As a result, he served as an inspiration to generations of well-known magicians, celebrities and entertainers, including Doug Henning, Dick Cavett, Bill Bixby, Ricky Jay, David Copperfield and countless others.

[5][6] Although he was best known as a master of close-up artistry, he continually demonstrated an extraordinary performing ability and during his lifetime was responsible for a long series of books, films and publications highlighting his mastery of the magical crafts.

[11] Early on, Slydini was attracted to the psychological aspects of his art, which would continually show itself in his magic in the form of precise and expert use of timing and misdirection.

[18] On a visit to his sister in Boston during the 1930s, Slydini attracted the attention of an agent, landing a job for $15 a day for a three-day-a-week show.

The agent recognized his skills and flawless sleight of hand which he performed with playing cards, coins and two ordinary white silks.

[24] Slydini continued to gain popularity through his public performances, including many private club and party dates, and would travel the United States from New York to California, playing scattered engagements in museums, carnivals, side shows, etc., while remaining practically unknown to the world of magicians.

[25] It was finally through magician Herman Hanson, a close associate of Howard Thurston, that Slydini was brought before the local magic fans, eventually going on their public shows and more, in New York, Boston and Hartford.

From there, he was quickly grabbed to appear on the well known Barbizon Plaza show in New York City where he made an instant hit with his different style of magic.

His fame spread and soon other well-known magicians from around the world sought out his company and expertise including the legendary Cardini, Dai Vernon, Okito, The Great Virgil, Bert Allerton, Al Flosso and Jack Gwynne.

Between 1949 and 1950, he toured the United States under the direction of Ralph W. Read, who booked him to give his famous "Lecture Demonstrations" before over 30 magical organizations.

While there he performed publicly, made televised appearances and gave numerous lectures and private instruction to inquiring magicians wanting to learn his new form of close-up magic and misdirection.

[29] Talk show host Dick Cavett wrote about his first meeting with Slydini in a New York Times column, "Doug Henning said to me, 'Tony's doing a special demonstration for some magicians tomorrow night at Vesuvio restaurant.

"[30] Cavett and Slydini became friends and soon afterwards the talk show host featured the magician in a televised special, which was so well received that a second broadcast followed.

Tony Slydini died of heart failure on January 15, 1991, following a lengthy illness and several years of confinement in a New Jersey nursing home.

Howard Bauman, the editor of the International Brotherhood of Magician's publication, The Linking Ring, wrote, "A magical light went out on January 15, when Slydini died.

[47][48] New memorials, books, video and film presentations about the man who changed magic continue to be written and produced more than 25 years after his death.

Slydini's magic was impromptu and rather than follow a set sequence of tricks as most magicians did, he allowed his audience and the situation to dictate his show.

[53][54] Over his lifetime, Slydini received countless awards and honors from around the world including the Masters Fellowship from the Academy of Magical Arts in 1974.

"[60] "That sentiment," said former television talk show host Dick Cavett, "is the one most commonly expressed by anyone having the opportunity to actually see this great magician perform.

"[61] Best known as a master of showmanship, misdirection and close-up artistry, Slydini served as inspiration to generations of magicians, including many thousands of the famous and not-so-famous practitioners of the art.

[62] Slydini is considered by many magicians to be one of the two finest 20th-century performers, teachers, lecturers and creators of artistic sleight-of-hand magic; Dai Vernon is the other.