Confidence Game Theater References

Puzzlers' Tribute edited by David Wolfe and Tom Rodgers (2002) containes a chapter by William Kalush called Sleight of Hand with Playing Cards prior to Scot's Discoverie. This chapter includes a description of the earliest known deception with playing cards, which is a relative of Three Card Monte.

Rogues, Vagabonds & Sturdy Beggars edited by Arthur F. Kinney (1973) contains reprints of some sixteenth and seventeenth century pamphlets discussing crime and criminals. It includes A Notable Discovery of Cozenage by Robert Greene (1591), which describes Mumchance, and The Fraternity of Vagabonds by John Awdeley (1561), which describes an early version of The Lost Ring, similar to the Apple1 skit we performed.

Gambling Scams by Darwin Ortiz (1984) has a chapter about Three Card Monte and a chapter devoted to Confidence Games, both of them very good.