THIS IS THE REAL THING

by Tommy Windsor

There has been a lot of literature in print regarding the trick deck called “Svengali.”
There have even been a few booklets and manuscripts that purported to be an “actual”
pitch as used by Svengali pitchmen. Of course, they were not. This will be the very first
time an actual pitch (that is even now being used), has ever appeared in print.

According to the pitchman who uses this spiel, there are only seven full time Svengali
pitchmen in the country now working. How I was able to get him to part with the pitch he
uses to make his living is only my business. This is it, however, as I heard him and saw
him for an entire day, passing out these trick decks at two dollars each.

In spite of all the exposures, the Svengali deck is still one of our greatest props in the
hands of someone who can handle it properly. The pitch you are about to read can be
used as pure entertainment, as a complete act, or as a part of your act. You can alter it,
add to it gag it up, or use it just as is. All you need to do is to announce to your audience
that you are going to give them your impression of a pitchman you saw at the county
fair…then go right into the pitch.

However, there are many opportunities for you to make money with this pitch. If you do
kid shows, spook shows, matinées, or any shows in theatres you can pitch this deck at
intermission. If you are appearing in a school carnival you can sell these decks with the
understanding that this revenue will be a part of your salary. It would be easy for you
to find a place at your local county fair, either in your own booth, or in some merchants
booth. Home shows, auto shows, exhibitions and homecomings, will allow you to pitch
for a small fee.

Dr. Silkini, the spook showman, once asked me if I’d stand in the lobby and sell Svenga-
li decks, after he made the pitch from the stage. One of his assistants was ill or some-
thing, so I took a big carton of these decks out front in the lobby. The doc made the pitch
inside, and told them he’d hold up his show if anyone wanted to go into the lobby to buy
a deck. They swarmed from their seats into the lobby and I was sold out in nothing flat.

Today on TV they are bearing down hard on pitching this deck on some of the children’s
shows. This is on film of course. You can do the same thing at your TV station in person.

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There are many ways you can wrangle or swap some time from the station.

There are no tricks in this book, as the main idea is to sell these decks. To do this you
must show how easy it is to work this deck. If you want tricks and routines with a Sven-
gali deck, ask your dealer. There are two places in this pitch where you can add more
tricks if you so desire. If you are actually going to sell these decks, it is a good idea to
have a few extra tricks to show some spectator who needs more convincing…after your
regular pitch is over or between pitches.

IF YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR SVENGALI

For the benefit of those who came in late…all the tricks used with this deck are made
possible because the deck is composed of 26 regular all different cards and 26 dupli-
cates or force or key cards. The key cards are all cut shorter than the regular cards.
When the cards are “min” from hand to hand, two cards go at a time instead of just one
card. When you do a double lift you pick up two cards instead of one because the short
card is on the top. Here are some pointers: Every alternate card in the deck should be a
key card. After a key card is removed from any part of the deck, it should be returned to
the same place. The cards should always be squared up by tapping them on your hand
or on a table to settle the short cards. It is possible to riffle shuffle these cards without
disturbing their arrangement, but this will take lots of practice. You can square-cut this
deck as often as you like.

I can recommend these two books if you want to learn more about this deck. The first
will be hard to get “STUTHARD’S SVENGALI SUBTLETIES” by Joe Stuthard (now
available from Trickshop.com), the Canadian Funatic. This man forgot more about the
Svengali deck than you and I will ever know. The second book can easily be supplied by
your dealer, “75 TRICKS WITH A SVENGALI DECK” by Al Stevenson. This is a pretty
hefty book, and as complete as it is…it still does not tell you the proper way to run the
cards in showing them all different. I will now explain this move and another one that is
essential in using this trick pack.

