Title: Minotaur
Artist: Dan Harlan & Marv Leventhal
Producers: Anatomy Magic
Link: http://www.anatomymagic.com/product-details.php?productid=3
Retail Price: $60.00
Learning Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Length of Disk 1: 2:41
Length of Disk 2: 1:10
Notes: Some of the effects taught on these DVD’s will require you to either already own certain props, or items. While other effects will require you to purchase extra well known magic tricks, or make the props from everyday items found around the house. Some assembly required.
Includes:
• 2 DVD’s
• Indexes of all the past issues of Minotaur in PDF Files
o By Issue
o By Originator’s Name
o By Title
• Art Work for Tricks included in DVD
• 4 stills of Dan Harlan during the production of the DVD
Video Features Disk 1:
• Fairest of them all
• Hebe, Hera, Hecate
• Sprites
• Adjuctive
• Aqui
• Cup Side Down
• Holding The Bag
• Glass Backwards
• Big Easy Linking
• Royal Plushy
• Folderol & Dagger
• Counting on You
• Mexicali Aces
• On Your Mark
• Sign & Wave Pen
• Prism Pen
• Lock Master
• Money Laundering
• Beer Money
• Bright & Early
• Vegas Baby
• Popcorn Trick
• Allied Alliance
• All You Need is Love
• ‘Nuff Said
Video Features Disk 2:
• Coins From Napkin
• Brain Probe
• A Gentleman’s Game
• Spek-Ulation
• Bent Out of Shape
• Penned In
• Striking Art
• Collectors
The Minotaur was a quarterly magazine about magic that was produced by Dan Harlan, and Merv Leventhal from the late 1980’s to the mid 1990’s. This video not only brings to film some of the magazine’s better material, but also serves as the final chapter in the magazine for their loyal subscribers.
When I was asked to give my review of this product I didn’t quite know what to expect. I’ve heard of the Minotaur, but I had never actually read any of their productions. What I was greeted with was a wonderful two disk collection of some great magical effects that fits well with just about any performer’s style. In this product you get some close-up, some stage, some mentalism, some bizarre, and some material that would be great for working tables, or in a bar! This DVD collection has a little something for everyone, and their interesting choice of presenting it in a pseudo-magic movie kind of way was indeed entertaining.
The effects covered in the DVD collection are some of the best effects that were printed in the Minotaur during its run time. With that being said I can see clear potential for every piece of magic that Dan, or Marv presents, but some of the effects come complete with that unique hackneyed magicians logic that, as a friend of mine has been known to say, should have died out in the 1970’s. The good news is that script updates are easy, as nothing in the DVD collection is truly complicated, nor does every bit need to be re-tooled either.
Some of the effects covered in the DVD collection will require you to either purchase classic magician props such as a Glorpie/ Harlem the Hank, a D’Lite, a Money Making Press, or completely fabricate your own props all together. Nothing you will need to purchase, or make should be too expensive, and for the most part you can buy what you need for under 20$ at your local super market.
The effects covered in the DVD I are:
Fairest of Them All: A pick a card effect where two cards are shown to indicate a chosen card by Suit & Value. Regardless of how “Fair” the magician makes it for the spectator to choose, he still knows the final outcome.
Hebe, Hera, Hecate: This is an interesting re-packaging of Twisting the Aces by applying a bizarre theme, and introducing Greek mythology.
Sprites: Dan’s fun presentation using D’Lites.
Adjuctive: A Max Maven effect in which the magician uses business cards with adjectives, and other random names, or words written on them, selected at almost random to spell out a sentence proclaiming the greatness of the magicians skills.
Aqui: A key vanish, and reproduction using a Glorpie.
Cup Side Down: A cute, impromptu effect where you place a mug of (root)beer into a paper sack, and then rotate the sack 360 degrees without spilling out the contents.
Glass Backwards: A duel card prediction where the magician accurately predicts two selected cards by matching them to their mates in the deck of the same color, and value- but opposite suits.
Big Easy Linking: A Linking Ring routine done with Mardi Gras Beads.
Royal Plushy: A Poker Deal using a stuffed animal as the expert gambler. Dan breaks down a matrix showing the stack and possible outcomes, but sadly this matrix isn’t included in the extras.
Folderol & Dagger: A very interesting take on the classic card stab without using a knife at all.
Counting on You: A very interesting repeating card count with a surprise ending!
Mexicali Aces: A four ace routine that could utilize a strange off color card as a lead into another effect that would require such a card.
On Your Mark: A sucker gag using a missed card that ends with a comical reveal.
Sign & Wave Pen: A very nice variation of the classic Brain Wave deck.
Prism Pen: A cute gimmick that chances a pen’s color up to four times that you can make at home.
Lock Masters: A four number combination lock that opens after the combination is discovered by the participants. The presentation for this is given as a mentalism piece; however this could have multiple applications.
Money Laundering: Dan’s presentation using a classic magicians prop: The Money Making Printing Press.
Beer Money: A dollar bill (or bill of any denomination) transforms into a beer label, only to be produced from a bottle missing a label. No gimmicks, all sleight of hand.
Bright and Early: Multiple productions of “ingredients” that make up “Orange flavored breakfast drink” from the same juice carton.
Vegas Baby: Another Max Maven idea with audience participation, and six gift bags, leaving the magician walking away with the big prize at the end for themselves.
Popcorn Trick: A production of popcorn seeds, then popped corn from the same paper sack. This is great for parlor, or stage.
Allied Alliance: Four coins transfer from one side of the close-up mat to the other as if by magic. The effect is by David Neighbors.
All You Need is Love: A four card twisting effect with color changes, appearing marks and a surprise message!
‘Nuff Said: Marv’s ultimate toothpick trick
(To Be Continued...)