Lance Burton (bMarch 10, 1960), (full name William Lance Burton) is an American stage magician who performs nightly in his own show at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. He has appeared on numerous television programs, and also performed for Queen Elizabeth and President Ronald Reagan.

History

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He first became interested in magic at the age of 5, when he was one of the volunteers at a performance of Harry Collins during a Christmas party at the factory where his mother worked. The trick was The Miser's Dream, where Collins "pulled silver dollars out of the sky", and Burton's ears. The young Burton was fascinated, and a neighbor, hearing of his interest, gave him a book, Magic Made Easy, which her own (now-grown) children had used. It contained ten tricks, all of which young Burton quickly learned. His first performances were for neighborhood children, charging them $0.05 each.

Collins, a full-time magician, noticed the interest, and became his mentor when Burton was in his teens, teaching him the fundamentals of the trade. In 1977, as a teenager, Burton entered his first magic competition, and won first prize. In 1980, shortly after his 20th birthday, he was awarded a "Gold Medal of Excellence" from the International Brotherhood of Magicians. After that, he moved to Southern California, where within a week he appeared on The Tonight Show. Host Johnny Carson watched him in rehearsal, and allowed him to do an unprecedented 12-minute routine. Through the course of Burton's career he was invited back for a total of ten performances while Johnny Carson was host, and another five performances during Jay Leno's tenure. Burton has also appeared on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn.

He performed an initial eight week trial at the Folies Bergere show in Las Vegas, and this was then extended for a record-breaking nine years. In 1982, he competed at the international Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques (FISM) competition in Lausanne, Switzerland, and won the "Grande Prix" prize, the youngest person to ever win that award, and the first American to do so.

In 1991, he produced, directed, and wrote his own show, which opened at the Hacienda Hotel and ran for five years.

He was married once, to magician Melinda Saxe in August 1993, but they divorced a year later. The wedding was performed by Rabbi Appel, a conservative rabbi in Las Vegas.

In August 1994, Burton signed a 13-year contract (the longest contract given to any entertainer in Las Vegas history) with the Monte Carlo Resort in Las Vegas. The 1,274-seat "Lance Burton Theater" was built to Burton's specifications for his show, cost $27 million USD, and opened in June 21, 1996. Entertainment Today magazine lists it as the #1 family magic act, and according to USA Weekend, during the 13 year run Burton is expected to have earned more than $110 million USD.

In one television performance entitled "Top Secret", Burton created an illusion where he appeared to be tied to the tracks of the Desperado roller coaster in Primm, Nevada, "escaping" within seconds of the roller coaster train hurtling past him.

Lance Burton will be celebrating his ten (10) year anniversary at the Monte Carlo by introducing his newest illusion is entitled "Solid Gold Lady" in which he utilizes $10 million in gold.

Awards

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• He has twice been awarded "Magician of the Year" by the Academy of Magical Arts.

• He won the Grand Prix Award at FISM in 1982 for his performance, where Burton stood in a street scene in traditional top hat and tails and spectacularly produced doves, candles and gentleman's walking canes, seemingly from nowhere.

• 1998 Blackstone Theatre Award

See also

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• List of famous Louisvillians

External links

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• Lance Burton's website
• TV.com biography
• FISM Grand Prix winners
• Lance Burton review & video
• "Interview with Lance Burton", January 10, 2004, CNN
• USA Weekend, June 27, 2004, "This magic man soars"

1960 births | Louisvillians | American magicians | Magic (illusion) | Knight Rider actors