Johnny Platt

Johnny Platt
Born	John Joseph Platt October 5, 1903 Chicago, Illinois
Died	June 6, 1990 (age 86)
Nationality	American

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

Johnny was one of the early members of the IBM (number 109).

He 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.

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.

Later he moved out to Hollywood and worked all the rooms at the Magic Castle. He won the Academy of Magical Arts "Close-Up Magician" Award in 1970 and received a Performing Fellowship in 1979.

References

• Cover Genii 1959 March
• Obit Genii 1990 March