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The Scoundrels Bibliography
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Fast and Loose Bibliography
Acer, David.
Natural Selections 2
Ayling, Will, Lewis Ganson, Fred Lowe, and Rex Taylor.
The Endless Chain. Moves, ideas, patter presentations and routines. Photographed by Will Ayling; in the Supreme 'Know-How'series, Bideford, The Supreme Company, 1983 , 44 pg.
Blake, George.
Loopy Loop—A Treatise on the Endless Chain, George Blake, 95 St Alban Rd, Leeds, 1949.
Blake, George.
Loopy Loop—A Treatise on the Endless Chain, Revised, George Blake, 95 St Alban Rd, Leeds, 1968.
Brahams, Anthony and Porstmann, Mike.
Karl Norman -- 40 Years at the Forks , Anthony Brahams, Suffolk 1995
Brooke, Ken.
The Endless Chain. Instructions by Lewis Ganson. Copyright by Harry Stanley "Unique Magic Studio" London W.1.4 pg. A4
Cairy, Clyde F.
Rice Encyclopedia of Rope Tricks. Includes Double-barreled barrel head, vol 3.
Crambrook, W. H. M.:
Crambrook's Catalogue of Magical Curiosities and Deceptions T. C. Savill, London, 1843
Cremer.
Magic No Mystery
Fedko, John. “Chain of No Return,”
Magic Treasures, Fedko Magic Co., Santa Ana, 1996.
Fisher, John:
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break. New York: Pantheon Books, 1976
Ganson, Lewis.
The Art of Close Up Magic Volume 1. Harry Stanley, London, 1967. Endless Chain routines are: The Figure 8 by George Blake, Two Novel Moves by George Blake, and Triple Circle Routine by Fred Lowe with long chain and triple loops.
Gardner, Martin:
Encyclopedia of Impromptu Magic. Magic, Inc., Chicago, Il., 1978 pg. 17
Hay, Henry:
The Amateur Magician's Handbook. New York: Nal Penguin Inc., 1982
Haydn, Whit.
School for Scoundrels Notes on Fast and Loose. The School for Scoundrels. 44pg, spiral bound. Full coverage of the endless chain routine. Describes the throw, convincing moves, and so forth. Designed from the point of view of the real street con.
Haydn, Whit.
“Fast & Loose,” Whit Haydn—Fast & Loose, Four Ring Productions, Los Angeles, 1982.
Kerr, Larin R.
Endless Chain and Endless Ring. Chain, ring and methods sold by Fantastic Magic Co. of Pennsylvania,1971, 5 pg. A4.
Lever, Derek.
Ken Brooke and Friends, Volume 1 "The Endless Chain" (Ken Brooke) p. 95 ff., Taurus, Lancashire, England, 1986
Lowe, Fred. “
Super Chain,” (instruction sheet), Fredlo Developments, Fareham, Hants., England., 1968.
Lyons, L. Vosburgh.
On The Barrel Head (In issue 40 of
The Phoenix, July 23, 1943, page 164)
Macrone, Michael.
Brush Up Your Shakespeare!, Harper & Rowe Publishers, Inc., New York, NY, 1990. (Fast and Loose mentions in Shakespeare).
Norman, Karl.
Here's How. 51pg. 1985 Collector's Workshop: Washington, DC. Karl Norman's Three Shell Game Routine (uses brass cups, can use regular shells as well), Carnival Loop Routine (Chain of Chance; with comedy, fake knot, etc.).
O’Brien, Mike.
“Prick the Garter,” Magic Info, London, Jan-Feb, 1985.
Shakespeare, William:
Antony and Cleopatra
Contains an early use of the phrase "Fast and Loose." Available for free from
Project Gutenberg∞.
Shakespeare, William:
King John
Contains an early use of the phrase "Fast and Loose." Available for free from
Project Gutenberg∞.
Shakespeare, William:
Love's Labour's Lost, 1595
Contains an early use of the phrase "Fast and Loose." Available for free from
Project Gutenberg∞.
Stanyon, Ellis:
Magic Volume 2 number 1, October 1901
Stanyon, Ellis:
Magic or Conjuring for Amateurs "The Garter Trick" (in the "After Dinner Tricks" chapter)
Stanyon, Ellis.
New Miscellaneous Tricks, (6th Series), London, 1900.
Trost, Nick.
“Dennie Flynn Routine,” Expert Gambling Tricks, Trik-Kard Specialties, Columbus, Ohio,
1975.
Fast and Loose French Sources
Fast and Loose German Sources
Porstmann, Mike.
“different techniques and routines,” Kettenschwindel, Eckhard Böttcher's Zauber-Butike, Puchheim, Germany, 1985
Porstmann, Mike.
