Dai Vernon Revelations
Dai Vernon
"The Professor"
(1894 - 1992)
Born: David Frederick Wingfield Verner
Dai Vernon (David Frederick Wingfield Verner) was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on June 11, 1894. He got the nickname of "Dai" when a typo in a newspaper gave him Dai instead of David. His last name "Vernon" came from the dancer, Vernon Castle, who with his wife was a dancer in early part of the century. While in New York, his name Vernon was carried over since most New Yorkers could not pronounce it correctly. Vernon is, without doubt, the most influential conjuror of the 20th century.
Magicians know him affectionately as "The Professor" and as "The Man Who Fooled Houdini". Harry Houdini boasted that no one could fool him if he saw a trick performed three times in a row. In 1919, in Chicago, Vernon took up his challenge. He performed an old version of 'The Ambitious Card' eight times in a row, and Houdini had no idea how it was done. As a result in the 1920s and 30s, Vernon used the line "He Fooled Houdini" in his advertisement. It was later that Vernon's friend Garrick Spencer gave him the name 'The Professor'. Vernon didn't care for it, but it stuck with him.
If you mention his name to any conjuror, amateur or professional, and you will immediately have their undivided attention. Vernon improved known tricks and created new ones such as Twisting the Aces. He was a smart man, knew old magicians like Max Malini and Harry Houdini. He had friendship with magicians like T. Nelson Downs, Allan Shaw, Manuel, and Welch Miller to name a few.
In 1963, Dai Vernon came to see Jay Ose, visiting the Magic Castle for the first time. Vernon is probably the most notable resident magician of the Magic Castle. Magicians from all over the world came to the Magic Castle to learn from the him. His clinical mind was responsible for many modern classic routines adopted by numerous magicians today. He set new standards, and elevated the art of conjuring more than almost any predecessor. He is probably the greatest contributor to the art of close-up magic. However, he was a modest person blessed with indescribable charm. He was a true gentleman and everyone loved him. It was very rare to hear Vernon say anything unkind about anybody. Even if the person deserved it, he would always find something positive to say about them. He had the rare ability to fill anyone in his company with renewed enthusiasm for their art, magic. There was only one conjuror that he spoke of negatively, and that was Harry Houdini.
Many of today's great magicians (Michael Ammar, Bruce Cervon, John Carney, Larry Jennings, Ricky Jay, just to name a few) came to learn from Dai Vernon. In October 1965, journalist, and amateur conjuror Richard Buffum recorded a series of interviews with Vernon. This amounted to seven miles of tape. An edited transcript of these interviews appeared in the book, The Vernon Chronicles - Dai Vernon a Magical Life, published in 1992, and edited by Bruce Cervon and Keith Burns, both very close friends of Vernon. Sadly "The Professor" passed over shortly after the publication of the book. He died at the age of 98, in Hollywood, California in 1992.
Dai Vernon , considered by most magicians as the greatest sleight of hand man who ever lived, was affectionately known as The Professor. He was a remarkable performer, inventor and teacher. He was, I am very proud to say, my teacher, advisor, and above all, my friend.He was also known as the The Only Man That Fooled Harry Houdini.
Born David Frederick Wingfield Verner in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on June 11, 1894. As a child, he met and was influenced by magic legends Nate Leipzig and Max Malini, both of whom were his idols.
He was a student at Asbury College and The Royal Military College of Canada, where he was extremely active in sports, even making the grade as the captain of the hockey team. It was during this time that he began performing magic shows, developing his own unique style, which was obviously influenced by Malini and Leipzig. He decided to launch his magic career, and he moved to New York City.
He got the nickname of "Dai" when a typo in a newspaper gave him Dai instead of David. His last name "Vernon" came from the dancer, Vernon Castle, who with his wife was a dancer in the 1920's. While in New York, his name Vernon was carried over since most New Yorkers could not pronounce it correctly. Vernon is, without doubt, the most influential conjuror of the 20th century. Some say he was the greatest sleight of hand artist who ever lived. Those fortunate enough to know him intimately, as I did, would readily agree. When he first arrived in New York, many of the magicians there dismissed him as "just a kid doing card tricks".
Work was never crucial for Vernon, though. Being broke didn't bother him; he believed it would come to him in due course. "If you chase fame or dollars, either will avoid you. People ask me how I get publicity. I tell them I try to avoid it. It's not going to do me any good.. I can't use it because I'm not in the business. I've never even gone into an agent's office." Indeed, Vernon lived that statement. Vernon, who is considered one of the most polished and skillful card experts in the world, supported himself much of the time by cutting silhouettes in Atlantic City, Miami, Chicago, and Denver. He was a remarkably-talented cutter.
