Dear friend,
Imagine a man whose hands spoke a language of their own, turning a simple deck of cards into a conduit for wonder. Picture this individual, not merely as a performer, but as an innovator and philosopher in the realm of card magic, a person who saw beyond the paper and ink to unlock the mysteries held within a pack of cards.
Visualize him, with cards effortlessly weaving between his fingers, each movement a testament to years of dedication and understanding. His performances were not loud or flamboyant; they were intimate, masterful demonstrations of what can be achieved with skill and imagination.
Feel the focused energy of a man who found his life’s calling in the flick of a card, the subtle shift of a hand. In his world, the complexities of card magic were distilled into pure, mesmerizing artistry, where every shuffle, every cut, every palm was a narrative in its own right.
Imagine the quiet anticipation of an audience, gathered not for grandiose spectacle but for the chance to witness a true artist at work. He didn’t just entertain; he invited spectators into a world where each card was a character, each sleight a story, each routine a revelation!
Picture the kind of man who cherished simple pleasures, like a warm summer evening spent playing cards and enjoying jazz, his love for magic as deep as his understanding that each card was a gateway to endless possibilities. In the world of Ed Marlo, magic was more than an act; it was an expression of endless curiosity and relentless pursuit of perfection.
that’s nice, but
Whenever we think we’ve created a new effect or technique, we like to remind ourselves…
“…that’s nice, but Marlo probably already invented it.”
This is mostly a joke.
(although according to Magicpedia, Marlo DID create an incredible 2000+ routines, and you’d be surprised how often the inspiration for ‘new’ ideas can be found tucked away in some notebook of his.)
But it raises an important question:
Do you NEED to study ‘the classics’?
Well, we don’t want to tell people that they NEED to study the classics.
The truth is, they don’t.
You can totally become a world-class magician without ever touching ‘the classics’, and solely relying on more modern resources.
That is a 100% valid approach.
However…
…it PAYS to study the greats.
Studying the work of legendary masters like Vernon, Marlo and others will give you huge insights into how the modern era of magic was shaped.
In fact, being a card magician without ever studying Marlo is somewhat like building computers without ever studying the life and work of Steve Jobs.
You COULD do it…but why would you?
See, studying the greats helps you understand the foundational building blocks and origins of modern magic.
The more you understand the foundational ideas, principles and effects that have shaped magic—the more effectively you’ll be able to combine those principles and ideas in new ways.
(Often, creating magic is often no more complex than taking a bunch of existing ideas and putting them together in a way that nobody else has thought of.)
Most of today’s great magicians spent a lot of time studying these legends—so by turning to the classics, you can go ‘straight to the source’ and learn from the same resources they did.
Here’s a great way to get started:
BigBlindMedia is currently running a 25% discount on a 3-hour documentary all about Marlo—and Daily Magician readers can use the code ‘DAILYDOSE10’ to get another 10% off that price!
(we’re not sure if this code still works but give it a try anyway)!
The documentary is called ‘It’s All In The Cards’ and features…
Part 1: The History
Documentary of Ed Marlo’s life in card magic.
Historic and rare footage of Ed Marlo performing a collection of his original card effects and sleight of hand (including Devilish Miracle, Unbelievable Aces and Cards To Pocket, Open Prediction and 8 perfect riffle Faro Shuffles).
First-hand stories highlighting Marlo’s unique personality.
Part 2: The Card Effects
Marlo’s students perform and explain card effects inspired by their mentor.
- Open Prediction
- Aces Of Spades Trick
- Matching Routine
- Soc Thru
- Repeat Card To Pocket
- Future Reverse
- Oddity
- Oil and Water
- Vanishing 11
- Gaffed To The Hilt
- Have Another Sandwich
- Web Shuffle
- Olram Aces
BONUS: Historic footage of Ed Marlo, Charlie Miller and Dai Vernon at the Magic Castle in the Palace of Mystery. Circa 1983 filmed by James Lewis.
