Cardini’s Sleight of Hand

By Minnesotastan in Video Clips on Feb 28, 2010 at 12:13 pm

YouTube link.

After an introduction by Ernie Kovacs, Richard Valentine Pitchford (“Cardini”) performs the “intoxicated English gentleman” routine that made him famous.  This recording from the “Festival of Magic” television program in 1957 is the only known footage of Cardini in action.  He reportedly developed his ability to manipulate cards with gloved hands by practicing while in the trenches during WWI.

Via Professor Hex.


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  1. Jim R Feliciano
    Feb 28th, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    How many things can you get up a sleeve? Watch both the hands and you can get in inkling of how he does it. Great misdirection.

  2. Ron B.
    Feb 28th, 2010 at 2:33 pm

    Actually there is little to nothing coming from the sleeves. The monacle and the handkerchief act as excellent props to facilitate steals from the breast of the coat and the tails.

  3. thelandlord
    Feb 28th, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    He’s good… very good. :-)

  4. Jack C.
    Feb 28th, 2010 at 3:49 pm

    Kovac’s has yet to be surpassed…

  5. Edward
    Feb 28th, 2010 at 4:46 pm

    Dilettantes can do single tricks. Most pros switch from trick to trick because they worry the audience will figure them out or become bored. Cardini’s magic is in his ability to do the same trick over and over, keeping our attention while still disguising the trick. Genius.

  6. CJCJCJ
    Mar 1st, 2010 at 12:07 am

    I now have no desire to smoke cigarettes. I”M CURED!!!!!

  7. Daniel Fazzio
    Mar 1st, 2010 at 7:19 am

    As a professional magician I can say that Cradini is one of the besta magicians of all times. He was one in one million tallent.

  8. Stephen R. Andrews
    Mar 1st, 2010 at 4:17 pm

    …is that Mary Martin as the bellboy/

  9. contron
    Mar 1st, 2010 at 8:50 pm

    Masterful execution indeed, but how can the man even breathe after all those cigs is beyond me!

  10. c
    Mar 9th, 2010 at 9:33 pm

    I could have sworn I saw him at the beginning of the movie Three Girls About Town. There was someone doing slight of hand tricks for about 30 seconds around the first 10 min of the movie. Looked a lot like him. Look for it on TCM sometime.


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