Hinsdale Central High School

Jim Steinmeyer

Membership level: Hall of Fame

Jim Steinmeyer

Inductee Year 2009
Jim Steinmeyer
The New York Times calls Jim Steinmeyer the “celebrated invisible man—inventor, designer and creative brain behind many of the great stage magicians of the last quarter-century.” His illusions have been seen from Broadway, to London’s West End, Las Vegas, and the in the circus. He’s the author of best-selling books about magic and magic history, including Hiding the Elephant, and The Glorious Deception. Recognized for his extensive, innovative creations in magic, a recent profile concluded that Jim was “the best living originator of stage illusions,” noting his many creations as the “defining illusions in contemporary magic.”

As the magic designer for Doug Henning, he developed many of his distinctive effects for television specials and two Broadway shows. Jim then went on to create illusions for David Copperfield (including the vanish of the Statue of Liberty), Orson Welles, Siegfried and Roy, Ricky Jay, The Pendragons, Mark Kalin and Jinger. His creations include dozens of the popular illusions that have been featured by virtually every leading magician around the world, and include Origami, Interlude, The Pole Levitation, Osmosis, Modern Art, Holography, Walking through a Mirror, The Magic Elevator, Acupuncture, Audience Dis-Member, Hospitality, Op-Art, and Windshear.

His effects have been featured in many Broadway shows, including Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Mary Poppins and The Phantom of the Opera. In 2009 he created the illusions for the 139th edition of Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey, “The Greatest Show on Earth,” a magical circus titled Zing, Zang, Zoom.

Jim is the author of numerous books on magic for magicians, and magic history, and is also one of the organizers of the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History.

He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, television producer Frankie Glass.
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