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Other segments from the episode on April 1, 1994
From the Archives: Harry Anderson Cons His Way On TV.
Con-man-turned actor Harry Anderson. Anderson is best known as Judge Harry Stone on the former NBC comedy series "Night Court." Anderson began his con-man career as a street performer. He eventually drifted to San Francisco where he would perform near Fisherman's Wharf or to lines of moviegoers outside theaters. He then graduated to Las Vegas, opening for acts like Kenny Rogers.
From the Archives: Ricky Jay Shares Stories of Unusual Performers and Swindlers.
Ricky Jay, one of the world's great sleight-of-hand artists: a scholar of the unusual, curator of the Mullholland Library of Conjuring and the Allied Arts, an actor and author of "Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women." Currently, Jay performs to sold out shows at Broadway's Second Stage, in a show directed by playwright David Mamet, "Ricky Jay and his 52 Assistants." (REBROADCAST from 10/21/87).
From the Archives: Magic for People Who Hate Magic.
Magician and juggler Penn Jillette. He's one half of the comedy team of Penn and Teller. They are to traditional magic what the Rolling Stones are to the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Penn and Teller revel in making fun of traditional magicians, whom they characterize as sleazy lounge performers. Their hit Broadway show was a mix of rock and roll, insults, self-injury and baffling illusions. When David Letterman invited Penn and Teller to "Late Night," the pair made hundreds of hissing cockroaches appear on Dave's desk.
"House of the Spirits" is a Mess.
Film Critic Stephen Schiff on Hollywood's latest epic, "House of the Spirits," based on the book by Isabel Allende.
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Debunking "Faith Healers."
Enter James Randi, magician and debunker of people with claims to extrasensory perception.
Before He Became The 'Night Court' Judge, Harry Anderson Was A Con-Man Magician
Anderson, who died April 16, began his career as a street performer specializing in elaborate pranks. He spoke to Fresh Air in 1989 about an illusion in which he pretended to chop off his own hand.
Actor and Master of Deception Ricky Jay
Jay has been called "one of the greatest sleight of hand artist in the world." He is the star of the off-Broadway show "Ricky Jay and his 52 Assistants" which is directed by David Mamet.