John Lovick is an American magician,

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles, genres and techniques to communicate ideas, to inspire feelings and emotions, or to entertain. Writers may develop different forms of writing such as novels, short sto ...

, and director. Since the 1990s he has performed as a magician throughout the United States and

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, as well as

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, and

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. His performing alter ego, Handsome Jack, is a regular performer at the Magic Castle (the Academy of Magical Arts) in Hollywood, where he has served on the Board of Trustees, and where he won their 2016 Parlour Magician of the Year Award after 13 nominations. He is also the author of several books and many cover articles for the '' MAGIC'' and '' Genii'' magazines, for both of whom he has been an

associate editor An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies. The editor-in-chief heads all departments of the organization and is held accoun ...

. In January 2018 he was featured on '' Geniis cover. Lovick has invented numerous popular magic effects and regularly lectures at magic conventions. In 2006 he compiled and authored "SWITCH: Unfolding the $100 Bill Change," a comprehensive guide to the bill-switch magic trick, including its history, performance theory, and presentation ideas. He has also written “Experience: The Magic of Jon Allen”, “Mayhew: What Women Want”, "Five by Dani DaOrtiz", "Get Outta My Way, I'm Going to Hell", and co-authored “The Paper Engine”, "Repertoire", and "All In". He produced the popular magic demonstration DVD, "Reparation," which teaches his influential method for the Torn and Restored Card. In August 2016 he released a book detailing his professional magic repertoire, "The Performance Pieces & Divertissements of the Famous Handsome Jack, etc.", published by SquashPublications.com. A best seller in the magic world, its first printing sold out in fewer than three months. He co-wrote with Asi Wind a book of Wind's creations, "Repertoire", released in the spring of 2018. On July 20, 2015, Lovick (as Handsome Jack) appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us and fooled them with an original Torn and Restored handbill, combined with a presentational angle involving a "Grappler" that he purchased from Harry Anderson. On April 2, 2018, Penn & Teller featured Lovick (as Handsome Jack) as the only guest performer on their one-off special "Penn & Teller: April Fool Us". In the fall of 2022, he directed Asi Wind's award-winning off-Broadway show, "Inner Circle", which ran for over a year at the Judson Theatre in New York City. He is currently on the faculty of the USC School of Dramatic Arts, where he is an adjunct lecturer. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

Early life and education

Lovick grew up in

Libby, Montana Libby is a city in northwestern Montana, United States and the county seat of Lincoln County, Montana, Lincoln County. The population was 2,775 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Libby suffered from the area's contamination from nea ...

. He graduated from

Montana State University Montana State University (MSU) is a public land-grant research university in Bozeman, Montana, United States. It enrolls more students than any other college or university in the state. MSU offers baccalaureate degrees in 60 fields, master's d ...

before attending the University of Washington School of Drama for graduate studies, where he received an MFA in theatre direction.

Publications

* MAGIC Magazine (contributing editor) * Genii Magazine (associate editor) * “The Paper Engine” (co-author) (2002, Hermetic Press) * "SWITCH: Unfolding the $100 Bill Change" (2006, Murphy's Magic Supplies) * “Experience: The Magic of Jon Allen” (2009, Vanishing Inc.) * “Mayhew: What Women Want” (2014, Hermetic Press) * "The Performance Pieces & Divertissements of the Famous Handsome Jack, etc." (2016, Squash Publications) * "Secrets" by Anthony Owen (additional material by John Lovick) (2017, Vanishing Inc.) * "Repertoire" by Asi Wind (with John Lovick) (2018) * "Before We Begin" by Asi Wind (edited by John Lovick) (2020, Vanishing Inc.) * "Get Outta My Way, I'm Going to Hell" (2021), book 9 of Vanishing Inc.'s Astonishing Essay series. * "Five from Dani DaOrtiz" (2022) * "Vallarino" (2023, Vanishing Inc.) * "Piff the Magic Book" (co-written by John Lovick) (2023, Vanishing Inc.) * "All In" (co-author with Allan Ackerman)(2024, Vanishing Inc.) * "Repertoire II" by Asi Wind (with John Lovick) (2024)

Awards

* 2015 Penn & Teller: Fool Us Trophy * 2016 Parlour Magician of the Year, Academy of Magical Arts * 2016 Billy McComb/Jay Marshall Parlour Magician Award * 2016 Allan Slaight "Sharing Secrets" Award

References

External links

* http://www.handsomejack.com/ * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lovick, John American magicians Living people People from Libby, Montana Montana State University alumni University of Washington School of Drama alumni Year of birth missing (living people) Academy of Magical Arts Parlour Magician of the Year winners