The trick I was taught is that the sum of all two digit multiples of nine add up to nine. Then you just take the number you want to multiply times none and subtract 1.

For example if you want to multiply times 8, the tens place is 7 and the ones place must add up to 9, so 2. 7+2=9, so 9x8=72.

It’s been rumored that Segal has Russian mob ties and that’s how he got into showbusiness.