The Olram File by Ed Marlo
The Olram File by Ed Marlo
Couldn't load pickup availability
The legendary work of Ed Marlo, like you've never seen it before. 129 tricks. 20 essays. With new photographs and editing that finally makes Marlo's genius easy to appreciate.
Full Description
Originally published from 1990 to 1993, The Olram File was a magazine consisting of a mix of personal notes, unpublished tricks, and new material from Ed Marlo. This is material that was held close to the vest from the 1940s all the way through the 1990s. It was published across 16 issues with additional commentary and essays by Jon Racherbaumer. Difficult to obtain, this material has become one of the most sought-after material in card magic. Now it’s resurfacing thanks to the diligent work of Steve Reynolds.
This expanded edition includes original illustrations as well as Marlo’s original photos used as inspiration for the first publication. In addition to the original corrected text, correspondence between Marlo and Jon Racherbaumer, as well as the original mailers sent to readers by Jon, is included. This is not just a scan and re-print of a difficult-to-find magical publication. This is a lovingly re-worked and painstakingly put together reassembly of The Olram File, faithful to the original while ushering it into the modern age. Most useful of all is a carefully researched index of the full work to make it easier than ever to navigate this incredible material.
This “rejuvenated” edition of The Olram File features 129 effects, 20 essays, 151 Marlo posed photographs, 42 drawings, bibliographies, additional color photographs created by Steve Reynolds for easier reference, Marlo Memorabilia, Histories, and satires. In addition, there is a bonus 17th issue created especially by Steve Reynolds that will delight any who enjoys the work of Ed Marlo. This is a rich text filled with tricks, sleights, tips, and the kind of deep insight Marlo was known for. With a foreword by the late Jon Racherbaumer, this book is a must-have for any student of card magic.
Hardcover
8.5 x 11" Trim Size
325 Pages
What You Get
Hardcover
8.5 x 11" Trim Size
325 Pages
What the Pros Say
"Some of my fondest magical memories were digging through piles of books hoping to find treasure...The Olram File was one of those treasures! What a surprise and delight. Thank you to Steve Reynolds for digging this out for all of us and for all the extra effort to make this the extraordinary edition it has become! A real treasure to have this all together and with all the bonus research and ephemera. A delight for lovers of card magic!"-Ricky Smith
"Steve Reynolds’ labor of love brings us a fresh look at The Olram File. The student/mentor relationship shines through in this newly corrected original layout. Along with added memorabilia, hand-written notes, forgotten correspondence, and pre-illustration shots (as well as new photos) makes this a part of history you'll want in your library too."-Paul Vigil
"Steve has release his corrected and expanded version of Jon Racherbaumer’s The Olram File. If you have tried to find copies of the original magazines, you will know how difficult they are to find. Steve has done you a big favor by making this available again (with EXTRA memorabilia). Don’t miss out again, buy it!"-Gary Plants
"Steve Reynolds is a living combination of Long John Silver and Sir Isaac Newton; a second-generation Marlo acolyte with a genuine gift for combing the master’s archives in search of buried treasure, alchemy, and lost secrets. This enormous (and ongoing) task brings us The Olram File with a fresh perspective and revised context for a new generation of cardicians seeking methods ranging from the esoteric to the miraculous. A weighty addition to any magic library filled with rewarding and fascinating ideas certain to baffle even the most knowledgeable fellow enthusiasts. This collection is full of surprises - I literally laughed out loud when I learned how to make an everyday object appear on the back of any named card and ran to my local post office in search of the required props. Students of card magic will rediscover many examples of classic effects fully explored from Marlo’s unique mindset and thanks to Steve Reynold’s tireless efforts, will be richly rewarded with a remarkable source of clever ideas."-R. Paul Wilson
"Wow! What an amazing accomplishment. I felt like I was sitting at the table with Marlo, Racherbaumer...and Steve. Steve Reynolds expertly elevates the legacies of Marlo and Racherbaumer in a beautiful way and breathes new life into this historical and indispensable collection of Marlo’s work."-John Guastaferro
More Videos
Quick Links
Contact Us
At Penguin Magic, we believe in real magic—and that starts with real people helping you. Our friendly support team is made up of passionate magicians who understand your needs and are here to help every step of the way.
Whether you're placing your first order or you're a seasoned pro with a tricky question, you're never just a number to us—we’ve got your back!
💬 Talk to a Real Human
Need help? Have a question? Just want to say hi?
Our support team is quick, kind, and genuinely excited to connect with fellow magic lovers.
