Lou Lancaster

Lou Lancaster (October 31, 1936 - July 5, 2008)

Lou's mother was a teacher, which explains why he became an avid reader. He joined the Navy when he turned eighteen. He traveled the world and met magicians like Johnny Paul, Johnnie Platt and Dai Vernon. Lou obtained a degree as a ceramics engineer.

Lou worked for Mark Wilson creating and building illusions for his television shows.

In the 1960's, Lou performed at the Magic Castle (18 times), Harvey's Casino and Hotel in Lake Tahoe (performing Chop Chop's act as Chan Lu, "The Charlie Chan Of Magic"), the Moulin Rouge in San Francisco & the Capitol Inn in Sacramento. He also toured for years around the country performing school shows.

During the 1970's in New York City, he was featured at Mostly Magic, The Magic Towne House, the Club Ibis and was the resident magician at Brown's Hotel in the Catskills. Lou was a regular at the Saturday cafeteria get-togethers in Manhattan. He also performed aboard cruise ships.

When videos were relatively new, he shot a home tape featuring many techniques and effects.

In the 1980's, Lou was the resident magician at Magic Island in Newport Beach, California and also the one in Houston, Texas.

Lou’s mother became ill in the 1990's and he moved to Virginia to care for her for several years until she passed away. Afterwards, he sold his mother’s house and moved to Hollywood near the Magic Castle.

Lou lived in Brea, California from 2004 to 2007 where for a time he had a workshop making magic illusions.

In late 2007, Lou moved to a senior facility in Las Vegas.

Lou was referred to as the most talented unknown in magic by Dai Vernon. Lou responded back that Dai Vernon was the most talented unknown outside of magic.

Lou was the person that came up with the idea for the The Twister Illusion based on the Head Twister and the Sphinx principles (the Sword Cabinet) in which a twisted body is shown inside the cabinet after the head has been spun around.

Broken Wand Ceremony

Lou was a teacher and mentor to many magicians including Jeff McBride.

Honors and Awards

• Cover of Linking Ring August 2005

Books and Videos

• Tricks Of The Trade - A Professional Looks At Commercial Closeup Magic
• IMS Magic Academy Volume 4: Card Manipulations by Lou Lancaster
• IMS Magic Academy Volume 10: Classic Routines by Lou Lancaster
• IMS Magic Academy Volume 19: Gambler's Secrets Exposed by Lou Lancaster
• IMS Magic Academy Volume 26: The Linking Rings by Lou Lancaster
• IMS Magic Academy Volume 33: Rope Magic by Lou Lancaster
• IMS The Best of The Best Vol. 37 – Lou Lancaster : Self Working Card Tricks
• IMS The Best of The Best Vol. 38 – Lou Lancaster : Tricks With A Storyline

References

• http://www.loulancaster.com/INDEX.html