The Genii Forum

I just learned that Johnny Thompson passed today, I think due to complications of pneumonia leading to heart failure. He will leave a gaping hole in the magic community. Aloha, my friend, and friend to all magicians.

Oh my goodness. That's awful.

Sigh. RIP, sir.

Very sad news indeed. Had a great time with him in Rotterdam and when he was in Lance Burton's show. A true great magician!

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A definite great. This one really hurts.


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Long live the King. He held nothing, or almost nothing, of magic back. He leaves behind great magic stories, great magic performances on video, and great magic in books. I'm glad he released his magnum opus last year. Unpublished gemstones rose to the surface thanks to him.


For all that I'm grateful.

It's very sad to hear this. He was such a legend, and a connection to a previous era.

I expect we'll hear a lot of Johnny stories in the coming days. Here is mine. Went to a lecture quite a few years back, at which he performed, and sold (but did not demonstrate) the egg bag. A youngster - maybe 13 or 14 - bought the bag from him, which was not inexpensive. After doing so, Pam pulled the kid aside and told him "If you have any questions - ANY - you CALL HIM AT HOME." And gave the kid the phone number. I suppose that might be more a Pam story than a Johnny one, but does anyone doubt he would have been happy to take the call and talk to the kid? What an absolute legend.

Ouch!!

I JUST read minutes ago an article were it said that the "Thompsoni" act was inspired in Tom Palmer's "Sham" Cigarette Act...

RIP MR. Thompson

Mr. Charming wrote:Ouch!!

I JUST read minutes ago an article were it said that the "Thompsoni" act was inspired in Tom Palmer's "Sham" Cigarette Act...

RIP MR. Thompson

Thompson purchased Palmer' s comedy act directly from him sometime around the late 1960s. Palmer had moved on to bizarre magic. Thompson's act eventually evolved into The Great Tomsoni.

When folks we admire die, might we take an extra second or two to make sure we spell their name right in the thread title?

The two people in magic whom I considered to have the broadest knowledge of all things magical were Patrick Page and John Thompson. They're both gone now, but never will be forgotten. My condolences to Pam and their family and friends.

Matt Field

So sad. Rest in peace. A great and a link between the very greats has been lost. What a legacy he leaves.

Such sad news. Johnny was a giant, with an encyclopedic knowledge of magic. Rest in peace, sir.

From the last chapter of The Magic Of Johnny Thompson:

In these pages, I’ve tried to give back everything magic has given me...and more. Truly, all of it!
- JOHNNY THOMPSON

Sounds like he did the same in life...he will be missed greatly.

And he's being remembered in some "mainstream" places, as well.

Very sad. A wonderful person and a good man.

Very saddened by this...

The few times over the years I was fortunate enough to spend a couple of minutes chatting with Johnny were indeed honors. Johnny was so approachable and so knowledgeable that each time it felt like, for just the few moments I talked with him, I had walked through a secret back door into the world of magic's Albert Einstein.

I can't remember the year but it had to be over twenty years ago that I was fortunate enough to see him perform. The man lived a great life doing what he loved. I am so grateful for everything he gave to the world of magic.

I had the pleasure of working with John Thompson on Wizard Wars. It was literally a dream come true to work with him. I also worked with John at the 2016 IBM convention. He was a sweet and forgiving man. He always offered great advice and kind words. I always feared the day John passed and sadly that day has come. I am greatful for the time and conversations I had with him and I know I’m a better magician and person because of him. I wished I would have had more time with him he was truly the master and will be missed daily.