Magicana is an wonderful educational resource for magic, and the research work by sleight of hand master Jamy Ian Swiss is always a highlight. In his final Take Two column of the year, Swiss delves into the life and work of Dai Vernon.

Vernon was born Frederick Wingfield Verner, earned the moniker of The Man Who Fooled Houdini, and in the field today is often referred to simply as The Professor. His career revolutionized sleight of hand magic over the course of the 20th century. Swiss’ feature goes into much more biographic detail that’s a fascinating read for anyone looking to learn more about the early titans of magic.

The video above shows Vernon talking through some of his signature sleight of hand moves, and it’s a great example of what to expect from this mastermind. Magicana also has a great clip of Vernon doing his innovation on the classic Cups and Balls routine.