Albert Almoznino facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Albert Almoznino
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| Background information | |
| Born | March 3, 1923 Mogador, Morocco |
| Died | April 7, 2020 (aged 97) |
| Genres | Hand Shadow Artist, painter, stained glass maker |
Albert Almoznino (born March 3, 1923 – died April 7, 2020) was a famous Israeli hand shadow artist. He became well-known around the world between 1958 and 1975. He performed his amazing hand shadow shows for huge crowds. People saw his talent at famous places like Radio City Music Hall in New York. He also performed at the Paris Olympia and on "The Ed Sullivan Show".
Contents
About Albert Almoznino
His Early Life and Career
Albert Almoznino was born in Mogador (Essaouira), Morocco in 1923. When he was 25, he moved to Israel. At first, he taught art in elementary schools. In 1953, he started working as a lab technician. He worked at the Weizmann Institute of Science. He kept this job until he retired, except when he was traveling for his shows.
Becoming a Famous Hand Shadow Artist
Albert Almoznino started performing hand shadows as a hobby. He was not a professional at first. Then, a famous TV host named Ed Sullivan discovered him. Sullivan saw him perform with other talented Israeli artists. Almoznino first appeared on Sullivan's TV show in 1958. Other young Israeli artists like Itzhak Perlman were also on that show.
During that trip, Almoznino was a guest on other TV shows. These included "What's My Line?" and "To Tell the Truth". From 1965 to 1971, he went on tours. He performed in New York, Paris, and Reno, Nevada. He played at big music halls like Radio City Music Hall and Paris Olympia.
In 1975, he performed in South Africa. He was with other Israeli stars, Yehoram Gaon and Dudu Topaz. After that, he appeared on many TV shows in Israel. He also made videos for children.
Other Artistic Talents
Besides hand shadows, Almoznino was also a skilled painter. He was also known for making stained glass. He showed his art in several exhibitions. These shows took place in his hometown, Rishon Lezion. His art was also displayed in Tel Aviv and Ashdod.
Albert Almoznino passed away in April 2020. He was 97 years old.
The Art of Hand Shadows
What is Shadowgraphy?
The art of making hand shadows is called shadowgraphy. It was very popular in the 1800s. People even made shadow portraits of faces. These were cut from dark paper and framed. The best, clearest shadows are made with candlelight. When electric lights became common, shadowgraphy became less popular.
Almoznino's Unique Shows
Albert Almoznino brought this old art form back to life. He used only a small light source, a screen, and his hands. With just his two bare hands, he created amazing shapes. He made profiles of animals and plants. He also created American characters like cowboys and Native Americans. He even made famous politicians and celebrities.
His shows included orchestra music. He also told short stories with his shadow characters. This helped to entertain the audience and make them laugh.
The Art of Hand Shadows Book
Albert Almoznino wrote a book called The Art of Hand Shadows. This book teaches you how to make the shadow characters he created. It shows you how to use just a light source, like a candle, and a white wall or screen.
Characters You Can Learn to Make
The book teaches you how to make many different shadow characters:
- Animals: You can learn to make a monkey, deer, elephant, wolf, birds, leopard, rabbit, camel, giraffe, and many more.
- Plants: The book also shows you how to make a cactus and different flowers.
- Famous Buildings: You can create shadows of famous places like the Eiffel Tower and churches.
- Famous People: Learn to make shadows of US presidents from Abraham Lincoln to Richard Nixon. You can also make other world leaders like David Ben-Gurion and Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Images for kids
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Swan
See also
- Shadow play
- Félicien Trewey
