Don Lawton

Don Lawton
Born	Donald Lawton March 05, 1922
Died	June 12, 1988 (age 66)
Categories	Books by Don Lawton

Don Lawton was a former magic dealer, lecturer, early television pitchman & a fixture at the Magic Castle.

This highly entertaining magician impacted on St. Louis for 20 years, as performer, seller & demonstrator of magic at 4 different shops. His comedic magic style also earned him extended contracts for personnel appearance & TV commercials. Lawton started selling magic at Will Lindhorst magic den, & also had a little magic shop in the back of his St. Louis home at one time & he was known for performing effects such as Disecto, the Egg Bag & Clippo. Don also sold magic at St. Louis Magic Studio & Towne House magic shop.

In 1947, Don Lawton kept busy by incorporating magic into live television advertisements for Falstaff Beer. Later, he used coffee cans to create a passé-passé trick for Old Judge Coffee. Lawton was assisted with over 50 live television commercials for Old Judge, using such props as the Milk Pitcher & the Card Duck.

For a time, he also served on the AMA Board of Directors & as host at the Magic Castle.

Awards

• St. Louis magical Hertitage Award in 1995 by IBM Ring One and SAM Assembly 8.
• recipient of the The Academy of Magical Arts Stage Magician of the Year Award and a Life Achievement Fellowship.

Bilbiography

• Lines From Lawton periodical (started in the 1950s)
• Lots of Lawton (1971).
• Don Lawton's Autograph Book by Joan Lawton

References

• Cover Genii 1956 April
• Obit Genii 1988 February
• History of magic in St. Louis by Don Rataj 2011