Richiardi Jr
Encyclopedia
Richiardi Jr. was the stage name of magician
Aldo Izquierdo (24 November 1923 – 6 September 1985), who became infamous for dramatic and gory stage presentations of classic stage illusions.
Richiardi was the son of another professional magician, who used the stage name Richiardi the Great. He was Peru
vian (although sometimes wrongly described as Brazilian or Argentinian).
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. 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. 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.
Richiardi made many television appearances, including 24 on the Ed Sullivan Show, the most appearances by any magician on that landmark series. 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.
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
Aldo Izquierdo (24 November 1923 – 6 September 1985), who became infamous for dramatic and gory stage presentations of classic stage illusions.
Richiardi was the son of another professional magician, who used the stage name Richiardi the Great. He was Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian (although sometimes wrongly described as Brazilian or Argentinian).
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. 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. 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
Doug Henning
Douglas James Henning was a Canadian magician, illusionist, escape artist and politician.-Early life:...
successful New York show Doug Henning & His World of Magic.
Richiardi made many television appearances, including 24 on the Ed Sullivan Show, the most appearances by any magician on that landmark series. In the 1970s he also starred in his own television show Chamber of Horrors, which was introduced by Vincent Price
Vincent Price
Vincent Leonard Price, Jr. was an American actor, well known for his distinctive voice and serio-comic attitude in a series of horror films made in the latter part of his career.-Early life and career:Price was born in St...
.
On 8 June 2007, Criss Angel
Criss Angel
Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos , better known by the stage name Criss Angel, is an American illusionist, writer, director, musician, and actor...
stated on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson that Richiardi was one of his greatest influences.
External links
- www.richiardijr.com – Photos and video of Richiardi Jr. Currently the same site as Portal de la Magia Peruana
- Biography in German
- Recollections of Richiardi by Lou Lancaster
- Union Peruana de Ilusionistas Peruvian magicians' organisation – includes references to Richiardi.