“Karl Norman Routine,” So geht's! - Die Close-up Zauberkunst des Karl Norman, Zauberservice, München, Germany, 1993
Porstmann, Mike (co-authored be Karl Norman and Peps Zoller)
“Mike Porstmann's Routine (based on Denny Flynn's),” Bauernfänger, Zauberservice, München, Germany, 1993
Trost, Nick.
“Dennie Flynn Routine,” Die Tricks der Spieler - Bauernfängereien (German edition of Expert Gambling Tricks, magic&gambling, Dachau, Germany, 1998)
Fast and Loose Italian Sources
Fast and Loose DVDs and Videos
De Souza, Marc.
The Chain Gang. Lecture video with Chain. Interactive routine, highly commercial, 7-8 minutes. Presented as history of the game, and includes audience management techniques. Includes Ken Schwabe's "Double Throw--Double Catch" variations. Supplied with velvet carrying pouch and a gold anodized chain similar in length, size and style as used by Marc De Souza.
De Souza, Marc.
De Souza’s Deceptions Companion Video. Performance only video covers effects from De Souza's Deceptions: The Magic of Marc De Souza (written by David Acer). Performed in real world environment. Includes a bonus performance of Chain Gang, the endless chain routine.
Haydn, Whit.
The School for Scoundrels DVD on Fast and Loose. Complete instruction and performance in full details. Moves, the type of chain to use, the lay down of the chain, the "selling of the lie," the come-ons, the proofs, and the hooks.
Thompson, Johnny.
Commercial Classics of Magic V2. L&L Publishing.
Three-Card Monte Bibliography
Adams, M.P:
The Rich Uncle from Fiji. Melbourne: the Exchange Press, 1911
This booklet contains descriptions of many frauds and cons that were being perpetrated in Australia during the early part of the twentieth century. The section on Three Card Monte describes the basic move with the cards not aligned. It mentions, but does not teach, the bent corner, the torn card, the pencil mark, and the piece of paper stuck to the back of the winner. It also contains an early description of the flip change.
Annemann, Theo:
Annemann's Buried Treasure
Contains "Three Card Monte Outdone," a trick with tin pill boxes, one of which contains a penny and rattles. Available for free from
The Learned Pig Project∞.
Asbury, Herbert:
Sucker’s Progress—An Informal History of Gambling in America. Montclair, NJ:Patterson Smith, 1969.
The brief section on Three Card Monte describes how it came into Louisiana and spread to the river boats and rail roads. No physical technique is taught.
Behnke, Leo:
Find the Ace. Paramount, CA: Magic City, 1993.
Includes the basic bechnique, the bent corner, a subtlety on how to work the bent corner without a stooge, some other sleight of hand switches, and some gaffed techniques.
Blackstone, Harry:
Blackstone's Tricks Anyone Can Do. no city: Garden City Publishing Co., Inc., 1948.
Contains a move where three cards are shown in a fan, with the winner in the middle, and the cards are switched as the fan is lowered to show the backs of the cards.
Bobo, J. B.:
Modern Coin Magic. Minneapolis: Carl W. Jones, 1952
Contains "Three Coin Monte," a game with three coins, one of which has a piece of paper stuck to one side.
Charlton, Chris:
Modern Monte (In issue 107 of
The Jinx on page 640)
Contains a method which uses the glide as the basis for a false count before turning the cards face down. Also reprinted in
Annemann's Miracles of Card Magic (Available for free from
The Learned Pig Project∞.) and
Annemann's Card Magic.
Clarke, Donald Henderson:
The Autobiography of Frank Tarbeaux. New York: the Vanguard Press, 1930.
Cremer.
Magic No Mystery
De Arment, Robert K:
Knights of the Green Cloth. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1982.
Devol, George:
Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi. Bedford, MA: Applewood Books, facsimile edition. First published by Cincinnati: Devol & Haines, 1887.
This is George Devol's autobiography. It describes lots of gambling, cheating, and con games on river boats and trains. Three Card Monte figures prominently in many of the stories. A fun read. No technique is taught. Available for free from
Project Gutenberg∞.
Dunn, Jerry:
Tricks of the Trade. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1991
This is a book for laymen which contains lots of short articles by experts in various fields. The Three Card Monte article is by Harry Anderson and describes the basic move, the bent corner, and some psychology.
Elliot, Bruce:
The Phoenix.
Issue 139 mentions, and issue 143 teaches, a method using a short card.
Issue 193 includes "Elusive Lady" by J. C. Whyley, a method using cards with a slit in them.
Elliot, Bruce:
Professional Magic Made Easy. New York, NY: Gramercy Publishing Company, 1959
Describes a method using a short card.
