Bob Jardine, Magic Castle's 1982 Close-Up Magician of the Year, Dies at 90

WAYNE, NEW JERSEY, USA, SEPTEMBER 6, 2026 — Bob Jardine, a longtime fixture at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California, and the Academy of Magical Arts’ 1982 Close-Up Magician of the Year, died Sunday at Complete Care nursing facility in Wayne following a lengthy stay. He was 90.

Jardine, a man who seemed far younger than his age for most of his life, spent his final years in skilled nursing care. He died peacefully in his sleep.

Jardine was born April 12, 1936, in Paterson, New Jersey, and raised in nearby Little Falls, the only son of Robert Bruce Jardine Sr. and Sally Jardine.

Magic Castle Years

Jardine spent years as the Magic Castle’s resident Bar Magician in the Hat & Hare Pub, where he became known for his signature routines featuring his version of the Chop Cup, Technicolor Marked Cards, Pick Me, A Little ESP, Card in Lemon, and the penetrating rubber band effect now commonly known as Crazy Man’s Handcuffs, which he drew early attention to with his nightly performances, making it the talk of the Castle. Fellow Castle magician Michael Ammar eventually published his version and moved it from the underground to the wider magic community.

A versatile and skilled entertainer, Jardine appeared for decades throughout the Magic Castle, performing in its signature Close-Up Room, Parlor of Prestidigitation, and Palace of Mystery.

In 1982, the Academy of Magical Arts named him Close-Up Magician of the Year, placing him alongside past honorees Ammar, Daryl, Earl Nelson, David Roth, Albert Goshman, Bruce Cervon and others. Jardine was among the nominees across multiple years for performances in all three Castle rooms.

Jardine Baffled Audiences and Cracked Them Up

A staple in Jardine’s act was the Gypsy Thread, which he always introduced by saying, “This is the trick I am most proud of. I once performed it at Shea Stadium, Flushing Meadows, New York, in front of 60,000 people. The guy sitting next to me loved it.” As he slowly broke the pieces of thread before restoring them, he quipped, “I better hurry or the dove will die. Not really. I don’t do doves. They just make a mess in your pocket. What? You thought only when they flew. No. Every chance they get.”

Rolling all but one of the broken pieces into a little ball, he built the laughter saying, “Just like you do at home with your dental floss. Otherwise half hangs in the garbage, half hangs out. Oh a flosser! Do you floss all of them or just the ones you want to keep?”

Massaging the tiny ball onto the center of the one remaining piece of thread until it stuck in place, he invited a spectator to pinch one end while he pinched the other, gently pulling to reveal the thread fully restored, then comically praised his own skill: “It’s like a religious experience!”

Jardine’s performances always included his impeccably performed magic along with his signature comedy lines but extended beyond into spontaneous interaction with his delighted audiences. That mix of skill and wit became his signature. His comedic timing, dry wit, and improvisation were widely admired.

Fondly Remembered

Jardine’s technical skill as a magician and mastery of comedy earned him respect and admiration in the magic community. The person he was made him dear to many.

Swiss magician and author Roberto Giobbi, who met Jardine at the Magic Castle in the early 1980s, wrote in a 2022 blog post that the two became close friends and that Jardine was a “true pro” who knew how to entertain an audience.

Actor and magician George Tovar, who met Jardine when Tovar worked at the Hollywood Magic shop and joined the Magic Castle’s Junior program, told Conjurly, “He was always friendly. We became close during the years we worked together at Caesars Magical Empire. What I admired most about Bob was that beyond being a skilled magician, he was a great entertainer able to interact with his audience, bouncing back and forth with perfect wit as he performed. He will be missed.”

Jardine’s longtime friend Barbara Massey told Conjurly that the loss is profound. Massey met Jardine on her 21st birthday and remained close to him throughout the decades that followed, visiting him frequently during his final years in convalescent care.

“Heaven is about to get a hell of a lot funnier! I wish God Speed to the one and only Bobby Jar,” Massey said.

Caesars Magical Empire and Las Vegas

Jardine relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, when Caesars Magical Empire opened, serving as a resident magician at the themed dinner attraction. In his later years in Las Vegas, he worked at the Houdini Magic Shop before retiring and moving to be with his daughter and grandchildren in New Jersey.

Corporate Stages and Celebrity Circles

Beyond the Castle and the Strip, Jardine built a career as a corporate and trade show performer for companies including 3M, ARCO, and Avis, where he became known within that circuit as “The Wizard of Avis.” He traveled internationally as an entertainer throughout his career.

Jardine’s work also crossed paths with Hollywood. He worked with Dick Van Dyke on the television series Diagnosis Murder, was a favorite performer of Cary Grant, and performed for Michael Jackson.

Earlier Career

Before his career centered fully on magic, Jardine owned two restaurants in New York state, The Muddy Creek in Pearl River and the Tarrytown Boat Club in Tarrytown, where he performed magic for his own guests.

Survivors

Jardine is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth “Liz” Jardine, and grandchildren Shayne, Kayla, Bella, and Dylan Jardine, along with great-grandson Brooks, Shayne’s son.

Service information has not yet been announced.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Writing this article, especially in a timely fashion while I still process this news, is painful. Bob Jardine was a dear friend for nearly half a century. That friendship extended beyond magic to a personal level through decades of twists and turns in both our lives. My sense of loss runs deep. He was one of the funniest, most generous people I’ve known in this business, and it was a privilege to call him a friend. Magic is smaller today without him in it. He quietly influenced countless magicians and leaves a rich legacy.