Harry Lorayne
Encyclopedia
Harry Lorayne is an American magician and a memory-training specialist and writer who was once called "The Yoda of Memory Training" by Time magazine. He is well known for his mnemonic
demonstrations and has appeared on numerous television shown including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. His book The Memory Book, coauthored by Jerry Lucas
was a New York Times bestseller. His card magic, especially his innovations in card sleights, is widely emulated by professional magicians.
and he learned sleight of hand
at the Hamilton Fish Park
in the 1930s. At age 18, he began to perform as a table magician at the Billy Reed Little Club at 70 E. 55th St. in New York. The actor Victor Jory
, noted for his role as a magician detective, was a regular visitor to the club. Lorayne started performing memory tricks for Jory and Jory's enthusiastic response changed Lorayne's approach to performing.
He began appearing television in 1963, first on on I've Got a Secret
, where he demonstrated his ability to remember everybody's name in the audience and later appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show
and numerous other television shows including The Merv Griffin Show
, The Mike Douglas Show
and The Regis Philbin
Show. He was a regular performer on The Johnny Carson Show
.
To demonstrate his memory, Harry Lorayne would stand beside the president of the club he was visiting and be introduced to each member. The number of members of a club could reach up to 1,500. After an hour and a half, Lorayne would speak about memory for about 20 minutes and then ask if anyone had a question. He promised that he would pay any questioner whose name he could not remember a thousand dollars. He always remembered the names of every member of the audience. Lorayne also made news by memorizing and recalling information from phone books with no errors.
He had a memory school in New York employing such instructors as Darwin Ortiz
.
, Bob Dylan writes that he read Lorayne's book shortly before breaking through as a music star after finding it in the book collection of a friend.
Most of his writings have been on the subject of memory for a general audience. For professional musicians, he has also publishing several books and videos on card magic. Magic magazine included him in a list of the 100 most influential magicians of the 20th century. His most recent book for magicians is Lorayne: The Classic Collection, an updated collection of his first four magic books of the 1960s.
For twenty years, Lorayne wrote and published the magazine Apocalypse. He is also a columnist for Genii (magazine)
magazine. Lorayne is the author of the NY Times bestseller The Memory Book.
In 2007, Lorayne published Ageless Memory, which he called his legacy book.
Mnemonic
A mnemonic , or mnemonic device, is any learning technique that aids memory. To improve long term memory, mnemonic systems are used to make memorization easier. Commonly encountered mnemonics are often verbal, such as a very short poem or a special word used to help a person remember something,...
demonstrations and has appeared on numerous television shown including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. His book The Memory Book, coauthored by Jerry Lucas
Jerry Lucas
Jerry Ray Lucas was a basketball player from the 1950s to the 1970s, and is now a memory education expert. In 1996, the NBA's 50th anniversary, he was named one of the 50 greatest players in National Basketball Association history...
was a New York Times bestseller. His card magic, especially his innovations in card sleights, is widely emulated by professional magicians.
Life and career
He grew up in New York's Lower East SideLower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
and he learned sleight of hand
Sleight of hand
Sleight of hand, also known as prestidigitation or legerdemain, is the set of techniques used by a magician to manipulate objects such as cards and coins secretly....
at the Hamilton Fish Park
Hamilton Fish Park Pool
Hamilton Fish Park Pool was built by the New York City Parks Department using Works Progress Administration funds. It opened in June 1936. Located in the Lower East Side, the facility includes extensive facilities for filtering and purifying water, underwater lighting, and separate diving and...
in the 1930s. At age 18, he began to perform as a table magician at the Billy Reed Little Club at 70 E. 55th St. in New York. The actor Victor Jory
Victor Jory
Victor Jory was a Canadian actor.-Biography:Born in Dawson City, Yukon, Jory was the boxing and wrestling champion of the Coast Guard during his military service, and he kept his burly physique. He toured with theater troupes and appeared on Broadway, before making his Hollywood debut in 1930...
, noted for his role as a magician detective, was a regular visitor to the club. Lorayne started performing memory tricks for Jory and Jory's enthusiastic response changed Lorayne's approach to performing.
He began appearing television in 1963, first on on I've Got a Secret
I've Got a Secret
I've Got a Secret is a panel game show produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman for CBS television. Created by comedy writers Allan Sherman and Howard Merrill, it was a derivative of Goodson-Todman's own panel show What's My Line?...
, where he demonstrated his ability to remember everybody's name in the audience and later appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
and numerous other television shows including The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, September 20, 1965 to September 26, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 at 11:30 PM ET weeknights on CBS and again in...
