Jerry Mentzer (Alfred Jerome Mentzer)

Counts, Cuts, Moves, and Subtlety

Jerry Mentzer (1983)

booklet

73 pages | eng

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Genre

Conjuring

Plot

Mentzer, Jerry: Counts, Cuts, Moves & Subtlety
A Book of Basic Card Techniques
©1977 Jerry Mentzer;
©1983 Jerry Mentzer;
©1988 Jerry Mentzer; 9th printing
Booklet, 73 pages

Comments: This is an excellent book on many of the basic moves used in packet card magic. Lots of B&W photos throughout. Recommended.

Contents:

1 Introduction: Larry West

2 Chapter 1: Undercuts & Reversals:
3 Double Undercut: control to top or bottom
5 Braue Reversal: reverse one or more cards
9 Concealed Reversal: addition to Braue Reversal

13 Chapter 2: Counts, Move and Subtlety:
13 The Biddle Move (Elmer Biddle): remove one card from a group while counting
18 Hammon Count (Brother John Hammon): Switch one packet for another while counting
23 Veeser Count (Bob Veeser): variation of the Elmsley Count
25 Another Count: conceal bottom card of four
26 Flushtration Move (Brother John Hammon): apparently show all backs
29 Haback Count (Phil Goldstein): Show 5 as five, but some hidden
31 Olram Subtlety (Ed Marlo): Show cards while hiding one
35 Downs Change (T. Nelson Downs): change of one card for another
38 True or False (Jack Chanin): false count

41 Chapter 3: Elmsley, Jordan, Etc.
41 The Elmsley Count (Alex Elmsley): Also known as the "Ghost Count". Counting 4 as 4
45 The Jordan Count (Charles T. Jordan): another 4 as 4 count
48 The Siva Count (Jack Avis): conceals center card of a 5 card packet
51 Open Count (John Murray): conceal 3rd card of 4
54 Smile Count (Larry West): conceals 3 card surfaces in packet of 4
55 Pairs Count (Larry West): variation of Smile Count
56 The Spirit Count (Gene Castillon): a "2 and 2" count for packet of 4

61 Chapter 4: Spreads
61 The Simple Spread: keeping a card concealed as packet is spread
63 The Back Spread: backs up
65 Buckle Count: using a buckling of the fingers
70 Ascanio Spread (Arturo de Ascanio): concealing a card in a fair looking spread

A Book of Basic Card Techniques

This is an excellent book on many of the basic moves used in packet card magic. Lots of B&W photos throughout. Recommended.

Personal

Owner	Bryan-Keith Taylor
Location	Magic Library (Home) Shelf Q
Index	5039
Added Date	Jul 01, 2017 03:06:50
Modified Date	Apr 06, 2026 14:23:15

Value

Book Condition	Near Mint

Notes

Jerry Mentzer

Born Alfred Jerome Mentzer
April 28, 1940
Wheeling, West Virginia
Died January 31, 2016 (age 75)
Greenville, Soush Carolina

Jerry Mentzer (b.1940-d.2016) was founder and operator of Magic Methods which he started in 1969. During his college years at Ohio State University he authored two booklets on card magic and one on silk magic. He went on to become a mechanical engineer employed by Union Carbide Corporation.[1][2]

Biography
He was the first to publish a book of Paul Harris' magic.

Mentzer contributed three Parades to The Linking Ring (May 1965, February, 1971, March, 1972) and many columns including "Best from Books" from March through August 1971. He was an active member of magic clubs in Ohio before moving to South Carolina.

Mentzer has won numerous awards for performing and writing about magic.[3]

Books
Card Cavalcade I (1972)
Super Cent (1972)
Close-Up Cavalcade (1973)
Card Cavalcade II (1974)
Magician Nitely: The Magic of Eddie Fechter (1974)
Close-up Cues (1975)
Club Cues (1975)
Another Close-Up Cavalcade (1975)
Card Cavalcade III (1975)
Card Cavalcade IV (1977)
Close-Up Cavalcade Finale (1977)
Counts, Cuts, Moves & Subtleties (1977)
Card Cavalcade Finale (1979)
Packet Tricks (Book) (1982)
Magic with Finger Rings (1984)
Card to Wallet: The Book (1991)
Card File (1994)
Close-Up File (1994)
Card File Two (2000)

References
↑ http://www.merlina.com/pipermail/magicians/2016-February/000527.html
↑ http://forums.geniimagazine.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=47784
↑ http://www.magicmethodsonline.com/
The Linking Ring, Vol. 42, No. 1, January 1962, Thoughts On Gimmicked Cards, Etc. by Jerry Mentzer, page 23
The Linking Ring, Vol. 42, No. 6, June 1962, Columbus Parade, Ring No. 7, by Eddie Clever, Jerry Mentzer, page 69
The Linking Ring, Vol. 45, No. 5, May 1965, Alfred Jerry Mentzer, Columnist, Creator, page 22, HOCUS POCUS PARADE, Jerry Mentzer Edition, page 57
The Linking Ring, Vol. 51, No. 2, February 1971, BEST OF BOOKS BY JERRY MENTZER, page 87
The Linking Ring, Vol. 52, No. 3, March 1972, HOCUS POCUS PARADE, JERRY MENTZER, Edited by Don Tanner, page 61
http://bryan-keith.angelfire.com/details/18841.html
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/greenvilleonline/obituary.aspx?pid=177608576