The Complete Page Wright Manuscript by T. Page Wright

In the late twenties Larsen & Wright (William Larsen, Sr. and T. Page Wright) were prominent names in magic. They produced a flood of contributions to magic magazines, over one hundred in The Sphinx alone in 1927-28 (so many in fact that The Sphinx felt compelled to publish much of it under a variety of pseudonyms). But in addition there were the Larsen & Wright publications, a large series of printed books and manuscripts offering a mass of original material not appearing in the periodicals.

When T. Page Wright died tragically in 1930, he left behind the finished manuscript for a mooted book. Incredibly, this massive manuscript of original material consisted entirely of previously unpublished material. None of Larsen & Wright's previous contributions to periodicals, books and manuscripts were recycled here; yet the manuscript runs to some 135,000 words.

The reader will find here material for close-up, parlor, club and Stage. But nothing here requires apparatus of any sort. This is purely hand magic. Nothing is required beyond the small objects the audience sees, thimbles, cigarettes, handkerchiefs and cards.

Virtually all of the content originated with Wright and his three magical intimates Bill Larsen, Judson Brown and Jack McMillen. Occasionally, material previously in print is introduced when Wright feels previous descriptions have been inadequate and he takes the opportunity to supply the missing details of handling that are so important. Much of the material is drawn from Wright's personal working repertoire.

Technically, it must be referred to as a book on "general magic," as it contains material on cards, thimbles, cigarettes and mentalism. But, cards dominate the content so completely that for all practical purposes this must inevitably be thought of as a book on card magic.

This would have been an influential book, an important book, had it been released in 1930 as planned and it remains a valuable text today. Many seminal ideas first appear (or would have) here. But it is perhaps even more exciting to unearth less well known but equally deserving items. They are certainly here and awaiting discovery.

After Wright's untimely death, Mr. Larsen mined the manuscript for additional contributions to The Sphinx and, starting in 1936, for his own publication, Genii. But, reading the manuscript in its original form, in toto, gives us a portrait of Wright the performer, and for the era itself, we could not get from reading the articles piecemeal.

This edition is based on a complete carbon copy of the original typewritten manuscript, 275 numbered typewritten pages. It was generously offered to us by Jack McMillen, who knew Mr. Wright intimately from 1925-1929. No material was added to the original manuscript. Some of the language has been tightened, but the changes have been merely grammatical. Absolutely no content has been altered or removed.

All entries bolded in the table of contents below are not included in the earlier printed edition of the Page Wright Manuscript published by Daniel's Den.

1st edition 2012, 362 pages.

Table of Contents

10. Foreword

    CHAPTER I: Modern Card Sleights

     

14. The Pass
15. – INVISIBLE STANDARD PASS
16. – THE INVISIBLE PALM PASS
17. – THE KICK-OUT PASS
18. – THE JUMPING JACKS
20. – THE PAGE PASS
23. – THE FAN AND PASS

     

24. Card Control
24. – THE VISIBLE CUT-PASS
25. – THE ROLLER PASS
26. – THE KNOCK-IN PASS
27. – THE BOTTOM SLIP
28. – THE FAN BREAK
29. – A SIDE STEAL VARIATION
30. – THE L. W. DIAGONAL SIDE STEAL

     

31. False Shuffles and Cuts
32. – THE L. W. FALSE SHUFFLE
33. – THE RUN CUT AND SHUFFLE
34. – THE STEP CUT
35. – THE L. W. FALSE CUT

     

36. The Force
36. – THE CLASSIC SPREAD FORCE
39. – THE ONE HAND RIFFLE FORCE
40. – THE ONE HAND FAN FORCE
41. – THE SPRING FORCE
42. – A FAN FORCE VARIATION
42. – A FAN FORCE FROM THE TOP
43. – THE IMPROVED KNIFE FORCE
44. – THE RIFFLE FORCE
45. – THE CUT-AWAY FORCE
46. – THE NERVE FORCE
48. – THE CARD CASE FORCE
49. – OTHER METHODS OF FORCING

     

50. Changes
51. – TOP CHANGE FOR A NUMBER OF CARDS
54. – THE McMILLEN CHANGE
56. – THE THROW OUT CHANGE
57. – A ONE HAND TOP CHANGE

     

