Here's a clip of him doing a short ambitious card routine ( listen to the gasp the lady at the table lest out when the car is back on top of the deck. ) and them card to wallet/envelope.

http://www.mastermagic.info/videos/

There is another clip that is incredible. Same year and he's doing 3 card Monte. What make this one real is that Tony Randall helps him as a stooge and "bends the corner" when Mike isn't looking. The audience is led down the garden path. Watch the Master in action.

Are you talking about his Ultamite 3 card monte or just his regular routine? Cuz I would love to see that clip.

Great videos. He is performing an ungaffed version of the 3 Card Monte. It's actually Tony Curtis, not Tony Randall, that does the bending of the card when Michael Skinner "isn't looking".

Nope, it's Randall. Look closer.

Strange, I can recall my absolutely first memories of magic 1974 in my childhood area in sweden. I was 6 years old.
Sad, that they didn't broadcast this show in swedish television 1974.

I took a look and it is Tony Curtis who plays the stooge and bends the card. I believe one of the other guests may have been Tony Randall.

Great clips! Thanks!! Tony Curtis (Houdini) bends the corner. I believe this is Vernon's 3 Card Monte routine. Great Card to Wallet, too. Nice to see Mike Skinner in his prime.

Robert

I don't need to but I suggest you view it again. It's definitely Tony Curtis.

The other two are Jack Lemmon and Joe Flynn.

It is NOT Randall. It is Tony Curtis

The other two actors in the Monte clip are Joe Flynn, and Jack Lemmon.

One other note. Skinner performing the card in Wallet on the Tonight Show is the first time it was ever performed on National television.

Just for curiosity: what kind of "card to wallet" is it?

Wow, those are great video clips.

I found the Three Card Monte to be extremely entertaining!

Thank you for sharing!!

Rich

WOW WOW. I am a die hard fan of Michael Skinner. I have searched years for these clips of Skinner performing on the tonight show. He was AWESOME!

Thanks very very much for these clips, MagicChris.

Daniel

It looks like a LePaul wallet.

It is what is known as a Jennings/LePaul wallet so you are correct.

It was, as I recall, the beautifully made LePaul-style wallet for the LePaul "Cards in Envelope" from the "Card Magic of LePaul", the basis for what has come to be the "Card in Wallet". I say beautiful because the one that Mike used for quite a long time was made by Bill Gusias, an old friend of Ed Marlo's (they did a "Card to Wallet" manuscript together). Bill was also a friend and confidente of Mike's, as well as Charlie Miller, Jeff Busby (for who he made the co-called "Jennings" Card to Wallet), Francis Carlyle (who came to be very closely associated with the trick. In fact, it was one of Francis' signature effects and is featured in the book "The Magic of Francis Carlyle", by Roger Pierre), "The Professor", etc. Good company he kept, hmmm?

(As an aside, the REAL story of the wallet has been told, but not nearly as loudly as it should have been. Check around and make sure you look for Ron Bauer's name, since that's who is really responsible for the wallet for this effect, at least as most of you know it today!)

Bill made all manner of fine props for magicians. He made a beautiful "Stamp Album", in full leather, for Charlie Miller. Bill was a master mechanic, and also made professional holdout machines for gamblers, as well as gaffed dice cups, bean shooters (Charlie Miller is purported to have invented the Bean Shooter), etc.

For magicians Bill made things like the "Stamp Album", the leather cones for Vernon's "Ball and Cone" effect, the aforementioned wallets, smaller cones for the "Cap and Pence" (I have a gorgeous one for quarters and I use it to perform "Liepzig's Pride"), and just about anything you might need custom made. Mike is using the Gusias-made wallet in this video clip. I wonder if Carson ordered one after the show?

Best, PSC

The real question (about the card-to-wallet video) is: who here is old enough to understand why everyone (himself included) kept referring to Alex Karras as "Mongo"?

Here's where the real power of the internet comes in handy:

http://www.answers.com/topic/alex-karras

So, Paul... what wallet available today is the equivalent? Personally, I think this is the ultimate version of "Card to Wallet" unlike recent no-palm versions.

Thanks,
Robert

I stand corrected-It's Curtis.

I remember and I didn't have to look it up to jog my memory. Blazing Saddles is one of my favorite comedies.