Jimmy Grippo

Jimmy Grippo (January 25, 1898? - January 15, 1992) was the house magician at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas starting in 1966 when it opened and continued working there for over 20 years.

Performing on talk show

Biography

Grippo was born in Italy to Vita and Rocco Grippo. They came to America on a boat with Jimmy from Italy in the late 1890 and settled in New York when he was about 12.

In 1951 Grippo left New York and settled in Miami where he purchased and ran a Miami Beach nightclub and entertained with his magic and hypnosis.

He worked as the house magician at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas starting in 1966 when it opened and continued working there well for over 20 years.

In 1980, awarded the Performing Fellowship by the Academy of Magical Arts. In 1999, elected to the International Hypnosis Hall of Fame.

Jimmy always preferred though to be remembered as a hypnotist. He used hypnotic suggestions on many famous athletes of this time.

He and his wife,Frances, are entombed in Roses Mausoleum, Wing 1 – Row E, #84 & 85 at Palm Mortuary in Las Vegas.

Family

His brothers and sisters were Jan, Mickey, Alex, Henry, Bertha, Louise, Betty, and Mary. His wife was Frances. Jan became a Hollywood producer (and was also no slouch with a deck of cards). He had a daughter Roslyn.

Books

• The Magic of Jimmy Grippo by Geno Munari (1981)

References

• Cover Genii 1975 June

• http://www.conjuringarts.org/exhibitions/Grippo/
• http://www.geniimagazine.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=178362#Post178362

Brother Jan on IMDB