(Video link here.)
Houdini performed as the King of Cards, but even he had to admit he was not the best there ever was. That title belonged, and still belongs, to Johann Hofzinser, creator of "The Hofzinser Transparency" seen above.
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| Hofzinser portrait c. 1846 Hofzinser lived in Vienna, where he hobnobbed with the rich and powerful, and became so well-known himself that famous artists vied to do his portrait. In the rarefied Viennese atmosphere of art and culture he was considered a great, original artist in his own unique genre: card magic. Hofzinser and his wife presented weekly salons in their drawing room, where he presented his magic as "experimental physics" and composed music to accompany it: (Video link here.) Franz Kukol, Houdini's lifelong assistant, had learned a few magic tricks from one of Hofzinser's students. When he showed them to Harry, in Dresden in 1900, Houdini was so impressed he offered Kukol a job on the spot. Houdini never changed his opinion that Hofzinser was the greatest card magician who ever lived. Even today, magicians make their reputations by using his techniques. Here's John Guastaferro performing "MacDonald's Aces," which really ought to be called "Hofzinser's Aces." The action starts 56 seconds from the top: |
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