The Magic Detective Podcast

The world of magic owes a lot to this man. He created the first TV specials devoted to magic. His efforts preserved on video some amazing acts. He was the first author to try and give an accurate accounting of Houdini's life. He...well, Milbourne Christopher was many things: magician, author, performer, producer, historian, investigator and much more. I think you're really going to enjoy learning about this remarkable man.

On this episode we take a deep dive into Houdini's famous East Indian Needle Trick, where it came from, where he first saw it, and more. 

This week I talk about the life of Fetaque Sanders, a true showman and artist from Nashville TN, who worked with Pearl Bailey, Cab Calloway and other prominent entertainers. He was and is an icon in the world of magic and one you need to know about! I also briefly talk about my friend, the late great Magical Genie, Eugene Johnson...that and more on this episode of the Magic Detective Podcast.

music provided by http://www.purple-planet.com

KIO the great family of Russian Illusionists is the topic of this podcast. Their dynasty spans almost the entire 20th Century into the 21st Century. You'll hear about Emil Sr. and his two sons that would eventually take up the mantle.

Music provided by http://www.purple-planet.com

The great manipulator Nate Leipzig is the feature of episode 52. The more I learn about Leipzig, the more I love his magic. He was noted for being very kind and first and foremost a gentleman. He never had a bad word to say about another magician. This podcast started as an article on TheMagicDetective Blog, however this episode is greatly expanded.

Music provided by http://www.purple-planet.com

The new facebook GROUP page can be accessed via https://www.facebook.com/groups/MagicDetectiveGroup/

Today I discuss a one time associate turned adversary of Houdini's, Psychic Investigator Hereward Carrington. I try to stick mostly to his magic career though I do veer slightly into psychic phenomenon. He is someone I didn't really know anything about. He's quite fascinated and highly respected in the world of physical researchers.

There is a blog devoted to him at 

http://herewardcarrington.blogspot.com

Music for this episode provided by http://purple-planet.com

The new facebook GROUP page can be accessed via https://www.facebook.com/groups/MagicDetectiveGroup/

This a milestone, Episode 50 of the podcast. On this episode the feature starts with the story of Dr. Samuel Cox Hooker and his infamous Impossibilities Show. Then it morphs into a story of all the men who fooled Harry Houdini. I think one of these stories may have been featured in season 1, but overall it makes for an interesting topic. Please enjoy. 

PLEASE share with as many people you know. Please LIKE the podcast as well!

Music provided by http://www.Purple-planet.com

Harlan Tarbell is most famous for his Tarbell Course in Magic. He was also an illustrator , magician, doctor and much more. On this podcast, I share the very interesting life of ole Doc Tarbell. 

Music provided by http://www.purple-planet. com

To SEE some of the ART of Harlan Tarbell, click the link below

https://www.themagicdetective.com/2020/04/the-art-of-harlan-tarbell.html

Max Malini, the magician who fooled Royalty, the wealthy and even fooled other magicians is featured on today's podcast. For more information on Malini please look for the book Malini & His Magic by Dai Vernon. 

Music for this podcast provided by https://www.Purple-planet.com

Paul Rosini only had a short few years of fame, but he was one remarkable magician. His sleight of hand skills were beyond compare. But it was his showmanship and comedy that kept audiences coming back again and again. Here is the story of this amazing showman, Paul Rosini.

Music provided by http://www.Purple-planet.com

This time I look into Houdini's RADIO Illusion. A very topical effect for the time. The episode was inspired by a dream I had of seeing the Radio illusion in person. You'll hear about the first presentation of the illusion and also about a competitors version.

Music for the podcast is provided by http://www.Purple-planet.com

Please visit my blog to see a photo of both Houdini's Radio and then the 'competitors' Radio illusion which came out around the same time as Houdini's!

Tony Slydini, the master of misdirection, the master of close-up magic, one of the most revolutionary performers of magic EVER! I give you a bit of biographical info, some of my own memories of Slydini and more. 

Music provided by http://www.purple-planet.com

Dick Cavett Show Featuring Slydini #1
https://www.nytimes.com/video/multimedia/1194747029051/the-dick-cavett-show-march-8-1978.html

Dick Cavett Show Featuring Slydini #2
https://www.nytimes.com/video/multimedia/1194838971986/the-dick-cavett-show-nov-7-1977.html

Le Grand David & his Own Spectacular Magic Company was the longest running resident magic show in the United States. This podcast is my personal recollection of the first and second times that I met the members of the show. Today, Feb 20th, is the 43rd Anniversary of their first performance in 1977.

Music provided by http://www.purple-planet.com

Imro Fox was known as The Comedy Conjurer and may have been the first comedy magician who did good strong magic and not just lampooned magicians. I tell of his life and his magic.

