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Val Valentino
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Val Valentino (born June 14, 1956) is a American magician, illusionist, and actor, who gained notoriety by starring in four magic specials exposing magic secrets on the Fox Network. He goes by the stage name the Masked Magician or Mr. M. The character of "The Masked Magician" was invented earlier by Andy Kaufman and Bob Zmuda.
Masked Magician
While he was performing in Las Vegas showrooms, Valentino was recruited by the Fox Network.
Fox's Alternative Programming division was looking for a magician to appear in a series of specials revealing the secrets behind selected illusions, and they had a long list of potential candidates, Valentino among them.
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Encyclopedia
Val Valentino (born June 14, 1956) is a American magician, illusionist, and actor, who gained notoriety by starring in four magic specials exposing magic secrets on the Fox Network. He goes by the stage name the Masked Magician or Mr. M. The character of "The Masked Magician" was invented earlier by Andy Kaufman and Bob Zmuda.
Biography
Valentino was born as Leonard Monatono in East Los Angeles, California.
Valentino's first foray into magic was at the age of five with a trick called "the ball and vase" that his father gave him.
In his teens, Valentino performed with the “International Cultural Awareness Program” for over a million students throughout the Unified School Systems. The performances also included revealing magic secrets to encourage others to become magicians.
By the end of the 1980s and into the 1990s, Valentino had moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and was performing in casino shows including Viva Las Vegas and Splash, after having appeared on The Merv Griffin Show, as well as in a music video by Herb Alpert.
Masked Magician
While he was performing in Las Vegas showrooms, Valentino was recruited by the Fox Network.
Fox's Alternative Programming division was looking for a magician to appear in a series of specials revealing the secrets behind selected illusions, and they had a long list of potential candidates, Valentino among them. Although he initially turned the network down, Fox was willing to negotiate, and Valentino eventually signed, promising that he would only reveal the secrets behind old illusions. However, when the programs aired, many newer illusions were also revealed. This sparked controversy, as many feared that their illusions were now worthless.
For a span of two years (circa 1997-1998), Valentino was known as the Masked Magician on FOX specials called Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed which exposed long-guarded trade secrets. He also appeared in this persona on a 1999 episode of Diagnosis Murder. The Masked Magician was also shown in the UK on the ITV network during the late 1990's and repeated on ITV4 in 2009.
In numerous public appearances, in which he kept his Masked Magician identity and had his voice disguised, Valentino said his motive behind the shows was to force magicians to invent new tricks and illusions rather than constantly relying on the old ones. When he finally revealed himself at the end of the fourth show, he emphasized that he felt revealing the secrets would encourage kids into trying magic instead of discouraging them, and that the entertainment of magic shows was more in the magician's showmanship instead of the wonder of how the trick was pulled off.
The show has returned to broadcast on MyNetwork TV, and Valentino is believed to be reprising his role as the Masked Magician.
Graphic Novel
In October 2007, a graphic novel starring the character of the Masked Magician was released.
The Art And Secrets Of Magic DVD
Recently, a new DVD was released starring the Masked Magician, teaching people how to do simple magic tricks. As each new DVD is released the tricks will become more challenging. There will be a total of four DVDs.
Filmography
- Herb Alpert "Magic Man" Music Video (As himself)
- The Merv Griffin Show (As himself)
- The Great Magic of Las Vegas (Four separate segments)
- Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed (As the Masked Magician and later as himself)
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show (As the Masked Magician)
- Vibe (As the Masked Magician)
- Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
- The Howie Mandel Show
- Diagnosis Murder - "Trash TV" (As the Masked Magician and also as himself)
- History of Magic - "Disappearances" (As himself and as the Masked Magician in archive footage)
- The Art And Secrets Of Magic (As the Masked Magician)
- Breaking the Magicians' Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed (Second Season) (As the Masked Magician)
- WWE SmackDown
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