George Washington Bonner
Childhood
Born in 1878 in a small village near Columbus, Ohio, Canfield's introduction to the world of chance occurred within the familiar setting of his family's hotel. It was here, amidst the casual wagers and perhaps more clandestine dealings, that the young Bonner first encountered the allure and potential for manipulation inherent in games of fortune. The origin of his adopted name, "Kid Canfield," remains somewhat speculative, though it is plausible that it was inspired by Richard Albert Canfield, a notorious figure in the realm of illegal gambling who earned the title "Prince of Gamblers."
Career
In his early years, Kid Canfield honed his skills running three-card Monte games with traveling circuses, deceiving victims with sleight-of-hand. By seventeen, he had left the circus circuit for high-stakes games across the U.S., using tricks like marked cards, loaded dice, and bottom dealing. He claimed to have gambled with infamous underworld figures, including Arnold Rothstein and Al Capone, even swindling Rothstein out of $350,000 in one game.
Canfield also alleged he ran one of the largest gambling houses in San Francisco. A turning point, he said, came when a man lost $20,000 in a marathon poker game and later died by suicide, revealed to be Canfield’s estranged brother. This event, real or myth, marked his shift from gambler to reformed moralist.
By 1910, he had taken to vaudeville, performing shows that exposed gambling scams. He also published chapbooks and starred in films dramatizing his life, beginning with a 1912 two-reel silent film that combined biography and exposé. His cinematic efforts continued through the 1910s and culminated in a 1922 five-reel Western-style semi-documentary, Kid Canfield, the Reform Gambler.
Revenue
Specific details regarding Canfield's earnings during his gambling career and his subsequent ventures in vaudeville and film are not readily available. However, his claim of winning $350,000 in a single card game suggests periods of significant financial gain.
Interesting facts
His stage name, "Kid Canfield," may have been inspired by the notorious gambler Richard Albert Canfield.
He claimed to have cheated prominent gangsters like Arnold Rothstein out of substantial sums of money.
Canfield transitioned from a practicing gambler to a public figure who denounced gambling and exposed cheating methods.
He starred in multiple silent films that depicted his life and warned against the dangers of dishonest gambling.
He was the first person known to have died while broadcasting on the radio.
Legacy
Kid Canfield's legacy is complex and multifaceted. He is remembered both as a skilled practitioner of deception in the gambling world and as an early example of a reformed individual who used his past experiences to educate and warn others. His foray into vaudeville and silent film provided a unique and perhaps sensationalized perspective on the underbelly of gambling, contributing to the public perception of the industry.
Frequently asked Questions
Kid Canfield, born George Washington Bonner, was an American gambler and confidence trickster who later reformed and became a public figure denouncing gambling and revealing cheating methods through vaudeville performances and films.
In his early career, Canfield was known for his skill in high-stakes card games and his proficiency in various cheating techniques, including loaded dice, marked cards, and bottom dealing. He also operated fixed games of three-card Monte in circuses.
According to his account, Canfield ceased his gambling career after a mark who had lost a significant sum of money in a poker game committed suicide. Canfield claimed this individual was his estranged brother, a revelation that profoundly impacted him.
Following his purported reformation, Canfield toured the vaudeville circuit with a show where he recounted his gambling experiences and demonstrated his methods of cheating. He also published chapbooks on the subject and starred in silent films that depicted his life and warned against dishonest gambling practices.
Kid Canfield's death was notable as he collapsed and died of a heart attack while making his first radio broadcast, becoming the first known person to die while on the air. His final words were a condemnation of gambling.