Elliott, Bill:
Three Card Monkey Business (In issue 16 of
Ibidem from March 1959)
This is a precursor to "Color Monte" which uses Marlo's "Quick 3-Way," described in issue 15 of Ibidem and based on the Christ/Annemann alignment move, which can be found in "Synthetic Sympathy" in the "You Do As I Do" chapter of The Encyclopedia of Card Tricks. Three cards are shown to be all red, then all black, then one red, one black, and the third one turns out blank or green or something else odd. During the performance, the performer tells a story about being taken by a guy doing Three Card Monte at a fair.
Erdnase, S. W:
The Expert at the Card Table. Las Vegas, NV: Gamblers Book Company, facsimile edition. First Published 1902.
This is one of the best books ever published about cheating at cards and it also laid the foundation for modern card magic. The description of Three Card Monte includes the first mention of the lengthwise crimp, and the first detailed description of how to work the bent corner. Available for free from
The Learned Pig Project∞.
Faron, Fay:
Rip-Off: a writer's guide to crimes of deception. Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's Digest Books, 1998
This book describes how lots of crimes of deceptions work. It contains a brief section on Three Card Monte, and describes both the classic con and the Texas Twist, a fairly recent way of conning people with Three Card Monte. No physical technique is described.
Fisher, John:
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break. New York: Pantheon Books, 1976
Describes a technique where the cards are not aligned before the throw, which makes the double flash more difficult.
Fulves, Karl:
Charles Jordan's Best Card Tricks. New York: Dover publications Inc., 1992
Contains two gaffed Three Card Monte tricks. "Joker Monte," (different from Vernon's "Joker Monte") and Pedro Monte.
Galperin, Jeffrey:
What It Takes to Win at Three-Card Monte. Esquire Magazine, October 1979.
Ganson, Lewis:
Cy Enfield’s Entertaining Card Magic, Part Two. 14 Frith Street, London: Harry Stanley/Unique Magic Studio.
Describes Cy Enfield's Three Card Monte routine, including the basic move and the bent corner. Also includes Audley Walsh's method for marking the winner with a paper clip and a method for working with a pencil mark.
Ganson, Lewis:
Dai Vernon’s Further Inner Secrets of Card Magic. Devon, England: the Supreme Magic Co. Ltd., 1978.
Describes Dai Vernon's Three Card Monte Routine, including the basic move, the double flash, and the bent corner. Also describes a gaffed method using a short card and Vernon's Optical Move.
Ganson, Lewis:
Dai Vernon’s Ultimate Secrets of Card Magic. Devon, England: the Supreme Magic Co. Ltd., 1968.
Contains Eddie Taytelbaum's "Find the Ace," a gaffed Three Card Monte routine.
Ganson, Lewis:
The Three-Card Monte as Entertainment. Devon, England: the Supreme Magic Co. Ltd., 1980.
Includes, in addition to the standard move and the bent corner, two methods using a piece of paper stuck to the back of the card and many gaffed methods.
Garcia, Frank:
Don’t Bet On It. Self-published, 1978.
There are two versions of this book, both with the same name, author, date, and cover. The small version is a staple bound booklet with 28 unnumbered pages of content, not counting front and back matter. The large version has 119 numbered pages.
The small version describes the basic move. The bent corner is mentioned but not taught. A method for working the pencil dot is given where all three cards are switched while putting them in the pocket, pretending to end the game. The editing is terrible.
The large version is very good. It teaches the basic move, the bent corner, the pencil mark method mentioned above, the flip, the flip change, two ways of working the piece of paper stuck to the back of the winner, the torn corner, and some other specialized moves and gaffs. It also contains several entertaining stories about three card monte games.
Gaultier, Camille:
Magic Without Apparatus. Berkeley Heights, New Jersey: Fleming Book Company, 1945
Contains an early mention of the idea of performing the hipe at the same time as the cards are turned face down. Mentions the come on with a piece of paper apparently stuck on the back of the winning card, but does not describe how to do it.
Gibson, Walter B:
The Bunco Book. Holyoke, Massachusetts: Sidney H. Radner, 1946.
Describes many swindles, primarily crooked carnival games. The chapter on Three Card Monte describes the basic move without the cards aligned and an awkward method for working the bent corner. The illustrations show the cards bowed widthwise instead of lengthwise.
Gibson, Walter B:
Magic Explained. 1949.
Describes "The Rattle Bars," a trick with three metal bars, one of which rattles when shaken.
Green, Jonathan Harrington: T
he Reformed Gambler: or, the History of the Later Years of the Life of Jonathan H. Green. Philadelphia: T. B. Peterson and Brothers, 1858.
Hardison, Theo:
Poker By Hardison. St. Louis, Mo.: Hardison Publishing Co., 1914
This booklet is mostly about cheating at poker, but contains a brief description of Three Card Monte.
