What can you tell me about Tony Giorgio? I hear his name all the time when cardshaping work is mentioned but I can not find much about him. Has he any teaching material.

Tommy

Tommy: Tony put out a couple of manuscripts I believe. One of them was on the bottom deal and now sells for $300 or so since it is out of print. You might still be able to find one at elmagicshop.com. Tony also sold the Allen/Giorgio shiner a few years back and with the shiner he provided a manuscript on the use of the shiner. I don't know of anything else he has in print other than the columns he has written in Genii magazine over the years.

During the 90's he had a regular column wherein he discussed Erdnase and what he considered to be the real work. He would usually focus on a particular statement in Erdnase and then present his evidence as to why he didn't consider Erdnase to be a book about card cheating as much as simply a book on sleight-of-hand magic.

He's obviously very knowledgeable and has done the real stuff back in the mid-1900's, he just hasn't published much of anything to my knowledge. There was a Genii issue from 2003 or 2004 that did a cover-story on Tony and there's some interesting stuff in it. He's also done a lot of acting and, in fact, played a gangster in "The Godfather".

David Malek, who runs the elmagicshop.com, has been a protege of Tony's for years so I'm sure he has loads of stories to tell about Tony.

Emeprod

So that is him! I thought that was just an actor with the same name. Thanks for all the info. I understand that he did do some work at the card table and I read a little of what he said about my pal Erdnase, so I thought just maybe he might have some moves that could be better than Erdnase. That would interest me if he had, obviously. Anyway thanks for the info. The botton deal thing is some price! Is it something speacial apart from being rare?

Regards

Tommy

I thought Tony Giorgio was an actor playing the part of a magician playing the part of a cheat...?

Best in magic,
John Corey

Tony Giorgio aka Bruno Tattaglia stuck the knife in the hand of Luca Brassi in the best movie ever made "The Godfather". Great article about him in one of the Genii issues.
Rennie

Yes. David Malek, of ELMAGICSHOP.COM, knew him well. David took me to the Castle back in 1990 and I was honored to have met Mr. Giorgio. We all had a few drinks and played around with a couple of effects. What a gentleman. He gave e some very valuable advice about my patter, of all things, that served me well and still guides me in my performances. I'm sure if you contact David he will be more than gracious to answer all you questions.

Giorgio had one of the best close up "acts" I have ever seen combining his acting ability with the three card monte and he was an outstanding performer.

I thought Sollozzo stuck the knife in the hand, Tattagila just held his hand there as the other guy came around on Luca Brassi. Sorry, not trying to derail the thread.

Vandy

You guys seem to talk in the past tense, so is he still around? I am intrigued with his thoughts on the real work and Erdnase. If he is still about it would be interesting to get him here as a guest.

If it is not too impolite, may I to ask if he speaks with the authority of an expert with experience actually from the card table or is he purely a magician.

Regards

Tommy

He is still around.

He currently writes columns on card table artifice for Genii magazine. He is around somewhere, but not at the Castle. He suffered with, I believe, throat cancer and has a very raspy voice. He does some incredible dice switches and card moves too.

He also deals in gold jewelery, swap meets, etc.

Seems to me the Castle could use a guy like Tony, The castle should get rid of some of the flakes now in attendance.

Vandy,
You know something you are right, he grabbed his hand and held it while Sollozzo stabbed it with the knife and then another nice gentleman strangled him from behind. And now Luca sleeps with the fishes..How could I make that mistake as I saw the Godfather more times than any other movie.
Ciao,
Rennie

Agreed...

S.Segal

Do a search at the Genii Forum and see what you find.

Sorry to hear about his illness and I wish him well.
Looks like I need to get the Genii mags. Shame that he has not wrote a book as his work is well respected it appears from reading the above and other comments that I have seen.

Thank you for all your help.

Tommy

Tommy,
You want to pick up the May 2003 issue of Genii and you will learn a lot about Tony..
Rennie

Giorgio has a great article in the latest Genii magazine re: Walter Scott - The Phantom of the Card Table.

Hofzinser

Thanks I would like to read that. Can you get the Genii mag in the UK anywhere or does it have come from the USA.

Tommy

I am a fan and of magicians and in particular card magic. I am not a pro and I never saw this side of magic until I joined the café. It came as a surprise to me to find that you are all human. I mean I had only seen your public face and thought of you as supermen and never imagined magicians quibbled and squabbled with one another. For what it is worth I think it does the art no good to do this in public although it is interesting gossip.

Tommy

Maybe we should ask Tommy... Was your original post asking about Tony the cardsharp/magician and his magic? Or Tony's personal life? Considering he asked this is the CARD MAGIC forum, I would assume the first question will be his answer.
S.Segal