Sleight of Hand and Three-Card Monte with Ricky Jay | American Masters on PBS

Ricky Jay demonstrates three-card monte in his one-man show, "Ricky Jay and his 52 Assistants," which premiered Off-Broadway in 1994 (and here, is performed in London). Jay considers himself lucky to feel part of the continuum of sleight-of-hand artists, whose tradition goes back more than a century.
American Masters - Ricky Jay: Deceptive Practice premiered Friday, January 23, 2015, on PBS.

[@davidleavitt835]

To see the ENTIRE 52 Assistants show would be a joy; not only the one hour one.

[@treywest268]

You will never be forgotten Ricky Jay!!!

[@RayoAtra]

Deceptive Practice is a great RJ documentary. The piece near the end where the interviewer talks about the disappearing block of ice is so great.

[@luckyman1071]

Saw this show back in 1999 when I was staying in Walton-on-Thames. It changed my life. Ricky is king, or, as they say in France: Roy.

[@MrSparkula]

One of my favorite documentaries ever.

[@chipblock2854]

I didn't know till today that Ricky Jay died recently. Now I know why all these videos are poping up. May his family find peace. I saw him twice. He is in a league by himself. Penn and Teller are very close.

[@Contractnik]

Great actor, too. Love him in everything - and have since I first saw him in HOUSE OF GAMES when I was a kid. Lucky to see that one in the theater.

[@blueabattoir]

Yes, I’m glad someone mentioned his acting. He always turned in a great performance. I had his card throwing book but not sure where it is now. What a shame.

[@Kendrix1]

Loved Ricky. Sure miss him....

[@buddmannable]

I remember Ricky from a great late 80's movie House of Games.

[@Nick_J_]

Just a great talent. Amazing slight of hand in the trick

[@Tyrunner0097]

1:17 I'm almost thinking that he's actually reaching to get some other cards there, or it was probably misdirection and meant to make you think that he's getting other cards there. That's why he's SO good at what he did. They did call him a "magician's magician", one where other magicians would come to watch him.

[@Bronzescorpion]

The trick is quite simple and doesn't need additional cards, there were always two blacks and one red. Remember that Ricky Jay can top deal and bottom deal with ease. So he shows a card, put down another and shows the same card again. The trick is you think that he puts down the cards that he shows, but he doesn't.

[@qbb01]

@@Bronzescorpion Literally took the words from my mouth. It's just very good dealing from top and bottom.

[@scottrackley4457]

He never substituted a card. Yes that was misdirection.

[@mamzersdream1]

Awesome

[@phildirt3]

Ricky should have become a professional gambler

[@violinhunter2]

What Ricky Jay does takes hours and hours of practice - like Jascha Heifetz used to do..... Then it looks easy, as if anyone could do it, but,....

[@sizzlechestmcmurphy4365]

You misspelled "decades of practice"...

[@MA-vw1pl]

god bless the woman in the red lololol.

[@JukeJointJezbelle]

He was brilliant in Boogie Nights.

[@andrewburgemeister6684]

He was in a couple of films including Boogie Nights and 007 Tomorrow Never Dies in the same year, Magnolia in 1999 and The Prestige in 2006 in which he acted as a consultant on!

[@HarrisonsFord]

Rest in peace you shady son of a bitch. You entertained me more than once!

[@paulamiles9559]

Ricky Jay was a national institution.

[@user-uy2wj5rk8q]

He is gone r.i.p

[@manninghr1]

enjoyed this 2mins clip of Jack ****

[@ludvigborga3676]

I would watch the senate hearings if the congress people did this.

[@kunkushun1]

NEVER KNEW Ricky Jay & PBS were ever occasiated lmao.

[@ericdew2021]

He and Richard Turner are equally amazing. They aren't magicians. They're both what Turner calls (himself) Card Mechanics. Basically, they can feel the card's value from the thickness of the ink on the card. They know where each card is during each shuffle. They know where they placed each card, and when they hand the card to someone else to shuffle, they know where the cards are when the deck is returned to him.

[@enginerdy]

Not to spoil anything, but a lot of what Richard Turner is saying and what he is *doing* are not ... you know... the same. As Penn says, "Magicians lie." He's outrageously talented, but not as honest as he claims haha

[@TheFreakOnee]

@@enginerdy You got it, plus Ricky Jay is an always been a magician, yes interested in card-sharks and everything but he's a magician nonetheless.

[@ThunderChunky101]

Look... Anyone... Link to the full documentary?

[@kalvin1123]

Can his show be considered a play? Then his estate can choose someone to perform it today. It'll say, (Name) performs Ricky Jay and his 52 Assistants. I never got a chance to see a live performance of his.

[@TheFreakOnee]

It can't because patter to magicians is something they invent on their own and is very personal to them, two magicians might do the EXACT same effect but two different patters makes that effect different and that with other elements is what made Ricky, yk Ricky fucking Jay.

[@kalvin1123]

@@TheFreakOnee I'm too young to have seen a live performance. I'm sad I'll never get a chance. Ricky learned a lot from Dai Vernon. That's one generation away. Once Ricky's generation is gone...

[@michael2244]

Don't play cards with that guy

[@superscatboy]

I'd gladly play cards with him, it would be an honour to be seen off with such finesse lol

[@4jaks]

The trick consists of 1 queen and 2 identical other cards. He just shows the queen again while dropping the 2 of clubs off the top of the deck onto the table. This way it gives off the illusion as tho he has 2 queens when in fact he has only 1 at the front face of the deck and a 2 of clubs on the top. Don't take my word on this, i'm not a magician i just think i know whats going on.

[@nigelbryant7980]

Meashling Wow you're so cool, thanks for exposing a trick that is hundreds of years old that you apparently don't respect, you're awesome!

[@4jaks]

I don't do magic its just like I can see that from just observing the trick. Just cos I solved the trick doesn't mean I don't respect it.

[@RodelIturalde]

It is not like it is hard to figure out how it is done. The hard part is to execute in a flawless manner.

[@TheChannelofaDisappointedMan]

Wrong. There is only one queen

[@RingJando]

Ricky Jay knows Wise-guys? Sure, what a hustler - he can hardly breathe and he is voice is quivering in the manner of a nervous wreck; working behind his out-dated repertoire. Humble-pie in a pig's eye!

[@VeeeeryyyFaaaastSlooooth]

Drugs are bad, mkaaay?

[@randysager3523]

Yes he does know them. Your uneducated point is what?

[@Maddolis]

Drugs are great, don't compare them to this guy's stupid comment.

[@RayoAtra]

5 years ago you were an absolute idiot. I bet nothing has changed.

[@faro1875]

Yes, he knew a number of card and dice hustlers. Get your head out of your ass before you speak.