Hay, Henry:
The Amateur Magician's Handbook. New York: Nal Penguin Inc., 1982
Describes a technique where the cards are not aligned before the throw, which makes the double flash more difficult.
Hoffmann, Professor:
Modern Magic: city unknown, publisher unknown, 1876
Contains the oldest known attempt at a description of the bent corner move. Alas, it's not a very good description. Available for free from
The Learned Pig Project∞.
Hoffmann, Professor:
More Magic: Philadelphia: David
McKay
Describes a technique where the cards are not aligned before the throw, which makes the double flash more difficult. Mentions but does not teach the bent corner. An early method using misprinted cards is also described. Available for free from
The Learned Pig Project∞.
Hugard, Jean:
Card Manipulations. New York: Dover Publications, 1973 (reprint of series from 1934-1936).
Hugard, Jean and Braue, Fred:
Miracle Methods No. 4: Tricks and Sleights: Alameda, California: Jean Hugard and Fred Braue, 1943
Contains "Jean Hugard's Cops and Crooks," a story trick based on the standard Three Card Monte moves.
Irwin, Will:
The Confessions of a Con Man. B. W. Huebsch, 1909
James, H. K:
The Destruction of Mephisto’s Greatest Web, or All Grifts Laid Bare; Being a Complete Exposure of All Gambling, Graft and Confidence Games. Salt Lake City, 1914.
Lavand, Rene:
Magic From The Soul: Pasadena, California: Mike Caveney's Magic Words, 1993
Contains "My Monte," a ten phase, one handed Three Card Monte trick incorporating classic hustler and magician moves, and techniques original with Rene Lavand.
Leech, Al:
Card Man Stuff: Chicago: Ireland Magic Company, 1953
Contains "Surprise Monte," a magic trick with a queen and two deuces. The deuces turn into two more queens.
Long, Mason:
The Life of Mason Long, the Converted Gambler. Chicago: Donnelley, Loyd and Co., 1878.
Lorayne, Harry:
The Tarbell Course In Magic, Volume 7: New York: D. Robbins & Co., 1972
Contains "Audley Walsh's Three Card Monte", a way of marking the winner with a book of paper matches or a paper clip.
Lovell, Simon:
How to Cheat at Everything: New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 2007
Despite the title, this is an expose, and not a "how to" guide or manual. The chapter on Three Card Monte covers some of the principles of how a gang operates. No physical technique is taught.
Majax, Gerard:
Secrets of the Card Sharps. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1977.
This is a gambling expose which describes all sorts of strange ways to cheat at cards like radioactive marks, intra-cranial receivers, and finger exercises. In the chapter called "The World's Greatest Cheats" there is a section called "The King of the Track" which discusses a Three Card Monte worker. It describes the basic throw and an awkward method for working the bent corner.
Marlo, Ed:
Off the Top. Chicago, IL: Magic, Inc., 1945.
Contains a Three Card Monte routine where the deck stays in play.
Maskelyne, John Nevil:
Sharps and Flats. Las Vegas, NV: GBC Press, 1894.
This is a gambling expose meant for laymen. The come ons with the bent corner and the piece of paper stuck to the back of the winning card are mentioned, but no technique is taught. It describes how monte mobs in Britain operated in the late 1800s. Available for free from
The Internet Archive∞
Maurer, David:
The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1940.
This book is about confidence men and the Big Con. It was the primary source for the movie "The Sting," and if you have seen the movie, much of the book will feel very familiar. Chapter 2, "The Big Store," describes how Ben Marks created the first big store for the purpose of fleecing suckers with Three Card Monte. No physical technique is taught.
Melville, Herman:
The Confidence Man: His Masquerade. Indianapolis, IN: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc., 1967.
Merlin, Jack:
...and a Pack of Cards. Broadway, New York: Louis Tannen, 1976 (originally from the 1930s?).
Describes the basic move and the bent corner move. Three Card Monte is not listed explicitly in the table of contents. It's in the section called "Routine of Sleights to be Performed at the Card Table."
Minch, Stephen:
The Vernon Chronicles, Volume 1. Lake Tahoe, CA: L&L Publishing, 1987.
Contains two pages of "Notes on Three-Card Monte" which include how Vernon handles spectators who say "I wasn't watching", how he handles spectators who are too honest and try to tell him about the bent corner, a torn card finish, and emphasizes the need for the left edges of the cards to be touching.
Minch, Stephen:
The Vernon Chronicles, Volume 3. Lake Tahoe, CA: L&L Publishing, 1989.
Contains a gaffed method for stage use called "Joker Monte." This is different from Charles Jordan's "Joker Monte."
Morris, John (pseud. Of John O’Conner):
The Wanderings of a Vagabond, An Autobiography. New York, 1873.
