Jay Leslie

Jay Leslie

Early Life
Born Jay Leslie Pomerantz in the Penn Hills suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1955 his fame began at the age of 11 when he began his tutelage with James W. Swoger a well respected old-time magician and ventriloquist. James produced an illusion show which travelled the world from the 1940's to the 1960's. When he retired he sold the entire show (including a warehouse and 18 assistants) to Jay Leslie for One Dollar. Jay dropped his last name in favor of his middle as a more attractive stage name.

Education
Jay received an Associates Degree in developmental psychology, and a Bachelors degree in Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University.

US Patent
Jay holds US patent Number 6640667 invented by “Jay Pomerantz” and assigned to “Jay Leslie, Inc” in Huntington Beach, CA. The patent was filed February 20, 2002
Current US Class 81/53.12;81/53.1 the invention is an extendable, retractable, rotating arm. It is described as “a tool for extending the reach of a person”

Notable Appearances
By fourteen Jay was a regular personality on TV as "Aladdin The Wonder Boy" on "The Bozo The Clown Show."
He also made regular appearances on "Talent Scene"
Early in his career Jay traveled the east coast performing at new shopping centers as the main attraction for their grand opening.
Jay Leslie is one of the last people in America to perform at live Movie-Matinee shows in theaters in the 70's.
Jay Leslie was Vice-President of the California branch of International Brotherhood of Magicians
The City of Los Angeles presented Jay Leslie with a certificate of appreciation recognizing him as “a master of sleight of hand”
PBS Kids currently uses clips of Jay Leslie as “Aladdin the Wonder Boy” in their online Jakers program, which is a tool for literacy development through Media.

Jail Break Escape
:In 1974 Coroapolis, PA police chief Howard White allowed Jay Leslie to attempt a Jail break, placing a bet of $5 that his jail was escape proof. Then mayor Joseph DeVito also bet money against the 19 year old performer's ability to escape.
Jay was escorted into the cell by a police officer. His hands were cuffed behind his back, and he was stripped down to a pair of swimming trunks. He warned the audience that the escape would take an entire hour saying he could “Most Probably break out.” It was the first time he had attempted such a trick.
:A canvass was hung across the cell. The audience was asked to stand back at least 7 feet. 45 minutes later he emerged fully clothed, bruised, and perspiring. As officials reached for their wallets Jay announced “it was much harder than I expected!”
In the prison block the chief got another surprise; four automobile tires and three cases of soda pop which had been locked in a different cell were piled neatly on the floor of yet a third different cell, number four. White wanted to know how three prison cells were opened, but Leslie wouldn’t talk. He did say that magicians buy and sell secrets, leaving the audience wondering how much a prisoner would pay to learn this trick.
::The scanned local newspaper article detailing Jay’s prison escape is scanned in and posted on his website, this has also been verified via correspondence with former Coroapolis police chief Howard White who can be written to at:
1731 Hiland Ave. Coroapolis, PA 15108.

Busch Gardens
Jay Leslie was a resident act at the Busch Gardens Old Country in Williamsburgh Virginia during the 1983 and 1984 seasons performing an all-ages illusion show. He performed this show six times a day, six days a week. He was written a letter of recommendation from then manager of the live entertainment dept. of Busch Gardens, Linda Searles.

As a Performer Jay's shows appeal to all ages and he has an incredible ability to work several illusions simultaneously. - Linda Searles, Manager of the Live Entertainment Dept, Busch Gardens

Schools
Jay Leslie has performed comedy magic at over 100 schools across the US. He has recommendations from many of the Principals and faculty of these schools as well as the Superintendent of schools in Cerritos, CA. Among them are Horace Mann Elementary in Beverly Hills, Palms Elementary in Cerritos, Morse Elementary in Placentia, Bryant Ranch in Yorba Linda, and Deportola Elementary in Viejo, CA. Jay lowers the price of his act for schools and has developed a specialized anti-drug routine, which is endorsed by D.A.R.E officers as well as psychologists, to help positively influence the youth he entertains. Articles on this as well as the scanned letters of recommendation from the above listed schools can be found on Jay Leslie’s website.

Corporate Events
Samsung America - in December, 1991 Jay performed a show for the pacific division of Samsung America whose audience consisted largely of non English-speaking Koreans. He was written a letter of recommendation for this performance, which is posted on his website.
KDKA - in the early 80’s Leslie was on the John Cigna show twice within two weeks, performing live in the window of Gimbel’s department store as part of an annual charity program to benefit Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. KDKA also wrote a letter of recommendation for Jay, which was scanned and is posted on his website.

Awards
• Best Performance 1983
• Master Of Sleight Of Hand Illusion 1989
• Performer Of The Year 2002
• Stage Magician Of The Year 2002
• Magician Of The Year 2002
• Magician Of The Year 2003
• Close Up Magician Of The Year 2003
• Comedy Magician Of The Year 2003
• Presidents Award 2003
• Magician of The Year 2004
• Magician of The Year 2005
• Master Magician 2006
• Order Of Merlin 2007

Bibliography and other Related Links

http://www.jayleslie.com/
http://www.magician.org/portal/en/node/292
http://houseofenchantment.com/
http://www.dreamshapers.org
http://www.alltimefavorites.com/v/10470.htm
http://patft.uspto.gov/
http://www.kdkaradio.com/pages/15486.php
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4298/is_198606/ai_n15005802
http://www.magiccastle.com/
--Christa Driscoll (talk) 20:45, 18 July 2008 (UTC)

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu