The Story of America’s Comedy Magician

Discover the captivating journey of America’s most renowned comedy magician, from his street performance beginnings to headlining in nightclubs and casino showrooms, culminating in his iconic role on the hit TV series, Night Court.

Wise Guy offers a collection of humorous anecdotes from Harry’s time as a street entertainer, showcasing the evolution of his beloved character, ‘Harry the Hat’.

This book features an impressive range of close-up magic, sight gags, mentalism, and the stand-up routines that propelled Harry Anderson to fame, including classics like The Needle Through Arm, Linking Finger Rings, Handcuffs, and the 3-Card Monarch Monte.

Through cherished friendships and extensive video and audio recordings, Mike Caveney unveils the true wisdom behind Harry Anderson’s comedic genius.

Details: 167 pages – 8.5″ x 9″ – Hardcover with dust jacket – Includes black and white illustrations and photographs.

A Glimpse into Harry Anderson: Wise Guy

The Finger Chopper

Harry possessed a wooden finger chopper that Micky Hades used to sell, a convincing guillotine that looked far from a novelty item. He would invite a spectator to inspect the chopper before cutting a cigarette in half. Then, he would theatrically hold the spectator’s hand and tell a whimsical tale. “This is the King, this is the Queen, and oops, this is the evil Duke. We must behead the evil Duke.” He would slide the spectator’s finger into the device and grip their fingertip tightly.

As Harry engaged the audience, he remarked on the oddity of how trusting people are with a magician. “This guy doesn’t know who I am,” he would say, humorously reflecting on the absurdity of the situation. He would ask how many in the audience had seen one of those little finger choppers, often eliciting a few hands. “Is this one of those trick finger choppers? No! This is what we call a professional finger chopper.”

As he continued, a bead of sweat would form on the spectator’s forehead. “You look a little nervous. That’s because you know what’s going to happen, but not when. That’s what gets people. They can prepare for a hurricane but not for an earthquake. So, to ease your mind, let’s make Alison the clock. We’ll pick a number like four… and a half. At the count of four and a half, it will happen. Ready, Alison? One, two, three, four and a half.”

At the count of four and a half, Alison extended her half finger, mimicking an old gag. In a split second, three things occurred: Alison revealed her hand, showing she had indeed lost half her finger, terror washed over the spectator’s face, and Harry slammed down the blade. As Harry recounted, there were always wet seats in the audience.

This performance exemplifies the art of utilizing available resources and creativity in magic.