Discover the Legacy of Jack McMillen

Jack McMillen is renowned for his iconic (plunger) card rise. Seventy-five years after its debut in print, this technique remains the quintessential sleight of hand method for rising cards, serving as a powerful tool for forces and switches. If you delve into card magic literature, you may recognize other effects attributed to McMillen, notably in Expert Card Technique. Despite his significant contributions, much about McMillen remains obscure, yet he is undeniably one of the greatest card magicians of all time.

Thanks to Michael Landes, who began documenting McMillen’s work over two decades ago on the advice of Paul Chosse, we now have a comprehensive account of his contributions to magic. Landes meticulously analyzed every detail to preserve McMillen’s legacy. This book stands as the definitive resource on Jack McMillen, and there will never be a more authoritative text on his work. Paul Chosse, a fellow student of McMillen, not only suggested this project but also offered to contribute any relevant material. If you come across references to a ‘Jack McMillen book’ by Chosse, this is the one he meant.

So, who was Jack McMillen? He was a multifaceted magician—technician, creator, and performer—excelling in all areas. With extraordinary skill, he was already a leading card magician while still in high school (1925-1929). His growing reputation attracted Charlie Miller, who sought him out in 1929, leading to a lifelong friendship spanning sixty years.

McMillen’s creative flair and analytical mindset made him an exceptional problem solver, adept at refining others’ ideas and developing original tricks and techniques. His talent is measured not by the number of ideas he produced but by their profound impact. Many of his concepts continue to inspire modern magicians. With a warm personality and a passion for entertaining, McMillen became a captivating performer, leaving a lasting impression on his audience.

Despite his status as a top card magician and close friend of legends like Charlie Miller and Dai Vernon, McMillen published very few of his creations. Aside from lecture notes for his Magic Castle presentation in the 1970s and a single contribution to Charlie Miller’s Magicana, he rarely documented his material. Most articles attributed to him were written by others, often lacking crucial details and accuracy due to minimal collaboration from McMillen.

This ebook aims to rectify that. It provides a detailed account of McMillen’s most significant contributions, enriched with anecdotes that bring his character to life.

One important note: This ebook does not include illustrations. We believe that detailed textual descriptions convey methods and nuances more effectively than images. If you prefer to skim through a book for illustrations, this may not be the right fit for you. This is a resource for serious students of card magic. Grab a deck of cards and follow along with some of the most ingenious techniques ever devised.

Paul Chosse: “Jack McMillen taught me to ‘Go Slow! and ensure the audience understands the plot. He was the most genuine, charming individual you could meet—like an old country preacher, always smiling and gentle. He embodied the card-handling techniques that Vernon advocated: holding the deck delicately, with no rushed movements or flashy covers. Just impeccable timing, flawless execution, and a delightful personality that captivated audiences. People didn’t want to catch Jack; they wanted to be amazed! Jack’s favorite text was Erdnase, but he studied all the classics, always striving for improvement. Even after 50 years, he was willing to adapt his signature tricks if he discovered a better method. I learned so much about magic and human nature from Jack; he was the most influential figure in my card magic education.”

1st edition 2011; 263 pages.

