SYNOPSIS:
Mark Wilson’s Complete Course in Magic is a broad, illustrated introduction to the major branches of practical magic. Organized as a progressive course, it teaches fundamental techniques before applying them to a large collection of routines with cards, coins, money, ropes, silks, billiard balls, sponge balls, cups and balls, everyday objects, mental effects, and larger illusions. Wilson’s step-by-step teaching style emphasizes clear handling, preparation, presentation, and performance, making the book useful both as a beginner’s foundation and as a general reference for more experienced magicians.

Book Details:
Author/Creator: Mark Wilson
Publisher: Running Press Book Publishers
Edition: 1st
Publication Year: 1988
Subjects: Cards, Coins, Ropes, Silks, Billiard Balls, Mentalism, Everyday Objects, Close-up Magic, Parlor Magic, Stage Magic
Pages: 179
Skill Level: Beginner
Availability: Penguin Magic, Vanishing Inc.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DOUBLE-FACED CARD (p. 115)
• Two-Card Monte (p. 116)
• New Card Monte (p. 117)
• Forced Cards Reverse (p. 119)
• Impossible Prediction (p. 121)
• Four-Card Assembly (p. 123)
THE SHORT CARD (p. 125)
• How to Make a Short Card (p. 125)
• How to “Riffle” the Short Card to the Top (p. 126)
• Short Card to Bottom — First Method (p. 126)
• Short Card to Bottom — Second Method (p. 126)
• Short Card to Bottom — Third Method (p. 126)
• The Short Card as a “Locator” (p. 127)
• The Surprise Discovery (using the Short Card as a Locator) (p. 128)
• A Weighty Problem (using the Short Card as a Locator) (p. 129)
• Quick Riffle Location (p. 129)
• The Short Card Force (p. 129)
• The Mystic Count Down (p. 131)
• Cutting the Aces (p. 132)
GIANT CARDS (p. 133)
• The Bigger Card Trick (p. 134)
• Sympathetic Cards (p. 135)
• The Applause Card (p. 138)
• Double Applause Card (p. 139)
• A Giant Mistake — First Version (p. 140)
• A Giant Mistake — Second Version (p. 141)
• A Giant Mystery (p. 141)
SPECIAL CARD TRICKS (p. 143)
• Self-Reversing Pack (p. 144)
• Self-Reversing Pack — Outdone (p. 145)
• Grant’s Superior Card Trick (p. 146)
FLOURISHES (p. 148)
• One-Hand Cut — Basic Method (p. 149)
• One-Hand Cut — First Variation (p. 150)
• One-Hand Cut — Second Variation (p. 151)
• One-Hand Cut — Second Method (p. 152)
• Spreading the Cards — The Ribbon Spread (p. 153)
• Ribbon Spread Turnover (p. 154)
• Reverse Turnover (p. 155)
• Turnover Pick-Up (p. 156)
• Pressure Fan (p. 156)
• Closing the Fan — Two-Hand Method (p. 157)
• Closing the Fan — One-Hand Method (p. 158)
• The One-Hand Fan (p. 158)
• Springing the Cards (p. 159)
• Arm Spread Catch (p. 160)
• The Waterfall (p. 161)
• Throwing a Card (p. 162)
• The Boomerang Card (p. 163)
GENII CARDS (p. 164)
• The Genii of the Lamp (p. 164)
• The Genii’s Number (p. 165)
• The Genii Predicts (p. 166)
• The Sandwiched Genii (p. 167)
• The Genii Saves the Day (p. 168)
• Genii’s Library (p. 170)
MONEY MAGIC (p. 175)
• The Coin Fold (p. 175)
• Coin Through Handkerchief (p. 177)
• Coin Through Handkerchief — Second Version (p. 178)
• Magically Multiply Your Money (p. 180)
• Four-Coin Assembly (p. 181)
