Magician Ricky Jay on Arsenio in 1988

Slight-of-hand magician Ricky Jay appears here on Arsenio back in 1988 with an amazing performance. I captured this from my own VHS-recorded copy of the broadcast from back in the day. :)
For the higher quality video and audio version, add &fmt=18 to the end of the URL.

[@DesmondOHalloran]

That is realest thing I have ever heard a spectator say: "I know it don't matter."

[@tomfurgas2844]

Ricky Jay was careful to correct his grammar, responding "You're right, it doesn't."

[@atskooc]

Arsenio was a well-trained magician. So he knew well enough.

[@neuvocastezero1838]

"The one I told you to forget?" "Yeah" "Well, a fine job you've done."

[@tomfurgas2844]

One thing that makes Ricky Jay so wonderful is his smooth and very suave stage patter, which aids so beautifully in the misdirection.

[@newdimensionmagiccardtrick3131]

The switch at the end was almost invisible!!!

[@shaunsawyer8298]

+vernonclassic Well there's no way not to flash a tc when being burned the entire time. Nonetheless he still made it seem very nonchalant.

[@semitonedown]

Okay, that bent card switch was the smoothest thing I've ever seen

[@nixonmendeed]

man the top change has got to be one of the best changes there is

[@Bongogod]

"I know it don't matter." Truer words have never been spoken.

[@gamemeister27]

I love the bent corner, but mainly because of it's history. Ricky Jay studied under Dai Vernon. Dai Vernon's bible when it came to card magic was "The Expert at the Card Table." In said book, Vernon details the exact bent corner effect. Amazing how magic from 1902 comes back to amaze late in the century, and indeed beyond said century.

[@chri2453]

The guy played a villain in a Bond movie :-)

[@022171]

RIP, Ricky. You were a treasure to behold.

[@MontrealJerseyKing]

Amazing!! I first saw him in the movie "House of Games" with Joe Mantegna. Great movie

[@jmange]

At 4:20-4:23 you can just catch him bend a corner of the black card and straighten the red, but what amazing skill, you can barely even make it out when you know exactly when and what to look for.

[@rickreation0]

Ricky Jay is one of my favorite magicians. I thought I’d seen all clips of him. How did I never see this! Easily one of the best records of his genius.

[@Jesys1]

I can see him bending the first one but he's so fast straightening out the other.

[@JohnKingsby]

He's such a great magician!!! Wonderful!

[@MarcV_IndieGameDev]

really good trick, having the advantage of rewinding and looking at the trick u see the movements, but first watch was really good never seen the switch at 2.36 at first go.

[@KyodaiKhan]

This just seperated you from magicians =) "Magicians never reveal their or other magicians tricks" Let people believe this is magic, thats out point ^^

[@Bigturns33]

Thats unreal.

[@transtremm]

This proves that the classics, if well done, can still seem fresh and very entertaining.

[@Bootzkck]

lol this is great. notice that second trick how he throws the cards down "from the bottom" is really the top.

[@Chetverikov]

And the part that's beautiful, at least to me, is that even knowing when he "must" have made the switch (thinking I must know, at any rate), it's still too smooth and fast for the eye to follow.

[@jmw4004]

That is a smooth switch; I would never have caught that if someone had not pointed it out.

[@simonjeste]

RJ is The Best. @ 2:35 he puts the 8h onto bottom of deck and grabs the 5h, but WOW it's so quick and smooth there's no way Arsenio or even the audience woulda noticed *live*...

[@flsh666]

PLEASE!!!! Could somebody tell me how the card jumps out of the deck? I've searching for a tutorial since 1 year. It would be very cool. thx

[@Kratos2027]

2:35 he puts the 8 of hearts back on top of the deck its a double lift

[@misiumusic]

dude i just met him yesterday O_o never even knew who he was until i watched this, now i wish i talked to him a bit longer xD

[@technowey]

Ricky Jay is one of the greatest magicians alive today. Even other magicians are in awe of him.

[@cwdoby]

damn. this post makes me sad today. RIP to a good one.

[@simonjeste]

@3:13 he does an amazing fake-drop of "one of" the Qh -- obviously once all 3 cards are down you can see there's only a single Queen but wow he is so fast it totally looks like he's "changing" the cards themselves! :o

[@sizzlethestozzle8885]

Beautiful misdirection, I had to watch twice to see it

[@thebsharps1]

@AlexDeLargeLives I think Arsenio was in on the trick to a point. I think that Jay told him to mark the card and make his picks based on that. I don't think Jay told him that he was going to switch which card was bent. At any rate, Jay is a fantastic showman. I'd love to see him live.

[@dandymcgee]

Yeah, I had to rewatch it a good 10 times to see it fully and even then it's very hard to distinguish.

