iStockphoto / Aleksandr Golubev
Richard Valentine Pitchford is a master magician who used to be introduced as the ‘world’s greatest manipulator’ while performing under the stage name of Cardini.
He got his start in magic during World War I while passing the days literally holed up in the trenches on the frontlines where he’d practice his card manipulations. He was eventually injured in battle but not before honing his card skills while wearing gloves to stave off the frigid Winter, something that was uncommon among magicians back then.
After World War I, Richard Pitchford of Swansea, Wales would blossom into the master magician known as Cardini. He’d become President of the Magician’s Guild and would perform magic tricks for President FDR, Al Capone, Harry Truman and others. And along the way, he created numerous card tricks still performed today including the one below that magician Oscar Owen calls the ‘best card trick ever created.’
The Best Card Trick Ever Created By Cardini
If you didn’t watch the video and skipped to continue reading, let me at least break it down a bit for you. It starts by him giving a quick explanation of how important Cardini was to the world of magic. Oscar Owen then performs the so-called ‘best card trick ever created’ before he then goes through each step of the trick (at the 3-minute mark) and teaches all of us how to perform the trick.
Of course, it takes practice and talent to pull this trick off. You can’t just pick up a deck of cards and perform the ‘best card trick’ of all time without some serious repetition and building up muscle memory with the deck.
The World’s Oldest Magic Trick
Magician and author Oscar Owen really is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to magical history. Last January, he shared a video on the ‘oldest magic trick‘ in sleight of hand. It’s the ‘cup and balls’ trick that has been around since 2500 BCE.