, The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that aired in syndication from 1961 to 1982, distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations.The program featured light banter with...
and The Regis Philbin
Regis Philbin
Regis Francis Xavier Philbin is an American media personality, actor and singer, known for hosting talk and game shows since the 1960s. Philbin is often called "the hardest working man in show business" and holds the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a television camera...
Show. He was a regular performer on The Johnny Carson Show
The Johnny Carson Show
The Johnny Carson Show is a 1955-56 half hour prime time television variety show starring Johnny Carson.While working as a staff writer on The Red Skelton Show , local Los Angeles television comedian Johnny Carson filled in as host when Skelton was injured during a show rehearsal...
.
To demonstrate his memory, Harry Lorayne would stand beside the president of the club he was visiting and be introduced to each member. The number of members of a club could reach up to 1,500. After an hour and a half, Lorayne would speak about memory for about 20 minutes and then ask if anyone had a question. He promised that he would pay any questioner whose name he could not remember a thousand dollars. He always remembered the names of every member of the audience. Lorayne also made news by memorizing and recalling information from phone books with no errors.
He had a memory school in New York employing such instructors as Darwin Ortiz
Darwin Ortiz
Darwin Ortiz is a magician, who is an authority on gambling and card manipulation.Ortiz was born and raised in New York City where he had a keen interest in card tricks since childhood. In 1974, he dropped out of NYU Law School and pursued card magic full-time...
.
Writer and publisher
In 1958, Lorayne published Secrets of Mind Power. The book tells readers how to improve their thinking skills for success. In Chronicles: Volume OneChronicles: Volume One
Chronicles, Volume One is the first part of Bob Dylan's planned 3-volume memoir. Published on October 5, 2004, by Simon & Schuster, the 304-page volume covers selected points from Dylan's long career. The book spent 19 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list for hardcover nonfiction books...
, Bob Dylan writes that he read Lorayne's book shortly before breaking through as a music star after finding it in the book collection of a friend.
Most of his writings have been on the subject of memory for a general audience. For professional musicians, he has also publishing several books and videos on card magic. Magic magazine included him in a list of the 100 most influential magicians of the 20th century. His most recent book for magicians is Lorayne: The Classic Collection, an updated collection of his first four magic books of the 1960s.
For twenty years, Lorayne wrote and published the magazine Apocalypse. He is also a columnist for Genii (magazine)
Genii
Genii , a plural form of genie, which is an alternate spelling of jinnī , are supernatural creatures in Arab folklore and Islamic teachings...
magazine. Lorayne is the author of the NY Times bestseller The Memory Book.
In 2007, Lorayne published Ageless Memory, which he called his legacy book.
Publications
- How To Develop a Super Power Memory (1958)
- How To Develop A Super-Power Memory. Harry Lorayne's Secrets of Mind Power (1961)
- Close-Up Card Magic - 1962
- Personal Secrets - 1964
- Page-A-Minute Memory Book (Paperback - 1996)
- The Harry Lorayne Memory Isometrics Course, Geneva (publisher), (1968)
- My Favorite Card Tricks - 1965
- Dingle's Deceptions - 1966
- Best of Bill-fooled
- Deck-Sterity - 1967
- Miracle Math - 1968
- Reputation-Makers - 1971
- Rim Shots - 1973
- Afterthoughts - 1975
- The Epitome Location - 1976
- Tarbell #7
- The Magic Book - 1977
- Star Quality - 1979
- Quantum Leaps - 1980
- Doug Edwards Packs A Wallop
- Best of Friends, Vol. 1
- The Card Classics of Ken Krenzel
- Trend Setters - 1982
- Best of Friends, Vol. 2
- The Himber Wallet Book
- Best of Friends, Vol. 3
- The Memory Book: The Classic Guide to Improving Your Memory at Work, at School, and at Play ( 1986)
- Miracle Math - 1992
- Super Memory, Super Student: How to Raise Your Grades in 30 Days Little Brown and Company (1990)
- How to get Rich Using the power of your mind (Paperback - 2003)
- Ageless Memory: Simple Secrets for Keeping Your Brain Young (2007)
- Remembering People (The Key To Success) (2008)
Videos
- "Best Ever 4-Vol. DVD set
- Personal Collection - 1999
- Lorayne: The Classic Collection, Vol. 1 - 2005
- Lorayne: The Classic Collection, Vol. 2 - 2008
- Lorayne: The Classic Collection, Vol. 3 - coming