Neil, C. Lang.
The Modern Conjurer, New York: Wehmen Bros., 1937. (originally published in 1903)
Contains a method using flat cards, an extra money card, and some palming.
Ortiz, Darwin:
The Annotated Erdnase. Pasadena, CA: Mike Caveney’s Magic Words, 1991.
Contains the full text of The Expert At The Card Table, along with Darwin Ortiz's annotations. The section on Three Card Monte includes, in addition to the Erdnase material, a discussion on the etymology of various names for the game, some history, many references, and some discussion on how current games are run.
Ortiz, Darwin:
Darwin Ortiz At The Card Table. Kaufman and Greenberg, 1988.
Contains "Darwin's Three Card Monte", the routine that Darwin Ortiz uses in performance.
Ortiz, Darwin:
Gambling Scams. Secaucus, NJ: Carol Publishing Group, 1997.
This is a gambling expose meant for laymen. No technique is taught. It contains very good descriptions of many psychological techniques used by modern Monte gangs.
Parker, Gilbert:
Tarboe, The Story of a Life. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1927.
Pinkerton, Allan:
Criminal reminiscences and detective sketches. New York: G. W. Dillingham Co., 1878.
This is a book by a detective. It includes a report of Canada Bill working Three Card Monte on a railroad. Available for free from
Google Books∞.
Poundstone, William:
Bigger Secrets. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1986.
This is a book for laymen which "exposes" all sorts of weird stuff, including the hipe and the corner move for Three Card Monte. It's part of a series of books, including Big Secrets and Biggest Secrets.
Price, Paul:
The Real Work: Essential Sleight of Hand for Street Operators. Port Townsend, WA: Loompanics Unlimited, 2001.
This pamphlet claims to be an instruction manual for budding con artists. It describes the basic move and the bent corner, and attempts to pass off some packet tricks as "the real work." Originally $12, this is currently (2009) going for over $50 on used book sites, but is not at all worth it.
Quinn, John Philip:
Fools of Fortune, or, Gambling and Gamblers. Chicago, 1892.
Richardson, Albert D:
Beyond the Mississippi; From the Great River to the Great Ocean. Life and Adventure on the Prairies, Mountains, and Pacific Coast. Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company, 1867.
Robert-Houdin, J.E., trans. William J. Hilliar:
Card Sharpers—Their Tricks Exposed (Les Tricheries des Grecs). Las Vegas, NV:GBC Press, 1904.
Robert-Houdin:
The Sharper Detected and Exposed. Piccadilly, London:Chapman and Hall, 1863.
Contains the earliest known description of Three Card Monte. Not particularly useful for learning from, but a fun read to see how little the technique and psychology have changed in over 140 years. Available for free from
The Learned Pig Project∞.
Roenfeld, Ryan:
Benjamin and Mary Marks Hog Ranch. State Historical Society of Iowa, Western Historical Trails Center. Unpublished monograph.
Rogers, Mike:
The Complete Mike Rogers. Chicago, IL: Magic Inc., 1975.
Sante, Luc:
Knowing a Con When You See It. New York Times, Sunday, April 15, 2001.
Simon, Bill:
Effective Card Magic. Brooklyn, NY: D. Robbins & Co. Inc., 1952.
Contains a magic trick called "Three Queens Monte." Three queens are used and the spectator is asked to follow the queen of spades. An ace is added, and the queens change into the other aces.
Tarbell, Harlan:
The Tarbell Course In Magic, Volume 6: New York: Louis Tannen, 1954
Contains "Palhinha's Wherizit," a Three Card Monte trick using gaffed cards where the winner vanishes while the spectator holds the cards and reappears in your pocket.
Tarr, Bill:
Now You See It, Now You Don't. New York: Vintage Books, 1976
Describes a technique where the cards are not aligned before the throw, which makes the double flash more difficult.
Thurston, Howard:
400 Fascinating Magic Tricks You Can Do. George Sully and Company, 1926/1927
Contains "Monte with Match Boxes," a trick with three match boxes, one of which rattles when shaken.
Trost, Nick:
Cardman's Secrets Volume 2. 1964
Briefly describes the basic move.
Unknown: "Games You Can't Beat" in the September 1927 issue of
Popular Mechanics
Vernon, Dai:
Revelations: Pasadena, CA: Magical Publications, 1984.
Includes the full text of The Expert At The Card Table along with Dai Vernon's commentary on it. Includes a brief description of Vernon's three card monte routine, which is also available in Further Inner Secrets of Card Magic by Ganson (see above).
Villiod, Eugene:
Crooks, Con Men and Cheats: Las Vegas, NV: GBC Press, 1980 (translated by Russell T. Barnhart from a 1905 French book)
This book describes many scams, swindles, and con games, including Three Card Monte. No physical technique is taught.
