Frank Garcia (magician)

Frank Garcia (May 8, 1927 – July 15, 1993) was a magician and professional gambler. He was known as "The Man With The Million Dollar Hands." His specialty was gambling scams and cheating.

Frank Garcia
Born
Frank Garcia

(1927-05-08)May 8, 1927
Manhattan, New York, US
DiedJuly 15, 1993(1993-07-15) (aged 66)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationMagician, performer, teacher, author
Known forsleight of hand, card magic, card sharp
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Spouse(s)Betty Lou Field-Garcia (Moss)
Children1

Biography

The son of Spanish immigrants, he decided to become a magician after seeing a performance of David "Fu Manchu" Bamberg.[1]

As "The Gambling Investigator" he demonstrated and exposed cheating methods at trade shows and to law enforcement organizations throughout the United States and on television shows. Frank Garcia wrote and lectured about the subject throughout his life.[2]

Garcia made "close-up" work his domain. His repertory of card manipulations, sponge-ball magic, cups and balls, and sleight-of-hand was highly regarded by his peers.[3]

Frank was a frequent guest on TV talk shows including The Dick Cavett Show, and David Suskind, sometimes performing magic and sometimes revealing the scams of crooked gamblers such as three card monte players on the streets of New York.

Published works

In the course of his life, Garcia wrote 22 books, covering topics such as card cheating, gambling, and especially close-up card magic. Some of his magic books are considered collectors items. His most notable books are:

  • Encyclopedia of Sponge Ball Magic (1976)
  • Million Dollar Card Secrets (1972)
  • Super Subtle Card Miracles (1973)
  • Exclusive Card Secrets (1980)
  • Exclusive Card Miracles (1980)
  • The Close Up Card Magic of Frank Garcia, Part I (1982)
  • The Close Up Card Magic of Frank Garcia, Part II (1982)
  • Marked Cards And Loaded Dice (1962) which was later released as How To Detect Crooked Gambling (1977)
  • All In A Nutshell (1974)
  • Don't Bet On It! (1978)
  • Magic With Cards (1974) (co-authored with George Schindler)
  • Amedeo's Continental Magic (co-authored with George Schindler)

Death

Frank Garcia died at age 66 from natural causes at his home in Manhattan on July 15, 1993. He is survived by his wife, Betty Moss, and a son Frank.[3]

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gollark: If you go through a doorway moving rapidly you will leave it still moving rapidly. Physics does not distinguish between this case and the doorway going toward you.
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References
  1. "Biographies Page F-G".
  2. "Frank Garcia - CardCheater.com".
  3. Saxon, Wolfgang (July 20, 1993). "Frank Garcia, a Master Magician Who Aided the Police, Dies at 66". The New York Times. Retrieved February 1, 2020.


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