Behold! Unlock the secrets of close-up magic with Larry Jennings in “A Private Lesson.” Witness never-before-seen illusions from a master! Running Time 67min
Product information
A Private Lesson by Larry Jennings: Masterclass in Sleight-of-Hand Magic
Step into the world of Larry Jennings, one of the most revered sleight-of-hand artists in the history of magic. Over his illustrious 64-year career, Jennings crafted timeless routines in card and coin magic, many of which have become classics. While his techniques have been documented in books, videotapes, and DVDs, these mediums often missed the subtle nuances of his craft, and formal recordings couldn’t always capture his relaxed brilliance.
In the early 1970s, Larry left Los Angeles—where he had studied under the legendary Dai Vernon—to establish a plumbing business in Lake Tahoe, California. It was there he met Louis Falanga, a devoted student and friend. In a rare and intimate moment, Larry allowed himself to be videotaped in Louis’ living room, demonstrating 12 of his most beloved routines.
What Makes This Video So Special?
- Authentic and Relaxed: Unlike formal recordings, this video captures Larry in his prime, free from the pressures of a studio. You can even hear the faint sound of bacon frying in the background!
- Unpublished Material: While some routines were later published, others like the Linking Rings, Lump of Coal, and Coins Through Table using the Pop-Up Move remain exclusive to this video.
- Best Explanations: Larry’s explanations here, such as for the Chop Cup routine, are considered the finest ever recorded.
- Historical Footage: Digitally restored for clarity, this tape offers a nostalgic glimpse into the golden era of close-up magic.
Why Add This to Your Collection?
This video is more than just a lesson—it’s a piece of magic history. Larry Jennings passed away over a decade ago, but his genius lives on in this unique recording. Whether you’re a seasoned magician or an enthusiast, this DVD will transport you back to a time when Larry Jennings was captivating audiences with his unparalleled skill.
Running Time: Approximately 67 minutes
Larry Jennings was one of the greatest sleight-of-hand artists who ever lived. Over the course of his 64 years， he developed many classic plots in card and coin magic. Lots of Larry’s magic has been described in books， videotapes， and DVDs. But， the books often failed to capture the nuances in his work， and he was usually nervous during the shooting of the formal videos and DVDs.
During the early 1970s， Larry left his home in Los Angeles-where he had moved to study with Dai Vernon-and relocated to Lake Tahoe， California， to open his own plumbing business. There he met Louis Falanga， who became Larry’s student and friend. One day in Louis’ living room， Larry allowed himself to be videotaped describing 12 of his favorite routines:
This was the perfect setting for Larry-he was relaxed and in his prime， just making a personal video for a friend. The quality is exactly what you’d expect from a 30 year-old home video made in someone’s living room， and you can even hear someone frying up some bacon in the background. Considering that great material， we can forgive the technical shortcomings (though the tape-original Beta master-has been put through a state-of-the-art digital clean-up).
At the time， few of the routines on the videotape were in print. It is now a quarter-century later and Larry Jennings has been dead for a decade. Most of the items on the tape were later published， but some details and fine points were inadvertently omitted. Other routines， such as the Linking Rings， Lump Of Coal， Coins Through Table using the Pop-Up Move， were never published. All of the routines are superb examples of the finest in close-up magic and some of these， such as the Chop Cup routine， benefit from the best recorded explanations Jennings gave.
Having had the pleasure of watching a copy of this videotape many times over the years and now， through the generosity of Louis Falanga， you will too. So slip the DVD into your player and step back in time to when Jimmy Carter was President of the United States， men were visiting the moon on a regular basis， and Larry Jennings was knocking’em dead.
– Richard Kaufman
Running Time Approximately 67min
