Bicycle Deck
charity: water Deck
They’re not flashy or tricky, but these cards do something other cards can’t: save lives. 100% of the proceeds from the charity: water deck go to fund clean water projects. charity: water has provided clean water for 7 million people in 24 countries. As their site says: “access to clean water means education, income and health – especially for women and kids.” Maybe buy two.
Buy the charity: water Deck
Porcelain Deck
The cards of the Porcelain Deck from Conjuring Arts are stunning to begin with, but they also are printed with a raised ink that allows you to actually feel the designs. According to the description, the extra tactility doesn’t adversely impact handling, making these a particularly beautiful option for your cardistry habits.
Buy the Porcelain Deck
Minim Deck
The Minim Deck from Joe Doucet plays with the question of how much information you can remove from a card while leaving it useable. Turns out, just about everything. These ultra-minimalist cards are available in either black or white, and are so sophisticated they even elevate games of Go Fish.
Buy the Minim Deck
Sometimes it’s tough to find the motivation to follow through with things, even when you enjoy them. You don’t email your college roommate enough, you haven’t been to the park in who knows how long, and the closest you’ve come to traveling is watching Game of Thrones. Hidden Agenda won’t help you with any of that, but it perhaps may help you keep up with your magical studies. Each page has a date on it; some days you’ll get a trick, other days you’ll get something to ponder, like what is “magic,” anyway? The orderly nature helps you stay motivated to keep learning, every day.
Buy Hidden Agenda from Vanishing Inc.
- Category: Book
- Price $55.00
- Format: Physical
Sometimes it’s tough to find the motivation to follow through with things, even when you enjoy them. You don’t email your college roommate enough, you haven’t been to the park in who knows how long, and the closest you’ve come to traveling is watching Game of Thrones. Hidden Agenda won’t help you with any of that, but it perhaps may help you keep up with your magical studies. Each page has a date on it; some days you’ll get a trick, other days you’ll get something to ponder, like what is “magic,” anyway? The orderly nature helps you stay motivated to keep learning, every day.
Buy Hidden Agenda from Vanishing Inc.
- Category: Book
- Price $55.00
- Format: Physical
Sometimes it’s tough to find the motivation to follow through with things, even when you enjoy them. You don’t email your college roommate enough, you haven’t been to the park in who knows how long, and the closest you’ve come to traveling is watching Game of Thrones. Hidden Agenda won’t help you with any of that, but it perhaps may help you keep up with your magical studies. Each page has a date on it; some days you’ll get a trick, other days you’ll get something to ponder, like what is “magic,” anyway? The orderly nature helps you stay motivated to keep learning, every day.
Buy Hidden Agenda from Vanishing Inc.
- Category: Book
- Price $55.00
- Format: Physical