Cardini - A True Master Magician
I just thought I’d share this magic video of Cardini. I’ve seen a few short clips on YouTube and the like, but this is a long clip of almost his entire manipulation act. In fact it may well be the only footage of Cardini as TV magic shows only started towards the end of his career.
Magicians are as guilty as any of harking back to the ‘good old times’ and viewing the past with rose-tinted specs, but with Cardini, it is entirely justified.
Cardini was not only technically gifted (he was able to perform card manipulations while wearing gloves) but his act was also theatrical - he didn’t just stand there and do clever stuff, which is basically juggling. Not that there’s anything wrong with juggling, it just isn’t magic. He plays the part of a slightly tipsy gentleman, who appears as confused and surprised about the cigarettes appearing at his fingertips as the audience.
Anyway, have a look and enjoy a true master at work.
There’s a bit more about Cardini on Wikipedia.