Ultimental

THE STORY

In the 1920s a gangster in Chicago was rumored to visit a
gypsy woman frequently. His associates, being concerned
that she was sharing inside information with outside
individuals, sent another man, Al Weinshank, to check out
this gypsy, and see what she knew.

"I know what you want," the gypsy told Al, as he stepped
into her modest storefront room, "And, yes, my powers are
what they claim. I assume you'd like a demonstration."

Following his orders to determine whether the gypsy was real
or not, he agreed. The gypsy had him think of a few
thoughts and then she wrote something down a business card
and sealed it in a small envelope.

"You gonna read my mind?" Al asked.

"More than that. I have the power to read minds and to
control them, too."

Al guffawed. "Yeah, okay. Whatever you say, lady. Prove
it." The gypsy had Al randomly select one of the thoughts
that he was thinking of.

"Now look inside the envelope," she requested.

Al opened the envelope and turned white as a sheet. The
very thought that he freely selected and randomly chose was
written down on the card that was sealed inside the
envelope.

That thought was the name of the secret liquor warehouse
that Al was going to after his meeting with the gypsy. Al
had to cover his tracks, of course. He immediately pulled
out a gun and put two bullets into the gypsy's head.
Curiously, she had a smile on her face as Al did this. She
must have smiled because she knew that Al's rendezvous at
that secret liquor warehouse would be his doom.

The year was 1929. The place was Chicago. That secret
liquor warehouse was located at 2122 North Clark Street, a
building known as the S-M-C Company. And that morning, as
Al was giving his report about the gypsy, gang members who
worked for Al Capone burst in and killed Al Weinshank and
his associates in what is now known as the St. Valentine's
Day Massacre, one of the most notorious gangster massacres
in history.

But what about the gypsy's secret of the sealed envelope?
Her sister, also a gypsy, knew the secret, though she didn't
practice fortune telling of any kid. For reasons still
unclear to me, that secret was handed down to her great
niece, who was a good friend of my mother's. Knowing my
interest in these matters, she taught me the secret and had
me swear never to reveal it while she was alive.

The gypsy's great niece died last year and several
colleagues convinced me that I should let this secret out to
the mentalism community.

This, then, is the gypsy's secret . . .

MORE INFO
(From the back cover)

This pet effect, which Jheff has been successfully
performing for years, takes a couple of classic principles
of mentalism and melds them into an entirely new routine
designed to bring jaw-dropping awe and admiration to all who witness it!

A participant freely thinks of a number of thoughts, such as
words or dates. The performer writes something down on a
business card and seals it up inside a small envelope. To
make it even more challenging, the participant is instructed
to focus on just one of those thoughts. The choice is
randomly chosen.

The participant removes the business card from the sealed
envelope and finds the freely chosen thought written in the
message on the back. And, of course, this business card can
be given away as a perfect and unforgettable souvenir of the
performer's incredible abilities!

*** Only the envelopes and business cards are used!
*** Any pen or pencil can be used!
*** No switches, carbons, or electronics!
*** The random thoughts are not forced!

"Ultimental is a superb effect that is straightforward and
powerful. It uses tried and proven principles that Jheff
has reworked, like the notes in our musical scale,
to produce a whole new masterpiece. I love this kind of
mentalism!"
- Richard Osterlind

Ultimental is a 22 page 8 1/2" by 5 1/2" booklet that contains
three different variations of this routine, plus a bonus fourth
variation that adapts it to the stage!