[h=1]A Pickpockets Tale[/h] [h=2]The spectacular thefts of Apollo Robbins.[/h] [h=4]by Adam Green January 7, 2013[/h]
The New Yorker EXCERPT (WARNING!! LANGUAGE )
A few years ago, at a Las Vegas convention for magicians, Penn Jillette, of the act Penn and Teller, was introduced to a soft-spoken young man named Apollo Robbins, who has a reputation as a pickpocket of almost supernatural ability. Jillette, who ranks pickpockets, he says, a few notches below hypnotists on the show-biz totem pole, was holding court at a table of colleagues, and he asked Robbins for a demonstration, ready to be unimpressed. Robbins demurred, claiming that he felt uncomfortable working in front of other magicians. He pointed out that, since Jillette was wearing only shorts and a sports shirt, he wouldnt have much to work with.
Come on, Jillette said. Steal something from me.
Again, Robbins begged off, but he offered to do a trick instead. He instructed Jillette to place a ring that he was wearing on a piece of paper and trace its outline with a pen. By now, a small crowd had gathered. Jillette removed his ring, put it down on the paper, unclipped a pen from his shirt, and leaned forward, preparing to draw. After a moment, he froze and looked up. His face was pale.
****. You, he said, and slumped into a chair.
Robbins held up a thin, cylindrical object: the cartridge from Jillettes pen.
END EXCERPT
Fascinating article. (Warning, it is NINE pages long)
I'd love to be able to do that...
A few years ago, at a Las Vegas convention for magicians, Penn Jillette, of the act Penn and Teller, was introduced to a soft-spoken young man named Apollo Robbins, who has a reputation as a pickpocket of almost supernatural ability. Jillette, who ranks pickpockets, he says, a few notches below hypnotists on the show-biz totem pole, was holding court at a table of colleagues, and he asked Robbins for a demonstration, ready to be unimpressed. Robbins demurred, claiming that he felt uncomfortable working in front of other magicians. He pointed out that, since Jillette was wearing only shorts and a sports shirt, he wouldnt have much to work with.
Come on, Jillette said. Steal something from me.
Again, Robbins begged off, but he offered to do a trick instead. He instructed Jillette to place a ring that he was wearing on a piece of paper and trace its outline with a pen. By now, a small crowd had gathered. Jillette removed his ring, put it down on the paper, unclipped a pen from his shirt, and leaned forward, preparing to draw. After a moment, he froze and looked up. His face was pale.
****. You, he said, and slumped into a chair.
Robbins held up a thin, cylindrical object: the cartridge from Jillettes pen.
END EXCERPT
Fascinating article. (Warning, it is NINE pages long)
I'd love to be able to do that...