Email us anytime:
📧 support@penguinmagic.com
We respond fast—usually within one business day or sooner!
☎️ Give Us a Call
We’re always happy to chat magic.
Toll-Free (U.S.): 800-880-2592
International: +1 707-317-6733
Please leave a message with your name, order number (if applicable), and callback number. We’ll return your call within 24 business hours.
🕒 Hours of Availability
Our team is based in California and available:
Monday – Friday
🕗 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Pacific Time)
📦 Mailing Address
For returns, mail orders, or fan mail:
Penguin Magic
3299 Monier Circle, Unit A
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
United States
🪄 We're Here For You
No bots. No scripts. Just real people who love magic as much as you do.
Got a question? A shipping hiccup? A product suggestion? We’d love to hear from you.
Reach out—we’re always happy to help. 💙
Want to partner with Penguin Magic?
Partnering with Penguin Magic offers creators a unique opportunity to showcase their magic tricks on one of the world's largest magic platforms. By joining the Penguin Partner Program, you can:
- Earn Generous Royalties: Receive a 50% royalty for exclusive products, with Penguin handling order fulfillment, credit card processing, and shipping.
- Engage Directly with Customers: Utilize a private FAQ section to interact with your audience, answer questions, and provide updates or improvements to your products.
- Monitor Real-Time Sales: Access daily sales tracking tools to evaluate the impact of your marketing efforts and understand customer feedback through reviews.
- Benefit from Free Order Fulfillment: Avoid additional fees as Penguin manages the storage and shipping of your products from their California warehouse.
To become a partner, sign up for a partner account and email partner@penguinmagic.com to express your interest. Your submission will be reviewed by Penguin's team to ensure it aligns with their quality standards and community ethics.
For more details, visit the Penguin Partner Program page.
About Us
Welcome to Penguin Magic – Where Magic Begins.
At Penguin Magic, we believe in the power of wonder. Since 2002, we’ve been on a mission to inspire, teach, and connect magicians around the world—whether you're a seasoned professional or just picking up your first deck of cards.
We’re more than just a magic shop. We're a global community of creators, performers, and dreamers who share a passion for the art of astonishment. From exclusive, cutting-edge tricks to timeless classics, we curate the best magic in the world—and make it accessible to everyone.
What We Do
- Unmatched Selection: Our massive online catalog features thousands of tricks, props, and accessories—meticulously selected by magicians, for magicians.
- Exclusive Content: We produce high-quality tutorials and performances with some of the biggest names in magic. Only at Penguin will you find original, mind-blowing effects you won’t see anywhere else.
- Community & Support: We're proud to support one of the most active and welcoming communities of magicians online. Need help or advice? Our team is here for you every step of the way.
Why Penguin?
Because we love magic. Every member of our team is a magician, and that passion drives everything we do—from hand-packing your order to filming the next blockbuster tutorial. We’re committed to helping you grow your skills, build your act, and perform with confidence.
Whether you're performing on stage, up close, or online, Penguin Magic is your partner in magic.
Thank you for letting us be part of your journey.
Stay magical,
The Penguin Magic Team 🐧✨
Return Policy
At Penguin Magic, your satisfaction is our top priority. We want you to feel confident with every purchase. While magic is full of surprises, your order shouldn’t be one of them.
🧾 General Return Guidelines
Because of the secretive nature of magic, many items are non-returnable once opened. However, we’ll always do our best to make things right.
Here’s how our return policy works:
- Unopened Physical Products: You may return new, unused, and unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund or store credit.
- Defective or Damaged Items: If a product arrives damaged or doesn’t work as expected, we’ll replace it or refund you—no hassle.
- Digital Downloads: All instant downloads, streaming videos, and digital content are non-refundable once purchased.
- Opened Tricks or Props: Due to the exposure of magical methods, we cannot accept returns on opened or used magic effects (unless defective).
📦 How to Start a Return
1. Contact our support team at support@penguinmagic.com with:
- Your order number
- A brief explanation of the issue
- Photos if there’s damage or a defect
2. We’ll respond within 1 business day to help you out.
3. If approved, we’ll provide return instructions. Once we receive the item, we’ll process your refund or store credit within 3–5 business days.
❗Important Notes
- Return shipping is the responsibility of the customer unless the item was defective or sent in error.
- All refunds are issued to the original payment method or as store credit.
- Items marked Final Sale or Non-Returnable cannot be returned.
Still Have Questions?
We're here to help. Email us at support@penguinmagic.com — our customer happiness team is standing by.
🪄 Thanks for shopping with Penguin Magic. We appreciate your trust—and we’ll always work to make your experience magical.
