- published: 18 May 2011
- views: 93918
Alex Elmsley (2 March 1929 – 8 January 2006) was a Scottish magician and computer programmer. He was notable for his invention of the Ghost Count or Elmsley Count, creating mathematical card tricks, and for publishing the mathematics of playing card shuffling.
He began practising magic in 1946, as a teenager. He studied physics and mathematics at Cambridge University; whilst there he was also secretary of the Pentacle Club. He was a patent agent, and later a computer expert, in his day job. Otherwise, he was an amateur card and close-up magician. He was awarded an Academy of Magical Arts Creative Fellowship in 1972.
He created a number of magic tricks, including the Ghost Count, Between Your Palms,Point Of Departure and Diamond Cut Diamond.
He wrote Elmsley's 4 Card Trick (1967) and Cardwork (1975), and was the subject of The Collected Works of Alex Elmsley (vol. 1 1991, vol. 2 1994).
The special count used in Elmsley's 4 Card Trick was renamed after him as the Elmsley Count.
Alex is a common name used in multiple languages. In English, it is usually a diminutive of the male given name Alexander, or its female equivalent Alexandra or Alexandria. Aleck or Alec is the Scottish form of Alex. The East European male name Alexey (Aleksei, Alexis, Aleksa) is also sometimes shortened to Alex. It is a commonly used nickname in Spanish for Alejandro, Alexandro, Alejandrino and Alexandrino, and related names like Alexa and Alexis.
Taken from the Lake Tahoe Sessions Vol. 3. The trick can be found in "The Collected Works of Alex Elmsley" Vol. 1. What an excellent story - watch and learn from a true master.
From the tahoe sessions
Michael Daniels performs Alex Elmsley's classic card trick. Yes, there really are just four cards! Another archive video from the early 1980s!
This is a tutorial for the Elmsley Count. Even if you already know the elmsley count I think you may be able to get something out of this :) This is a move that simply takes practice!!! PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!
Vanish each Ace singely and bring them back by spelling the Aces. Great Classic card trick by Alex Elmsley. I have tried to perform it as it is described in his book Collected works.
Hey everybody,here's a very easy and fun trick by the greatest,Alex Elmsley,and butchered by Eddie.Please comment, thanks and God bless.
From "The Magic Of Alex Elmsley - The Tahoe Sessions vol.1"L&L; PublishingAvailable at your favorite magic dealer. For more amazing magic videos visit http://www.themagicvideochannel.com These are videos found online from around the world. I do not claim to own the rights to these videos ... all rights are reserved by the owner. These videos are posted for Educational purposes only.. and the promote the art of magic. If you would like this video removed from the Magic Video Channel please contact me. for more amazing magic videos visit
Learn at: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic-downloads/card-magic-downloads/alex-elmsley-lecture/ Alex Elmsley was one of the most influential thinkers in the history of card magic. When he passed away in 2006 (has it been that long?), we lost a true legend, and all of us lost the opportunity to spend time with him. But in a way, we still can. Late in life Colin Rose filmed an intimate lecture containing a mixture of classics, and unpublished Elmsley material. This is material NOT included in his seminal books or his earlier videotapes. This is material mostly shown here for the first time. More than that, it is the most intimate portrait of Elmsley as a thinker. He explains in detail the plots and methods that consumed him later in life, and the beautiful magic that evolved as a...
In 2006, I had the pleasure of recording a series of interviews with Indianapolis magic legend Harry Riser. I thought that many magicians would be interested in Harry's incredible stories of his life in magic and his friendships with Dai Vernon, Charlie Miller, Ed Marlo, Slydini, Alex Elmsley, and many others. So, I've posted them here for all to enjoy. For more videos, please visit my magic blog at www.CalebWilesMagic.com
Ultimate Self Working Card Tricks is a stunning collection of some of the greatest card tricks ever invented. Oh, and they just happen to require NO SKILL!! That's right no moves. No difficult sleights. Nothing. Just you, a deck of cards and some of the most incredible magic you've ever seen. Contact Colors (Aldo Colombini) Impossible (Mike Austin) Shuffling Lesson (Chad Long) Henry Sugar (Liam Montier) Pre-Prefiguration (Larry Jennings / Mark Elsdon) Your Aces Are Marked (Terry Lagerould) Shufflebored (Simon Aronson) The 7/16 Club (Alex Elmsley) Impossible (Larry Jennings) 4,5,6 (Al Thatcher) Unbelievable (By Shields, F. Michael And Bascom Jones, Jr) Interviews with Paul Zenon, Scott Thomson (XCMer), Iain Moran & Liam Montier Tutorials on Charlier Shuffle, Jay Ose Cut, Breather Crimp, Bo...
