From 1997-1999, Fox aired a series called Breaking the Magician’s Code: Magic’s Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed. The show featured the Masked Magician who, dressed in all black and gloves, performed classics of magic, and revealed each one in detail. Given the importance of secrecy in magic, the Masked Magician took loads of backlash from professional magicians, but there was one problem–nobody knew who they were criticizing. But then, in 1999, in one of the final episodes of the show, Val Valentino revealed himself.
Who is Val Valentino?
Originally born in Los Angeles in 1956, Valentino had a relatively normal upbringing for a magician, and was by no means anyone special prior to this series airing. Many magicians, understandably, turned down the show, but Valentino accepted.
Why did Val Valentino Expose Magic?
Valentino generally doesn’t do interviews. However, in this video, which aired in 1999 at the end of the series, Valentino claims that he gave away secrets in order to inspire the public about magic and get kids interested in the art form. Twenty years later, when magician Joshua Jay interviewed Valentino, he said the exact same thing. Additionally, he argues that by exposing magic’s classic methods, he forced magicians to come up with newer and better tricks. There is absolutely truth in that statement.
Furthermore, Valentino said that he “discovered that knowing a few secrets made people love magic even more.” While magicians are quick to dismiss this, it’s crucial to remember that all magicians got into magic because they too love learning secrets. Therefore, when magicians criticize Valentino, there is a touch of hypocrisy.