[@MarlboroShinobi]

the trick at the end with arsenio is a throw back to a trick he did with steve martin. you can find it. and yes the partner for the trick is always in on it.

[@MaskedGreenmagician]

Yep

[@thedukeofnuts]

If you think that the person selecting the cards is a stooge, you are talking nonsense.

[@Kounteron]

2:35 The switch

[@TheSimzy09]

i spotted how he changed the crad from the top of the deck but still amazing trick.. and also when he had to follow the crads is because he does a 3 card monte throw perfectly

[@ap0kalyps3]

really good trick^^ nobody would see it at the first time

[@KungFuMojo]

Tough crowd, or it all went above their heads....

[@girianshiido]

Funny video and simple yet great magic.

[@JoRoWi83]

Ricky was a gangster

[@Naybanger]

4:21 he bends the other card with his right hand and 4:23 straightens the other card out. This whole trick is simple but awesome.

[@eatonmagic]

I love the way you thank him as your teacher but expose his method. A true student of the art.

[@alicookofficial]

So simple but great. Ricky Jay is the master

[@1pokerknight]

2:39 such a smooth card switch. gotta remember that

[@kokokoko344]

If that part with the bent corner was impromptu, ohhh my god.

[@BggProductions]

Amazing stuff, thanks for uploading this rare gem.

[@ImproveYourMagic]

My comment does not deserve a thumbs down. I did'nt ask for a friggin tutorial I asked the name. There are advanced guys that do not even know it so in the 'rare' chance a viewer knows it private messege me the name or where they have seen it published.

[@dplatt7290]

Is that Tim Reid in the other chair?

[@heylad]

Yes it is.

[@zenclover8468]

thanks for sharing this !

[@superchef78]

Are you saying Vernon wrote EATCT? I thought it was like someone named like Erdnase (a pseudonym). Sorry, if I'm misunderstanding you.

[@TheGreatCigma]

That off-beat top change tho. Flew right over my head the first time I saw it.

[@Kimmocheck]

He is awesome! hehe at 2:36 he is switching cards ;)

[@jliller]

"I know it don't matter."

[@TydexD]

his sleight of hand is good so when he brings the 3 cards together he bends anotehr card and fixes the red one

[@XepppX]

that's such an old switch trick lol look at the switch at 2:35 while say'ing well fine the job is done and roll his head to the other side ppl don't notice he lay's the 8 of hearts on top of the deck and pull the 5 of hearts from the bottom of the deck where he placed it when he say's "ppl are thinking i am looking into the cards" look after that he place's the cards how he wants it and that was the hole trick:p

[@XAytherxRedictusX]

Lee Asher, Dai Vernon (died), David Blaine, Larry Jennings (died), Joshua Jay,... The list goes on. Like I've said, by saying Ricky Jay's the best, is just a personal opinion, it's not a fact. He's not the best, although he's one of the best there is out there. His card-skills are great but that doesn't mean you can't apprehend his level of skill. And, get worked up on what? You're the one who said: "Hands down, no one's better than Ricky Jay!" -> pretty much a fanboycomment. :D

[@XAytherxRedictusX]

Who ever said I was being obessive? I just know other card magicians. You can hardly call David Copperfield a card magician seeing 3/4th of his shows all revolve around big stage magic. Criss Angel too, doesn't only specialize in cards. By saying; "The apprentice out-does the master" you clearly don't know who Dai Vernon is, yet you claim you effectively know Ricky Jay's the best there is? He even managed to fool Houdini with his cards. E.g.: Go look up Lee Asher, who invented Thunderbird.

[@bobafett5926]

@shatwood agreed, but it's because that's what you are looking for. Put yourself in Arsenio's position, you would have to be a good host, not burn the guests hands looking for the switch. You have to admit, though, Rick Jay is amazingly impressive at what he does... Did you also pick the switch when he bends the corner on the Red Queen, it's barely noticeable.

[@popoff7808]

That is some smooth shit right there.

[@piruetten]

Everyone who said his card has switched at 02:35, how? You see his card dropped at 02:10? He wanted to drop it because he will let us know that there is no 2 cards, i mean eight with another card above eight. That's why! He HAD one card, not two.

[@LPfinatic]

He had already controlled the 5 of Hearts to the top. When he looked at the other guy, he slipped the 8 of hearts on top of the deck while taking the five off of the deck. Notice how after 02:35, he holds the cad face down. It's because it's not the 8 of Hearts anymore. -Raj-

[@Bennyboy087]

2:34 is actually the change. view from 2:33 to 2:36, he swaps the 8 with the 5 which is on the bottom of the deck. very fast. The swap isn't what facinates me...its the control of two cards during the shuffle ^.^

[@Kelavmeister]

In 'Old English' times, to stick your thumb at someone, or to bite it at someone was an insult... Much like flippin' the bird today. At least I think thats what it was... Not entirely sure!