RUNNING THE CARDS

One thing you must never do is to hold the deck tightly in one hand and riffle the tops of
the cards with the other thumb. Not only because the spectators don’t get a good look

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 at the cards, but it is a dead give away as to the deck
you are using. Instead you will show the cards like this:
Hold the pack in your right hand. The bottom or end of the
pack is resting at the tips of your second, third and fourth
fingers, and thumb at the top of the pack, index finger at
back, pressing slightly to make the cards a bit concave.
The left hand is held flat, palm up, with the edge of the
palm just below the three fingers of the right hand. Left thumb is pointed away from you.
If you gently release the cards from your right thumb, and let them drop neatly into your
left hand (SEE FIG. ONE) the cards can be shown to be all different, and any of the face
down cards in left hand that is touched will be a key card. By reversing the deck, and
running as above, the cards can be shown to be all key cards.

THE DOUBLE LIFT

Doing the double lift with this deck is almost as im-

portant as running the cards properly. Hold the pack
in your left hand face down. The right hand apparently
picks up the top card in this manner: The right thumb
is at the bottom edge of the next to top card. The top
card is a short force or key card. The right index finger
is at the center of the top card. Middle finger is at the
outer end of the top card. Now exert a slight pressure
with your forefinger, and at the same time, lift the bottom and top edges of the top regu-
lar card, (SEE FIG. TWO) and you can show two cards as one card.

THE REAL SVENGALI PITCH

Here it is…we’re gonna do it…we’ll make a pack of cards walk, talk, snort, jump thru a
hoop and play the piano! I’ll make ’em disappear one at a time…two at a time…then all
together, and then make ’em reappear out of thin air…both visibly and invisibly.

First of all, let me explain. THIS IS NOT AN ORDINARY DECK OF CARDS…IT IS A

MECHANICAL TRICK DECK OF CARDS…DESIGNED SO THAT ANYONE CAN DO
TRICKS WITH IT…WITHOUT ANY SKILL OR PRACTICE WHATSOEVER.

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I’ll do about three tricks with this deck…BUT I’M NOT HERE TO FOOL YOU OR TRICK
YOU…ONLY TO SHOW YOU HOW THIS DECK WORKS…SO AFTER I DO THREE
TRICKS…I’LL TAKE THIS DECK APART…AND I’LL SHOW YOU JUST EXACTLY
WHAT MAKES IT DO THE STRANGE THINGS IT DOES. . .

Now for the first trick, I’ll take this top card (do double lift, Fig. Two and show indiffer-
ent card)…the King of Hearts…put it back on the deck then slide it off onto the table…
now we’ll cover it with the card box so it won’t blow away. Now you sir, just stick your
hand into the pack anywhere and take a card. (Run the cards as Fig. One) THAT’S THE
CARD WE’LL USE FOR THIS TRICK. (Spectator sticks hand right into the pack as the
cards are falling from one hand to the other, of course, the force card or key card is
already under the box on the table). What card is that, sir…the ACE OF SPADES…(this
is the force or key card). Okay, we’ll let your card, the Ace of Spades stick half way out
of the deck like this…then I’ll tap your card, the Ace of Spades right thru the pack, and
make it change places with the king…ready?…did you see it go? Okay, notice now, that
the ace is no longer in the pack…(run the cards)…but the top card is now the King of
Hearts…so if I have the king here…it can’t be on the table…RIGHT? Just turn that card
over yourself mister, and look surprised.

If you want to insert more tricks into this pitch…this is the spot to put them.

Now I promised I’d show you how it was done…YOU SEE, THESE CARDS ARE
MADE IN OUR FACTORY IN CINCINNATI…SO THAT THE ONLY CARD YOU CAN
TAKE FROM THIS PACK…IS THE ACE OF SPADES…NOW I KNOW THAT SOUNDS
FUNNY, BECAUSE YOU SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT CARDS IN THE PACK…BUT
WATCH…(now show two different people they always get the Ace of Spades…then ask
someone to call out a number…then say that is exactly where their card is from the top
of the deck…count down…do the double lift, showing an indifferent card act like you
messed it up…put the double lift back…slide force card off top…then have the spectator
turn it over to disclose the Ace of Spades).

