Ricky has been hailed as one of the greatest sleight of hand artists of all time, and was known for his crazy card and memory tricks. Jun 12, 2008 recently, i got into card throwing, boomerangs, etc. Ricky jay remembered by a former personal assistant. Ricky jay biography, age, wife, cards, on the stem, books. Legendary magician and actor ricky jay has passed away. Ricky jay is a national treasure but unfortunately is, in this show, well past his prime. The technique often attributed to alexander herrmann, and taught in ricky jays book cards as weapons 1977, involves gripping the middle of the card. The technique often attributed to alexander herrmann, and taught in ricky jays book cards as weapons 1977, involves gripping the middle of the card horizontally between the thumb and the middle finger, while the index finger rests on the corner of the card nearest the hand and away from the body. Card throwing learn card throwing from rick smith jr. Master of the lethal scaling system, jay has been seen slicing into watermelons, snapping pencils, and tossing numerous cards at once with powerful force. Remembering master magician and sleightofhand artist ricky jay jay, who died sunday, was an avid scholar of con games and could make cards disappear and reappear in ways that seemed impossible. Ricky jay discusses his new book celebrations of curious characters with pulitzerprize winning critic joe morgenstern at the usc campus center ballroom, saturday april 30th at 2. Ricky jay, for some reason, will not allow the book to be reprinted. Ricky jay biography, age, wife, cards, on the stem, books and.
An illustration of a computer application window wayback machine an illustration of an open book. At first glance cards as weapons looks like a book that should be shelved in the humor section, but ricky jay is serious about throwing cards. Indeed, jay is the unquestioned champion of the art in 1976, jay propelled a playing card 195 feet at 90 mph, gaining him entry into the guinness book of world records. Theres a whole section on the history of card throwing, and a nice assortment of photos of nude women with cards.
Ricky jay magician, sleightofhand artist extraordinaire, actor, author, scholar of weirdness and oddities, guinness award winner for throwing playing cards passed away on november 24th. So after about 8 reported years of research and studying, he wrote a book, cards as weapons. There are multiple techniques for throwing cards in this manner. May 19, 2011 for fifty years, ricky jay has studied, archived, and reenacted the work of card hustlers, cannonball catchers, and performers from the far reaches of entertainment history. Ricky jay is one of the worlds most accomplished showmen, a worldrenowned magician and sleightofhand artist, particularly famed for his card throwing stunts. I was introduced to ricky jay one morning in the late 1970s while staying home sick from jr. I like that ricky jay lifted whole sections of his script from erdnase. Ricky jay demonstrates his amazing card throwing ability. He is known for his work on magnolia 1999, boogie nights 1997 and heist 2001. Aug 06, 20 i like that ricky jay lifted whole sections of his script from erdnase. Sleight of hand master ricky jay on the best magic trick ever performed. Its a book about card throwing considered as a mean of selfdefense. He was also known for card throwing and incredible memory feats. Should you wish to practice your scaling, this offering comes with a 10 aluminum playing cards made from a sheet of metal.
Ricky jay showed up in 1976, fresh from beating a guinness world record for card throwing. He tosses them high and far, almost defying gravity. It teaches to throw a playing card very far, quite strong and accurately you can tear some newspapers and some other tricks. I think a better tribute to ricky jay would be a gambling demonstration or card throwing. In addition to acting, ricky jay was an accomplished magician and listed in the guiness book of world records for throwing a playing card 190feet. Sleight of hand master ricky jay on the best magic trick ever. The presentation demonstrates a showman without energy. Jay was listed in the guinness book of records for throwing a playing card 190 ft at 90 miles per hour. The effects are secondrate compared to his ability, the comments, while amusing, lack depth. Jay was until recently, listed in the guinness book of records for throwing a playing card 190 ft at 90 miles per hour, 140 kmh before the record was broken by rick smith, jr. Nov 25, 2018 ricky jay, the renowned magician, sleightofhand artist, card thrower and actor who appeared in boogie nights and deadwood, died saturday at the age of 72 his manager winston simone confirmed. Ricky jay, magician and boogie nights and magnolia actor. This is the book that made jon wedd famous for his appearance on mtvs unfiltered news show. Ricky jay, the renowned magician, sleightofhand artist, card thrower and actor who appeared in boogie nights and deadwood, died saturday at the age of 72 his manager winston simone confirmed.
