Paul W. Draper
Encyclopedia
Paul Draper is a Mentalist, magician, actor
, film maker and anthropologist
. As of 2008, he is the house magician at the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas
.
in Las Vegas, Paul received his degrees in Anthropology in Utah.
Early in Draper's career he gave lectures at national and international academic conferences in the field of anthropology. In 2003, he was an instructor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
and taught several classes in the field of Communication
Studies.
Draper appeared alongside David Copperfield
, Lance Burton
and Teller
as an expert on the History Channel’s special "Houdini: Unlocking the Mystery".
He is also been a frequent performer at:
With Nathan Meier, co-owner of the production company "Mask Films LLC", Draper is working on his second documentary film
. "Mr. Clown" starring Earl Chaney the son of Lon Chaney, Jr.
.
As an actor Draper has numerous Regional and Summer Stock musical theater credits. Draper is a Bass/ Baritone with a solid 2.5 Octave range (E Flat below the staff - High G above middle C).
• 2003 The Cultural Impact and Methods of the Spiritualist Movement in America and Europe: Participant, Organizer and Chair: Paul W. Draper, Univ. of Nevada Las-Vegas.
• Theoretical and Critical Approaches to Instructional Communication Presented by the Communication and Instruction Interest Group. Chair: Paul Draper, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
INVITED PARTICIPATION AT CONFERENCES
• 2003 Spiritualism, Embodiment, and Transformations: Papers on the Anthropology of Consciousness Participant: Paul W. Draper,
• 2003 The Cultural Impact and Methods of the Spiritualist Movement in America and Europe: 1840-1920
• 2003 From Shaman to Modern Showman: Performance Magic & Consciousness
• 2003 The American Spiritualist Movement 1840-1920.
• 2003 Modern Day Psychics, Seers and their Methods.
• 2003 Fieldwork and Ethnography: A Study of Live Action Role Playing In Utah, USA.
• 2003 Modern Day Psychics, Seers and their Methods.
• 2003 Fieldwork and Ethnography: A Study of Live Action Role Playing In Utah, USA.
certified Paul Draper as an ordained member of the clergy and authorized him to
solemnize marriages in the State of Nevada.
Paul performs these ceremonies gratis as a community service to the entertainment community:
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, film maker and anthropologist
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
. As of 2008, he is the house magician at the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
Career
Before embarking on a career in magic and mentalismMentalism
Mentalism is a performing art in which its practitioners, known as mentalists, appear to demonstrate highly developed mental or intuitive abilities. Performances may appear to include telepathy, clairvoyance, divination, precognition, psychokinesis, mediumship, mind control, memory feats and rapid...
in Las Vegas, Paul received his degrees in Anthropology in Utah.
Early in Draper's career he gave lectures at national and international academic conferences in the field of anthropology. In 2003, he was an instructor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
and taught several classes in the field of Communication
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
Studies.
Draper appeared alongside 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...
, 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...
and Teller
Teller (magician)
Teller is an American magician, illusionist, comedian, writer, and the frequently silent half of the comedy magic duo Penn & Teller, along with Penn Jillette. He legally changed his name from "Raymond Joseph Teller" to just "Teller"...
as an expert on the History Channel’s special "Houdini: Unlocking the Mystery".
He is also been a frequent performer at:
- The World Famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, California.
- Mystique in Boise, Idaho
- Monday Night Magic in New York, New York
- MagicopolisMagicopolisMagicopolis is a 150 seat theater in Santa Monica, California; founded in 1998 by magician Steve Spill, and is the permanent home of his magic production, "Escape Reality", which enjoys great reviews from guests and critics...
in Santa Monica, California - Mystery School in Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2nd Monday Magic in Bakersfield, California
- Wonderground in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Wizardz Magic Theater in Orlando, Florida
With Nathan Meier, co-owner of the production company "Mask Films LLC", Draper is working on his second documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
. "Mr. Clown" starring Earl Chaney the son of Lon Chaney, Jr.
Lon Chaney, Jr.
Lon Chaney, Jr. , born Creighton Tull Chaney, was an American character actor. He was best known for his roles in monster movies and as the son of famous silent film actor, Lon Chaney...
.
As an actor Draper has numerous Regional and Summer Stock musical theater credits. Draper is a Bass/ Baritone with a solid 2.5 Octave range (E Flat below the staff - High G above middle C).