• The French Drop (using a Coin) (p. 183)
• The Finger Palm Vanish (p. 186)
• The Pinch or Drop Vanish (p. 187)
• The Classic Palm (using a Coin) (p. 189)
• The Coin-Vanishing Handkerchief (p. 191)
• The Coin-Vanishing Handkerchief — Second Variation (p. 193)
• Grant’s Super Coin-Vanishing Handkerchief (p. 193)
• Super Dooper Versatile Vanisher (p. 194)
• Coin Through Leg (p. 195)
• Challenge Coin Vanish (p. 196)
• Coin-A-Go-Go (p. 197)
• Continuous Coins (p. 200)
• Copper-Silver Penetration (p. 202)
• The Shrinking Coin (p. 204)
• Coins Across (p. 206)
• Lapping — Pull-Off Method (p. 209)
• The Coin in the Ball of Wool (p. 209)
• The Expanded Shell Half-Dollar (p. 212)
• Two Halves and Two Quarters (p. 213)
• Two Halves and a “Half” Dollar (p. 214)
• Coins Through the Table (p. 216)
• Coins Through the Table — Alternate Method (p. 218)
• The Coin Roll (p. 219)
• The Roll Down (p. 221)
MONEY MAGIC — BILLS (p. 222)
• Roll the Bills (p. 222)
• Bills from Nowhere (p. 223)
• Bills from Nowhere — Version No. 2 (p. 224)
• The Torn and Restored Dollar Bill (p. 225)
• Inflation (p. 227)
• The Six-Bill Repeat (p. 228)
• The Bill in Lemon (p. 230)
ROPE MAGIC (p. 235)
• Rope Preparation (Coring) (p. 237)
• Cut and Restored Rope — First Method (p. 237)
• Cut and Restored Rope — Second Method (p. 239)
• Comedy Cut and Restored Rope (p. 241)
• The Triple Rope Trick (p. 242)
• Triple Rope — Multiple “Do As I Do” Knot (p. 244)
• Triple Rope — “Times Two” (p. 245)
• Double Restoration (p. 245)
• Cut and Restored String (p. 247)
• Threading the Needle (p. 249)
• One-Hand Knot (p. 251)
• The Melting Knot (p. 251)
• Shoelace Rope Tie (p. 252)
• The Rigid Rope (p. 254)
• Equal-Unequal Ropes (p. 256)
• The Great Coat Escape (p. 258)
• Rope and Coat Release (p. 260)
• Ring Off Rope (p. 262)
• Impossible Rope Escape (p. 263)
SILK HANDKERCHIEF MAGIC (p. 267)
• Hypnotized Handkerchief (p. 269)
• Fatima, the Dancer (p. 270)
• The Dissolving Knot (p. 272)
• The Knot through the Arm (p. 273)
• Handkerchief through Handkerchief (p. 274)
• The Penetrating Handkerchief (p. 275)
• The Magical Production of a Handkerchief (p. 277)
• The Vanish of the Handkerchief (p. 279)
• The Universal Vanisher (p. 281)
• The Serpentine Silk (p. 282)
• The Serpentine Silk — Second Version (p. 283)
• The Phantom (p. 284)
• The Broken and Restored Match (p. 285)
• Eggs from Nowhere (p. 286)
• The Vanishing Glass (p. 289)
• The Vanishing Glass — Impromptu Version (p. 290)
IMPROMPTU MAGIC (p. 293)
• The Jumping Rubber Band (p. 295)
• Reverse Jumping Rubber Band (p. 295)
• The Double Jumping Rubber Band — Version 1 (p. 296)
• The Double Jumping Rubber Band — Version 2 (p. 297)
• The Challenge Jumping Rubber Band (p. 298)
• Linking Paper Clips (p. 298)
• Linking Paper Clips with Rubber Band (p. 300)
• Bag Tag Escape (p. 301)
• Lifesavers on the Loose! (p. 302)
• Cords of Fantasia (p. 303)
• The Sucker Torn and Restored Napkin (p. 305)
• Ring on Wand (p. 307)
• The Jumping Match (p. 309)
• The Flying Match (p. 309)
• Dots Magic (Paddle Move) (p. 311)
• Dots Magic — Impromptu Version (p. 314)
• Glass through the Table (p. 314)
MENTAL MAGIC (p. 317)
• Three-Way Test (p. 318)