Mar 04, 2007 ricky jay throws cards on an episode of mythbusters. Even has a few pictures of a totally nude gal throwing cards. Ricky jay performs threecard monte with steve martin, who attempts to rig the trick. Cards as weapons by ricky jay and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Ricky jay is one of the worlds most accomplished showmen, a worldrenowned magician and sleightofhand artist, particularly famed for his cardthrowing stunts. The throwing card is also incredibly hard to master, and it takes quite a bit of time to reach a decent level of accuracy and power. Ricky jay remembered by a former personal assistant critic chris klimek offers a remembrance of the late illusionist, author and actor ricky jay, for whom he worked as a personal assistant. Ricky jay remembered by a former personal assistant critic chris klimek offers a remembrance of the late illusionist, author and actor ricky jay, for whom he worked as a personal assistant over a decade ago. Jay had created a consulting firm, deceptive practices, which provided arcane knowledge on a needtoknow basis.
The first press run seems to have come and gone without causing. The book has been out of print for at least 2o years. Jun 21, 2004 in 1977, magician ricky jay wrote the definitive book on card throwingcards as weaponswith such chapters as cards and the martial arts and selfdefense. His oneman broadway show ricky jay and his 52 assistants was recorded in 1996 for an hbo special. The first press run seems to have come and gone without causing civil unrest on the part of card throwersive never met a. Subtitled a manual on the art of throwing, scaling, juggling, boomeranging and manipulating ordinary playing cards to provide a deadly yet inexpensive means of selfdefense, it features a series of delightful illustrations by artist gary cooley of jay demonstrating these feats, including fending off a giant octopus and landing a tossed playing card atop the great pyramid. Ricky jay could throw a playing card into a watermelon rind which he referred to as the thick, pachydermatous outer melon layer of the most prodigious of household.
Cards as weapons by ricky jay 1977, paperback for sale. After performing a particularly difficult card throwing trick to win a proposition bet with actor john c. Jay was formerly listed in the guinness world records for throwing a playing card 190 ft at 90 miles per hour 140 kmh the current record is 216 feet 66 m by rick smith, jr. He contributed to several projects in the music world, most notably the cddvd ricky jay plays poker and appearances in music videos for bob dylan and jerry garcia. In 1977, magician ricky jay wrote the definitive book on card throwingcards as weaponswith such chapters as cards and the martial arts and selfdefense. Nov 24, 2018 jay was listed in the guinness book of records for throwing a playing card 190 ft at 90 miles per hour. Its a collectors item, due to the celebrity ricky jays attained in the years since, perhaps partly also because it contains a couple of nude. Cards as weapons by jay, ricky and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Due to this, you must be 18, or older, to purchase this book. However, at the same time, i feel incredibly lucky to have seen ricky live last year when he came to nyc for his show cons, cards and conversation.
The great ricky jay was the magicians magician boing boing. Until recently, jay had been listed in the guinness book of records for throwing a playing card 190 ft at 90 miles per hour the current record is 216 ft, by rick smith, jr. Richard jay potash june 26, 1946 november 24, 2018, known professionally as ricky jay, was an american stage magician and actor. In 1977, jay applied his singular wit and ample knowledge to produce cards as weapons, an amusing and irreverent look at the history and techniques of card throwing. I wanted to do similar so i learned a couple of the effects from erdnase and perform them almost exactly as they are written in the book. He could throw a playing card into a watermelon rind which he referred to as the thick, pachydermatous outer melon layer and the most prodigious of household fruits from ten paces. He contributed to several projects in the music world, most notably the cddvd ricky jay plays poker and appearances. For decades, ricky jay dazzled audiences with his card tricks, both up close and as far away as he could throw them a worldrecord. Nov 30, 2018 ricky jay remembered by a former personal assistant critic chris klimek offers a remembrance of the late illusionist, author and actor ricky jay, for whom he worked as a personal assistant. Jays methods and tricks have helped me tremendously in the short time ive been into scaling pasteboards across variable expanses.
