Johnny Ace Palmer
Encyclopedia
Johnny Ace Palmer is an award-winning American
close-up magician
. He is famous within the worldwide magical community for his prodigious sleight-of-hand abilities.
in Ohio
until his graduation. Following high school, Palmer attended Kent State University
in Ohio in the late 1970s and early '80s. He came to magic early in life, and as a teenager, performed a stage act with his sister. Palmer likes to say that he was "put on this Earth to do magic." In college, he majored in both theater arts and psychology stating he wanted to prepare himself for his future career as a magician.
and the annual convention of the Society of American Magicians
.
Then he set his sights on international goals, entering the world-championship of magic, a competition called FISM, in 1988. He presented a 10-minute act which was one of the first competition acts to utilize stage techniques in a closeup setting. One routine for which he became known was a version of the Cups & Balls in which the final load was three live baby chicks.
Palmer's skills won him the title of World-champion magician. In so doing, he became the first close-up magician in history to receive the Grand Prix award, and only the second American to win (Lance Burton
was the first in 1982). This award is given out only once every three years.
The Magic Castle
named Palmer Best Close-Up Magician two years in a row (1987, 1988) as well as Lecturer of the Year (1996, 1999). He performs at the Castle twice a year, in September during the week that encompasses Labor Day and in April during the week that encompasses April Fool's Day.
As of 2006, Palmer is the only magician to be awarded both the International Brotherhood of Magicians
' Gold Cups Award of Excellence (which he received in 1983) and the Society of American Magicians
' Gold Medal Award of Honor (which he received in 1986).
Palmer was one of the original seven magicians who opened Caesar's Magical Empire in June, 1996. However, his home base for nearly two decades has remained suburban Los Angeles.
With many awards under his belt, Palmer has turned down many opportunities to pursue a lucrative stage magic career. Instead, he has said that he prefers the excitement and personal contact involved in closeup magic. He has performed tableside magic regularly at many restaurants through the years, including his current weekly gig on Sunday evenings at Earth Wind & Flour in Santa Monica, which he has had since 1994. Past restaurants in Los Angeles have included the decade that he spent at Zach's Italian Cafe (Studio City) and the several years that he spent at the Green Street Restaurant (Pasadena).
Palmer's knowledge was utilized by Mattel
when the company vied for the merchandising contract to create toys for the Harry Potter
film franchise. Palmer assisted the company in designing toys with a magical theme. Warner Bros.
ended up awarding the contract to Mattel.
In 1994, the Library of Congress
created an exhibit to be displayed at schools, libraries and malls across the country. Called Grand Illusion: The Art and Practice of Magic, the exhibit featured only five living magicians, one of whom was Palmer.
Palmer was featured in an episode of the TV series Masters of Illusion
aired March 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
close-up magician
Micromagic
Micromagic or close-up magic or table magic is magic performed in an intimate setting usually no more than ten feet from one's audience and is usually performed while sitting at a table....
. He is famous within the worldwide magical community for his prodigious sleight-of-hand abilities.
Early life
Palmer was born in Warren, Ohio, in the early 1960s and attended Lakeview High SchoolLakeview High School (Ohio)
Lakeview High School in Cortland, Ohio, is the only high school in the Lakeview School District. Prior to 2004, Lakeview High School taught grades eight through 12; in 2004, the 8th grade was moved to Lakeview Middle School. Since 2009, due to financial issues and the closing of Cortland Elementary...
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
until his graduation. Following high school, Palmer attended Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
in Ohio in the late 1970s and early '80s. He came to magic early in life, and as a teenager, performed a stage act with his sister. Palmer likes to say that he was "put on this Earth to do magic." In college, he majored in both theater arts and psychology stating he wanted to prepare himself for his future career as a magician.
Magic career
Throughout the 1980s, Palmer entered and competed in a large number of American magic competitions, culminating in his first-place wins at the annual convention of the International Brotherhood of MagiciansInternational Brotherhood of Magicians
International Brotherhood of Magicians is the world's largest organization for professional and amateur magicians, with approximately 15,000 members worldwide. The headquarters is in St...
and the annual convention of the Society of American Magicians
Society of American Magicians
The Society of American Magicians is the oldest fraternal magic organization in the world. Its purpose is "to advance, elevate, and preserve magic as a performing art, to promote harmonious fellowship throughout the world of magic, and to maintain and improve ethical standards in the field of...
.
Then he set his sights on international goals, entering the world-championship of magic, a competition called FISM, in 1988. He presented a 10-minute act which was one of the first competition acts to utilize stage techniques in a closeup setting. One routine for which he became known was a version of the Cups & Balls in which the final load was three live baby chicks.
Palmer's skills won him the title of World-champion magician. In so doing, he became the first close-up magician in history to receive the Grand Prix award, and only the second American to win (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...
was the first in 1982). This award is given out only once every three years.
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...
named Palmer Best Close-Up Magician two years in a row (1987, 1988) as well as Lecturer of the Year (1996, 1999). He performs at the Castle twice a year, in September during the week that encompasses Labor Day and in April during the week that encompasses April Fool's Day.
As of 2006, Palmer is the only magician to be awarded both the International Brotherhood of Magicians
International Brotherhood of Magicians
International Brotherhood of Magicians is the world's largest organization for professional and amateur magicians, with approximately 15,000 members worldwide. The headquarters is in St...
' Gold Cups Award of Excellence (which he received in 1983) and the Society of American Magicians
Society of American Magicians
The Society of American Magicians is the oldest fraternal magic organization in the world. Its purpose is "to advance, elevate, and preserve magic as a performing art, to promote harmonious fellowship throughout the world of magic, and to maintain and improve ethical standards in the field of...
' Gold Medal Award of Honor (which he received in 1986).
Palmer was one of the original seven magicians who opened Caesar's Magical Empire in June, 1996. However, his home base for nearly two decades has remained suburban Los Angeles.
With many awards under his belt, Palmer has turned down many opportunities to pursue a lucrative stage magic career. Instead, he has said that he prefers the excitement and personal contact involved in closeup magic. He has performed tableside magic regularly at many restaurants through the years, including his current weekly gig on Sunday evenings at Earth Wind & Flour in Santa Monica, which he has had since 1994. Past restaurants in Los Angeles have included the decade that he spent at Zach's Italian Cafe (Studio City) and the several years that he spent at the Green Street Restaurant (Pasadena).
Palmer's knowledge was utilized by Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
when the company vied for the merchandising contract to create toys for the Harry Potter
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
film franchise. Palmer assisted the company in designing toys with a magical theme. Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
ended up awarding the contract to Mattel.
In 1994, the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
created an exhibit to be displayed at schools, libraries and malls across the country. Called Grand Illusion: The Art and Practice of Magic, the exhibit featured only five living magicians, one of whom was Palmer.
Palmer was featured in an episode of the TV series Masters of Illusion
Masters of Illusion
Masters of Illusion is a hip hop side-project of renowned turntablist Kutmasta Kurt and the 2 emcees Kool Keith and Motion Man. Their first self-titled album was released in 2000....
aired March 2009.