Scamming with John Scarne

The name John Scarne (Orlando Carmelo Scarnecchia, 1903-1985) was brought back to me recently when I was working on my article on NYC’s magic shops for Chelsea Community News. That’s three years ago already, though! The more precipitating cause was my recent re-watching of The Sting for this 50th anniversary piece. Scarne was not only an adviser on card manipulation in the film, he actually stands in for Paul Newman in that scene just before the big poker game on the train, when he warms himself up with with a bunch of sleight of hand. Sorry to spoil your illusions! Newman could race automobiles…he could make spaghetti sauce…and on most occasions, he could even act! But he couldn’t do those card tricks.

Even if you do not recognize Scarne’s limber digits from that scene in The Sting, chances are, if you really search your brain, you’ll know Scarne’s name. I did, anyway. I’d had copies of his paperback books as a kid, and later shelved them when I worked in a bookstore. They include Scarne on Dice (1945), Scarne on Cards (1949), Scarne on Card Tricks (1950), Scarne’s Magic Tricks (1953), The Amazing World of John Scarne (1956), Scarne’s Complete Guide To Gambling (1961), The Odds Against Me (1966), Scarne’s Encyclopedia of Games (1973), The Mafia Conspiracy (1976), and Scarne’s Guide to Casino Gambling (1978). In the ’60s and ’70s, was a frequent quest on The Tonight Show (with both Jack Paar and Johnny Carson) as well as The Mike Douglas Show.

Like Dean Martin, Scarne was born into the Italian-American community of Steubenville, Ohio. He spent most of his life in New Jersey. His principal mentor in the legit magic world was Nate Leipzig, but since boyhood he had also studied at the feet of genuine cardsharps and other street hustlers. Part of his act (and his literary mandate) was to reveal the secrets of con men and unscrupulous dealers in casinos.

For more on the history of variety entertainmentconsult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous, and pleasestay tuned for my upcomingElectric Vaudeville: A Century of Radio and TV Variety.