Walsh, Audley V:
John Scarne Explains Why You Can’t Win: A Treatise on the Sucker Effects of Three Card Monte. Las Vegas, NV: Gambler’s Book Club, 1972.
Sometimes sold as just "Three Card Monte", sometimes listed with John Scarne as the author. Includes the basic technique, the bent corner (two methods), the pencil mark (two methods), Scarne's Tripple Climax (a way of working the convincer with one way backs), and some other dodges.
Walton, Roy:
The Complete Walton, Volume 1. London: Lewis Davenport Limited, 1981.
This book contains Roy Walton's Three Card Monte routine, called "Never Give a Sucker an Even Break". This routine contains several magical transformations, but doesn't contain any fair throws.
Whaley, Bart with Gardner, Martin and Busby, Jeff:
The Man Who Was Erdnase. Jeff Busby & Bart Whaley, 1991
This book is primarily a description of Milton Franklin Andrews and a defense of the hypothesis that Andrews was Erdnase. The "Sources & Inspirations" chapter contains section by section comments on Erdnase. The comments on Three Card Monte discuss the history of the game and many very early references.
Wintle, W. J.:
Race Course Swindles: The Seamy Side of a Great Sport (article in
The London Magazine, circa 1924, reprinted in
The Wizard Exposed)
This article very briefly discusses Three Card Monte and the Thimble Rig, and includes some photographs. Of interest is that in the pictures the cards in Three Card Monte are bowed widthwise instead of lengthwise.
Wolfe, David and Rodgers, Tom (editors):
Puzzlers' Tribute: A Feast for the Mind. Natick, Massachusetts: A K Peters Ltd., 2002
Contains an essay by William Kalush called "Sleight of Hand with Playing Cards prior to Scot's Discoverie," which includes a description of "The earliest discovered record of deception with playing cards" from 1408. This is a confidence game where cards are dealt out and players guess where a particular winning card is. The victim learns that the winning card is marked.
Wykes, Alan:
Gambling. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, 1964.
Three-Card Monte French Sources
Montmirel, François:
Bonneteurs d'Hier et d'Aujourd'hui in Imagik Hors Serie Special Tricherie, January 1999
Three-Card Monte German Sources
Eason, Doc
“Doc Eason Routine” *A Shot in the Act
, German edition, Zauberservice, München, Germany, 1994
Porstmann, Mike (co-authored be Karl Norman and Peps Zoller) “Peps Zoller Routine” *Bauernfänger, Zauberservice, München, Germany, 1993
Three-Card Monte Italian Sources
Three-Card Monte DVDs and Videos
School for Scoundrels Three Card Monte∞
This video covers Three Card Monte very thoroughly, and includes the School for Scoundrels Notes on Three Card Monte as an ebook.
Dai Vernon Revelations Volume 9∞
This video includes footage of Dai Vernon performing and teaching his Three Card Monte routine.
Daryl Does The Full Monte∞
This video covers the basics of Three Card Monte, and teaches several magic tricks that resemble Three Card Monte, some gaffed and some ungaffed.
Darwin Ortiz At The Card Table Volume 1∞
This video includes a performance and explanation of "Darwin's Three Card Monte," Darwin Ortiz's Three Card Monte routine.
Three-Card Monte Web Sites
Luvisi, Andru:
Practice Not Included∞
This web site includes a description of Andru Luvisi's Three Card Monte routine, including a description of the basic move and the bent corner move. Parts of the routine are taken (with credit) from Dai Vernon's routine described in Further Inner Secrets of Card Magic and Revelations.
Shell Game Bibliography
Adams, M.P:
The Rich Uncle from Fiji. Melbourne: the Exchange Press, 1911
This booklet contains descriptions of many frauds and cons that were being perpetrated in Australia during the early part of the twentieth century, including the shell game.
Anon:
The Old Army Game
Beaumont, Dr. Henry pseud. (Doug D. Bush):
The Famous 3 Shell Game as presented by Dr Henry Beaumont, 1975.
Bishop, Glenn:
The Shellgame -- For Tableside Tricksters , Glenn Bishop, 2000
Brahams, Anthony and Porstmann, Mike.
Karl Norman -- 40 Years at the Forks , Anthony Brahams, Suffolk 1995
Chanin, Jack:
Hello Sucker! "Encyclopedia of the 3 Shell Game." Chanin, Philadelphia, 1934. (went through at least 14 printings and/or editions.)
Crambrook, W. H. M.:
Crambrook's Catalogue of Magical Curiosities and Deceptions T. C. Savill, London, 1843
Cremer.