It was in Atlantic City that Vernon met Frances Rockefeller King, an agent who booked acts for private parties. Vernon would go to these parties to perform magic or sometimes cutting silhouettes. Once she called him in Atlantic City with a job offer, but he declined it, preferring to cut silhouettes, go swimming, and have some fun along the Boardwalk.. Later, he found out she wanted him to entertain the Prince of Wales on Long Island. "I've always regretted that", he says. "Life is a funny thing."
It was on one of his trips to Chicago that an incident occurred that would become legendary in the life of Dai Vernon and another legend, Harry Houdini. Houdini has boasted that he could not be fooled by anyone if he saw a trick performed three times in a row. In Chicago, in 1919, Dai took Harry up on the challenge. Dai did what is now known as The Ambitious Card eight times, and Harry had no idea how it was done. Dai, not one to pass up this kind of opportunity, used the tagline "The Man Who Fooled Houdini" in his advertisements during the 1920s and 1930s. Bess, Harry wife, told people that after Dai showed the trick to Harry, Harry was very upset, talking about it all night long, trying to figure it out. He couldn't.
Over the years, Vernon would see Houdini whenever he was in Chicago or New York, and they often had heated "discussions". Dai sometimes insulted Houdini by telling him he didn't think he was a great magician, just a great promoter. Houdini hated to hear this, and many times a shouting match would ensue.
Vernon improved known tricks and created new ones. He had friendship with magicians like T. Nelson Downs, Allan Shaw, Max Malini, Nate Leipzig, Charlie Miller, and Houdini to name a few.His clinical mind was responsible for many modern classic routines adopted by numerous magicians today. He set new standards, and elevated the art of conjuring more than almost any predecessor. He is probably the greatest contributor to the art of close-up magic who ever walked the earth. However, he was a modest person blessed with indescribable charm. He was a true gentleman and everyone loved him.
It was very rare to hear Vernon say anything unkind about anybody, aside from his personal "disagreements" woth Houdini.. Even if the person deserved it, he would always find something positive to say about them. He had the rare ability to fill anyone in his company with renewed enthusiasm for magic. There was only one conjuror that he spoke of negatively, and that was Harry Houdini.He had no tolerance for poorly-performed magic. In his later years, he openly criticized bad magicians, often telling them that they should give up magic for the sake of the world.
Magic was the most important thing in Vernon's life. "If you want to be an artist," he says, "you must devote your life to it. Chess, music, anything. After you get just so high, you realize that if you want to be truly great, you have to give up everything else -- you have to dedicate your life to your art." It's Vernon's artistry of his magic that makes the experts rave. Vernon was known to take a fair trick and produce from it a masterpiece. Whatever trick he did became his own.
He was against all forms of flourishes and show-offy moves. He preferred naturalness and simplicity. He liked to say that you needed to strip away all of the unnecessary moves, so that you were left with just the magic.
"Some people copy," Vernon says. "They see someone do a trick and they copy. I do my own version. It's no good to copy because when a person creates a thing, no matter how bad it is, it's still his own creation. He will interpret it better than any copier ever could, because someone who copies doesn't know the reasoning, he doesn't know what's behind the effect. He doesn't know what the feeling should be so he doesn't put any feeling into it. That' what there should be in every work of art -- feeling."
(At left: Vernon came to support me when I re-created Houdini's most famous escape, the Chinese Water Torture Escape, on Hollywood Boulevard, one block away from the Magic Castle, on Houdini's star in 1985. When I got out of the tank, he came over to me and said, "Houdini would have been proud.")
In the mid-1960s, Vernon left the East Coast for California to visit Jay Ose who had been working at the Magic Castle in Hollywood at the urging of the founders, Bill Larsen and Milt Larsen. Vernon liked it there so much he never left. He moved into an apartment building within walking distance, and spent every single evening at the Castle.(www.cardmagic.org composed)
Many sharp young performers followed him. He accepted few pupils, but magicians wanted to be near him to talk and see him work. His kindness and sincerity drew people as naturally as his artistry demands their respect. Dai's friend, Garrick Spencer, gave Dai the title of "The Professor". Dai didn't really care for this title, but Garrick kept calling him that and it stuck.
Dai's willingness to share his expertise with others is probably what prompted the title. Dai's student, while few, are prestigious in their own right, speaking much of Vernon's talents as both performer and instructor: Ricky Jay, Bruce Cervon, Steve Dacri, David Roth, Michael Ammar, Michael Skinner, and Larry Jennings all studied with The Professor.
