"Celebrity Autographs" by Terry LaGerould
Suggested Retail USD$31.99
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

"Celebrity Autographs", an effect by Terry LaGerould, is as slick a card-to-wallet as you could ask for, with a clean and open handling, no palming or hard sleight work, and a delightful little presentation that makes this a very nice piece of magic.

The effect is pretty much what you'd expect, with some nifty little presentational hooks thrown in. A spectator picks a card from a deck, signs it, and replaces it somewhere in the deck. The performer shows a small wallet inside of which are several clear windows, each containing a playing card with the signature of a celebrity. One of the cards, though, is face down. The spectator removes the card from the window and turns it over. It's, of course, their signed card.

Now, as it is with any such "card to wallet" effects, the details are what makes or breaks 'em. "Celebrity Autographs" contains some impressive details: the deck (a regular one for those that care about such things) can be freely shuffled, there is no force, there is no palming involved, and the wallet can be handled freely by a spectator (or placed in full view) before the card is even selected. There is no set-up, and the reset is automatic. As to the wallet itself, it's small (about 3"x4") and thin and made of very nice quality leather. You'll need only to make up your own "autograph" cards (or use real ones if you move in those kind of ritzy little circles) and you're ready to go with this one.

Well, that's the good stuff. Other details may be frowned upon by some: it is another wallet to carry around, of course, and it's an odd thing to carry (such wallets aren't exactly ubiquitous). On the handling side, the deck does come near the wallet -- something purists avoid like the plague or a green-sequined vest.

Taken as a whole, though, those things lose out to all the pluses "Celebrity Autographs" brings to the table. The wallet is small enough to not be a real worry when it comes to pocket space, it's an odd thing but not so odd it's immediately viewed with suspicion, and the handling is still clean enough to leave this one clearly in jaw-dropping territory.

As far as I'm concerned, this is one heckuva version of the card-to-wallet, easy to do and oh-so-practical it pretty much commands a serious look by anyone wanted to add the effect to their act.

Would it replace your current card-to-wallet, if you already do one? That's a tough call to make. The card-to-wallet, I've found, is one of those pieces we do of particular personal choices and biases... which is a polite way of saying once we find one we like we're loath to replace it even upon pain of death and threat of communicable diseases. So I hesitate to say it would turn many heads and hands away from the familiar.

I would say that it certainly deserves a look and some thought, though: any easy, entertaining take on a classic effect always is. And who knows? It just might win you over.

It pretty did me: "Celebrity Autographs" is one of my favorite versions of the card-to-wallet and will likely remain so for a long time to come.

"Celebrity Autographs" by Terry LaGerould
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

Practicality: 10
A thin display wallet (the kind suitable for carrying autographs, of course) and ye olde regular deck of cards and you're all set. No set-up otherwise, and no reset. For those of us with weak palming skills, no palming either. This is as practical as it gets.

Workmanship: 10
The leather wallet is extremely well made, as is the special work involved. This one will last a lifetime.

Documentation: 10
The instructions are wonderfully clear and concise, with some great photos to help things along. You'll have no problem learning this one.

Effect: 9
This may not play as well as some other "card to impossible location" plots, but it's easily up there with other "card in wallet" effects. Translation: this plays and plays big.

Presentation: 9
Okay, I'm a sucker for the presentation: anything that makes a spectator laugh a bit and feel a little flattered is okay in my book. But beyond that, the handling is clean and open and, coupled with the entertainment value, makes this a solid piece of work.

Shane

Available direct from your favorite dealer. Dealers, please contact Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-853-7403 or visit Murphy's Magic Supplies website.