Ok, let me start by saying that I never ever review products as I often have a unique taste that doesn't always agree with other. However, I have decided to make an exception after receiving my school for scoundrels DVD on the three card monte.

You get a two volume DVD that also includes acrobat notes and the complete ebook of the s4s three card monte notes, which I understand is over 150 pages. For this review I will only cover the actual DVDs as I have not had time to look over the other information.

DVD #1 contains the technical aspects of the monte. As someone that has been performing montes for over 10 years, I was surprised by the amount of useful information and tips covered.

SURFACES - Chef Anton and Whit Haydn cover the evolution and reasoning behind performance surfaces. There is excellent backround information that can be used as patter during a demonstration. I also think that the surfaces covered are useful to performers that work venues such as ren fests or casino nights and want a more authentic work space.

CARDS & PREPARATION - Wow, this section covered everything you would ever want to know about what cards to use, preparing the cards for environmental factors (wind), and using a practical preparation method for your style and particular routine.

BASIC MOVES - Very detailed information on all of the basic monte moves and the psychology associated with them. I especially liked Whit's analysis of the calling of a card facedown and will be using this to strengthen other non-monte routines.

ADVANCED MOVES - Vernon's optical move is so strong and the flip & flip change will definately make a huge difference in every monte demonstrators routine.

BENT CORNER HOOKS - This section was great because it included Doc Eason and Gazzo tipping their bent corner methods and reasoning. Gazzo's explanation is so detailed it was almost like he was explaining it to you one on one in person. I had the opportunity two years ago to meet Gazzo at CEMK and watched him explain his bent corner. The explanation included was just as good and is definately for those performers that want to take the monte to another level.

DISC #2
Disc two included performances and explanations by:

Chef Anton - A fun interactive demonstration that uses two participants.

Paul Wilson - An excellent three ace ending that solves the problem of the know-it-all spectator.

Bob Kohler - Knife monte routine that would be a great closer to any monte routine as long as you want to come across as a magician and not an actual cheat.

This disc also includes video of the real game in action as well as an informal sitdown with Gazzo discussing the difference between magician's monte and street monte and his experiences with Cracker Parker. This was definately one of my favorite parts of the collection.

I am reluctant to recommend this set purely for the reason that I want to keep the information to myself. I can take solace in the fact that very few performers, particularly in my area, will take the time needed to truly master the advanced moves and Gazzo's input. Definately highly recommended. I did have a few technical problems with the DVD, but nothing major. These are not just for monte fans, but for all performers. The subtleties and suggestions offered can be applied to everyones closeup performances.

Another great product from The School for Soundrels. Keep em coming.

Thanks, Christopher. Glad you enjoyed the dvd. There are three hours of video instruction on the two discs. But don't neglect the book and other materials that are available on any computer with a dvd drive.

The book has so much more in the way of moves and endings for the monte (the stamp, the torn corner, the pencil dot, the smudge, the one-way cards, etc.), and also on the psychology and history of the monte.

Scripts for both open and closed monte are provided from the nineteenth century to the present. These include The Girl at the Bar, Texas Twist, Carmen Domico's Tailor and Dry Cleaner Script, Canada Bill Jone's Rube Act, and many others.

It also has a gold mine of patter ideas with original patter from the streets going back to the 1840's. It also contains a huge glossary of conman terms from the eighteenth century to the present--from Europe, England, and Australia as well as from the United States.

Here you will also find detailed histories of the masters of the monte: Canada Bill Jones, Doc Baggs, George Devol, "Pinch" Pinchback, Ben Marks, Soapy Smith, Frank Tarbeaux, and many others.

Also, included among the extra material are photos that can be used for presentations, and more original sources, including complete eye-witness descriptions of Canada Bill in action from famous detective Allen Pinkerton and a defense of Canada Bill from George Devol. Interesting sections from Wanderings of a Vagabond (1873), Wretches of Povertyville (1909), and Beyond the Mississippi (1859) are also included.

These original documents help convey the spirit and ambience of the times, and are extremely useful in developing the language, character, historical themes, etc., for re-creations, re-enactments, film consultancy and the like, but they also help the student to understand the actual psychology of the scam in all of its various incarnations or "scripts."

So please, check out the written materials that are included on the discs. They are equally if not more important than the video parts.

Is it same as your 3 card monte VHS video ?
Is it only available at your site ?
Thanks

It has all the same material as the vhs video, plus an hour more of video, mostly of Gazzo talking about the monte and the Cracker Parker mob. It also contains the entire e-boook of School for Scoundrels Notes on Three-Card Monte, a 150 page book with 180 photos and illustrations that Darwin Ortiz, Johnny Thompson, Gary Ouellette and many others consider the "definitive work on three-card monte."

It also contains additional photos, study aids and several fascinating sections from original sources such as George Devol, Pinkerton's "Criminal Reminicences" and Morris's "Wanderings of a Vagabond."

I received my copy of the DVD today. It is absolutely fantastic! Whit and Chef have done it again! Everything you really need to know about the Monte is here. Excellent production and packaging as you would expect from School for Scoundrels.

If you are considering doing 3 Card Monte and you don't have this stuff, you need to purchase it now! If you already do the Monte, then you should still have it for the extra background it provides.

Let me be more directive--Get it now!

Regards,

Paul Green

PS I receive no financial renumeration for any sales generated by this post. Your Monte routine will be the better for it.

I will order it today.

I’ll admit, I read posts on the Café announcing that a DVD was coming out soon that were dated months ago and became skeptical about its release. I had their book for a while and found it immensely useful and informative.

A couple of days ago, I received my copy and must have watched it in it’s entirety 6 or 7 times. It is FANTASTIC.

I will ditto all the posts before mine. Truly, a must have for monty tossers as well as those wanting a place to start.

If there where a position of a “Scoundrel Apprentice” – I’d submit my application.

Thanks to all those involved in this production.

Dave Clark

Dave:

If you watched the video 6 or 7 times and read the book, I hereby award you the official title of "Scoundrel."

The colorful embossed and gold stamped parchment diploma, with authentic signatures by Canada Bill Jones and Soapy Smith, is $15, of course.