Trevor Duffy and Phil Goldstein's
PHIL
$16
Suggested Retail Price $17.50

THE BLURB:
A deck of cards is set down on a table. A spectator
is asked simply to think of any playing card, and the
magician says he will name it.

After a moment of thought, the performer declares, "The name
of your card is Phil! You know, short for Phillip!" The
audience is understandably a bit surprised. The pack is
removed and then shown to have different names printed
boldly on the back of every card. When the deck is turned
face up and the card named by the spectator is found, it is
the one and only card named Phil!

(Not Rough and Smooth!)

    * Only One Deck Is Used!
    * Instantly Reset!
    * No Force of Any Kind!
    * No Sleight of Hand!
    * Any Card Can Be Named!

Historical Note: The basic plot of this routine goes back to
Fred Lowe's "Christened Reverse." Over the past few decades,
many methods have been devised. It turns out that Trevor
Duffy reinvented a version that was created by Phil
Goldstein in the early 1980s, entitled "Final Fred." That
routine had its debut in a lecture at the 1985 FISM
convention in Madrid. The issue of this prior invention has
now been discussed by Duffy and Goldstein, along with the
ironic coincidence of its title, and we are pleased that an
equitable arrangement has been made, and this item is being
marketed with Phil Goldstein's approval.

MY COMMENTS:
If you don't work with playing cards, this isn't for you. On
the other hand, a well-known "mentalist" recently performed
this on a radio show, and he usually doesn't use playing
cards.  But then again, Lance Burton performed this on
national television recently, too, for whatever that info
is worth.

In any case, this is a very strong, very direct effect.  No
cards are physically taken from the deck and shuffled back
into the deck.  The cards are handled only to spread through
them after a card has been freely named.  This can be done
in virtually any venue, but it is not repeatable, for
obvious reasons.  The unique properties of this very special
deck are what allows you to do it.  The cards do look
ordinary, though they aren't Bicycle.  In fact, many
performers will stick these decks into Bicycle boxes and
laymen won't notice, or care about, the difference.

This deck comes in two versions.  The original "Phil" deck
and a blank deck, which is customizable.  Most professionals
that I've seen customize their decks.  The aforementioned
mentalist and Lance Burton did so.  And I've customized mine.
No matter whether it's been customized or not, this effect
is mentalism that is very strong, entertaining and
recommended.