“Damn! That’s the best monte routine I’ve EVER seen!”
– Jacob Smith
Prohibition Monte drastically enhances one of the world’s most famous card swindles; giving it a truly IMPOSSIBLE ending that will leave your audiences running for the cops!
Straight from the close-up act of prolific magic inventor and television consultant, Alan Rorrison, Prohibition Monte is the perfect fusion of three of magic’s most amazing card routines:
- The Two Card Monte
- The Anniversary Waltz, and
- The Torn and Restored Card
This baffling 1920s prohibition-themed effect was inspired by Rorrison’s love for old con games and his fascination with legal loopholes.
Here’s what happens:
- You explain that during the prohibition era, conmen used half-sized torn cards in an attempt to circumvent gambling laws that prohibited backstreet games using regular, full-sized playing cards.
- You remove two visually different torn half cards from your wallet and show them front and back.
- The spectator is asked to “follow the lady” and keep their eyes on the Queen.
- You cleanly and fairly place the Queen in your EMPTY pocket and ask the spectator where the Queen is; in the hand or in the pocket?
- The answer seems SO obvious, but the spectator will consistently get it wrong. UNTIL you want them to win, of course
- To give the spectator an advantage, you allow them to sign the faces of BOTH half-cards to make them easier to follow. You repeat the challenge but to their amazement (and increasing frustrations) they’re still deceived by which card is where!
- For the grand finale, both half-cards are placed between the hands of the spectator where the two counterparts fuse together to make a single, full size, mis-matched, DOUBLE SIGNED card!
In the detailed video instructions, shot on location in a prohibition themed bar, Alan Rorrison equips you with all the knowledge required to begin performing this swindle as soon as humanly possible.
Continue reading Alan Rorrison – Prohibition Monte – Tutorial