Val Valentino
Encyclopedia
Val Valentino is an Italian American
illusionist, and actor
, who gained fame by starring in four magic specials exposing magic secrets on the Fox
network, using the stage name
the Masked Magician.
. His father Artur Galstian is an Armenian emigrant from Turkey
, his mother Elle Montano is of Italian descent.
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
.
network during the late 1990s and is still occasionally repeated on ITV4
.
Valentino had been approached by Fox while he was performing in Las Vegas showrooms. After some negotiation, Valentino signed to do the program, 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 magicians feared that their illusions were now worthless.
When he finally revealed himself at the end of the fourth show, he emphasized that he felt that 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.
New episodes of the show later returned to broadcast on MyNetworkTV
. Episodes can also be seen on Fox Reality Channel
. It has been disclosed that Valentino is reprising the role.
Valentino also appeared in the Masked Magician persona on a 1999 episode of Diagnosis: Murder
.
In an episode of the animated series King of the Hill
, "Sleight of Hank" Bobby Hill wears a mask like the Masked Magician while narrating the secret behind a magic trick witnessed by Hank and Peggy Hill.
In October 2007, a graphic novel
starring the character of the Masked Magician was released.
A character also called "The Masked Magician" was created earlier by Andy Kaufman
and Bob Zmuda
as part of Kaufman's comedic stage act.
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
illusionist, and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, who gained fame by starring in four magic specials exposing magic secrets on the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
network, using the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
the Masked Magician.
Biography
Valentino was born as Leonard Montano in East Los Angeles, CaliforniaEast Los Angeles, California
East Los Angeles is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States...
. His father Artur Galstian is an Armenian emigrant from Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, his mother Elle Montano is of Italian descent.
Valentino's first foray into magic
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...
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
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...
and was performing in casino shows including Viva Las Vegas and Splash, after having appeared on 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...
, as well as in a music video by Herb Alpert
Herb Alpert
Herbert "Herb" Alpert is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, or TJB. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M Records...
.
Masked Magician
For a span of two years (circa 1997-1998), Valentino performed, unbilled and disguised, as the "Masked Magician" on Fox network television specials called Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed which exposed long-guarded trade secrets. The Masked Magician was also shown in the UK on the ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
network during the late 1990s and is still occasionally repeated on ITV4
ITV4
ITV4 is a British television station which was launched on 1 November 2005. It is owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc, and is part of the ITV network. The channel has a male-oriented line-up, including sport, cop shows and US comedies and dramas, as well as classic ITV action...
.
Valentino had been approached by Fox while he was performing in Las Vegas showrooms. After some negotiation, Valentino signed to do the program, 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 magicians feared that their illusions were now worthless.
When he finally revealed himself at the end of the fourth show, he emphasized that he felt that 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.
New episodes of the show later returned to broadcast on MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
. Episodes can also be seen on Fox Reality Channel
Fox Reality Channel
Fox Reality Channel was an all reality television channel available on cable and satellite television in the United States. It was launched on May 24, 2005 and was owned by the Fox Entertainment Group. It featured many shows that were previously on the Fox network...
. It has been disclosed that Valentino is reprising the role.
Valentino also appeared in the Masked Magician persona on a 1999 episode of Diagnosis: Murder
Diagnosis: Murder
Diagnosis: Murder is a mystery/medical/crime drama television series starring Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan, a medical doctor who solves crimes with the help of his son, a homicide detective played by his real-life son Barry Van Dyke. The series began as a spin-off of Jake and the Fatman...
.
In an episode of the animated series King of the Hill
King of the Hill
King of the Hill is an American animated dramedy series created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, that ran from January 12, 1997, to May 6, 2010, on Fox network. It centers on the Hills, a working-class Methodist family in the fictional small town of Arlen, Texas...
, "Sleight of Hank" Bobby Hill wears a mask like the Masked Magician while narrating the secret behind a magic trick witnessed by Hank and Peggy Hill.
In October 2007, a graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
starring the character of the Masked Magician was released.
A character also called "The Masked Magician" was created earlier by Andy Kaufman
Andy Kaufman
Andrew Geoffrey "Andy" Kaufman was an American entertainer, actor and performance artist. While often referred to as a comedian, Kaufman did not consider himself one...
and Bob Zmuda
Bob Zmuda
Bob Zmuda is an American writer, comedian, producer and director best known as the sidekick, co-writer and friend of cult personality Andy Kaufman....
as part of Kaufman's comedic stage act.