William H. McCaffrey

William H. McCaffrey (February 19, 1899 - ) born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, known as Bill was known as one of the best card magicians of his time.

McCaffrey graduated from Duquesne Univ. and Univ. of Pittsburgh and became an accountant. He worked for The American Fruit Growers Association for many years out of Pittsburgh , which allowed him to travel. He became president of Pittsburgh SAM Assembly No. 18 (in the 1920s) and on up to President of SAM in 1934.

When the headquarters were moved from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles in the 1940s, he moved out to California. He became President of SAM Assembly Number 22 of Southern California.

He studied hypnotism and psychic subjects. That attraction to the occult created a leaning towards effects of a mental nature, which gradually led to his semi-pro act, "Psychic Possibilities." He presented this for a number of years, and was introduced as, "The Man with the Telepathic Mind."

Greater Magic by John Northern Hilliard contains fifteen of his original tricks and he was included as one of the chapter on Card Stars of the U.S.A..

Some notable creations are:

• Money Paddle
• McCaffrey Stack deck.
• Cut and Restored Dollar Bill (see Greater Magic);
• Bill McCaffrey's Prize Winner" (Greater Magic)
• The Pedagogue's Nightmare (Sphinx?)

References

• Cover of Genii June 1943.
• Cover MUM, December 1956