Val Valentino (born Leonard Montano on June 14, 1956 in East Los Angeles, California) is a magician, illusionist, and actor, who gained notoriety by starring in four magic specials on the Fox Network. He goes by the stage name the Masked Magician or Mr. M. is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Magician redirects here. ... For other uses, see Actor (disambiguation). ... is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Welcome sign on Atlantic Boulevard East Los Angeles (often shortened to East L.A. or East Los or in Spanish El Este) is an unincorporated area in Los Angeles County, California, United States. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Magician redirects here. ... For other uses, see Actor (disambiguation). ... The Fox Broadcasting Company is a television network in the United States. ...

Magical career

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.^[1] “Illusionist” redirects here. ...

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.^[1]

By the time the 1980s ended and the 1990s rolled around, Val had moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and was performing in casino shows like Viva Las Vegas and Splash; after having appeared on The Merv Griffin Show and in a music video by Herb Alpert. It is while he was performing in Las Vegas showrooms that the Fox Network found him.^[1] For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ... The Merv Griffin Show was a long-running American television talk show, starring singer Merv Griffin. ... Herbert Herb Alpert (born March 31, 1935 in Los Angeles, California) is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass or as Herb Alperts Tijuana Brass or just TJB for short - a now-defunct brass band of which he was the... The Fox Broadcasting Company is a television network in the United States. ...

Fox's Alternative Programming division was looking for a magician to appear in a series of specials revealing the secrets behind selected illusions, and they had a long list of potential employees, Val among them. Although he initially turned the network down, Fox was willing to negotiate, and Val eventually signed, 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 feared that their illusions were now worthless.^[1]

Masked Magician

For a span of two years (circa 1997-1998), Val was known as the Masked Magician on FOX specials called Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed which exposed long-guarded trade secrets.^[2] He also appeared in this persona on a 1999 episode of Diagnosis Murder.^[3] Diagnosis: Murder is a one-hour mystery series, starring Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan, a physician who occasionally works for the police department as a consultant. ...

Filmography

• The Merv Griffin Show (as himself)
• The Great Magic of Las Vegas (four separate segments)
• Breaking the Magicians' Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed (as the Masked Magician and later as himself)
• The Rosie O'Donnell Show (as the Masked Magician)
• Vibe
• Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
• The Howie Mandel Show
• Diagnosis Murder - "Trash TV" (as the Masked Magician and also as himself)
• Magic - "Vanishing" (as himself and as the Masked Magician in archive footage)

The Rosie ODonnell Show was a popular American daytime television talk show hosted and produced by actress and comedian Rosie ODonnell. ... For other uses, see Vibe. ... Categories: TV Spin-offs | Television talk shows | Television stubs ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Official Site Biography. Retrieved on 11 August 2006.
2. ^ Michael Schneider. Nash unmasks 'Magician'. Retrieved on 5 April 2007.
3. ^ Internet Movie Database listing. Retrieved on 11 August 2006.