I agree with you guys, they are both very good performers, but peter marvey uses gimicked cards, while on the other hand mcbride uses all skills(I think this is what Sable ment by "help").

-Chris

I would have to put Mcbride over Marvey...
On WGM both performed...Marvey does look impressive with the open fingers production...but using a gimmick to do a move can't be compared to not using help...Like doing hopping halves vs. coin work without gimmicks...Maybe the layperson is equally impressed, but skill is skill...

All true guys, but let's not forget that Marvey did most of the rest of his card routine without any help and only added the catcher at the end. He showed that he really does know what he's doing. I put them in the same rank.

Sable

No, sable didn't mean gimmicked cards.. although... can we say "b***k a*t?" lol.. but anyway... McBride and Marvey do two completely different types of acts!! you can't even compare the two... look at his drink manipulation! That is so bomb. and that cool castle at the end. he he he nice.. but as sable said... he is using a gimmick... the reason he can use a gimmick and get away with it.. is because he has established his credibility as a fantastic manipulator... so what if he's using a gimmick? Hey.. if the audience is entertained by it more because of it... thats all that counts.

Where is Jean Hugard on this scale of the best manipulators?

I personaly feel that the best were cardini and slydini !

thanx
mike

I think when asking the question who is the best manipulator is a very wide area for deciding there are so many diferant types of manipulation ex. card, builliard balls
i would say u would have to go into a more detail and elect one for each catagory. but for in general my vote would go for cardini not because i think he has the most talent i think all the greats have talent that no one can match in there own way i pick cardini because i think he has made the biggest impact on manipulation and changed it into what we know today alowing great magicians like McBride and Marvey to exist. I know not every one thinks the way i do and i am looking forword to reading your oppions on my though

Jay

My self ofcouse... lol
I would have to say cardini and mcbride are the greatest manipulaters of all time but I do like some of the stuff burton does
-morpheus

Cardini...The guy wore gloves..I have trouble putting my shoes on with gloves..

As for being more specific with regards to different categories- I'll give it a Whirl!
billiard balls- Cardini
Cards productions- Cardini
Cigarretes- Cardini
Naturalness- Cardini
Misdirection- Cardini
Acting- Cardini

Also, Jeff Mcbride is a great magician and puts on a great show- He is a wonderful performer, But Lance Burton's Grand Prix winning act of expert manipulations puts him up alongside the greats of all time- Men like Channing Pollock, Richard Ross, Norm Neilson, etc.

Peter Marvey's "Magic Hands" act is fantastic... though I do not like the music so much

Who cares who the best is, I enjoy watching Cardini as much as I enjoy watching Jeff as much as Peter Marvey etc! I gasp at all of their skill and will always aspire to reach even a fraction of their ability.

They are all what my idea of a real magician should be.

Bonz

Marvey uses an assist device which allows him to spread his fingers and produce cards. He is no match for Jeff McBride. I would have to include in my list Johnny Hart with cards, and Brett Daniels performing the Billiard Balls with a long stem rose. Also Channing Pollock and Lance Burton. Cardini was great but I did not like the way he plucked the fans out of the air. He didn't pause to allow the audience to see an empty hand.

I would rank Brett Daniels up there with the best of them. I've seen him many times, and you'll be hard pressed to find someone as smooth and relaxed with cards, balls, etc. The last card performance I saw him do was especially spectacular. It seemed like he showed his hands empty every 5 seconds. He must of cleanly loaded a dozen times during that one performance.

Cardini was great.
If you have to pick only one...I am satisfied with him.
I doubt if most people on this site has ever seen Cardini in action.

i think cardini was better as a performer, i think McBride is a bit of an overactor and kinda cheesy

I would have to say Cardini.

Guardian, no I haven't seen him in action (I'm only thirteen); I've only seen him on video clips. But, I wish I could have seen him live. I can respect him for all of the moves he created in manipulation and his wonderful performance style.