| Val Valentino | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | Leonard Montano June 14 1956 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Masked Magician, Mr M. |
| Occupation | Magician, illusionist and actor |
| Website | The Masked Magician's Official MySpace |
Val Valentino (born Leonard Montano on June 14 1956 in East Los Angeles, California) is a magician, illusionist, and actor, who gained notoriety by starring in four magic specials on the Fox Network. He goes by the stage name the Masked Magician or Mr. M.
Contents |
Magical career
Valentino's first foray into magic was at the age of five with a trick called "the ball and vase" that his father gave him.[1] In his teens, Valentino performed with the “International Cultural Awareness Program” for over a million students throughout the Unified School Systems. The performances also included revealing magic secrets to encourage others to become magicians.[1] By the time the 1980s ended and the 1990s rolled around, Val had moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and was performing in casino shows like Viva Las Vegas and Splash; after having appeared on The Merv Griffin Show and in a music video by Herb Alpert. It is while he was performing in Las Vegas showrooms that the Fox Network found him.[1] Fox's Alternative Programming division was looking for a magician to appear in a series of specials revealing the secrets behind selected illusions, and they had a long list of potential employees, Val among them. Although he initially turned the network down, Fox was willing to negotiate, and Val eventually signed, promising that he would only reveal the secrets behind old illusions. However, when the programs aired, many newer illusions were also revealed. This sparked controversy, as many feared that their illusions were now worthless.[1]
Masked Magician
For a span of two years (circa 1997-1998), Val was known as the Masked Magician on FOX specials called Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed which exposed long-guarded trade secrets.[2] He also appeared in this persona on a 1999 episode of Diagnosis Murder.[3] In numerous public appearances, in which he kept his Masked Magician identity and had his voice disguised, Valentino said his motive behind the shows was to force magicians to invent new tricks and illusions rather than constantly relying on the old ones. When he finally revealed himself at the end of the fourth show, he added that he felt revealing the secrets would encourage kids into trying magic instead of discouraging them, and that the entertainment of magic shows was more in the magician's showmanship instead of the wonder of how the trick was pulled off.
Graphic Novel
In October of 2007, a graphic novel starring the character of the Masked Magician was released. [4]
Filmography
- The Merv Griffin Show (as himself)
- The Great Magic of Las Vegas (four separate segments)
- Breaking the Magicians' Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed (as the Masked Magician and later as himself)
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show (as the Masked Magician)
- Vibe
- Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
- The Howie Mandel Show
- Diagnosis Murder - "Trash TV" (as the Masked Magician and also as himself)
- Magic - "Vanishing" (as himself and as the Masked Magician in archive footage)
References
- ^ a b c d Official Site Biography. Retrieved on 11 August 2006.
- ^ Michael Schneider. Nash unmasks 'Magician'. Retrieved on 5 April 2007.
- ^ Internet Movie Database listing. Retrieved on 11 August 2006.
- ^ http://heavyink.com/comic/1055-Masked-Magician-One-Shot