Remember to use code ‘DAILYDOSE10’ at checkout for 10% off!
Click below to claim your discount:
https://bigblindmedia.com/products/ed-marlo-its-all-in-the-cards-video-download
Enjoy!
Ed Marlo’s Revolutionary Card Techniques
I personally know Ed Marlo best as the master of The Faro Shuffle!
The Faro Shuffle is a precise method of interweaving cards, typically involving a full deck divided into two equal halves.
It’s a type of false shuffle, used especially in card magic, because it maintains the order of the deck while appearing to mix the cards. When executed perfectly, each card from one half alternates with a card from the other half, creating a perfect weave!
While this shuffle is challenging as it requires exact alignment of the cards to interlace them one-by-one. Its precision allows magicians to perform complex tricks by controlling the deck’s order in a seemingly random shuffle!
Probably the coolest thing about a False Shuffle is the fact that 8 perfect faros would return a deck of cards to its original order! How insane is that!
>>The Faro Shuffle: Explained Like Never Before<<
Marlo has written extensively on this type of false shuffle, in his two books ‘Faro Notes’ and ‘The Faro Shuffle! (these are chapter 6, and 7 of his legendary revolutionary card technique book)!
1: The Faro Shuffle by Ed Marlo
This is a small little book by Ed Marlo that details his approaches to the Faro Shuffle!
It encompasses strategies for performing a faro, including…
- Initial Faro Technique
- The Faro Riffle Shuffle
- The Rear End Faro Shuffle.
It also introduces supports for the Faro, like the Table Support with the Fourth Finger and the Stabilize and Interweave method. Additionally, the guide delves into more intricate variations such as the Eccentric Faro, the Top Crimp Faro, and the 26th Card Check in Faro!
Click the link below to read the chapter on lybrary…
https://www.lybrary.com/the-faro-shuffle-revolutionary-card-technique-no-6-p-922443.html
2: Faro Notes by Ed Marlo
This is a small little book by Ed Marlo that features over 30 effects and concepts utilising the Faro Shuffle!
This collection encompasses Marlo’s comprehensive study of the Faro Shuffle, including the In Shuffle, the Out Shuffle, and additional faro methods.
It delves deeply into the transformations the deck undergoes through these various shuffles and contains a collection of card effects that can be executed using these intricate shuffling techniques!
Click the link below to read the chapter on lybrary…
https://www.lybrary.com/faro-notes-revolutionary-card-technique-chapter-7-p-283679.html
His Legacy…
“Palming separates the men from the boys” (Ed Marlo)
Ed Marlo’s Revolutionary Card Technique was initially a series of separate publications. This comprehensive body of work, covering a wide range of card sleights and techniques, was initially released in parts over several years. These parts were later compiled into a single volume!
This book is not merely a collection of card tricks; it is an in-depth study of the finesse, theory, and mechanics of card manipulation.
Marlo’s writing is technical and detailed, catering to those who seek to understand the minutiae of every move.
The book covers a vast array of techniques including…shuffles, deals, palming, and the infamous Faro Shuffle, explained with a level of precision and clarity that is rare in magic literature.
I personally think one of the standout qualities of this work is Marlo’s innovative approach. He doesn’t just teach the methods; he explores variations and improvements, encouraging readers to think creatively and critically about their magic.
However, this book is NOT beginner friendly!
The techniques described are very complex (literally one of his variations of the Faro Shuffle is regarded as the hardest sleight in magic) and require a significant amount of practice to master! This is a book for the magician who’s already bled, someone who is willing to invest the time and effort to elevate their skill to a higher level!
Click HERE to view on Amazon.
Thank you for reading Ed Marlo’s Revolutionary Techniques in Card Magic! We hope you enjoyed it!
Did you know?
Last month we made a sleight of hand ladder from beginner to grandmaster, from a standard shuffle all the way to a tabled faro shuffle! This is our most comprehensive resource on sleight of hand to date, and we give away some amazing free gifts!
Want to see where you are?
Click the link below:
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