Vernon lived according to habit, rising late each day and staying up long into the night. He also practiced the piano. "For a while, " he says, "I thought I would do an act with a piano. It's very hard to finish a magic act. A dance routine can go into a lot of high kicks and flip-flops, but for a magician it's hard to work out a finish. I thought to myself, 'What a great finish. First I'll do magic and then I'll play the piano.' I still think it is a good idea -- a good way to finish a magic act."
In the late 70's, I suggested to Vernon that he should undertake a lecture tour. He didn't believe anyone would want to see him at his advanced age. Joe Cossari, known professionally as "The King of Cards", helped me convince Dai that people would definitely want to see him perform.
(At left: The Professor performs his famous cups and balls routine at the Magic Castle)
One night, when I arrived at the Castle, Joe pulled me aside and said, "Come up to the library, Vernon wants to see you." He was very excited. I wondered what was up. I climbed up the stairas to the very top of the Castle, where the library originally was located. Dai sat me down and said, "Okay, I'm going to take your advice and do one last tour. And,, becasue this was all your idea, you can have the first two lectures." I was ecstatic. I knew this would be a momentus event.
I arranged the first two lectures - the first one in my hometown, Worcester, Massachusetts. The second one was in Boston. They both sold out completely, as did every single lecture stop on the tour.
The lectures were legendary. Dai would go on for over three hours, performing, explaining and patiently answering questions. He was in fine form, flawlessly demonstrating the cups, the rings, and endless card and coin effects. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience for all those who were lucky enough to attend.He left this earth at the age of 98, in San Diego, California in 1992.
| 代 号 |
0403743 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
1 |
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| 播放时长 |
50分钟 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Gary Ouellet Intro The Story Behind the Stars of Magic Series Vernon on Think-of-a-Card, Dunninger, Brainwave Deck Vernon on Effects Triumph-the Vernon Triumph Shuffle and the Proper Presentation Story of the Vernon False Shuffle Practice & Improve Your Magic Keeping Notes on Your Magic Cutting the Aces- Another Vernon Card Classic Vernon on Passes, False Cuts Irv Weiner's Opening to Cutting the Aces The Story is the Entertaining Part of the Trick Story of the Ambitious Card Vernon Performs the Ambitious Card Vernon Explains an Ambitious Card Move |
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| 代 号 |
0403853 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
2 |
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| 播放时长 |
1小时零2分钟 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Gary Ouellet Intro The Vernon Double Lift The Fingerprint Card Trick Vernon Double Lift Replacement On the Strike Double Lift Vernon's First Intro to the Pass Spellbound Story of the Purse Palm Vernon Demonstrates the Purse Palm & Spellbound Move Vernon on Coin Vanishes The Ring and the Wand Slow Motion Aces Performance (Steve Freeman) Story Behind Slow-Motion Aces The Slow Motion Card Vanish Story of the Last Card (Tent Vanish) Freeman Demonstrates Last Card Vanish Vernon Explains Slow Motion Aces Lay Down & Routine The Force with No Name Slow Motion Aces for Magicians |
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| 代 号 |
0403953 |
 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
3 |
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| 播放时长 |
55分钟 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Gary Ouellet Intro The Travellers (Michael Ammar performance) Explanation of the Travellers Vernon on Malini's Method of Marking the Cards Proper Way to Turn the Top Card Over Why Vernon has the Cards Signed The Kangaroo Coins (Gary Ouellet performance) Kangaroo Coins Explanation Vernon Talks About Lapping The Balls in the Net (Steve Freeman performance) Vernon's Story about The Balls in The Net Vernon Explains the Moves for The Balls in The Net Han Ping Chein with Ball Vernon Explains What Makes a Good Trick Jumping Jacks The Tenkai Palm Switch Vernon Explains How He Got the Name "Professor" |
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| 代 号 |
0404053 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
4 |
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| 播放时长 |
58分钟 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Gary Ouellet Intro The Tenkai Switch - The Pivot Move Story Behind the Symphony of the Rings Vernon Tells a Silhouette Story Vernon Performs the Symphony of the Rings Explanation of Ring Routine - Counting the Rings First Link Spinning the Ring Unlinking the Ring Crash Link Chain of Three Linking Three & Unlinking Three The Continuous Linking The Falling Ring The Interlocked Rings The Figures The Long Chain Unlinking a Solid Ring Unlinking All the Rings The Symphony of the Rings - Vernon Performs for Live Audience The Coins and Champagne Glass - A Vernon Classic The Secret to a Good Coin Vanish More Coins & Champagne Glass Explanation |
