Gloria Metzner, better known by the stage name of Gloria Dea was an American actress, dancer, artist, and magician best known for being the first magician to have performed in Las Vegas who later had a brief career as a Hollywood starlet. Dea started performing tricks at the age of four, and by the age of seven was noted as being the youngest working magician in the world. Her specialty was hat tricks and at 11, she was one of the youngest members of the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians. A... moreGloria Metzner, better known by the stage name of Gloria Dea was an American actress, dancer, artist, and magician best known for being the first magician to have performed in Las Vegas who later had a brief career as a Hollywood starlet. Dea started performing tricks at the age of four, and by the age of seven was noted as being the youngest working magician in the world. Her specialty was hat tricks and at 11, she was one of the youngest members of the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians. At 12 she won an award from the association for best work with livestock in competition. After her career as a magician ended she pursued acting appearing in several movies in the 1940s and ’50s, including King of the Congo, starring Buster Crabbe, in 1952. Dea sold insurance and then new and used cars for a dealership in the San Fernando Valley, becoming a top sales rep after her career as an actress ended. She won numerous awards during her career including Women's Council Service Award in 1964 and was inducted into the UNLV College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame.