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION

2. ORIGIN OF THE PROJECT

3. ADDITIONAL NOTES

   SECTION ONE: LOS ANGELES: 1925-1929

4. 1. STARTING OUT

5. CONTROL I

6. A BARBARY COAST SCAM

7. CONTROL II

8. THE STILL THUMB

9. 2. TAKE A CARD

10. Controls

11. AN INSTANTANEOUS DETECTION (Judson Brown)

12. A RIFFLE SHUFFLE CONTROL

13. Locations

14. END FOR END

15. THE RIFFLE GLIMPSE (McMillen/Brown)

16. GLIMPSE FROM THE PEEK

17. FIVE CARD FAN SELECTION

18. SHUFFLE CODE (McMillen/Brown)

19. Forces

20. SPREAD FORCE (Larsen)

21. THE CUT FORCE

22. KNIFE FORCE

23. 3. REVELATIONS

24. UPSIDE DOWN (Judson Brown)

25. A RETRIEVED ERROR

26. FROM ANOTHER PACK

27. THE SPECTATOR FINDS A CARD

28. REVERSED AT ANY NUMBER

29. A QUICK REVERSE

30. THE JOKER FINDS A CARD

31. THE BIDDLE COLOR CHANGE

32. A MENTAL SPELL

33. THE VOODOO CARD RISE

34. 4. CHARLES JORDAN

35. THE UNKNOWN LEAPER

36. EDGE MARK PREMO

37. SENSITIVE FINGERS

38. THE PAIRS POKER STACK

39. PAUL CHOSSE ON THE PAIRS POKER STACK

40. 5. THE J. M. CARD RISE

41. FIRST METHOD (for a single selection)

42. SECOND METHOD (two card rise)

43. THIRD METHOD (one selection)

44. FOURTH METHOD

45. PAUL CHOSSE ON THE J. M. CARD RISE

    SECTION TWO: SAN FRANCISCO: 1933-1953

46. 6. THE BRAUE CONNECTION

47. CONTINUOUS SPELLER

48. THE DOUBLE LIFT

49. Jack’s CENTER DEAL

50. THE PSYCHIC STOP

51. MIND MIRROR

52. THE WITCHCRAFT CARD RISE

53. 7. SAN FRANCISCO DAYS

54. THE VANISHING DECK

55. Jack’s SAN FRANCISCO SECOND

56. Senor Mardo’s RING, COIN, AND HANDKERCHIEF

57. 8. THE COLOR CHANGES

58. THE SNAP COLOR CHANGE

59. PUSH OFF COLOR CHANGE

60. THE ERDNASE STEAL

61. THE EYE TEST

62. 9. THE COLLINS’ ACES
63. 10. VERNONIANA

64. THE FIRST MEETING

65. THE DOUBLE LIFT GET-SET

66. THE THUMBPRINT TRICK

67. TRIUMPH

68. A HAND-TO-HAND TRANSFER

69. THE AMBITIOUS CARD SEQUENCE

70. A QUICK TRICK

71. THE GAMBLER’S SECRET

72. A PROBLEM WITH THE ACES

73. 11. MAGICANA

74. THE ONE SHUFFLE POKER STACK

75. THE ORIGIN OF THE TEN CARD DEAL

76. THE NYQUIST POKER DEAL

77. THE SECRET OF HENRY SING

78. THE TAP THROUGH CONTROL

79. NYQUIST RADIO CONTROL

80. CARD TO POCKET WITH A KICKER

81. THE POWER OF THOUGHT

82. THE STOP TRICK

    SECTION THREE: SANTA ROSA: 1954-1990

83. 12. COMING TO SANTA ROSA

84. THE OLD GAMBLER

85. SHADE WORK

86. BLACKJACK ROUTINE

87. THE BLUFF ACES

88. 13. THE SAN FRANCISCO SHUFFLE
89. 14. NEVER BET ON A SURE THING
90. 15. THE PURSE FRAME

91. THE PURSE FRAME

92. WINGED SILVER

93. QUICK SILVER

94. CROSSED HANDS

95. ONE COIN

96. 16. MORE TRICKS

97. PSYCHIC STOP II: THE SPREAD

98. DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND

99. THE BIDDLE TRICK

100. RING, ROPE AND STICK

101. EXPANSION OF TEXTURE

102. THE CHALLENGE POKER DEAL

103. 17. ODDS & ENDINGS

104. AN OPENING

105. COINS

106. THE LINKING RINGS

107. AMBITIOUS CARD MANEUVERS

108. THE CUPS & BALLS

109. Bob Madison’s CARDS TO POCKET

     ADDENDUM: AT THE CARD TABLE

110. 18. BOTTOM DEALS

111. Jack’s SOFT BOTTOM DEAL

112. ANOTHER BOTTOM

113. FINAL NOTES ON BOTTOM DEALS

114. 19. MORE SLEIGHTS

115. RIFFLE SHUFFLE SEQUENCE I. To Retain The Order Of The Entire Deck

116. RIFFLE SHUFFLE SEQUENCE II. To Retain Top Stock At The Bottom

117. Martin’s FALSE CUT

118. Dr. Elliot’s SECOND DEAL

119. SIMPLICITY BOTTOM PALM

120. SIMPLICITY BOTTOM DEAL

121. MIRAGE (THE NO-SWITCH SWITCH)

122. HOLE CARD SWITCH

123. Gene Matsuura’s ONE-HANDED SWITCH

124. 20. NOTES ON CARDS

125. Notes On THE BOTTOM PALM – FIRST METHOD

126. Notes On THE BOTTOM CARD REPLACEMENT

127. Paul Chosse on THE DIAGONAL PALM SHIFT

128. Notes On FALSE DEALS

129. MORE TIPS & DETAILS

130. APPENDIX