Help us get to over 8,748 articles in 2024.
If you know of a magician not listed in MagicPedia, start a New Biography for them. Contact us at magicpediahelp@gmail.com
Johnny Platt
Johnny Platt | |
Cover of Genii (1959) | |
Born | John Joseph Platt October 5, 1903 Chicago, Illinois |
---|---|
Died | June 6, 1990 (age 86) |
Nationality | American |
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
- ↑ Who's Who in Magic, Sphinx, March 1931
- ↑ Cover Genii 1959 March
- ↑ Obit Genii 1990 March
- ↑ Johnny Platt: is there a small Hindu boy in the audience? by Nick Lewin