Jim Steinmeyer
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Jim Steinmeyer (born 1 November 1958) is an internationally respected designer of magical illusions and theatrical special effects. His best known illusions include Origami, Interlude, and Walking Through a Mirror. He is also an author, consultant and producer.[1][2]
[edit] Early life
Steinmeyer was born in Oak Park, Illinois. He grew up in Hinsdale, Illinois and attended Loyola University Chicago.
[edit] Magic career
As a researcher of magic history and a designer of special effects for the theatre, Steinmeyer's work has been featured in theatrical shows such as Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods, Mary Poppins and Phantom of the Opera. He has also worked as a producer and magic consultant for many magic television shows, and as a consultant and concept designer for Walt Disney Imagineering, where he developed theme park attractions for The Walt Disney Company. For a number of years, he was the magic designer to Doug Henning, and invented illusions for Henning's television specials and two Broadway shows. For David Copperfield, Steinmeyer created the illusion of the Vanishing Statue of Liberty, which was featured on a television special. His magical creations have also been widely viewed through the performances of The Pendragons, Simon Drake, Lance Burton, Ricky Jay and many others. He was the writer and producer of the A&E Network's The Story of Magic, a documentary on the history of magicians.[1][2]
The Academy of Magical Arts (aka. The Magic Castle) has awarded him twice with The Creative Fellowship in 1991 and The Literary Fellowship Award in 2002.
Jim Steinmeyer currently lives with his wife in Los Angeles, California.
[edit] Books
He has written many books on magic's history and technical books on techniques of illusions. Recent works include:
- Hiding the Elephant - How Magicians Invented the Impossible and Learned to Disappear, Carroll & Graf (2004) ISBN 0786714018
- The Glorious Deception: The Double Life of William Robinson, Aka Chung Ling Soo, the "Marvelous Chinese Conjurer" Carroll & Graf Publishers (2005), ISBN 078671512X
- The Magic of Alan Wakeling: The Works of a Master Magician, Carroll & Graf (Nov 2006), ISBN 0786718072
- Art and Artifice: And Other Essays of Illusion,Carroll & Graf (Nov 2006), ISBN 0786718064
- Charles Fort: The Man Who Invented the Supernatural, Heinemann (May 2008), ISBN 0434016292
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Jim Steinmeyer" at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ a b Designer and inventor of illusions and theatrical special effects for magicians and Broadway shows. Jim Stienmeyer. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
[edit] Additional sources
- T. A. Walters, "Jim Steinmeyer: Deviser of Illusions", MAGIC Magazine, September 1996
[edit] External links
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