Al Koran's Legacy
Review by David Lindgreen
Al Koran (1914-1972) was an
English hairdresser with a keen interest in magic and
mind-reading. In just a short time, he gained a fine
reputation, but alas, when he travelled to USA in an attempt
to build a career there, he failed. He left some very fine
effects, of which the most well-known are Ring Flite, The Gold
Medallion and the so-called Koran Deck. We are lucky that most
of his tricks were published in magic magazines, especially in
Pentagram but also in books. In collaboration with Jack
Lamonte, he wrote Mastered Amazement; still, his most famous
books, Professional Presentations and Al Koran's Legacy, were
written by Hugh Miller. Besides the two books mentioned above,
Martin Breese has had The Magic of Al Koran published.
Of more
importance to us, here and now, is the fact that the same Martin
Breese owns the copyright to practically all old English magic
magazines and a number of books as well, which has enabled him
to re-publish Al Koran's Legacy including some supplemental
stuff which he found in some of Lewis Ganson's books. The result
is an extremely fine book.
Koran's tricks are uncluttered,
which means that he heads straight towards the goal, and the
methods are just as uncomplicated so, apart from a few card
tricks, you won't find anything which demands finger-breaking
sleights. Nevertheless, during the showing of an effect, all
the small things fit into one another like cogwheels in a
clock-work, there is no hesitating or fumbling. Unfortunately,
Koran's accompanying 'patter', which played a major role in
his presentation, is not included. Let's take a closer look at
the tricks which are all intended for close-up work or the
small stage.
It is only fit and proper that
the book open with The Five Star Prediction, still one of the
very best tricks around and sufficiently strong to be the
closing trick of your program: A spectator is handed a pack of
cards, face-up, and starts dealing the cards down onto the
table top. He continues until he decides to stop. The
performer points to an envelope which has been lying on the
table, in full view, from before the start of the effect. The
envelope is opened, a card is shaken out and proves to be a
duplicate of the chosen card. Even today, so many years later,
it is still one of the funniest tricks for a lay audience.
Another routine which will floor
any audience is Twenty Card Memory. Twenty spectators select a
card each; the cards are returned to the pack which is placed
into a jacket pocket. When the cards are selected, each
spectator is given a number between one and twenty. Now the
performer says a number, and the spectator whose number he
mentions tells those present the name of his card. Standing on
the stage, blind-folded, the magician puts his hand into the
side pocket and withdraws the named card. This is continued
until all cards have been named and produced. A whale of an
effect – and easy, too.
t is also here that you find the
legendary The Gold Medallion. Three spectators each names a
number which, when put together, constitute a number with
three ciphers. The conjuror shows a little box and taking out
a gold medallion from its interior, he hands it to a
spectator. When encouraged to do so, the spectators turns the
medallion around, and upon the back of it he finds that very
number inscribed.
At
long last this wonderful edition of Al Koran’s Legacy has been
printed and is on its way to us now by sea. It will arrive at
the end of this month. I have already received a few advance
copies by air and I am truly proud of this book. 