BY NOW SOMEONE IS SAYING, THIS FAKER…ER, FELLER…IS USING HALF A

DOZEN ACES…A HALF DOZEN…WHY BE STINGY?…THE WHOLE PACK IS THE
ACE OF SPADES! (Run cards in reverse and show them). NOW COME IN REAL
CLOSE, I PROMISED I’D SHOW YOU HOW THIS TRICK WORKS, AND I’LL DO IT
RIGHT NOW. SEE THIS ACE AND THIS OTHER CARD? THE ACE IS DIE CUT ON

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A SPECIAL MACHINE IN OUR FACTORY, AND IT’S 1/64th OF AN INCH SHORT-
ER THAN EVERY OTHER CARD IN THE DECK. HERE, I’LL PUT THE TWO TO-
GETHER AND I’LL SHOW YOU…DO YOU SEE IT?…AND YOU?…SEE IT THERE?
NOW THIS IS WHAT THE GAMBLERS AND PROFESSIONAL MAGICIANS CALL
A “SHAVED DECK” OR A TRIMMED DECK. NOW THAT’S HALF THE SECRET…
HERE’S THE OTHER HALF…THESE CARDS ARE TREATED ON THE FACE AND ON
THE BACK…WITH A MAGNETIC FINISH…so THAT ONE ATTRACTS THE OTHER…
AND WITH THIS COMBINATION OF THE DIE CUT…AND THE MAGNETIC FINISH…
WHENEVER YOU TOUCH A CARD IN THIS PACK ON ITS FACE…YOU GET AN
ORDINARY CARD…LIKE THIS…BUT THE MINUTE THAT CARD FALLS…(suit the
action to the word)…AND THE VICTIM…ER, THE MAN TOUCHES IT…IT BECOMES
THE ACE OF SPADES…SEE? AND I DON’T CARE HOW SLOW…OR HOW FAST…
HOW MANY…OR WHO DOES IT!! SEE THIS? HERE IS THE TEN OF CLUBS…
IT’LL NEVER CHANGE…BUT THE MINUTE IT FALLS…TAKE IT WILL YOU?…YOU
SEE IT BECOMES THE ACE OF SPADES…WANT TO MAKE ’EM ALL ACES?…JUST
RUN YOUR THUMB OVER THE BACKS…YOU GOT A WHOLE PACK OF ACES
OF SPADES…RUN YOUR THUMB OVER THE FACES…THEY ARE ALL REGULAR
CARDS AGAIN! NOW THIS IS SO SIMPLE, A TEN YEAR OLD BOY CAN DO IT…(now
demonstrate with one of the kids standing around…let him hold the pack and riffle with
his thumb, etc. You direct him).

I’VE SAVED THE GREATEST TRICK OF ALL FOR LAST! I’M GONNA SHOW YOU
HOW TO STEAL MONEY…ER, WIN MONEY WITH THIS DECK!! You sir, will you be
the victim…er, friend? OKAY…do yourself a favor…you don’t tell your friend that every
time he touches a card on the back, it’s gonna be an ace. Okay? By the way, did I tell
you that each pack of cards comes complete with instructions for twelve tricks. The in-
structions are completely illustrated to make each move clear. YOU’LL BE ABLE TO DO
EVERYTHING I’M DOING IN TWO MINUTES AFTER READING THESE INSTRUC-
TIONS…(show instruction sheet both sides).

(Now you introduce a great human failing…GREED…this is the same as any con
game…the victim thinks he will get something for nothing).

Now show your friend the cards are all different (from now on, suit action to words)…
have him take a card…YOU KNOW HE GETS THE ACE…but you don’t tell him that…
tell him you’ll cut the cards and lose his card in the pack…NOW TELL HIM YOU HAVE

