Chicago Visions
A Book of Conversations
Eugene Burger
Edited by Todd Karr
Published 2004
64 pages
9 illustrations
Cover by Katlyn Breene and Todd Karr
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Chicago Visions is a small paperback that accompanied The Miracle Factory's 2004 DVD set The Chicago Tapes. In the fascinating text, Eugene Burger talks about the making of the videos, discusses alternate handlings of some of the effects, and of course shares many of his beautiful thoughts on the art of magic. The conversations in the book include discussions with award-winning director Michael Caplan and former White House economic advisor Jack Gould.
The video set included the remastered essential videos Eugene Goes Bizarre, Real Secrets of Close-up Magic, and Gourmet Close-up Magic, featuring Eugene’s classic effects plus lessons on close-up excellence, card technique, thread work, bizarre magic, and guest appearances by Tony Andruzzi, Jay Inglee, and David Parr, as well as bonus photo galleries.
The Eugene Goes Bizarre DVD shares Eugene’s extensive handlings of The Haunted Deck, teachings on deeper magic, startling performances, thoughts on Bizarre Magic, guest appearances by Tony Andruzzi and Jay Inglee, and the short film “An Afternoon with a Magician.”
In Real Secrets of Close-Up Magic, Eugene analyzes his Ten Steps to Learning to Perform Magic and explains the secrets of his Coin Clip, the Acrobatic Matchbox, Cutting the Aces, Cigarette Vanishes, The World’s Fastest Card Trick, The Three Coin Mystery, The Old Carnival Game, and Al Baker’s Impossible Card Force.
Gourmet Close-Up Magic examines Eugene's strategies for top-level close-up techniques in several professional situations ranging from bar magic to walk-around to elegant seated performances, and includes explanations of his Mullica Wallet routine, the Signed Card Under the Tablecloth, and Shotglass Surprise.