• The Magazine Test (p. 322)
• The Curious Coincidence (p. 323)
• Million to One (p. 325)
• The Gypsy Mindreader (p. 326)
• The Center Tear (p. 327)
• The Center Tear — “Standing” Variation (p. 329)
• Spectrum Prediction (p. 329)
• Spectrum Prediction — “Number” Variation (p. 331)
• Ping Pong Prestidigitation (p. 332)
• The Envelope Stand (p. 334)
• The Envelope Stand — “Bank Night” Variation (p. 335)
BETCHAS (p. 337)
• The Impossible Penetration (p. 339)
• The Impossible Knot (p. 339)
• The “Do-It-Yourself” Knot (p. 341)
• Turned Up Glasses (p. 341)
• Rubber Band Release (p. 343)
• Knot in Handkerchief (p. 344)
MAKE AT HOME MAGIC (p. 345)
• Vase of Allah (p. 347)
• The Afghan Bands (p. 348)
• The Utility Cone (p. 350)
• The Sorcerer’s Stamp Album (Svengali Book) (p. 352)
• The Comedy Cut and Restored Paper (Clippo) (p. 353)
• The Magic Card Frame (p. 355)
• The Double-Walled Bag (p. 357)
• The Double-Walled Bag — Vanish (p. 358)
• The Double-Walled Bag — Transformation (p. 359)
• The Sun and Moon (p. 360)
• The Cut and Restored Necktie (p. 362)
• Wine Glass Production (p. 363)
• The Take-Apart Vanish (p. 365)
• Confetti to Candy — First Version (p. 367)
• Confetti to Candy — Second Version (p. 369)
• Confetti to Candy — Third Version (p. 370)
• Thank You Banner — First Method (p. 371)
• Thank You Banner — Second Method (p. 372)
• Thank You Banner — Third Method (p. 373)
• Vanishing Bowl of Water (p. 374)
• The Bunny Box (p. 375)
• Production Box (p. 376)
• The Square Circle (p. 378)
• The Allakazam Hat — Introduction (p. 379)
• The Allakazam Hat (p. 380)
• The Allakazam Hat — A Variation (p. 381)
• Magic Table (p. 382)
• The Black Art Well (p. 384)
• Mechanical Magic (p. 385)
• The Dove Pan (p. 385)
• The Foo Can (p. 386)
• The Lota Bowl (p. 388)
SPONGE BALL MAGIC (p. 391)
• Sponge Sorcery (p. 393)
• A Sponge Appears (p. 393)
• The Flight to the Pocket (p. 394)
• Guess Which Hand (p. 394)
• Spectator’s Doubles (p. 395)
• Transposition in Your Hands (p. 397)
• Impossible Penetration (p. 397)
• The Spectator’s Hand Revisited
• Two in the Hand, One in the Pocket — Phase One (p. 398)
• Two in the Hand, One in the Pocket — Phase Two (p. 399)
• The Total Vanish (p. 400)
BILLIARD BALL MAGIC (p. 403)
• The Classic Palm (Using a Ball) (p. 405)
• The Classic Palm Vanish (p. 405)
• The French Drop (Using a Ball) (p. 407)
• Fist Vanish (p. 408)
• Change-Over Palm (p. 409)
• The Finger Roll Flourish (p. 411)
• The Mark Wilson Billiard Ball Routine (p. 412)
CUPS BALLS (p. 423)
• Cups and Balls (Routine) (p. 425)
• Penetration (p. 425)
• Invisible Flight (p. 428)
• Any Cup Called For (p. 428)
• The Repeat Production (p. 430)
• The Lemon Surprise (p. 431)
MAGICAL ILLUSIONS (p. 435)
• The Arabian Tent Illusion (p. 437)
• The Haunted House (p. 441)
• The Victory Cartons Illusion (p. 446)
• The Mystery of the Magical Mummy (p. 449)
• The Mystery of the Magical Mummy — Second Version (p. 452)
• The Curious Cabinet Caper (p. 453)
• Mummy’s Casket (p. 457)
• Who’s There (p. 460)
• Tip-Over Trunk (p. 462)
• The Farmer and the Witch (p. 464)
• The Suspension Illusion (p. 469)
YOUR FUTURE IN MAGIC (p. 471)



