Cardini's Sleight of Hand

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.

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.
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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.
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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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