One result of his many hours of practising outdoors in frigid weather was that he developed the ability to perform card manipulations while wearing gloves.

[1][4] After an unsuccessful attempt to establish himself as a stage magician in British variety, he travelled to Australia, where he performed initially as Val Raymond before adopting the name Cardini.

[5][citation needed] He worked with the Marx Brothers and Jack Benny, and performed for Al Capone, Franklin Roosevelt, and Harry Truman.

[7] Cardini was a heavy smoker, suffered from peptic ulcers, and died from a stomach-related condition in November 1973 in Gardiner, New York.

Pitchford funded the development of a museum exhibit, in honor of Cardini, located at The Magic Castle in Hollywood, California.

He was honoured in 1970 with the title "Master Magician", which was awarded at the Magic Castle, Los Angeles, and presented by Tony Curtis.