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Johnny Platt

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Johnny Platt

Cover of Genii (1959)
BornJohn Joseph Platt
October 15, 1903
Chicago, Illinois
DiedJune 6, 1990 (age 86)
NationalityAmerican

Johnny Platt (1903 - 1990) became an all around magician doing illusions, close-up, stage magic (both talking and silent oriental) and lecturer.[1]

Biography

He began working semi-professionally in 1919 as "La Platt" in Chicago and was one of the early members of the IBM (number 109).

Platt was working in the printing business by day and a magician in the evenings, when a theatrical agent called to book him to replace their oriental magician for the World's Fair of 1933 in Chicago. He performed under the name "Hadji Baba". He also did a Chinese Act as "Ki Ming" during the last days of vaudeville.[2]

During World War II he join the USO and performed all over the world. He then worked at the Chicago's LaSalle Hotel in the "Gay Nineties Bar" as an MC and magician for fifteen years. He appeared on Don Alan's "Magic Ranch" TV series.[3]

Later he moved out to Hollywood and worked all the rooms at the Magic Castle.[4]

Awards

  • Academy of Magical Arts "Close-Up Magician" Award in 1970
  • Academy of Magical Arts "Performing Fellowship" in 1979.

References

  1. The Sphinx, Vol. 30. No. 1, March 1931, Who's Who in Magic, page 2
  2. Cover Genii 1959 March
  3. Obit Genii Magazine, Vol. 53, No. 9, March 1990, Johnny Platt October 5th 1903 – June 6th 1990, page 613
  4. Johnny Platt: is there a small Hindu boy in the audience? by Nick Lewin
  • The Linking Ring, Vol. 27, No. 10, December 1947, THE INDIAN MAGICIAN by John Platt, page 29, John Platt (autobiography), page 30
  • The Linking Ring, Vol. 29, No. 2, April 1949, Chicago Parade, John Platt, by Eddie Clever, page 79
  • M-U-M, Vol. 47, No. 5, October 1957, JOHN PLATT, magician-of-the-month, by Leslie P. Guest, page 177
  • The Linking Ring, Vol. 47, No. 2, February 1967, John Platt And His Magic, By Robert Parrish, page 22
  • The Linking Ring, Vol. 79, No. 7, July 1999, Pictures from the Past, page 60, Answer to Pictures from the Past, page 76
  • The Linking Ring, Vol. 82, No. 10, October 2002, Pictures from the Past, page 38, Answer to Pictures from the Past, page 103