Jeff Sheridan was one of the US' most influential street magicians back in the 1970s. He was a busker who often used card manipulation and similar parlor-style effects to attract major crowds in New York City. He performed magic on the streets this way to actually earn a living. Traditional parlor effects such as this kind of card manipulation, Cups and Balls, Professor's Nightmare, 20th Century Silks were considered street magic long before Blaine's time, because the visuals of such material gathered larger crowds, which in turn, produced a better income. What Blaine made popular in recent years is a misnomer, and isn't really considered street magic by a lot of traditionalist buskers. It's amusing, because if you present effects like the Ambitious Card and Cigarette Through Quarter as street magic to the likes of Jim Cellini, Gazzo, or Jeff Sheridan, these legitimate street performers would ask the same question you did, "What the hell? Since when is that street magic?" Jeff Sheridan also wrote a book on the history and culture of street magic in 1977, which has become a much respected read throughout the magic community and remains a definitive source of street magic history today.
In any case, from what I understand, Jeff Sheridan is a much respected card manipulator in his own right and would probably be an outstanding resource to learn this kind of material if it interests you. He is often referenced by Jeff McBride on his own famous Art of Card Manipulation DVDs. Personally, I feel that Sheridan's card manipulation technique is cleaner, sharper, and more elegant than the majority of alternative manipulators with products on the market. His years of experience in the craft definitely shows in the quality of his work in my opinion.
RS.