58. Color Changes
60. – A RISING CHANGE
61. – THE NEW BOTTOM CHANGE
62. – A SIMPLE BOTTOM CHANGE
63. – THE TWIST COLOR CHANGE
64. – THE PROJECTING CARD CHANGE
65. – THE GOBLET COLOR CHANGE
66. – THE PIVOT COLOR CHANGE
67. – A CHANGE WITH FINGERS SPREAD
68. – A SIMPLE DOUBLE COLOR CHANGE
69. – THE L. W. DOUBLE COLOR CHANGE
69. – A CLOSE UP COLOR CHANGE

     

72. The Glimpse
73. – TOP CARD GLIMPSE NUMBER 1
74. – TOP CARD GLIMPSE NUMBER 2
74. – A SIMPLE PICKPOCKET EXPERIMENT
75. – TOP CARD GLIMPSE NUMBER 3
77. – THE FAN GLIMPSE
77. – BOTTOM CARD GLIMPSE
78. – A DEALING GLIMPSE
78. – GLIMPSE OF NOTED CARD NUMBER 1
79. – GLIMPSE OF NOTED CARD NUMBER 2
80. – GLIMPSE OF NOTED CARD NUMBER 3

     

80. Additional Sleights
80. – A FALSE COUNT
81. – A WRITTEN REVELATION

    CHAPTER 2: Ornamental Sleights with Cards

85. Shuffle And Cut
85. – A FANCY SHUFFLE
86. – FANCY CUTS
87. – A THREE WAY CUT
87. – A ONE HANDED THREE WAY CUT
88. – A SIX WAY CUT
89. – AN EIGHT WAY CUT

     

90. Assorted Flourishes
90. – THE CARDS ON THE ARM
90. – THE CARD FROM THE KNEE
91. – A REVERSE PALM SLEIGHT

     

92. Production Of Cards At The Fingertips
92. – FIRST METHOD
93. – SECOND METHOD

     

94. Card Fans
95. – THE ONE HANDED FAN
95. – THE SPRING FAN
96. – PRODUCTION FANS

     

97. Production Of Card Fans – A Routine
97. – FAN OF CARDS FROM BODY
98. – CARDS THROUGH KNEE WITHOUT PALMING
99. – CARDS THROUGH KNEE BY BACKPALM
99. – GIANT FAN FROM ELBOW
100. – THE SLAP VANISH
100. – FANS OF CARDS FROM AIR
101. – A VANISH AND PRODUCTION

      

102. The Diminishing and Enlarging Cards

     CHAPTER 3: The Riffle Count And Tricks Therewith

      

107. – A CUT AT ANY NUMBER
109. – AN INSTANT CUT AT ANY NUMBER
110. – A CUT AT AN UNKNOWN NUMBER
111. – A CUT WITH A COIN
112. – A CUT AT ANY NUMBER THROUGHOUT THE DECK
113. – A CARD TO ANY NUMBER
118. – A CARD REVERSED AT ANY NUMBER

     CHAPTER 4: Non-Sleight Of Hand Card Mysteries

      

120. – THE BACK-OF-THE-DECK DETECTION
122. – ADDING THE PIPS
124. – THE FORTY-NINER
127. – THE NEW TRANSFERRED CARDS
130. – COLOR SEEKS COLOR

     CHAPTER 5: Card Effects Requiring Pre-arrangement

      

134. – ODD PROPHECIES
136. – THE SHUFFLE-IN DETECTION
137. – THE DIVINING CARD
139. – A QUICK DETECTION
140. – THE RED AND THE BLACK
142. – THE RED AND THE BLACK Another Method
143. – TRIPLE COINCIDENCE
145. – THE L. W. WONDER DETECTION
147. – THE L. W. SUPER-DETECTION
150. – THE MASTER POKER DEAL
152. – HOW MANY HANDS? A New Poker Deal

     Chapter 6: The Reversed Card

      

157. – THE HALEY REVERSED CARD
158. – A QUICK REVERSE
159. – THE TURNOVER REVERSE
160. – THE TURNING CARDS
162. – TAKE YOUR TURN

      

163. A Reverse Routine
163. – THE DOUBLE REVERSE
165. – THE LONGITUDINAL TURNOVER
166. – THE WHOLE DECK REVERSE

     Chapter 7: The Spelling Card

      

169. – A SIMPLE SPELLING PROBLEM
170. – THE INSTANT SPELLER
171. – A SURPRISE SPELLING TRICK
173. – A NOVELTY SPELLING MYSTERY
175. – THE TRIPLE SURPRISE SPELLER
179. – THE MIRACLE SPELLING TRICK

     Chapter 8: Humorous Card Effects

      