Ricky jay performs three card monte with steve martin, who attempts to rig the trick. Ricky jay, gifted magician, actor and author, is dead at 72. Ricky jay held the guinness world record for card throwing in 1976. In 1976, jay showed off his cardthrowing skills as a guest on doug hennings world of magic. Cards as weapons by ricky jay 1977, paperback for sale online. Dec 14, 2019 ricky jay photo ricky jay cards ricky jay card tricks ricky jay card throwing. Ricky jay photo ricky jay cards ricky jay card tricks ricky jay card throwing. Cards as weapons by ricky jay meet your next favorite book. Ricky jay born richard jay potash in 1946 was an american stage magician, actor, and writer.
Ricky jay 4 queens theory11 forums magic discussion. Throwing cards techniques cigam adapted from card as weapons ricky jay within the shuriken class, the throwing card ranks near the bottom in terms of sheer combat effectiveness. For years he held the world record for card throwing. It teaches to throw a playing card very far, quite strong and accurately you. Mar 30, 2008 ricky is the greatest living card thrower. Sleight of hand master ricky jay on the best magic trick. Ricky jay throws cards on an episode of mythbusters.
Baron recalls that at that moment the look in rickys eyes was, like, mortyou have just fucked with the wrong person. Cards as weapons ricky jay 1977 addeddate 20160207 22. Mar 20, 2004 it is a book on card throwing and part humour. Magician rick smith jr guinness book of world record holder.
Its a study of both a fascinating 18th century polymath and a fascinating 21st century polymath who loves him jay, for all his background in deception, has been exacting. Ricky jay was born on june 26, 1946 in brooklyn, new york city, new york, usa as richard jay potash. Indeed, jay is the unquestioned champion of the art in 1976, jay propelled a playing card 195 feet at 90 mph, gaining him entry into the guinness book. He also talks about his classic book cards as weapons. He can also throw a card into the air like a boomerang and cut it cleanly in half with a pair of giant scissors upon its return. From the episode called exploding jawbreaker, season 1. The wrist is cocked inward at a 90degree angle, then flicked briskly outward, propelling the card.
Nov 24, 2018 he was also known for card throwing and incredible memory feats. Card throwing was prominently featured in two of his wildly popular stage productions ricky jay and his 52 assistants and on the stem in which he propelled cards in many impressive ways including, most memorably, into a watermelon. He is notable for his signature card tricks, card throwing, memory feats, and stage patter. After performing a particularly difficult cardthrowing trick to win a proposition bet with actor john c. Remembering master magician and sleightofhand artist. In addition to sleight of hand, jay was known for his card tricks, card throwing, memory feats, and. Ricky jay appeared as himself on the great simpsina, a new episode of the simpsons, which aired april 10. A sumptuous, scholarly, witty new book ricky jays prose sparkles with humor and passion. The cards are at his will and sometimes come back to. Ricky jay is an author, scholar and collector of books, art works and ephemera that delve into the long and international history of magic, conjuring and sleightofhand work. Ricky jay, gifted magician, actor and author, is dead at.
Cards as weapons is a funny look at the techniques of throwing cards. Famous for his astounding ability to throw playing cards, and is. Nov 25, 2018 ricky jay, the mastershowman magician, actor, scholar, special effects consultant and author who was called the most gifted sleightofhand artist alive by writers for the most prestigious. Ricky jay held the guinness world record for card throwing in. Reilly at the end of ricky jay plays poker, jay turns to the camera, beaming, and chortles. Mar 29, 2008 ricky jay demonstrates his amazing card throwing ability. Ricky jay, magician and boogie nights and magnolia. In a profile for the new yorker, mark singer called jay perhaps the most gifted sleight of hand artist alive. Ricky jay was once a card magician until he caught the fever for pure card scaling. They kept teasing that a guy was going to throw cards through a watermelon i just had to watch.
Deceptive practice is a production of hopscotch films. Yes, some cards did stick into a watermelon, but didnt go. Born to a jewishamerican family, jay is considered one of the most knowledgeable and skilled sleightofhand experts in the united states. Jan 21, 2015 sleight of hand master ricky jay on the best magic trick ever performed. Recently, i got into card throwing, boomerangs, etc.
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