[@jmadratz]

Even when you slow the video down to 25%, you still can’t easily see Ricky make the switch with the red Queen at 4:20. But watching closely at 25%, as Ricky is talking about the red card, he is first cringing the card in his right hand, and then when he picks up the red card and puts it under the newly cringed card in his right hand, he appears to throw the red card to the left, but he actually just throws the cringed black card, and before he throws the red card down, he uncringes it . Of course at normal speed you can’t see any of this.

[@slowgoman]

look at 2:30- 2:45........... notice at 2:35 how he brings the card that he is holding back to the deck and switches it with another when he says "and wut a fine job hes done"

[@LucaTurilli89]

@bobafett5926 well it could be modified card being able to be undent :).

[@jomacbub]

LOL being tough???? LOL run along flee bag, I'm sure you have better things to do, like go and flip mince patties for Ronald MacDonald, or are you on a break??? LOL

[@chrismidtown]

dude, he did switched the card at 2:35, is just that because of the camera view it's hard to tell but if you know a little about magic than you should be able to see it...

[@kcg5000]

great call! but a guy like ricky jay probably has a collection of quite a few decks. i have over 300, for some reason...

[@subtleteyes]

flee bag.... yes... thats how you spell.... and flip mince patties? wtf? i feel hurt... cause that was harsh man.... good one

[@imAcowMoo100]

2:34 you can see he swaps the eight of hearts for the 5 of hearts :)

[@Alucard20039]

"thats why i have alot of houses and real estate" HA HA lol priceless

[@kunkushun1]

Not thats a proper top change.....freaking beautiful.

[@kunkushun1]

Now*

[@MaskedGreenmagician]

+Dustin Dunbar yep but I'm so used of doing Harry blacks jr bottom change I can't do the top change.

[@stoptaxingme]

YES IT WAS

[@vc96]

he actually has a queen of hearts, and eight of spades and 9 of spades (in the second trick) not 2 eights

[@solidreso]

watch on 2:29 he changes the cards on the first trick seriously i bet you didnt notice the first time =D

[@RickyTy1]

Agreed! The latest stuff is rubbish! However I still appreciate some of the David Blaine shows.

[@subtleteyes]

damn man if youre gonna try to act tough dont use random puns. cause that was just very very weak.

[@magg0tmacdonald]

@piskapiskapiska, he always refers to ancient times when introducing his card tricks

[@fathemi]

fuk this guy is amazing

[@danfield6030]

fathemi ....hello Mr 11 years ago ! how has this 11 years been for you ?

[@TheBradTobin]

@diccond no i belive your talking about bill malones sam the belhop and the 654 club.

[@cubefreak93]

very good slight of hand... i still dont get how he did the trick with the bent corner

[@peppermints666]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO!

[@jomacbub]

no i didn't master it - so what! get over it, he is still one of the worlds best.

[@hamelete]

dont wanna burst eveyrones magic bubble ,but at 2:34 he switches the card

[@milosmilk]

It's just in certain cultures showing your thumb to someone is insulting.

[@NickFong92]

lol...argh he bent those aristocrats right down the middle...sniff sniff.

[@proman84]

Awesome! Ricky Jay rules.

[@bryanfidelman3846]

How the actual fuck...is that last thing done....how the fuck

[@bullsquid42]

Guys, please don't ruin the magic.

[@ianbarnett4511]

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT. 😎 BARNEY GLASGOW 😊

[@kcg5000]

arseno played the sucker well with the monte, but he was in on it...

[@godchildzor]

And we were all convinced it was real magic and not a card trick...

[@shatwood]

at 2:37 you see jay go back into the deck and grab the right card.

[@primaspierre20]

somebody can tell me how he is controlling the two cards?

[@tawesome]

Gotta love Ricky Jay and his skills.

[@Vinco]

@hamelete few bubbles have been burst. that's a top switch.

[@gamemeister27]

@superchef78 No, he studied it for years starting out.

[@Kounteron]

i dont understand his thumb jokes, can anyone explain?

[@1legendary7]

that black guy is sooo fucking funny. What's his name ?

[@Katalyzt]

Pure skill ★★★★★ Katalyzt

[@MaskedGreenmagician]

Yep and not only that but Ricky Jay I'm sure knows arsino hall is a stage illusionist magician bad well

[@MaskedGreenmagician]

+Bill Page as well not bad well :)

[@freddybastiat8299]

I enjoyed the tar tar joke, got no love from host or audience

[@MarcelGioberti]

RIP 😍