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| 代 号 |
0404153 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
5 |
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| 播放时长 |
1小时 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Gary Ouellett Intro Vernon Talks About Fred Kaps Vernon Explains Coins & Silk Routine Verno Explains Coin Transfer Ammar Teaches Chanin Classic Palm Coin Productions Ammar Introduces the Cups & Balls Vernon Tells How He Got His Cups Vernon Demonstrates the Opening to the Cups & Balls Ammar Demonstrates Jay Marshall's Bit with Cups Explanation of Depth Illusion Vernon's Story About the Cups & Balls at the Magic Castle Vernon and Ammar Walk Through Cups & Balls Routine Vernon's Advice On What To Do After Palming Something Explanation of Phase Two & Three Loading Sequence Large Ball & Wand Vanish Wand Spin Vernon Explains Ball Under Cup Vanish Vernon Explains Coins & Purse Swindle Malini's Version Vernon's Purse Palm Vanish Leipzig's Coin on Knee |
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| 代 号 |
0404253 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
6 |
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| 播放时长 |
59分钟 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Gary Ouellett Intro Color Change Section Intro (Freeman) History of Color Change Erdnase's First Method with the Vernon Improvement The Erdnase Pivot Color Change The Malini Handling Picking Off the Pip Leipzig's Handling Leipzig's Side Slip and Vernon Variation Handling the Sucker Gag Steve Freeman's Tips on the Color Change " Softy" Color Change Vernon Passes on Good Advice The No Palm Color Change The Time Vernon Cheated the Cheats The Greek Crimp The Gambler's Peek The Back Crimp The Suit Peek The Corner Crimp/Cutting to a Crimp Story About Larry Grey The Snap Crimp Story The Snap Crimp Mexican Joe Crimp Best Way to Reverse a Card The Breather Crimp |
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| 代 号 |
0404353 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
7 |
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| 播放时长 |
57分钟 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Gary Ouellett Intro An Unpublished Linking Ring Move The Vernon No Key Linking The Five-Card Mental Force Some Thoughts on the Stop Trick Taking Advantage of Good Breaks The Trick That Cannot Be Explained The Cutting Trick How to Practice the Trick That Cannot Be Explained Vernon Talks About Card Palming The Hofzinser Bottom Palm The Diagonal Palm Shift and the Vernon Improvement The Hofzinser Bottom Palm Transfer |
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| 代 号 |
0404453 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
8 |
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| 播放时长 |
59分钟 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Gary Ouellett Intro The Diagonal Palm Shift- a detailed description The Hand Washing Move The Gambling Palm The Vernon Gambling Palm Transfer Topping the Deck The Erdnase Top Palm Several Methods of Replacing the Palmed Card onto the Deck Skinning the Hand, Version 1 Vernon Color Change The Tenkai Palm Color Change Skinning the Hand Version #2 The French Pass Two Technical Descriptions of Bottom Palms Covering the Side Slip Dramatizing Revelations The Loewy Palm Some Moves for Cards Up the Sleeve The Vernon Card Switches A New Top Palm The Card to Jacket Pocket The Palm Change Story of the Mysterious Kid Vernon Talks About Shiners |
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| 代 号 |
0504553 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
9 |
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| 播放时长 |
56分钟 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Gary Ouellet Intro The Berg Move Explanation of Berg Move Story of the Trick That Fooled Houdini Explanation of the Trick That Fooled Houdini Vernon Tells Horwitz Story Vernon Explains the Boat Trick Vernon Performs Three Card Monte for Live Audience Explanation of Three Card Monte Preparing the Cards Bent Corner Tips on the Hype Move Sucker Ploy Explanation of Hype Move The Torn Card The Broad Worker's Story The Double Flash Removing the Bent Corner Bobby Fischer Story |
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| 代 号 |
0504653 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
10 |
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| 播放时长 |
58分钟 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Gary Ouellet Intro The Vernon Cone and Ball Routine Basic Move for Cone & Ball The Ball and Silk Hand to Hand Ball Transfer Vernon on the Dye Tube / Color Changing Silks Loading the Silk Palming the Tube Start of Routine Steal of the Tube Routine Taught from Behind The Chopstick Double Lift Valuable Tip from Erdnase (Double Lift) The Overhand Shuffle Technique The Pinky Count The Greek Break Bottom to Top Transfer Vernon's Simple Double Peek Control Triple and Multiple Peek Handling The Fan Force |
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| 代 号 |
0504763 |
 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