Magic No Mystery
Fisher, John:
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break. New York: Pantheon Books, 1976
Ganson, Lewis:
Routined Manipulations, Part 1 pp 65-70, Harry Stanley, London
Ganson, Lewis :
The Art of Close-up Magic V. 1 pp 100 - 106, Supreme, Bideford, Devon, England 1972 (earlier edition published by Harry Stanley)
Garcia, Frank and Schindler, George:
All In A Nutshell. Million Dollar Productions, New York, 1974
Gay, John:
Trivia: Or, the Art of Walking the Streets of London, Book II, 1716
Gibson, Walter B:
The Bunco Book. Holyoke, Massachusetts: Sidney H. Radner, 1946.
Hone, William:
The Every-day Book
Lever, Derek.
Ken Brooke and Friends, Volume 1 "Albert Verity's Robot Three Shell Game" p 24 ff., Taurus, Lancashire, England, 1986
Lorayne, Harry:
The Tarbell Course In Magic, Volume 7: New York: D. Robbins & Co., 1972
See "Dave Lederman's Thimbles & Pea" on page 187.
Osbourne, Tom (ed. Ralph Read):
The Three Shell Game Kanter's, Philadelphia 1938
Includes detailed instructions on many moves, practice plans for learning the moves, and dozens of patterns for moving the shells. The patterns include starter patterns (the pea ends up where they think it is), normal patterns (the pea is somewhere other than where they think it is), and sucker patterns (they think they see you move the pea, but it still isn't where they think it is). Also includes some information about the game's history, how to prepare the shells, and how a crew works together. This booklet is generally under $10 and is an incredibly good value.
Price, Paul:
The Real Work: Essential Sleight of Hand for Street Operators. Port Townsend, WA: Loompanics Unlimited, 2001.
Swadling, Robert:
Connoisseur's Three Shell Game Swadling Magic, Oxford, UK no date
Stanyon, Ellis:
Magic or Conjuring for Amateurs "Walnut Shells and Pea" (in the "After Dinner Tricks" chapter)
Stanyon, Ellis:
Magic "Thimble Rigging" Volume 4 number 1, October 1903
Stanyon, Ellis:
The Jinx Number 46, July 1938
Contains articles on both "The Walnut Shells and Pea" and "Thimble Rigging." Available for free from
The Learned Pig Project∞.
Tannen's
The Walnut Shells and Pea instructions excerpted from
Routined Manipulations part 1 to which they own the copyright.
Tarr, Bill:
Now You See It, Now You Don't. New York: Vintage Books, 1976
Thompson Jr., J. G.:
Top Secrets of Magic. New York, NY: Louis Tannen
Thurston, Howard:
400 Fascinating Magic Tricks You Can Do. George Sully and Company, 1926/1927
Contains "Where is the coin?," a reverse shell game where the spectator hides a coin under one of three covers, "such as the tops of pill boxes," and the magician finds the coin.
W., J.:
Three Shell Game (In the August, 1902 issue of
Mahatma, Volume 6, Number 2)
Weber, Michael:
Where in the Shell Is It? Pro's and Con's, no city, no date.
Wintle, W. J.:
Race Course Swindles: The Seamy Side of a Great Sport (article in
The London Magazine, circa 1924, reprinted in
The Wizard Exposed)
This article very briefly discusses Three Card Monte and the Thimble Rig, and includes some photographs.
Shell Game Web Sites
Pinard, Andrew J.:
The Three Shell Game∞
This web site sells La Maggiore shells, and contains a page on
The Allure of the Three Shell Game∞ with some nice historical information. Contains a reference that dates the shell game at least as far back as 1670.
Shell Game French Sources
Rhod, Daniel:
Les Coquilles de Noix in Imagik n°10, January 1996
Shell Game German Sources
Porstmann, Mike.
“Karl Norman Routine,” So geht's! - Die Close-up Zauberkunst des Karl Norman, Zauberservice, München, Germany, 1993
Porstmann, Mike (co-authored by Karl Norman and Peps Zoller)
“Karl Norman Routine,” Bauernfänger, Zauberservice, München, Germany, 1993
Porstmann, Mike
“Karl Norman Routine,” Classic Cocktail - Das Karl Norman Seminar, magic&gambling, Dachau, Germany, 1996
Porstmann, Mike
“Karl Norman Routine,” Classic Cocktail - Das Karl Norman Seminar, 2nd enlarged edition, magic&gambling, Dachau, Germany, 2002
Trost, Nick.
“Karl Norman Routine,” Die Tricks der Spieler - Bauernfängereien (German edition of Expert Gambling Tricks), magic&gambling, Dachau, Germany, 1998
Shell Game Italian Sources
Shell Game DVDs and Videos
Haydn, Whit and Bob Sheets:
Shell Game Series Vol I "An Introduction to the Shell Game." School for Scoundrels, 2005.
