Pure Imagination Projects is founded by Derek McKee in 2013. They are known for producing thematic playing cards. One of their best works are the Les Méliès Playing Cards, a deck dedicated to Georges Méliès and his celebrated movie "A Trip to the Moon" - available in many colors, with blue being the first edition. Other thematic decks done by PIP are Livingstone Deck, a deck dedicated to the explorer David Livingstone; Three Little Piggies, a deck based on children's fairy tale about three little piglet siblings; and Sleepy Hollow, a deck based on the urban legend of the Headless Horseman. Although, nothing beats their best series of classic casino-theme playing cards, Cherry Casino Playing Cards - inspired from classic vintage casino playing cards. It has produced a lot of colorways since it's creation. PIP collaborated with Murphy's Magic to distribute the Cherry decks. Sadly in 2022, PIP is closing its doors and no longer producing decks. But before they closed, the design rights of Cherry Casino is given to Murphy's so that the legacy continues.
Cherry Casino
Cherry Casino is a 'fictional' casino located in East Las Vegas, Nevada. It is named so as it picks up this particular fruit as it's symbol of the casino: cherrys. Cherry is a prominent fruit that you can find in the casino, and you might be wondering how. It is one of the symbol that you can find in a slot machine. The casino might have a lot of slots sections in the game room, although they do have other card games as well, such as Blackjack and Texas Hold'em Poker. It is established in 2015, and has been operational ever since. Due to the COVID pandemic, the casino was on temporary closing for 2 years until things back to normal. And when they open back up, they quickly recover with health protocols applied.
[DISCLAIMER: Most parts of this narrative are based on author's imagination]
Deck Elements and Variations
Establishment Year: 2015
Concept and Design by: Sam Devins - Franky Morales - Derek McKee - Phil Smith
Distributor: Murphy's Magic - since 2018
Design Elements:
- Back Design = Sleek and symmetrical back, Cherry on the corners and two sinous white waves blending into the edge of the white border. Background color varies from each edition.
- Jokers = Identical - Big red cherry on the center with the title "Compliments of" above; it gives you the message "Compliments of Cherry Casino". The indices read "JACKPOT". Below the cherry is the location of the 'fictional' casino: East Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Ace of Spades = Big spade pip on the center with two cherries and the casino name inside. There is the text below it - "LITHO IN U.S.A.". There is a production code gimmick below it: S&F 7947, the letters are refered to the designer's initials.
- Numbers and Courts = All are standards based on the classic playing cards.
- Deck Order = Earlier editions feature NEW DECK ORDER (AS>KS-AD>KD-KC>AC-KH>AH). Starting from Tahoe Blue, the decks come in MNEMONICA STACK (stack designed by Juan Tamariz, only need a single cut of the deck to have it stacked correctly).
- Artwork Finishes = Metallic ink on some of the details and pips as well as the back design (can also be found on the tuck box on some editions. You may find the cherry on every editions have flesh metallic red ink. For Monte Carlo, it's metallic gold ink. The latest edition features holographic and red metallic foil.)
- Extra Cards = A double backer and a blank card, two gaff cards for magicians to use.
- Tuck Box Material = Standard white stock overlayed with colored layer. The LIMITED and HOUSE Edition features premium iridescent matte paper with metallic foil.
- Tuck Box Design (OG Standard) = Mirror the back design of the cards - complete with a clear white border frame. On the sides, you can find the name of the casino. On the bottom is the ad information with the PIP logo among other informations such as print number, designers, etc. On the top of the box, is the location of the casino. This box design is used on the first two editions of Cherry, and make it's comeback starting from Orange.
- Tuck Box Desing (Revision) = Borderless and full bleed design featuring the color in metallic ink and the artwork of the cards back design (except on the True Black, which the sides have white color background). On the sides, you can find the casino's name. There is nothing on the top. The bottom of the box contains the ad information of the deck. The box design is based on Cherry Casino OG Charcoal Limited Edition - has been used on Aqua Blue up till Monte Carlo.
- Tuck Box Design (HOUSE) = Full bleed color covering the entire box. Completely plain based on the edition color. There is the red cherry on the bottom right corner. The bottom side, as usual, is the deck information. The box design is based on Cherry Casino OG Aqua Blue Limited Edition - that edition's box is done with standard white stock without a custom seal; now is done with premium iridescent matte stock with red foil on the cherry complete with a custom seal features the Cherry Casino Ace of Spade pip and edition number.
- Printer = United States Playing Cards Company - Bee crushed stock with Air Cushion Finish / Expert Playing Cards Company - casino grade stock with Classic Finish and double hot foil
- Standard = Compelety standard on everything - it is meant for card practitioners to use, both magicians and cardists on a daily basis. It will have a higher number of print run so the decks are accessible to anyone. Price: $11.95
- Limited = Standard playing cards tucked inside a tuckbox made of premium stock using the same box artwork as the standard. There is a numbered seal located on the opening area of the box. It is only 2500 made. You can find this for the Monte Carlo Cherry Casino. Price: $25
- House = Standard playing cards tucked inside a tuckbox with a completely plain design - full bleed color based on the edition with a single cherry on the bottom right corner on premium iridescent matte stock. Only 500 made for this edition, and this is exclusively made for avid collectors and fans of Cherry Casino. Price: $75
TOTAL Decks: 31
Decks List - Cherry Casino
- Decks are listed according to their order of appearances.
- Decks listed in italic and with a single star are LIMITED Editions.
- Decks listed in underlined and with double stars are HOUSE Editions and GILDED decks.
- The term "OG" refers to decks that were originally released BEFORE the design formula gets refined for the future editions.
WELCOME TO CHERRY CASINO
- OG Aqua Blue (V1)
- (*) OG Aqua Blue LIMITED (V1)
- OG Charcoal (V2)
- (*) OG Charcoal LIMITED (V2)
- Aqua Blue (V3)
- True Black / Black Hawk (V3)
- Tahoe Blue
- Reno Red
- Sahara Green
- Desert Inn Purple
- (*)(*) Tahoe Blue HOUSE
- Flamingo Quartz Pink
- (*) Flamingo Quartz Pink - Sin City LIMITED [576]
- Tropicana Teal
- McCarran Silver
- (*)(*) Reno Red HOUSE
- (*)(*) Desert Inn Purple HOUSE
- Monte Carlo Black and Gold
- (*) Monte Carlo Black and Gold LIMITED [2500]
- (*)(*) Monte Carlo Black and Gold GILDED [144]
- (*)(*) Tropicana Teal HOUSE
- (*)(*) McCarran Silver HOUSE
- (*)(*) True Black / Black Hawk HOUSE
- (*)(*) Sahara Green HOUSE
- (*)(*) Flamingo Quartz Pink HOUSE
- (*)(*) Monte Carlo Black and Gold HOUSE
- Summerlin Sunset Orange
- Sands Mirage Holographic
- Bee X Cherry Casino Red
- Bee X Cherry Casino Blue
- (*) Bee X Cherry Casino Black and Gold
In Cardtopia 2023, Murphy's Magic introduces Bee X Cherry Casino Playing Cards, a merger between the classic Bee No. 92 design with the iconic Cherry Casino - the classic full borderless diamond patterns with the cherries. Available in Red and Blue
The Black and Gold Bee X Cherry Casino is the exlusive limited edition - features gold foil of the diamond patterns with striking red foil for the cherries, along with foils on the faces. Only available within the 3-decks set - encased in a carat case with custom engraved lid of a bee and cherries.