11 |
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| 播放时长 |
57分钟 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Gary Ouellet Intro The International Gambler's Code The Zanzig Code The Spread The Miami Brothers Ploy The Vernon Card Switch The Gambler's Hole Card Switch The Snatch The Verbal Code (Vernon) Teaching Method for Verbal Code (Memorized Cards) How to Memorize the Cards (Vernon Method) Vernon Tells the Story of Benny Vernon Tells the Names of Each Card in his Code Vernon Short Card Corner Short Freeman Demonstrates Short Card Control |
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| 代 号 |
0504863 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
12 |
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| 播放时长 |
57分钟 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Gary Ouellet intro Freeman Quotes Erdnase The Erdnase Bottom Deal The Elliott Bottom Deal The Artanis Bottom Deal Gambling vs. Magic The Second Deal - The Erdnase Methods The Johnny Thompson Method Vernon's Trick for Second Deal Vernon Gives Tips on Second Deal The Vernon New Theory Second Deal The Big Lie about the Strike Second The Elliott Million Dollar Secret Mexican Joe's Shift The Side Shift Covering the One-Handed Shift The S.W.E. Shift The Kennedy Center Deal (The Real Work) Bad Habits Center Deal |
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| 代 号 |
0504931 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
13 |
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| 播放时长 |
24分钟 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Gary Ouellet Intro The Drunken Mitt How to Tell Backs from Fronts by Feel Alone Tips on the Overhand Shuffle The Erdnase Full-Deck Control The Vernon Full-Deck Control The Charlier False Shuffle The Push Through Shuffle The Strip Out Shuffle Vernon Gives Tips on the Push-Through Shuffle The Kid Royal Shuffle The Up the Ladder False Cut Up the Ladder used in Triumph |
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| 代 号 |
0505063 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
14 |
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| 播放时长 |
53分钟 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Vernon - Three Card Monte Ammar - Beanie Wienie, Cards to Pocket Ouellet - Three Shell Game Freeman - Time Machine, Cutting the Aces, Slow Motion Ace Assembly Ammar - The $2 Bill Tear, The Yeast Card, Card on Ceiling Ouellet - Kiss Trick, Ring on Rope Ammar - Coins & Silk Ouellet - Silver Passage Ammar - Roll-Over Aces Ouellet - The Two Goblets Vernon - Symphony of the Rings |
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| 代 号 |
0505163 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
15 |
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| 播放时长 |
57分钟 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Gary Ouellet Intro Why Vernon Changed his Name How he Got the Name "Professor" Interest in Magic Since a Young Boy Enjoyed Watching Gamblers Talks About Erdnase Vernon's Favorite Book: Erdnase School Magic Show No Use of the Word Damn or Egg Bag Great Weakness of Magician Meeting Cliff Green Producing a Card in the Shower First Time Seeing Max Malini Malini Egg Bag - Russia Story Malini at the GM party Malini Card Stab Antique Table Story Advice from Malini Malini's Best Tricks Were Never Performed Malini's Vanishing Tobacco Malini's Opener Malini at Buckingham Palace |
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| 代 号 |
0605263 |
 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
16 |
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| 播放时长 |
57分钟 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Gary Ouellet Intro Cutting Silhouettes The Harlequin Act How Vernon Met Frances Rockefeller King Magician Spies on Vernon J. K. L. M. Dr. Daley's Notebook The Book, "Our Magic" Cardini The Frogman Cardini's Talking Act Cardini's Tails Al Baker The History of Silhouettes Colorado Springs World's Fair Vernon Cuts a Silhouette Twenty Dollar Gold Piece |
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| 代 号 |
0605364 |
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| 名 称 |
Dai Vernon Revelations
17 |
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| 播放时长 |
89分钟 |
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| 其它说明 |
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内容简介 |
Gary Ouellet Intro King of Koins The Gimmick Emil Jarrow Jarrow Plays London Closing of his Act Partner in his Act Warren Keane Malini Block of Ice Fred Keating Canary Story Paul Rosini Herbert Brooks The Manner In Which Tricks are Presented Larry Grey Follows Hobos High School Dance Lance Burton at the Body Shop Garrick Spencer / Academy of Magic Allen Kennedy Center Deal Teaching John Scarne the Center Deal Vernon Takes Ted to See Allen Kennedy Mrs. Vernon Meets Mexican Joe The Greek Gambler The Hold-Up Story Jack Benny Joke Dr. Ross Meeting Dan Cummings at Restaurant Takes the Touch of a Billiard Player Frank Tobey / Vernon Sees Faro Shuffle for the First Time One Arm MacDonald - The Diamond Ring $100 Ace Trick Davis the Miracle Man |
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