Awards
- 2009 Houdini Award winner for "Best Mentalist"
- 2003 PCAM 1st Place award winner for Mentalism
- Volunteer Award 2003 for the National Conference of Community and Justice. Formally the National Conference of Christians and Jews (NCCJ A human rights, leadership, advocacy and education organization since 1927).
- Meier and Draper's first documentary "Nathan's Story: Teenage Sex and Fatherhood" won the Rocky Mountain regional Emmy awardEmmy AwardAn Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for Best Documentary in Cultural Affairs in 2002.
- "Inheritance" winner of Best Acting and 2nd runner up for Best Picture 2010 Las Vegas 48hr Film Festival
- "The Pitch" winner of Audience Favorite and best writing in the 2009 Salt Lake City 48hr Film Festival
- Irene Ryan Acting Award. A national university theater award. 2000
- American College Theater Association national Theatrical Management award. 1999
- 1997 Finalist in Original Oratory in the National competition of the National Forensic League (NFL)
Works
- Nathan's Story: Teenage Sex and Fatherhood, documentary KUED Channel 7 Utah 3/29/2001
- Mr. Clown, documentary (in-process)
- "Level Up" short. 2011 Utah 48 Hour Film Festival
- "Inheritance" short. 2010 Vegas 48 Hour Film Festival
- "Choices", short. 2010 Utah 48 Hour Film Festival
- "The Pitch", short. 2009 Utah 48 Hour Film Festival
Film and television appearances
- The History ChannelThe History ChannelHistory, formerly known as The History Channel, is an American-based international satellite and cable TV channel that broadcasts a variety of reality shows and documentary programs including those of fictional and non-fictional historical content, together with speculation about the future.-...
, "Houdini: Unlocking the Mystery" - A&EA&E NetworkThe A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
, "Criss Angel's Mindfreak: Burning Man" - Oxogen Network, "Hairbattle Spectacular 2: I'm a Beautician, Not a Magician"
- Steven SpielbergSteven SpielbergSteven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
, "Poltergeist (25th Anniversary Edition)" - HGTVHGTVHGTV , is a cable-television network operating in the United States and Canada, broadcasting a variety of home and garden improvement, maintenance, renovation, craft and remodeling shows...
, "House Hunters Las Vegas episode 1-5" - ComcastComcastComcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
, "Hocus Pocus: Denny and Lees Magic Studio" - ComcastComcastComcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
, "In Utah: Mysteries of the Mind: Parts 1-3" - WBThe WB Television NetworkThe WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
, "15 minutes of fame" - ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, "Duel", June 27, 2008 (contestant on US game show)
Publications
- Macknik, Stephen, Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals about Our Everyday Deceptions (interview)
- Sperber, Burton, "Miracles of My Friends II" (contributor)
- Tillar, Jack Kent, "Septet: Super Powers for Mentalists" (contributor)
- BanachekBanachekBanachek is an American mentalist. Banachek has written books on mentalism, such as Psychological Subtleties, and invented various magic and mentalism effects, including the Penn & Teller bullet catch and the original "buried alive." Banachek is also the Director of the James Randi Educational...
, Psychological Subtleties 2 (contributor) - Beckwith, Tobias, Beyond Deception, (editor)
- Hitchcock, Scott, The New Lecture Notes (editor)
- Draper, Paul, Mentalism: Theory, History and Performance
- Draper, Paul, Cold Reading with Playing Cards
- Draper, Paul, The Magicians Journey
- Draper, Paul, History of the American Spiritualist Movement 1880 -1920
- Draper, Paul, "The effect of a "Psychic Fair" on casino floor drop rate: State Line and Silversmith Casino Wendover, Nevada 2002"
- Ogden, Tom, Idiots Guide to Street Magic (Photographer, talent and consultant)
Media References
- TheTechHerald.com: May 16 2011 "Sony’s CEO shows confidence and concern during video address"
- HitExchange: Healthcare Business & Technology March/April 2011 "Implementing Electronic Medical Records: Advice from the Trenches"
- Disney Family Fun Magazine: March 2011 "Magic"
- AskMen.com: December 2010 "Is The New Vegas Good For Guys?"
