hillcountrymagic
$9.99
Condition: Very Good
Magicana of Havana in New York (1975) is the debut magic text by Cuban-born magician José De La Torre (edited by Marc Tessler). Running 80 pages with roughly 247 step-by-step illustrations, the book outlines the professional close-up and parlor repertoire De La Torre developed in Cuba and performed extensively after relocating to New York.
The book is structured into three primary sections based on props and performance styles:
1. Jumbo Cards & Card Magic
This section focuses heavily on visual card magic adapted for larger audiences, emphasizing sleights, false counts, and handlings specifically tailored to Jumbo Cards.
Key Sleights & Technique: Teaches fundamental display counts, such as the 4-as-4 Count and modified false counts designed for oversized card stock.
Featured Routines:
Oil and Water Routines: Multiple variations, including Oil & Water Reversed and an Oil & Water Finale.
Follow the Leader / Ace Routines: Variations like The Aces Follow the Leader, Triumphant Aces and the Leader, and Again the Aces and the Leader.
Packet Effects: Impossible Discovery and The Three Diamonds and the Queen.
2. Jose's Coin Act
A breakdown of De La Torre's complete stand-up and close-up coin sequence, designed for visual impact and flow.
Key Sleights: Covers unique handlings for utility moves, including the Sponge-Coin Palm, My Roll Down, and two methods for the Rear Back Palm.
Featured Routines:
Four Coin Appearance & Vanish: Methods for producing and vanishing four coins cleanly.
Four Coins to Glass Bombshell: A visual transposition where four coins penetrate or travel into a drinking glass.
3. Rope Magic
Section three presents a complete, continuous rope routine that weaves several classic rope mysteries into a single cohesive act, with contributions and visual ideas from illustrator Ed Mishell.
New Professor's Nightmare: A full sequence incorporating rope cutting, false counts, and length manipulation (Short, Medium, and Long Ropes illusion, Triple A Illusion, and the Paramount Long Rope Illusion).
Knots To You!: A routine centered around sliding, disappearing, and reappearing rope knots.
Magicana of Havana in New York is widely appreciated by magicians for translating classical sleight-of-hand mechanics (especially card counts and rope sequences) into high-visibility stage and parlor material.