In 2006, I had the pleasure of recording a series of interviews with Indianapolis magic legend Harry Riser. I thought that many magicians would be interested in Harry's incredible stories of his life in magic and his friendships with Dai Vernon, Charlie Miller, Ed Marlo, Slydini, Alex Elmsley, and many others. So, I've posted them here for all to enjoy. For more videos, please visit my magic blog at www.CalebWilesMagic.com
In 2006, I had the pleasure of recording a series of interviews with Indianapolis magic legend Harry Riser. I thought that many magicians would be interested in Harry's incredible stories of his life in magic and his friendships with Dai Vernon, Charlie Miller, Ed Marlo, Slydini, Alex Elmsley, and many others. So, I've posted them here for all to enjoy. In this video, Harry talks about the personality of "The Professor" Dai Vernon. Pay particular attention to the type of car Vernon drove...classic! For more videos, please visit my magic blog at www.CalebWilesMagic.com
In 2006, I had the pleasure of recording a series of interviews with Indianapolis magic legend Harry Riser. I thought that many magicians would be interested in Harry's incredible stories of his life in magic and his friendships with Dai Vernon, Charlie Miller, Ed Marlo, Slydini, Alex Elmsley, and many others. So, I've posted them here for all to enjoy. For more videos, please visit my magic blog at www.CalebWilesMagic.com
http://magicagora.com/?lang=en During Magic Live at Las Vegas, we interviewed a few magicians about the learnig of magic. These were some of the questions that we asked to each of them: - How do you like to learn magic? - How many time do you spend practicing your magic? - Who are the magicians that inspire your work? - A magician that have impressed you recently. - What's the current trend in magic?
In 2006, I had the pleasure of recording a series of interviews with Indianapolis magic legend Harry Riser. I thought that many magicians would be interested in Harry's incredible stories of his life in magic and his friendships with Dai Vernon, Charlie Miller, Ed Marlo, Slydini, Alex Elmsley, and many others. So, I've posted them here for all to enjoy. For more videos, please visit my magic blog at www.CalebWilesMagic.com
In 2006, I had the pleasure of recording a series of interviews with Indianapolis magic legend Harry Riser. I thought that many magicians would be interested in Harry's incredible stories of his life in magic and his friendships with Dai Vernon, Charlie Miller, Ed Marlo, Slydini, Alex Elmsley, and many others. So, I've posted them here for all to enjoy. For more videos, please visit my magic blog at www.CalebWilesMagic.com
Taken from the Lake Tahoe Sessions Vol. 3. The trick can be found in "The Collected Works of Alex Elmsley" Vol. 1. What an excellent story - watch and learn from a true master.
From the tahoe sessions
Michael Daniels performs Alex Elmsley's classic card trick. Yes, there really are just four cards! Another archive video from the early 1980s!
This is a tutorial for the Elmsley Count. Even if you already know the elmsley count I think you may be able to get something out of this :) This is a move that simply takes practice!!! PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!
Vanish each Ace singely and bring them back by spelling the Aces. Great Classic card trick by Alex Elmsley. I have tried to perform it as it is described in his book Collected works.
Hey everybody,here's a very easy and fun trick by the greatest,Alex Elmsley,and butchered by Eddie.Please comment, thanks and God bless.
See http://www.paulgordon.net/golddust.html for rave reviews, comments, FREE sampler, more videos and contents. Secure online ordering worldwide! Paul Gordon Live. Card Magic & Card Tricks from The Gold Dust Trilogy of best-selling best-of books. If you like the magic of people like John Bannon, Ed Marlo, Roy Walton, Alex Elmsley, Harry Lorayne, Aldo Colombini, Peter Duffie, J C Wagner, Jack Parker, Nick Trost, Larry Jennings, Karl Fulves, Juan Tamariz, Dai Vernon etc - you'll love The Gold Dust Trilogy. It's all doable worker magic. Commercial tricks, magician foolers, strollers, table routines, packet tricks etc. Easy to semi-advanced. Check them out.
See http://www.paulgordon.net/golddust.html for rave reviews, comments, FREE sampler, more videos and contents. Secure online ordering worldwide! Paul Gordon Live. Card Magic & Card Tricks from The Gold Dust Trilogy of best-selling best-of books. If you like the magic of people like John Bannon, Ed Marlo, Roy Walton, Alex Elmsley, Harry Lorayne, Aldo Colombini, Peter Duffie, J C Wagner, Jack Parker, Nick Trost, Larry Jennings, Karl Fulves, Juan Tamariz, Dai Vernon etc - you'll love The Gold Dust Trilogy. It's all doable worker magic. Commercial tricks, magician foolers, strollers, table routines, packet tricks etc. Easy to semi-advanced. Check them out.