- Aol News: August 2010 "Geeks Get 'Anime-ted' With Cosplay"
- Becker's Hospital Review: August 2010 "5 Best Practices to Retain Top Hospital Leaders"
- Las Vegas Weekly: July 2010 "Magician Paul Draper reads minds in Vegas" http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2010/jul/28/magician-paul-draper/
- Classical Singer: February 2010 "Dating and the Singer" Page 54-57
- Glamour Magazine: December 2009 "Life & Happiness" Page 203
- AP: December 2009 "How to beef up your tech skills to stay competitive"
- Psychology Today: September / October 2009 "The Wholesome Guide to Misbehaving"
- Allen, Stan, "Magic magazine" June 2009 "Paul Draper: Making his Mark" by Dave Goodsell http://www.mentalmysteries.com/newsletter/08/images/Paul_Draper_HI-RES.pdf
- The Magic Newswire: April 2009 "MNW #106: Paul Draper"
- Corporate Entertainer Magazine: March 2009 "Paul Draper – A World of Pure Imagination"
- iTricks Interviews: February 2009: iTricks Interviews Paul Draper on YouTube Parts 1-3
- Essential Magic Conference interview: July 2010: "Mentalist"
- McBride Magic and Meaning Pep Talks: October 2008: "Anthropological Cold Reading"
- Metaphor Literary Journal: 2001 & 2002. Volume 22 and 23. (Photography)
Professional Membership
- American Anthropology Association
- Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness
- Society for Medical Anthropology
- Society for Visual Anthropology
- Western States Communication Association
- International Brotherhood of Magicians
- Intermountain Magicians Association
- Pacific Coast Association of Magicians
- The Academy of Magical Arts and Sciences (Magic Castle)
- The Elders
- The Inclusion Center: National Conference for Community and Justice
- Weber State University Alumni Association
Charities
Paul Draper has sat on the board of or continues to be a major contributor of time and money to the following charities- The Inclusion Center for Community and Justice http://inclusioncenter.org/
- St. Jude's Ranch for Children http://stjudesranch.org/
- Opportunity Village http://www.opportunityvillage.org/
- Win-Win Entertainment http://win-winentertainment.org/
- CHARM http://www.charmcharity.com/
- HUGS (Help Us Give Service) Club
- NCCJ
Conferences
ORGANIZED AND CHAIRED SESSIONS AT CONFERENCES- 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association. November 19-23 2003 Chicago, Illinois
• 2003 The Cultural Impact and Methods of the Spiritualist Movement in America and Europe: Participant, Organizer and Chair: Paul W. Draper, Univ. of Nevada Las-Vegas.
- Western States Communication Association Annual Conference. February 13-17 2004 Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Theoretical and Critical Approaches to Instructional Communication Presented by the Communication and Instruction Interest Group. Chair: Paul Draper, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
INVITED PARTICIPATION AT CONFERENCES
- 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association. November 19-23 2003 Chicago, Illinois
• 2003 Spiritualism, Embodiment, and Transformations: Papers on the Anthropology of Consciousness Participant: Paul W. Draper,
- Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness April 2-6 2003. Las Vegas, Nevada
• 2003 The Cultural Impact and Methods of the Spiritualist Movement in America and Europe: 1840-1920
• 2003 From Shaman to Modern Showman: Performance Magic & Consciousness
- University of Utah 17th NCUR. March 2003 Salt Lake City, Utah
• 2003 The American Spiritualist Movement 1840-1920.
• 2003 Modern Day Psychics, Seers and their Methods.
• 2003 Fieldwork and Ethnography: A Study of Live Action Role Playing In Utah, USA.
- Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences. June 2003 Honolulu, Hawaii:
• 2003 Modern Day Psychics, Seers and their Methods.
• 2003 Fieldwork and Ethnography: A Study of Live Action Role Playing In Utah, USA.
Minister
As of October 10, 2009 Diana Alba, County Clerk of Clark County, Nevadacertified Paul Draper as an ordained member of the clergy and authorized him to
solemnize marriages in the State of Nevada.
Paul performs these ceremonies gratis as a community service to the entertainment community:
- Tyler & Mistie Knight 4.23.10
- Jeff & Joanne Celentano 4.26.10
- Dan & Temika Sperry 5.14.10
- Rolan & Melanie Whitt 6.10.10
- Robert & Shantell Ledgerwood 8.7.10 (Renewal)
- Mike & Lara Khajetoorians Larkin 1.29.11
- Mark & Carla Pollard 8.8.11
- Josh & Morgan Levenberg 10.9.11