183. – A MIND READING INTERLUDE
184. – A CARD CLIMAX
186. – A CARD INTERLUDE
187. – THE ERROR ACES
189. – A LESSON IN CARD MAGIC
192. – A MISTAKE, BUT…..
195. – THE REPEATING CARD COMEDY

     Chapter 9: Novel Card Discoveries

      

198. – A CARD TABLE DETECTION
201. – A GIANT CARD REVERSE
205. – THE L. W. CARD AND NUMBER MYSTERY
207. – THE ULTRA-RAPID DETECTION
207. – THE SURPRISE LOCATION
209. – THE THIRD CHANCE
211. – BEHIND THE BACK
212. – A NEW PICKPOCKET PROBLEM
214. – THE CARD IN POCKET TRANSPOSITION
215. – A SIMPLE CARD STABBING
216. – FROM DECK TO DECK
218. – A NEW CARD CATCHING
219. – THE J. M. RISING CARD
221. – THE OBEDIENT RISING CARDS
224. – THE MAGNETIC CARD RISE
226. – THE L. W. CARD THROUGH SILK
227. – THE DECK THROUGH THE SILK
229. – A SINGLE CARD THROUGH SILK
231. – THE CRIMINAL

     Chapter 10: Miscellaneous Impromptu Card Effects

      

236. – THE REPEATING CARD TO TOP
238. – REPEATING CARD TO TOP
240. – A SIMPLE COINCIDENCE
242. – AN IMPROVED TIP OVER TRANSFORMATION
244. – THE MAGICIAN'S COMMAND
245. – TWO PAIR
247. – A THREE CARD MONTE VARIATION
249. – A STUD POKER ROUTINE
252. – FOUR OF A KIND
254. – THE L.W. SIMPLICITY FOUR ACE

     CHAPTER 11: Mental Effects With Cards

259. Psychological Card Problems
261. – PSYCHOLOGICAL FORCES
267. – EFFECTS PRODUCED BY FOLLOWING A SPECTATOR'S LINE OF THOUGHT

      

269. Mental Card Effects Using Physical Methods
269. – CUT CARD DETECTION
272. – AN L.W. MIND READING ROUTINE
275. – THE L. W. FIVE CARD PROBLEM
279. – A SIMPLIFIED FIVE CARD PROBLEM
280. – A THOUGHT CARD TEST
282. – A FREE CHOICE LOCATION
283. – THE L.W. STOP MYSTERY
286. – A CARD AND SPIRIT MYSTERY

     Chapter 12: Card Effects For Stage

      

290. – THE FIVE SENSES
294. – ONE ARMED POKER
297. – A COUPLE OF BRIDGE HANDS
300. – A LOVE POEM
301. – FELIX, THE FELICITOUS FELINE

     CHAPTER 13: The Problem Of Presentation

     CHAPTER 14: Cigarette Magic

325. An Impromptu Routine with One Lighted Cigarette
327. – MOVE NUMBER ONE
328. – MOVE NUMBER TWO
329. – MOVE NUMBER THREE
330. – MOVE NUMBER FOUR
331. – MOVE NUMBER FIVE
331. – MOVE NUMBER SIX
333. – MOVE NUMBER SEVEN
334. – MOVE NUMBER EIGHT
335. – MOVE NUMBER NINE
335. – MOVE NUMBER TEN
336. – MOVE NUMBER ELEVEN
339. – A SURPRISING CIGARETTE IMPROMPTU
340. – THE L.W. CARD IN CIGARETTE

     CHAPTER 15: THIMBLE MAGIC

344. Aunt Martha's Thimble
344. – MOVE NUMBER ONE
345. – MOVE NUMBER TWO
347. – MOVE NUMBER THREE
347. – MOVE NUMBER FOUR
349. – MOVE NUMBER FIVE
351. – MOVE NUMBER SIX
353. – MOVE NUMBER SEVEN
354. – MOVE NUMBER EIGHT

      

355. The Penetrative Thimble
356. – MOVE NUMBER NINE
357. – MOVE NUMBER TEN
358. – MOVE NUMBER ELEVEN

      

358. Thimble Thimblerig
359. – MOVE NUMBER TWELVE
361. – MOVE NUMBER THIRTEEN
361. – MOVE NUMBER FOURTEEN
362. – MOVE NUMBER FIFTEEN
363. – MOVE NUMBER SIXTEEN
364. – MOVE NUMBER SEVENTEEN
365. – MOVE NUMBER EIGHTEEN

word count: 135416 which is equivalent to 541 standard pages of text