Herbert Gershen Zarrow (November 4, 1925 – May 11, 2008) was an American

magician Magician or The Magician may refer to: Performers * A practitioner of magic (supernatural) * A practitioner of magic (illusion) * Magician (fantasy), a character in a fictional fantasy context Entertainment Books * ''The Magician'', an 18th-ce ...

influential in the profession for his inventions of unique

sleight of hand Sleight of hand (also known as prestidigitation or ''legerdemain'' ()) refers to fine motor skills when used by performing artists in different art forms to entertain or manipulate. It is closely associated with close-up magic, card magic, card ...

and

card tricks Card manipulation is the branch of magic that deals with creating effects using sleight of hand techniques involving playing cards. Card manipulation is often used in magical performances, especially in close-up, parlor, and street magic. Some ...

. The inventor of the

Zarrow shuffle Zarrow shuffle is a sleight of hand technique that gives the appearance of being a normal riffle shuffle, but in fact leaves the cards in exactly the same order. This is an example of a false shuffle. It was invented by magician Herb Zarrow c. 1 ...

, his skills were held in the highest regard in professional magicians' circles.

Biography

His obituary noted that he had been married for 57 years to Phyllis Roemer Zarrow, and they had two children. A

certified public accountant Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is the title of qualified accountants in numerous countries in the English-speaking world. It is generally equivalent to the title of chartered accountant in other English-speaking countries. In the United Sta ...

(CPA), he was the founding partner of an accounting firm. He was also a member of

B'nai B'rith B'nai B'rith International (, from he, בְּנֵי בְּרִית, translit=b'né brit, lit=Children of the Covenant) is a Jewish service organization. B'nai B'rith states that it is committed to the security and continuity of the Jewish peopl ...

, and resided in

Fair Lawn, New Jersey Fair Lawn is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, and a bedroom suburb located northwest of New York City. As of the 2020 United States Census, the borough’s population was 34,940, which constituted a 7.7% increase from 32, ...

, at the time of his death. Zarrow appears in a DVD series about his card magic, and in magic literature, including David Ben's book ''Zarrow: A Lifetime of Magic''.Johnson interviewed Zarrow in 2000 and 2005. Zarrow appeared on the cover of April 2001 issue of ''

The Linking Ring ''The Linking Ring'' is a monthly print magic magazine published by the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) for its members since 1922. It is based in Bluffton, Ohio. In 2007, Samuel Patrick Smith, a magician, author and publisher based ...

'' after being honored at the 2001 annual

Fechter's Finger flicking Frolic A magic convention is a gathering of professional magicians, magical hobbyists, dealers, collectors of magical apparatus, books and ephemera, and other students of the art of magic. It provides a place for lectures of subjects related to the craft, ...

convention of close up magicians for a lifetime of contributions and achievements. ''The Linking Ring'' article contains some biographical information. An auction of Zarrow's collection, including his extensive library and associated ephemera, was conducted by Potter & Potter Auctions on October 23, 2010.

Illusions

Zarrow is credited with inventing: * Matched Revolvers * Starfish Copper/Silver * Zarrow Block Addition * Zarrow Retention Pass *

Zarrow Shuffle Zarrow shuffle is a sleight of hand technique that gives the appearance of being a normal riffle shuffle, but in fact leaves the cards in exactly the same order. This is an example of a false shuffle. It was invented by magician Herb Zarrow c. 1 ...

* Zarrow Universal Count Grip * Zarrow's Switch Change * Zarrow's Trapeze

Honors and awards

Over the years, he received many honors: * Member Of the Inner Magic Circle * 1998 Louie Award * Honorary Life Member of the

Society of American Magicians The Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) is the oldest fraternal magic organization in the world. Its purpose is "to advance, elevate, and preserve magic as a performing art, to promote harmonious fellowship throughout the world of magic, and t ...

* Cover of ''M-U-M'' * Creative Fellowship Award from the

Academy of Magical Arts The Magic Castle is a clubhouse for magicians and magic enthusiasts, as well as the clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts. It is in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California and it bills itself as "the most unusual private club in t ...

* Honorary Life Member to

The Magic Castle The Magic Castle is a clubhouse for magicians and magic enthusiasts, as well as the clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts. It is in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California and it bills itself as "the most unusual private club in t ...

* 2001 Guest Of Honor at

* Cover of ''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zarrow, Herb 1925 births 2008 deaths People from Fair Lawn, New Jersey People from Paterson, New Jersey American accountants American magicians Card magic Sleight of hand