The Vernon Chronicles by Bruce Cervon

There are very few books that recognized as a classic before they reach press, this volume is one such book.

Breakdown:


In 1963 Dai Vernon was invited by The Academy of Magical Arts to move to Hollywood, CA and become the resident "living legend" at the Magic Castle. Upon hearing this news, two young close-up artists packed up and moved cross country to Hollywood, just to sit at the feet of "The Professor". These two men were Bruce Cervon and Larry Jennings. During a three-year period in the early 1960s, they spent every minute they could with Dai Vernon-and each night Bruce Cervon went home and carefully recorded everything he had learned.

Cervon's notes grew to fill fourteen large binders. Among the inner circle, these became known as The Castle Notebooks, and their content was much coveted and speculated upon. Within these notebooks were known to lie fabulous secrets and tricks, knowledge gathered and guarded by The Professor over a lifetime in magic that spanned seventy years-secrets that were kept from print and were reserved for the use of a very privileged few.

Beginning with this volume, the legendary Castle Notebooks are being opened to the magical community. Bruce Cervon, with the aid and permission of Dai Vernon, and in co-operation with Larry Jennings and Louis Falanga, is releasing this massive body of invaluable knowledge.

Volume One contains more than fifty sleights, tricks and routines with cards and coins. They are fully explained in these pages for the first time. The material is vintage Vernon, the magic that made him a legend among magicians; expert magic that has made one reputation and will make others. Included are rich insights into the thinking and psychology that is known as "The Vernon Touch," and historical anecdotes that are both entertaining and informative. Numerous rare photos and pieces of memorabilia from The Professor's private collection have been added, as well as a biographical essay on him by Elizabeth Wilson.

Recommended For:


Magicians looking to learn clever, award winning routines.

Specifications:


Pages 266 – Hardcover and Fully Illustrated

Finally back in print, this is a rare look into the brilliant mind of Dai Vernon.

Breakdown:


An 18 page Vernoniana Portfolio by professional photographers Young & Robin opens the volume. Rare and interesting Vernon memorabilia photographed so you can enjoy it over the years. Over 50 Vernon routines, 27 historical photographs, 177 illustrations.

Recommended For:


Magicians and magic historians wanting to learn magic from one of its great masters.

Specifications:


Pages 245 – Hardcover

Skill Level:Intermediate to Advanced.

This third volume of The Vernon Chronicles offers another generous serving of superb magic from the repertoire of magic's most revered Professor, Dai Vernon.

The book opens with a special essay, which surveys a cross section of the close-up magic being done by New York City's avant-garde during the seminal 1920s and 1930s. William P. Miesel constructed the skeleton of this historical excursion from columns in the old Sphinx magazine. Prominent there were Dai Vernon and his friends; people like Sam Horowitz, Ted Anneman and Luis Zingone. Mr. Miesel selected some of their more intriguing effects and, in collaboration with Dai Vernon, Max Maven, Bruce Cervon and Stephen Minch, the methods were reconstructed as accurately as is possible. This study is an imporatant historical document, and revealing in the life of Dai Vernon.

We then resume the pleasant task of recording another large portion of Dai Vernon's unpublished work. Included are many little-known sleights and tricks with cards, coins and bills. The magic ranges from the nearly self-working to the consummately skillful. And, at long last, here is an explanation of the near legendary "Joker Monte" trick that Mr. Vernon used for decades to tease and baffle fellow magicians. His original method is given, along with new ideas by Tom Gagnon a