Shipping Options
At Penguin Magic, we're committed to delivering your magical products promptly and reliably. Below is our comprehensive shipping policy to guide you through our shipping processes.
📦 Order Processing & Fulfillment
- Same-Day Shipping: Orders placed before 4 PM Eastern Time (1 PM Pacific), Monday through Friday, are typically shipped the same day. Orders placed after this cutoff will ship the next business day.
- Shipping Origin: All orders are shipped from our warehouse located in Rancho Cordova, California.
US Domestic Shipping (U.S. Orders)
- Free Standard Shipping: We offer free standard shipping on all orders over $100. For orders under $100, a $5 flat-rate shipping fee applies.
-
Shipping Methods: Depending on the weight and destination, we utilize the following carriers:
- USPS: First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, Media Mail, Parcel Select Ground
- FedEx: Ground, Overnight, 2-Day
- UPS: Ground, Overnight Saver
- ePacket (for certain items)
Delivery Times:
- USPS First-Class Mail: 2–7 business days
- USPS Priority Mail: 1–3 business days
- FedEx Ground: 1–7 business days
- FedEx Overnight: Next business day
- FedEx 2-Day: 2 business days
- UPS Ground: 1–7 business days
- UPS Overnight Saver: Next business day by 3 PM
Note: Delivery times are estimates and may vary based on location and carrier.
🌍 International Shipping
- Flat-Rate Shipping: For international orders, a $10 flat-rate shipping fee applies.
-
Shipping Methods:
- FedEx International: 2–6 business days with tracking
- FedEx Connect Plus: 4–8 business days with tracking
- ePacket: 2–6 weeks (tracking availability varies)
- UPS Mail Innovations: 2–6 weeks (tracking availability varies)
Note: Delivery times are estimates and may vary based on destination and customs processing.
📌 Important Shipping Information
- Business Days: All shipping timeframes are based on normal business days (Monday–Friday).
- PO Boxes: FedEx and UPS cannot deliver to PO Boxes. Please provide a physical address for these shipping methods.
- Customs & Duties: International shipments require a Customs Declaration Form detailing the contents and value. Import duties, taxes, and fees are the responsibility of the customer. In some cases, carriers may pay these fees in advance and bill the recipient an advancement fee. Please research your country's customs procedures before placing an order.
- APO/FPO Addresses: Orders to APO/FPO addresses will be shipped via U.S. Mail.
- Holiday Delays: Please anticipate potential delays during peak holiday seasons.
📦 Tracking Your Order
Once your order ships, you'll receive a confirmation email with tracking information. You can also track your order by logging into your Penguin Magic account.
❓ Need Assistance?
If you have any questions or concerns about your shipment, please contact our Customer Support team:
- Email: support@penguinmagic.com
-
Phone:
- Toll-Free (U.S.): 800-880-2592
- International: +1 707-317-6733
- Please leave a message with your name, order number (if applicable), and callback number. We’ll return your call within 24 business hours.
Thank you for choosing Penguin Magic. We're dedicated to ensuring your magical journey begins with a seamless delivery experience.
Price Match Guarantee
At Penguin Magic, we're committed to offering you the best prices in the magic community. If you find a lower price on an identical item at a reputable magic shop—even during sales or members-only promotions—we'll match it without hesitation.
How It Works
- Place Your Order: Shop as usual on PenguinMagic.com and complete your purchase.
-
Submit Your Price Match Request: Before your order ships, email us at support@penguinmagic.com with:
- Your order number
- A link or copy of the competitor's promotion or sale flyer
- Relax and Enjoy: We'll review your request promptly and adjust your order accordingly.
Important Details
- Timing: Price match requests must be made after placing your order but before it ships
- Eligible Competitors: We match prices from reputable magic shops.
-
Exclusions:
- No additional discounts can be applied with a price match.
- If the competitor doesn't offer free shipping and you've chosen free shipping with us, we'll deduct our shipping cost from the price match amount.
- We cannot match generic products without a brand name, as quality and pricing can vary significantly.
Example
If you find an item for $12 less at another shop, and our shipping cost is $3.42:
- With Free Shipping: You'll receive a refund of $8.58.
- If You Paid for Shipping: You'll receive the full $12 refund.
Our shipping costs are based on actual rates from the courier, with no added fees.
Questions?
We're here to help! Contact us at support@penguinmagic.com or call us at 800-880-2592 (International: +1 707-317-6733).
Shop with confidence knowing you're getting the best deal at Penguin Magic!