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CUT HIS CARD TO THE TOP…(you do double lift) just let him get a flash of the card,
and he sees regular card…your doing a double lift here, but you don’t tell him that…
He gets a quick look at the Two of Hearts…you put it back on the pack…slide off the
top one…put it down on the table…and YOU KNOW THE CARD IS NOW HIS CARD.
THE ACE OF SPADES…BUT HE DON ’T KNOW THAT…HE THINKS IT’S THE TWO
OF HEARTS. BET HIM THE MONEY YOU SPENT FOR THIS DECK (lay two dollar
bills beside the key card) THAT THIS IS HIS CARD…HE’LL BREAK HIS HAND GO-
ING INTO HIS POCKET TO COVER THE BET! I’VE SEEN ’EM TEAR THEIR UNDER-
WEAR GETTING THE MONEY OUT! THAT’S RIGHT…PUT HIS MONEY IN YOUR
POCKET…YOUR TRICK DECK HAS JUST PAID FOR ITSELF…HE TURNS OVER
THE CARD…IT’S THE ACE OF SPADES…THE SECOND PICTURE DOWN ON THE
INSTRUCTION SHEET SHOWS YOU HOW TO DO THIS.

BUT WAIT…SUPPOSE YOUR FRIEND IS A SORE LOSER…SUPPOSE HE SAYS HE

DIDN’T TAKE THE ACE? NOW DON’T CALL HIM A LIAR…THAT’S NOT NICE…JUST
PICK UP THE PACK…RUN THEM THIS WAY…THEY’RE ALL ACES…AND THEN ASK
HIM WHICH ONE HE DID TAKE!!! WANTA HAVE MORE FUN??? TURN THE PACK
AROUND, SHOW THEM ALL REGULAR CARDS…THIS GUY WILL WALK AWAY
TALKING TO HIMSELF! IF HE’S A DRINKER, HE JUST SWITCHED TO ORANGE
JUICE!!!

NOW I’M GONNA OPEN UP ANOTHER DECK AND JUST WATCH WHAT THIS ONE
WILL DO…BY THE WAY, IF YOU WANTA GET A DECK OF THESE CARDS, AND I
DON’T BLAME YOU…THESE ARE NEWLY INVENTED…PLASTIC COATED CARDS
AND THEY WILL NEVER WEAR OUT…THEY’LL NEVER DIE OUT…THEY CAN’T…
THEY’RE NOT PAPER…THEY ARE ONLY TWO DOLLARS AND THAT INCLUDES
TAX.

SO IF YOU’VE GOT A COUPLE OF BUCKS, AND YOU WANTA HAVE SOME FUN…
JUST SPEAK UP…I’LL BE GLAD TO WAIT ON YOU…

(At this point, your shill or “stick” steps up with his money in his hand). YOU WANT ONE
THERE SIR…AND YOU BACK THERE SIR? ALL RIGHT…LOOK YOU RUN YOUR
DECK FORWARD, IT’S ALL REGULAR…YOU RUN THIS PACK BACK THE OTHER
WAY, AND THEY’RE ALL THE THREE OF DIAMONDS (now you make the buyers wait
as you repeat over and over that you run ’em this way, they’re all different, run ’em this

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way, they’re all the same…or you can show a couple more tricks that are real clinch-
ers…this is in order to hold the crowd, allow them to make up their mind to buy, etc.

end of the pitch

My pitchman was working a small fair. When the crowd was very light he would sell
only about 8 to 10 packs per hour, doing this pitch about four times hourly. But when the
crowds were heavy, he would pass out about 60 packs per hour in four pitches. In case
you are ever “stranded” and want to make up these decks to sell, just go to a discount
store and buy 26 decks. Then to a printer and have him cut as little as he can from one
end of the force cards, then re-assemble the decks.

However if you are going to sell these decks, the best way is to buy them wholesale,
complete with nice instructions from a magic wholesaler.

When I was quite young I sold a lot of these decks, not by doing a real pitch…but just by
showing the deck, doing some tricks, and someone would generally say, “I wish I could
get a deck like that”…so I’d sell him that deck.

I know of one magician playing club and banquet dates, who would pull out a Svengali
deck after the affair was over, and do a good routine for the stragglers that remained,
finally offering the decks for sale. He made enough on the side this way to pay for his
motel bill.

All the most important points of this pitch are in capital letters, and the very important
points to stress are underlined.