He remained in Boston for nearly seven years before moving back to New York. Unlike the performing magicians of the time, it was audience reactions that guided his performances. Slydini was an expert in timing and misdirection and it showed. The agent recognized his skills and flawless sleight of hand which he performed with playing cards, coins and two ordinary white silks. On a visit to his sister in Boston during the 1930s, Slydini attracted the attention of an agent, landing a job for $15 a day for a three-day-a-week show. Tony was a shortened name for his given name Quintino and so, thus was "Tony Slydini" born. The other acts on the bill became friendly with the magician and told him that they thought the name Tony Foolem was a poor choice and between them, they worked out the "Tony Slydini" stage name – the "sly" for being slick, and the "Dini" to follow the vogue for having something akin to the well known name of the successful Houdini. In 1935, while Slydini was playing a museum in Paterson, New Jersey, the manager billed him as "Tony Foolem", in the absence of any better suggestion by Marucci (as Slydini was still known). He was entertaining everyday workers and their families, but gaining valuable experience, knowledge and psychological expertise, while traveling and meeting people from coast to coast. From there, Slydini found work in carnivals and sideshows throughout the country. Hubert's provided the young magician with a grand platform, on which he could experiment and continue to enhance and develop his already sharpened skills. The Dime museum was designed as a center for entertainment for the working class, and in New York City, where many immigrants settled, they provided popular and inexpensive entertainment. In 1930, he moved to New York City, finding a job in at Hubert's Dime museum on 42nd Street. But soon, the Great Depression struck that continent and work became scarce. He became so good at it that he continually fooled the magicians for whom he performed, so much so that the famous dean of magicians, Dai Vernon, once remarked, "Slydini is the only magician who could ever fool me." Īs a young man, Slydini had worked in South America's version of vaudeville for a time. He was inspired by the relationship between a magician and his audience, which fueled his desire to be a close-up artist who would work intimately with the spectators. Įarly on, Slydini was attracted to the psychological aspects of his art, which would continually show itself in his magic in the form of precise and expert use of timing and misdirection. Yet, without any help or guidance, he focused on his craft and reinvented much of the popular magic of the time, along with developing many new effects and illusions. He had no access to books on magic, nor personal instruction or magical performing apparatus of any kind. It was there that he began to experiment more seriously with magic. While still young, Slydini and his uncle left Italy to live in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was the son of an amateur magician, who encouraged him to pursue sleight of hand at an early age. Tony Slydini was born as Quintino Marucci in Foggia, Italy. 1.5 Seminars, publications, and the closing years.During his lifetime, Tony Slydini was inducted into the Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame as a Living Legend. For his work, he received the highest honors that his profession could bestow, including both the coveted Masters Fellowship Award and Performing Fellowship Award from the Academy of Magical Arts.
Jay american magician who was featured on american masters series#
Although he was best known as a master of close-up artistry, he continually demonstrated an extraordinary performing ability and during his lifetime was responsible for a long series of books, films and publications highlighting his mastery of the magical crafts. As a result, he served as an inspiration to generations of well-known magicians, celebrities and entertainers, including Doug Henning, Dick Cavett, Bill Bixby, Ricky Jay, David Copperfield and countless others. He traveled the world performing for the public as well as performing and lecturing fellow magicians. His mastery, expertise, originality and innovative approach to close-up artistry magic, earned him a legendary reputation in the magic world. Tony Slydini (September 1, 1900, Foggia, Italy – January 15, 1991), simply known as Slydini, was a world-renowned magician.
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