The Homing Card is so lovely. You can see the direct connection in Kaps's stage persona to Tommy Wonder. The bemused magician, seemingly not in full control of his trick, as perplexed as his audience is amazed. Same with Cardini in a way. All the skill tempered with humility and humor.
The most perceptive comment yet. He's just as amused at what is happening as the audience is, and consequently the magic isn't adversarial. Yes, the same with Cardini (sacred to the memory).
I love Fred Kaps. What a pity that this wonderful performance was caputured during the days of B&W television instead of color. The viewer really has to pay attention to the faces of the cards. Still a great trick. The Salt trick just kills me! He is so good and it looks so impossible (and funny!) .
CaraBrimleyRules Well if you had criticized him constructively, for example list a modern method that would improve his act, then I'd respect you even if I don't necessarily disagree with you. But no, you didn't do that! You had to slander him with biased untrue assumptions! I am disgusted to see such an act done against one of the greatest performer of all time. Well, if you're so amazing and so knowledgeable, why don't YOU do a similar performance yourself and win 3 FISM awards instead of just sitting in front of the computer being a jerk?
It just irks me because I know that Fred Kaps was the best I've seen and to read someone make comments without any kind of proof other than to slam the man is upsetting. Now if you think there is something that did not make him great and list a good argument, then that's different. I may still not agree, but at least it would be based on a legit argument. But, to just attack him as a hack, I just couldn't keep quiet.
@CaraBrimleyRules Shows you what you know. I have the complete trick and it uses all sleight of hand. The last move is an Erdnase Color Change which is very difficult to do. The man's showmanship is brilliant. It sure beats the lame attempts I see on youtube where someone is performing in their t-shirts and have no personality. This man Kaps was a three time world champ. Until you can claim that, please don't comment on what you don't know.
@VespaGS At just after 3:25 he turns his body to the right, gets the shaker from hat with his left hand, but you can see his right hand go round the back of his body and get the salt pour gimmick, just a palm size container filled with salt. This is where all the salt comes from and it isn't that magical. I thought this routine was a bit of a yawn with all the overacting and him mouthing the word "salt". So what if it's salt, sugar or cocaine! We all saw him load the gimmick at 3:26 !
@mtpascoe Yeah the Erdnase change is not that difficult, it is revealed all over you tube. Anyway, this is all completely overacted pulling stupid faces. If he cam up before Simon Cowell he would get the red X! This Bram Bongers would not win a minor talent show today!! The salt pour is done with a gimmick which holds all the salt which he steals from behind his back at 3:24 to 3:27
With the benefit of being able to go back and watch again how it's done, you can find most things out. Most of us "proper" magicians perform in live situations every week, it's how we earn our living. If you had been in the audience that night and not known what to expect from the tricks you wouldn't have had a clue. The younger generation that look everything up on RU-vid think they know a lot when they know sod all. Try reading books to learn and performing every week in front of a live audience where it is very different to watching a video that you can go back and pick up little sleights etc. When you can do those tricks as well as one of the best magicians in the world, you can criticise, knowing how a trick is done is very different to performing it live !!
@8chevalier8 Sorry this is a completely lame trick using double/sticky rough/smooth cards. And it is completely overacted. If he performed this effect on a talent show today he wouldn't even get past the auditions. Or he may be included in a later round, only to be discarded as "joke value".
@VespaGS Well I didn't like it at all. Obvious how the salt pour was done when he obtained the gimmick from behind his back at 3:25 and just after. Also this magician can't act properly. His expressions are completely false and exaggerated, he can't speak very good English either. He looks like a complete amateur!
