Jinx Navigator Podcast: Jay Jennings reviews issue number three of The Jinx, a roughly 90-year-old newsletter for magicians and mentalists, to see which ideas still hold up and how they might be tweaked for modern use.

Aside from the editorial, Jay covers four items from the issue: Les Gilbert’s “A Card in Transit,” where a spectator-initialed card vanishes from the deck and appears in the performer’s pocket using sleight of hand and a gimmick card; Annemann’s “A Real Psychic Card Test,” a simple thought-transmission drawing match using chalkboards (or business cards) and misdirection through distance/time; Annemann’s “Dead or Alive,” a living/dead name test using five cards and a prepared envelope, which Jay finds workable but dislikes as a presentation outside séance contexts and discusses envelope sizing/handling considerations; and Annemann’s “The Bending Swizzle Stick,” a gag based on the rubber pencil illusion involving glass stirring sticks and a final apparent permanent bend. The episode ends with mention of a poem Annemann received from the Great Lester at an IBM convention and a brief note about Lester as a ventriloquist and mentor to Edgar Bergen.

Jay invites listeners to read full instructions and articles on jinxnavigator.com, share feedback, and return for issue #4 featuring “Cigarette Perception.” 00:00 Welcome to Jinx Navigator:

What this podcast is about

• 00:39 Issue #3 overview + editorial setup (and name-pronunciation warning)
• 01:30 Editorial highlights: circulation, rival newsletters, and working pros
• 03:20 Who's working where: venues, acts, and close-up advice
• 04:00 Effect 1 — 'A Card in Transit' (Les Gilbert): signed card to pocket
• 05:40 Effect 2 — 'A Real Psychic Card Test' (Ted Annemann): chalkboard mind-reading
• 06:44 Routine — 'Dead or Alive' test: envelope handling + presentation rant
• 10:11 Gag/bit — 'The Bending Swizzle Stick': rubber-pencil illusion with glass
• 12:00 Closing poem from The Great Lester + wrap-up and next issue teaser

Join Jay as he dives into the second issue of The Jinx (1934-1941), the legendary magic newsletter that shaped modern mystery performance. This episode breaks down five effects from Issue #2, exploring which tricks still work today.

In This Episode:

We explore five effects from The Jinx #2, including Ted Annemann's "The Devil's Four Aces" (a visual four-ace assembly), Orville Wayne Meyer's "The Finders" (a behind-the-back card location with a killer kicker ending), and "Your Card" (a clever effect using Si Stebbin's technique that's been fooling people since 1898). Jay admits defeat trying to decode Annemann's "Synthetic Sympathy" and calls for help from card workers who can make sense of the confusing instructions. The episode wraps with "The Demon-Yogi-Goblin Book Test," Annemann's tongue-in-cheek title for a book test method that's surprisingly versatile.

Contents:

• 00:00 Introduction to the Jinx Navigator Podcast
• 00:39 Sponsor Message: FlashCake
• 01:12 Exploring Issue Number Two
• 02:21 The Devil's Four Aces by Ted Annemann
• 04:21 The Finders by Orville Wayne Meyer
• 05:52 Synthetic Sympathy by Ted Annemann ( -- help wanted!)
• 07:46 Your Card by Orville Wayne Meyer
• 09:05 The Demon Yogi Goblin Book Test by Ted Annemann
• 10:49 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

In this episode of the Jinx Navigator Podcast, Jay takes listeners through the significant highlights of the first issue of The Jinx, a historic magic newsletter by Theodore Annemann. He discusses the first magic effect, 'Hallucination' by Eddie Clever, the 'Supreme East Indian Needle feat' by Ted Annemann, 'Two Papers and a Spectator' by Ted Annemann, and 'The Mystery of the Blackboard' by Paul Rosini. Jay provides insights on the relevance and adaptability of these tricks for modern performers, and offers resources for those interested in learning more. Tune in to discover the timeless art of magic from the 1930s and how it can still mesmerize audiences today.

00:00 Introduction to the Jinx Navigator Podcast

00:54 Exploring Issue Number One: Hallucination by Eddie Clever

02:52 The Supreme East Indian Needle Feat by Ted Annemann

04:08 Two Papers and a Spectator by Ted Annemann

05:42 The Mystery of the Blackboard by Paul Rosini

07:32 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview