Tony Andruzzi

Tony Andruzzi (May 22, 1925, in Cheyenne, Wyoming – December 22, 1991, in Chicago, Illinois) was the name adopted by professional magician Tom S. Palmer from the age of 45 to the end of his life.

Born to Fay and Tom McGuire, the child was first christened as Timothy McGuire on July 22, 1925.

But after Tom McGuire left Fay to raise the boy alone, Fay allowed Charles and Gertie Palmer to adopt the boy.

He was rechristened Tom Stewart Palmer on March 29, 1926.

His biological mother maintained a friendly relationship with the Palmer family, though did not divulge the nature of her relationship to Tom until his teens.

As a performer through the late 1960s, he retained the name of Tom Palmer while specializing in comedy magic.

When he moved to Chicago, Illinois, and changed styles to pursue bizarre magic, he adopted the name Tony Andruzzi, both in performance and in daily life.

During his involvement with the Society for Creative Anachronism in the late 1960s through the mid-1970s, he also created the persona of Masklyn ye Mage, a character he would occasionally adopt in and out of period costume through the end of his life.

Additionally, as a writer of magical effects, he used a variety of pen names, most notably Daemon Ecks.

As Tom Palmer:

As Tony Andruzzi:

As Masklyn ye Mage:

As an outgrowth of his editorship of New Invocation, a periodical for performers of bizarre magic, Andruzzi organized and presented conventions for magicians supportive of this genre.

Called Invocationals, they were held annually in Chicago from 1984 to 1990.

Each Invocational revolved around performances, educational seminars, and socializing, while also paying tribute to a specific member of the bizarre-magic community.

Honorees included:

Unspeakable Acts: Three Lives and Countless Legends of Tom Palmer/Tony Andruzzi/Masklyn ye Mage.

Jim Magus with Terry Nosek and Neil Tobin (Lulu.com, 2011).