spectator to pick up one card that another spectator was only thinking of. The effects were risky and he would often fail on live television. Contemporary magicians decried Canasta's approach but this element of "risk-taking" has been a major influence on the current generation of magicians. Canasta's signature routine was his "Experiment With Books". He would invite a volunteer from the audience to choose a random page, then would predict precisely the number of words comprising three syllables it contained. He was not concerned if he made the odd mistake when performing this trick, believing a few errors along the way simply highlighted the validity of his normally correct answers. Legacy Among magicians, Canasta is recognised for inventing the principle that eschewed perfection, believing that making an occasional error made his other effects stronger and more entertaining, an approach later followed by comedy magician, Tommy Cooper. British mentalist Derren Brown has cited Canasta as a prime influence, stating, "he was a real inspiration". Art career Canasta retired from the stage at the height of his fame to pursue a dream to become a painter. In his later years he established a second career as an artist, signing his work not as Canasta, but as Mifelew, and had successful gallery shows in London and New York. References Further reading David Britland (2000) Chan Canasta: A Remarkable Man Volume 1 David Britland (2001) Chan Canasta: A Remarkable Man Volume 2 Chan Canasta (1966) Chan Canasta's Book of Oopses : Being a Collection of Thrilling Experiments in Which the Book Itself Plays the Part of the Mind-Reader; George G. Harrap & Co., Ltd. External links 1920 births 1999 deaths People from Kraków British magicians Mentalists Polish emigrants to the United Kingdom Royal Air Force personnel of World War II People with acquired British citizenship