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Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
I have a number of photos and stories of the the shell game operators in Madrid.
Most of them use half-potatos for the shells. Have you seen any of these teams, and have you any stories or info about them? |
Rafael Benatar V.I.P. Spain 165 Posts |
I have seen quite a few, though not much lately. However, I have neer seen the potatoes. The most common in Madrid is plastic bottle caps, I'd say. There is an area called El Rastro, where there is a huge flea market, and that's where they operate the most. I don't see them in the tourist areas (Puerta del Sol, Gran VÃa) anymore. Ron Wohl was in Madrid recently, and I think he took some new pictures.
I remember one gang where the operator and every "player" had the nose the same shape and the eyes the same color. It's interesting to note that these "one-trick magicians" develop their technique and their plots so thoroughly from repetition that they are remarkably similar in different countries. One thing struck me in Caracas, Venezuela, where I'm from. In all my life, I had never seen an operator in Caracas (and I visit often). One day I saw a couple of guys downtown near the magic shop. Henry, the owner of the shop had never seen the shells in Caracas either (I asked him later). The guys didn't seem to have travelled anywhere. They probably came from some small town. And yet, their technique was as sophisticated as tthe NY guys. This man did the bottle caps one-handed on a folded newspaper that he held in the other hand. He looked away for a moment and his partner changed the position of the shells... that sort of thing. I once saw a guy in NY getting caught. He was afro-american (is that the P.C. way?) and saw was the police woman who caught him, who was disguised in street clothes. It was like they knew each other a long time. Like it wasn't a big deal. OK, you caught me, fine. His attitude implied that he would be released in an hour or two. |
Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
Yes. Ron Wohl says he got some great photos by going into the hotel behind the mob, and shooting pictures from the veranda above the street. He said that these guys were using potatoes.
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Rafael Benatar V.I.P. Spain 165 Posts |
Do potatoes offer any advantage?
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martinkaplan Special user Los Angeles 562 Posts |
Whit:
The only time I have seen potatoes used was in Valencia and in the space of 10 city blocks I saw three different games going on. -Marty |
Alfonso New user 2 Posts |
Hey Rafael, Whit and Martin,
I remember taking a fellow magician to downtown LA to see the operators. He "HAD" to take his video camera, and this was about 15 years ago, the kind that held the VCR tape. Needless to say it wasn't appreciated. One guy came over and told him to put it away. My friend thought he would be clever and put it on the ground (red light blinking) I could just feel the vib around us changing, finally I told my freind to put it away. He tried to show the guy the Vernon 2 card monte move... not interested. |
PaulGreen Inner circle 1133 Posts |
Hi Rafael and associates,
While on an industrial date in Majorca, Spain, I witnessed two groups playing with the hollowed potatoes. It was during an open-air market. Each group was positioned at the beginning and end of the street. Their moves were quite good and they had the ability to speak English. One of their shills was a middle-aged woman that appeared to be British, or American, or German as dictated by the suckers they brought into the "tip". Very educational! Regards, Paul Green |
Rafael Benatar V.I.P. Spain 165 Posts |
Have you got that address, Marty?
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martinkaplan Special user Los Angeles 562 Posts |
It was close by the train station. As I recall, I left the train station through the main exit/entrance and turned left and walked along that main street. This was about three years ago, so I have no idea if they are still plying their trade.
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Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
The potatoes were used in the states very often in the twenties and thirties. They are cheap, easy to make, and disposable--they can leave the evidence at the scene. A half potato does not survive well to make good evidence in court.
The shell mobs are rarely interested in talking to magicians. They are working, and usually do not want to waste time discussing the finer points of their "art." They know what they need to know, and are not performers seeking to improve a show. They have a workable scam and are as single-mindedly devoted to making money as a lap-dancer. |
PaulGreen Inner circle 1133 Posts |
So,... The penultimate scammer would be a lapdancing, three shell operator. My mind is boggled.
Regards, Paul Green |
Wendy Wylde New user Aurora, Colorado 59 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-11-13 10:19, PaulGreen wrote: Well, it would be one interesting career move on the part of said lapdancing, 3 shell operator. Talk about finding a niche... Wendy CoyoteQuixote http://www.wendywylde.com
If you have ghosts, you have everything....
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Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
[quote]On 2004-11-13 10:51, CoyoteQuixote wrote:
Quote:
and that's the Hokey Pokey... |
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