Magician, Comedian, Actor, Producer, Writer, Director, Musician, Gambling Consultant, Sword Swallower, Fire Eater, Sewer Maintenance Foreman... these are all honorable professions. Any one of them would require years of dedication to master. Johnny Thompson has mastered them all, along with perhaps a few others which time and discretion do not allow me to mention. He has not only mastered these skills, but has made his living at each of them during various periods of his life. By the way, some of his most entertaining anecdotes are from his Sewer Maintenance days. Although they are not considered his profession, I would also add teacher and friend to this list.

I first met Johnny and Pam in 1979. Joe Stevens hired me to perform at his magic convention in Wichita Kansas. I was 19 years old and had never been that far away from Kentucky. For me the highlight of the convention was meeting Johnny Thompson. I saw him perform close-up magic, parlor magic, and his classic "Tomsoni" act on the stage show. Everything he did was simply superb! I just couldn't fathom how one man could learn so much magic and make every trick his own. Everything he did was funny and entertaining and magical. Like most teenagers, I thought I knew just about everything. The day I met Johnny Thompson, I realized I knew practically nothing about the art of magic.

My story would end right here except for one thing. As it turns out, Johnny is not only the most knowledgeable and proficient magician I have ever met, he is also a great teacher who is happy to share his knowledge. I must have pestered him to death at our first encounter. I followed him around the convention, asking questions, observing, soaking in as much as I could. He took it all with compassion and good humor. I returned home, my head spinning with new possibilities, my dedication to magic deeper than ever before. I had a new goal; I had to be as good as Johnny Thompson! A goal I still strive for today!

To recount what I have learned from Johnny these past twenty years would require several encyclopedia-size volumes. Over the years we have had conversations covering Illusion design, close-up magic, acting, performing, Likeability, gambling, costuming, joke writing, bombing, and many, many more subjects essential to becoming a good magician. Johnny has written material for my TV shows as well as my live act. He has been intimately involved in all aspects of my career. From teaching me the "Cups and Balls" to suggesting music for new routines... from inventing new stage illusions to giving me jokes out of his own act... Johnny has been a living oracle.

To put it simply, I have learned more about magic from Johnny Thompson than anyone else in the world. If one day I decide to become a Sewer Maintenance Foreman, I know where to go to get that knowledge, too.

Johnny's performing career has encompassed Television, Las Vegas Showrooms, Night Clubs, and Theaters. Johnny and Pam have performed in Europe, Asia, South America, North America, Africa, and on the high seas. Over the years the "Tomsoni" act has gone from simply being a great act to a classic act. Johnny has influenced a whole generation of magicians. His influence can be seen today and, I predict, will be seen a hundred years from now.

The Masters Fellowship is awarded in recognition of a life time devoted to magic. It is given to recognize a performer who is a "Master Magician". I can think of no other magician who deserves this award more than my good friend and mentor Johnny Thompson. For all you have done for magic, for all the millions of people you have entertained, and for all you have done for me personally, CONGRATULATIONS!... and "Tank you berry muuuuch".

-- Lance Burton

John Thompson, in the capacity of magic technical advisor, consultant and coach has provided material for several television productions including "Hart to Hart," "Fantasy Island," "One Day at a Time" and "Beyond Westworld." His film credits include Michael Ritchie's new film version of Off-Broadway's longest running musical, "The Fantistiks," Norman Jewison's family film, "Bogus," Turner Broadcasting's cable release, "Houdini-Believe" and the Siegfried and Roy 3-D Imax film, "The Magic Box."

As a theatrical special effects designer and consultant he has invented and presented a variety of unique optical illusions for trade shows, industrial shows and theme parks. Bush Garden's Williamsburg production of "The Ghost of the Globe," a Shakespearean fantasy with over thirty-five unique special effects, was Thompson's initial venture into theme park attractions. Many of his original optical illusions and special effects techniques have been featured in theme parks, the Smithsonian Institute, Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry and hundreds of trade shows, including the White House Conference on "The Industrial World Ahead Congress."

John has written and produced several magical themed revue shows for the Nevada gaming industry. Among the latter were "Excitement 79" for John Asquga's Nugget in Sparks Nevada, "Les Sorcery," an award winning magical revue for Reno's Club Cal Neva and "Kaleidoscope," a black-light revue for the Las Vegas M.G.M. Grand's hotel & Casino's "Grand Adventures" theme park.

As a magical consultant and illusion designer he has written, developed and or provided material for magicians Siegfried and Roy, Penn and Teller, Doug Henning and magic's newest rising star, Lance Burton.

John was a member of the magic staff for Penn & Teller's "Sin City Spectacular" cable series and one of the writers for the Lance Burton magic specials. He's penned the instruction sheets for Marshall Brodien's TV Magic Cards and TV Magic Sets and recently completed the illusion designing, consulting and directing of all the magic sequences for the Sun City, South Africa extravaganza, "Beyond Belief," which completed an unprecedented two-year run.

"The Great Tomsoni & Co., a contemporary Burns & Allen with a unique blend of off beat comedy and award-winning magic." - Forrest Duke, Las Vegas Revue Journal

"Tomsoni is to magic what Victor Borge is to music... Simply hilarious!" - Jim Parker, Las Vegas Revue Mirror

"The Great Tomsoni & Co.'s magic is quite baffling, and they may very well be the best unsung comedy team in show business." - Mark Tan, Variety

"And Co., Tomsoni's bored, buxom blond assistant plays the part of a tarty over-the-hill showgirl with a voice that would etch glass." - Guy Richardson, Reno Evening Gazette

"Zyjac tradycjami wielkiego Blackston'a. Dantego i Thurston'a. Mamy obecnie naszego polskiego Mistrza Sludzen-Wielkiego Tomsoni & Co." - Sig Sakowicz

To Contact Johnny Thompson

Email: info@tomsoni.com

Phone: (702) 646-7375