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Jimmy Grippo

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Jimmy Grippo

Cover of Genii (1975)
BornJames Vincent Grippo
January 25, 1898
Mosquito, Italy
DiedJanuary 15, 1992 (age 93)
Las Vegas, Nevada
Resting placeRoses Mausoleum at Palm Mortuary in Las Vegas

Jimmy Grippo (b. 1898 - d. 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.

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.[1]

In 1980, awarded the Performing Fellowship by the Academy of Magical Arts.


Jimmy always preferred though to be remembered as a hypnotist. He used hypnotic suggestions on many famous athletes of this time. In 1999, elected to the International Hypnosis Hall of Fame.

He and his wife,Frances, are entombed in Roses Mausoleum, Wing 1 – Row E, #84 & 85 at Palm Mortuary in Las Vegas.[2]

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

References

  1. Cover, Genii Magazine, Vol. 39, No. 5, May 1975, Jimmy Grippo, page 232
  2. Genii Magazine, Vol. 55, No. 7, May 1992, Obituaries, Jimmy Grippo, by Tom Colitto, page 491