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Magicians: Lance Burton
"Master Magician"
Lance Burton appeared for the very first time in 1960, when he
was born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. He was christened William Lance Burton
and grew up in the beautiful countryside of the American South.
Lance
took an interest in magic at the tender age of four and performed to neighbours
and friends a handful of tricks throughout childhood into early
adulthood.
By the age of eight, Lance was set to enter the world of
classical magic as his destiny to become the world's top magician was
accelerated by his meeting of the magician Harry Collins who was to become his
mentor.
Before performing professionally, Lance
practiced for eleven
years, attending magic conventions and learning from other magicians. His
influences across the years have been many; one was Channing Pollack, who's
dove magic inspired Lance to create his own dove routine which won him the
prestigious 'Grand Prix' award. Other magical sources of inspiration included
Harry Collins, his mentor, escapologist
Harry Houdini, the close-up
performances of The Great Tomsini (in particular John Thompson) and the
floating illusions by his advisor, top magician of the 1940's, Lee
Grabel.
He entered the public eye at seventeen years of age, winning his
first magic competition as a young magician. Three years later, in 1980, Lance
was awarded the prestigious "Gold Medal for Excellence" from the International
Brotherhood of Magicians. This occasion was to mark his move from Kentucky to
California in order to forward his career and to enter the sparkling world of
showbusiness. It was in California, Lance Burton obtained his first agent who
launched him into stage work, which led him to TV. The first was "The Tonight
Show" with Johnny Carson which led to an overwhelming influx of offers. The
offer Lance decided to accept was a contract to appear in Las Vegas, at the
Folies Bergere for eight weeks... he was an astounding success and as it turned
out stayed for nine years.
Lance Burton's career took another upward
turn in 1982 when the Federation International Society de Magic, in
Switzerland, awarded him the "Grand Prix"; magic's highest honour. With this,
not only had he become a world champion magician, but he was the first American
and the youngest magician ever to achieve this significant award!
Lance
Burton left the Follies Bergere to present his own show at the Hacienda Hotel
and whilst continuing to win many prestigious awards in magic, was offered his
own theatre in Las Vegas. To top this, he was offered a thirteen year contract
at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. No magician had ever been
offered a contract with such a lengthy duration. He can be seen performing
there today.
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