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.
Via Professor Hex.
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.
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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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He's good... very good. :-)
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Kovac's has yet to be surpassed...
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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 now have no desire to smoke cigarettes. I"M CURED!!!!!
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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.
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...is that Mary Martin as the bellboy/
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Masterful execution indeed, but how can the man even breathe after all those cigs is beyond me!
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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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