Close Call

"The Great Cardini," also known as Richard V. Pitchford, almost didn't open his two-week engagement in the Radisson hotel Flame Room Thursday night. Johnny, a parakeet which does magic under Cardini's direction, took off during afternoon dress rehearsal and made an unscheduled tour of the hotel. The bird circled around the lobby and mezzanine and made a fast flight through the coffee shop before it finally was lured back into its cage. Bird and master are shown above.