Jim Steinmeyer
Encyclopedia
Jim Steinmeyer 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.
. He grew up in Hinsdale, Illinois and attended Loyola University Chicago
.
, 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.
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.
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
and theatrical special effects. His best known illusions include Origami
Origami (magic trick)
Origami is a magic stage illusion with a Japanese paperfolding theme that was designed by Jim Steinmeyer. In the 1980's Illusion builder John Gaughan refined the concept and constructed the first version for Doug Henning....
, Interlude
Interlude (magic trick)
Interlude is a stage illusion where one person appears to pass through the torso of another . Invented by Jim Steinmeyer with collaboration of John Gaughan and Jonathan Pendragon, and was originally staged, choreographed and performed by The Pendragons, it has since become a part of many...
, and Walking Through a Mirror. He is also an author, consultant and producer.
Early life
Steinmeyer was born in Oak Park, IllinoisOak Park, Illinois
Oak Park, Illinois is a suburb bordering the west side of the city of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is the twenty-fifth largest municipality in Illinois. Oak Park has easy access to downtown Chicago due to public transportation such as the Chicago 'L' Blue and Green lines,...
. He grew up in Hinsdale, Illinois and attended Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
.
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 ImagineeringWalt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Imagineering is the design and development arm of the Walt Disney Company, responsible for the creation and construction of Disney theme parks worldwide...
, where he developed theme park attractions for The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
. For a number of years, he was the magic designer to Doug Henning
Doug Henning
Douglas James Henning was a Canadian magician, illusionist, escape artist and politician.-Early life:...
, and invented illusions for Henning's television specials and two Broadway shows. For David Copperfield
David Copperfield (illusionist)
David Copperfield is an Emmy Award-winning American illusionist, and was described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history. Copperfield's network specials have been nominated for 38 Emmy Awards and won a total of 21 Emmys...
, 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
Simon Drake
Simon Drake is the stage name of Simon Alexander; a British magician based in London. He is best known for the innovative and shocking television series Secret Cabaret made for Britain's Channel 4.-Early life:...
, Lance Burton
Lance Burton
Lance Burton is a stage illusionist. He has appeared on numerous television programs, and also performed for Queen Elizabeth and President Ronald Reagan...
, Ricky Jay
Ricky Jay
Richard Jay Potash , better known by the stage name Ricky Jay, is an American stage magician, actor, and writer. He is a sleight-of-hand expert and is notable for his card tricks, card throwing, memory feats, and stage patter.-Life and career:...
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.
The Academy of Magical Arts (aka. The Magic Castle
The Magic Castle
The Magic Castle, located at 7001 Franklin Avenue in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, is a nightclub for magicians and magic enthusiasts, as well as the clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts. It bills itself as "the most unusual private club in the world."-Nightclub:The Magic...
) 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.
Books
He has written many books on magic's history and technical books on techniques of illusions. Recent works include:- The Complete Jarrett, Hahne (2001) ASIN: B0014JAOXO
- Jim Steinmeyer's Impuzzibilities Strangely Self-Working Conjuring, Hahne (2002) ASIN: B000HAUEH2
- 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 SooChung Ling SooChung Ling Soo was the stage name of the American magician William Ellsworth Robinson who is mostly remembered today for his tragic death after a bullet catch trick went wrong.- Biography :...
, the "Marvelous Chinese Conjurer" Carroll & Graf Publishers (2005), ISBN 078671512X - The Magic of Alan WakelingAlan WakelingAlan Wakeling was an American magician and inventor who is known in the magic world for devising classic illusions and routines used by some of the top performers in the business...
: 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 FortCharles FortCharles Hoy Fort was an American writer and researcher into anomalous phenomena. Today, the terms Fortean and Forteana are used to characterize various such phenomena. Fort's books sold well and are still in print today.-Biography:Charles Hoy Fort was born in 1874 in Albany, New York, of Dutch...
: The Man Who Invented the Supernatural, Heinemann (May 2008), ISBN 0434016292
Patents
- Hologram Illusion, Issued March 1, 1994, US Patent No. 5,291,297.
- Origami Illusion, Issued March 29, 1994, US Patent No. D345,595.
Further reading
- T. A. Walters, "Jim Steinmeyer: Deviser of Illusions", MAGIC Magazine, September 1996