A lot of you guys are quite good in the origins of certain tricks. I was always curious about the similarities between Mike Skinner's Ultimate 3 Card Monte and Mike Roger's Unconquered Card. It is almost the same trick though none of the two Mike's referred to each other. Also both tricks came out in approximately the same time...

While I am not familiar with the Mike Roger's handling of the effect, the first time I ever read of the use of those particular gimmicked cards for a monte effect was in Vernon's Ultimate Secrets of Card Magic and was credited to Eddie Taytelbaum from Holland.


Take care,

Dorian Rhodell

Yes, Mr. Skinnerfs routine is based on Eddie Taytelbaumfs routine gFind the Aceh. That is described in the manuscript of gUltimate Three Card Monteh. I donft know Mike Rogerfs routine. Where can I find it?

I know where both the routines had their sources. I know Eddie Taytelbaum personally (and am planning to have an interview with him in the near future for a Dutch magic journal).
What tickles me though is why both routines, being almost the same never refer to each other.
Mike Roger's routine was a marketed effect sold by Jeff Busby...

The Taytelbaum cards were all the same suit (Clubs), whereas the Skinner cards are the Ace of Hearts and the Two and Three of clubs. That is the only difference that I am aware of.

Regards,
Thomas Wayne

Peter Pitt had a jumbo, club/stage version out a couple of decades before either Skinner or Rogers put out their standard Poker sized version. Peter was one of the first to use the contrasting red ace (the idea that made the Roger’s/Skinner versions so strong to magicians).

I believe that his version was contemporary to Taytelbaum’s. The moves that Peter used are almost identical to the moves used in both the Rogers and Skinner versions. But then, the gimmicked card almost dictates how the cards must be moved to affect the effect!

Finally, DeLand, the great gimmicked card inventor, put out a set of cards with the gimmick index back in the early 1920’s. However his routine was not a Monte. But then that is really ancient history!

Harry, is the Peter Pitt jumbo routine you're referring to "Chase the Ace?"

The Peter Pit routine was exclusively marketed thru Supreme Magic in the UK.
It was sold as a bonus routine to their "Giant Size Clever Ace".
The cards are great and are part of my stand-up shows for years.
Peter Pit adds a clever idea by using a bulldog clip as a marker while hiding the fake "I"...
It was not a very clearly written routine though.