5 Stars

Review by George Guerra for Cat-Astrophe

5 out of 5

fanCATstic!

I acquired this item some time ago and like many of Alan’s earlier children effects, you get a great storyline for a nice, lengthy routine to entertain both children and adults. The method is clever with an ease to perform…this leaves the performer to focus on the presentation. The workmanship is, again, impeccable, built to last (and the one I obtained was in near mint condition – clearly well cared and appreciated by the previous owners).

It is a “large” item in contrast to his later mini-magic line and well suited for a large audience. I have said this before and I will say it again, there is no one that matches the craftsmanship of Alan Warner. His magic has been a great contribution to this time honored art.

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Review by George Guerra for Gillyman, The

5 out of 5

Delightful New Warner Magic!

This is one clever and ingenious piece from Alan. The method is so diabolical and the craftsmanship is impeccable, as one expects from this master craftsman. Beautiful effect and all so nicely stored in an elegant case. This is one where examining all the (secret) components of the appartus makes you appreciate what value you are getting than from simply seeing the images from this review.

Owning many of Alan’s magic, I thought he couldn’t surprise me (well, I have witnessed great magic from this man) but I felt like a child on Christmas Day when I took this out from the parcel. This will definitely be on the list of my favorite Warner pieces, if that is possible to have favorites.

Thanks again, Alan, for another beauty and a most welcome addition to my collection.

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Review by George Guerra for Egyptian Mini-Magic Collection

5 out of 5

The Wonders of Egypt – Warner Style

This boxed collection is a fantastic follow-up to the Millennium Collection released for the year 2000. This time the occasion is the celebration of Alan’s 70th birthday. This is definitely his most involved project and most expensive release to date, but what a final product! The craftsmanship is, as usual, impeccable. Alan really outdid himself with conveying an Egyptian theme to the entire Collection. The box itself is gorgeous, especially with what he did with the Horus Falcon on the lid. You can tell he spent a great deal of time on every single piece in that collection.

You need to see this to believe it, so…for more details and images visit my SITE

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Review by Doug Gorman for Voo Doo

5 out of 5

You do VooDoo? I do VooDoo!

Without a doubt, one of Alan’s most intricate and cleverly operating pieces of apparatus. This jewel allows a completely free choice by the spectator–absolutely any one of four choices can be made. Without any hedging, equivoque, magician’s choice, or any other form of Tom-foolery, the performer clearly shows he has perfectly predicted the choice. And not only that, the next performance may have a completely different outcome, as may the one after that, and the one after that, and so on, and so on. In short, the routine is very impressive. But even more impressive is the craftsmanship, both visible and invisible, in this piece. Who do VooDoo? Alan do VooDoo! Thanks, Alan!

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Review by Doug Gorman for Domino

5 out of 5

Domino, Dom-i-don’t-no!

This is a clever set of dominoes whose spots change color depending on which color ribbon is associated with a given domino. So, a yellow ribbon changes white spots to yellow; a blue ribbon changes white spots to blue. Now, just as you think you know, you don’t know! The yellow and red ribbons are used to change white spots to red and yellow! Finally, the red and yellow spots are subjected to the red ribbon alone, and, you guessed it, all the spots turn red! What is so great about Alan’s magic in general, and this effect in particular, is how he takes a principle of operation, applies it, and then, part way through the routine, he extends the principle to amplify the impact of the effect. Once again, absolutely wonderful craftsmanship and creative genius is on display here. Thanks, Alan, for making so many of us so happy by sharing your skill and creativity.

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Review by Doug Gorman for Eye of Isis

5 out of 5

Eye-yi-yi-yi-yi, I like it!

Just received my newest Alan Warner creation: Eye of Isis. Without a doubt, it is one of the most beautiful pieces in the Alan Warner Collection, and the clever design of the prop makes the magic baffling. What I have come to love about Alan’s magic (in addition to the obviously beautiful craftsmanship) is the clever presentations and subtle handlings of the props which Alan provides in his detailed and well-written instructions. Eye of Isis is no exception to this. My wife was completely bamboozled when I performed the effect for her. She said, "I kept watching for you to do [a move], but I never saw you do it!" Guess what? Didn’t need to, thanks to Alan’s cleverness. This piece has been around for quite a while. I’m sure glad I finally got it. It’s a beaut!

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Review by George Guerra for Siamese Ribbon

5 out of 5

Incredible illusion packed into a tiny chest!

For some time Andy has been telling me to get this item for my collection. Well, it’s easier said than done as this item was long ago discontinued and practically impossible to find on sale.

Fortunately, Alan’s wife recently found several mint painted mini-magic items stored away for years and long forgotten in a storage area of their home. Now, that is one true treasure find! I was most fortunate to get a chance to acquire these items and now that I own this particular piece, I can see why Andy was so excited about it.

It’s a clean cut and restored ribbbon effect, but what beautiful and ingenious little chest to accomplish the effect. The workmanship is superb and the method so clever that, when I first unwrapped the item from the parcel I took a good amount of time to just marvel at the construction and mechanics. One observation I need to mention is that the cute dragon design on the chest is NOT a decal, but actually entirely HAND-PAINTED! Thanks Andy for a great recommendation and to Alan for the great magic.

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Review by George Guerra for Alphabet Antics

5 out of 5

Colourful Props and Great Routine!

Well, this is my third long discontinued children effect built by Alan to be added to my collection. It’s quite a handful of props, but a beautful apparatus overall, and it has everything for a great colourful, clever, and easy to perform effect that will have the kiddies participating extensively in the magic to follow.

These are large props; the ABC block itself measures 3 1/2 inches. His children effects sure take up a lot of space, especially if your collecting interest lies mostly on close-up or mini-magic apparatus, but I wouldn’t hesitate to add more if possible. Alan never fails to impress me with his magic, despite quite a collection, and Alphabet Antics left me with more admiration of his inventive mind and outstanding craftsmanship.

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Review by Doug Gorman for Twister

5 out of 5

Twisted!

That’s the way I play this one. I act completely baffled about the way the domino won’t turn over in spite of the turning over of the case. When it appears that I have hit on the solution to the problem, the domino becomes almost as twisted as I am. This gets great reactions, and I love it. Thanks, Alan, for making something so good out of something so simple.

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Review by George Guerra for The Chinese Money Box

5 out of 5

Chinese Change on Steroids!

WOW! Is this one BIG apparatus! Mine is actually a little bigger than the dimensions quoted in the description. It’s ironic that I became interested in Alan’s magic because of the small, or "mini", sizes to his apparatus. But as I endeavor into his now discontinued $link(nd=childrens, Children’s Magic), the sizes take on a huge leap up in dimensions.

This is a very, very large version of his painted mini-magic release, the Chinese Change, with one big exception. It has a mechanism built into the box under complete control of the performer to allow a large silver coin to appear stuck in the middle of the box as it’s viewed in the left side. It’s a nice comical touch for the kids, and the adults, in the audience. One thing about Alan’s Children effects is that they really pack a great deal of entertainment value.

The construction and paint finish of the box is of high quality, considering the age (Alan stopped making his Children effects in the late 1980’s, I believe). Both Alan, as builder, and the previous owner(s), as caretaker(s), of this old prop are to be commended. The Chinese characters on the doors are not just simply painted, but actual black lacquered wood cut-outs set in relief. The huge coins are solid wood and painted. An extra silver coin is included for a re-appeartance option and my purchase came with a silvery fabric change bag that I don’t think was included in the original sale.

Overall, a great prop and I thought I would never buy any huge magic apparatus, again, but it is a Warner!

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