Norman, Karl:
Classic Cocktail "Karl Norman Routine," video (English/German), magic&gambling, 2002.
Norman, Karl:
Close-up Table Magic "Karl Norman Routine," DVD (same as above, English only), Meir Yedid, 2004.
Gamblers and Sure-Thing Gamblers of the American West
Confidence Games--The Short Con and the Big Con
Bruns, Rodger:
"Yellow Kid" Weil: King of Con National Historical Society, 1988
Maurer, David W:
The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man and the Confidence Game. Indianapolis, IN: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc., 1940. 164
Maurer, David W:
The American Confidence Man. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas, 1974.
Weil, Joseph R.:
The Congame and "Yellow Kid" Weil: Dover Pub, 1974
Weil, J.R.:
Conman: A Master Swindlers Own Story, (Library of Larceny). Broadway, July 2004
Street Cons in Literature
O. Henry:
The Gentle Grafter Fourteen short Stories.
A story about two scoundrels traveling together. Can be read online:
The Gentle Grafter∞
Medicine Show Bibliography
Anderson, Ann:
Snakeoil, Hustlers and Hambones, Jefferson, North Carolina, Mc Farland and Company, 2000.
Mc Namara, Brooks:
Step Right Up, University Press of Mississippi, Oct 1995.
Medicine Show Websites of Interest
www.Docdazzal.com∞
www.Docgrayson.com/contact.php∞
www.Historylink.info/id209.html∞
www.Memoryelixir.com∞
www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/ephemera/medshow.html∞
www.Sideshowworld.com∞
www.Snakeoilproductions.com/fleacircus.html∞
Dice Stacking Bibliography
Edward Marlo, Shoot the works - A complete Manual of Dice Manipulation
Copyright ©1943
--
Walsh, Audley V. Walsh’s Dice Dexterity, BT, 1953, Louis Tannen, 32
--
The Senator Crandall, How to Stack Dice
Copyright © 1974 Clarke Crandall
--
Kaufman, Richard: The New York Magic Symposium Close Up Stage Collection Two 1983
page 16 Penetrating Dice Stack (Paul Gertner): dice stacking with a magical effect. During stacking, the dice penetrate up through the cup one at a time. For the last die. the penetration reverses itself, and the three dice on top end up underneath
--
Apocalypse Vol 12 No 4 April 1989 Randy Wakeman Issue
page 1627 Stacked Impact: dice stacking
--
Ouellet, Gary: Close Up Illusions
1990
on page 253 Chapter 24: Rock & Roll Dice Stacking
on page 261 A Routine: a dice stacking routine
--
Apocalypse Vol 20 No 04 Apr 1997
page 2780 Points In the Middle (Harold Cataquet): a dice vanishing and reappearing effect to use during dice stacking
--
Apocalypse Vol 16 No 07 Jul 1993
page 2239 Twice Dice (Harold Cataquet): good color changing dice finish to a dice stacking routine
--
Apocalypse Vol 17 No 05 May 1994
page 2353 Danger Dice (Harold Cataquet): dice stacking routine using a clear glass. The glass cracks, two dice "crack" in half, and the 4 die are edge stacked using another glass.
--
Kaufman, Richard: Paul Gertner's Steel and Silver 1994
page 121
UpStacking--Dice stacking routine, dice stacked in familiar manner a few times, dice begin to penetrate upward through bottom of cup one at a time, eventually three dice on top of cup vanish and reappear inside cup.
--
Lancaster, Lou: Commercial Closeup Magic 1994
Dice Stacking: dice stacking with jumbo die climax
--
Racherbaumer, Jon: In a Class by Himself, The Legacy of Don Alan 1996
page 159 Sneakily Stacked in Your Favor: Dice stacking routine, uses one gimmicked die and cup cover (Video clips from un-named video)
page 166 How to Stack Dice: short lesson
--
Racherbaumer, Jon and Edward Marlo: Arcade Dreams, Marlo Without Cards 1997
page 111 A Brief History of Dice Stacking: a brief history
page 112 Primal Dice Stacking: the basics, and an outline of Tony Platt's routine
--
Lovell, Simon, Son of Simon Says, 2000, L&L Publishing
Page 143 Coins, Dice and Grandfather’s Beer!
--
Jay, Ricky, Dice: Deception, Fate & Rotten Luck, HBDJ, 2003, Quantuck Lane Press
--
Most of the above references are from
Magic Books∞
Cheating at Dice and Cards
Pool Hustling
Gamesmanship
ScoundrelsBibliography ScoundrelsGallery ScoundrelsGlossary ScoundrelsPatter ScoundrelsSightings ScoundrelsFilm ScoundrelsSayings Scoundrels Forum∞
WhitHaydn
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