Richiardi Jr

Richiardi Jr. (often billed just as Richiardi, and sometimes as Aldo Richiardi)), was the stage name of magician Aldo Izquierdo (24 November 1923 – 6 September 1985), who became famous for dramatic and gory stage presentations of classic stage illusions. [1]

Richiardi was the son of another professional magician, Ricardo Richiardi (1895-1937),[1] who used the stage name Richiardi the Great; his grandfather, who also used the name Richiardi, had been a stage magician as well. He was Peruvian (although sometimes wrongly described as Brazilian or Argentinian).[2][3]

Richiardi Jr made his name with a series of stage shows featuring versions of established illusions such as sawing through a woman. What made his shows distinctive was that he used fake blood and other techniques to give the impression that he really was cutting or maiming his assistants. In 1949, Time magazine noted that these shock tactics had made his act one of the top earning stage shows in New York.[4] He continued performing in that city throughout his career, with shows such as The Incredible World Of Magic & Illusion, which ran at The Village Gate in New York in 1978.[3] Richiardi performed the floating "kiddie car" a variation of a well known suspension effect on The Ed Sullivan show which, years later, was used in Doug Henning's successful New York show Doug Henning & His World of Magic.[5]

Richiardi made many television appearances, including 24 on The Ed Sullivan Show, the most appearances by any magician on that landmark series.[6] In the 1970s he also starred in his own television show Chamber of Horrors, which was introduced by Vincent Price.

On 8 June 2007, Criss Angel stated on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson that Richiardi was one of his greatest influences.

References

  1. 1 2 "Richardo, Aldo" in T. A. Waters, The Encyclopedia of Magic and Magicians. NY: Facts on File, 1988 ISBN 0-8160-1349-7
  2. ↑ "Inspiration". Dale Scott. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
  3. 1 2 "The Incredible World Of Magic & Illusion Showbill". Meir Yedid Magic (www.mymagic.com). Archived from the original on 2006-11-14. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
  4. ↑ "Really Fantastic". Time magazine. 28 March 1949. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
  5. ↑ "Doug Henning & His World of Magic". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
  6. ↑ "Magic history in short questions". The Mollianus (www.themollianus.nl). Retrieved 2007-03-21.

Further reading


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