I also talk a bit more about Dr. Walford Bodie & I talk about Doug Henning because we just had his 20th Anniversary of his passing on Feb 7th, 2020.

As always, music provided by http://www.purple-planet.com

CORRECTION: FOX is NOT buried in Evergreen Cemetery as I stated on my podcast. He is in Oheb Shalom Cemetery which is next to Evergreen in Hillside NJ. 

#Imro Fox

Dr. Walford Bodie and his SHOCKING Career is the subject of this episode. He was an eccentric hypnotist, showman, healer?, and more. His act centered around 'electricity' and it was shocking in more ways than one.

He was without a doubt one of the greatest showman who ever lived. And even a pioneer in many ways. 

Music provided by http://www.purple-planet.com

Link To News Site on Potential NEWLY Discovered Houdini Water Torture Cell

https://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2020/01/a-water-torture-cell-has-been.html

#DrWalfordBodie

Chevalier Ernest Thorn was one of the greatest Illusionists in all of Europe. He traveled the world with his wonders and delighted everyone who saw his show. He was also a very prolific inventor of illusions. No doubt he invented some that you were not aware of. Sadly, a lot of his illusions are lost, we have the names but no descriptions. But I do uncover some that you may have never heard of. 

Music was provided by http://purple-planet.com

Please check out the companion article on Thorn's Illusions over at my blog, https://www.themagicdetective.com/2020/01/the-illusions-of-chevalier-ernest-thorn.html

The final podcast for 2019 and this time I get to share the life of Eugene Laurant. He was friends with Germain, Brush, Maro and others who all performed in the Chautauqua and Lyceum circuits. His magic was INCREDIBLE and I believe modern audiences would agree if Laurant were still alive.

The music for the podcast provided by http://purple-planet.com

Also, to see where we rate among other magic podcasts, check out this site...https://blog.feedspot.com/magician_podcasts/

Charles Morritt was a very prolific inventor of magic illusions. He created some very stunning effects in the late 1800s right into the early 20th Century. He is also credited as the man who helped Houdini make an elephant vanish! 

The music for today's podcast was provided by http://purple-planet.com

I mention several other people in this podcast, so if you'd like to check out more information on them here is a list:

Buatier DeKolta Ep31
Harry Kellar Ep 8,9,10
Robert Heller Ep 14

And I mention Jim Steinmeyer many times during the podcast as I credit him with keeping the Morritt name alive. You can find more about Jim and his books at www.JimSteinmeyer.com

 To see Paul Daniel's recreation of the OH! Illusion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr2zKCsbkdA

This podcast deals with the life and tragic death of Theodore TED Annemann. He was a prolific writer on mentalism and a charismatic performer in his own right. He wrote and published The Jinx from 1934-1941. His story is unique and I know you'll enjoy this episode.

The music for this episode provided by https://www.purple-planet.com

To see actual footage of Ted's Bullet Catch, click this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvBCkVOAF4I

Episode 37 has to do with two men who I knew personally, Steve Baker and Norman Bigelow. Both men were escape artists. I give a brief bio of their lives, some highlights of their signature escapes and then I share with you a practically unknown story about a Challenge between the two men. 

Music was provided by https://www.purple-planet.com

The final episode of Houdini Week 2019 features some talks and articles that Houdini gave during his life. The first was an address to the Club of Odd Volumes in Boston in 1922. The second is an article that Houdini wrote on Success but didnt make it to print until after he passed away. In some ways, these could be his final words. Then there is one addition story, the last one comes from Theo Hardeen. 

The music on this podcast is provided by https://www.purple-planet.com

This is Day 5 of Houdini Week 2019, I hope you've enjoyed our look into the life of Harry Houdini. 

The Death Defying Mystery, Failure Means a Drowning Death! Houdini's escape that was a game changer in his career. You'll learn all about the can(s) the presentation for the routine, mishaps, and where the cans are today. The music played during the discussion of the presentation is 'Asleep In the Deep', the same music Houdini used.

other music provided by https://www.purple-planet.com

Day 4 of Houdini Week 2019

Day 3 of Houdini Week features an episode about Houdini's Forgotten Protege. His name rarely shows up in the Houdini biographies, so this may be new news to many folks. 

Music provided by http://www.purple-planet.com

I will be back tomorrow for ANOTHER Episode of the podcast!

DeKolta is likely the most prolific inventor of magic of his era. Many of his mysteries are still presented today, that speaks volumes for the power of his magic. I discuss his life and a number of his popular illusions. Also, the contest from August is still going on. A technological glitch prevented me from receiving emails, so I didn't get anyone's entries. So please try again, as the problem has been fixed. The Contest question is: Who Was The Great Raymond's Second Wife, give her REAL NAME. Send your answers to [email protected] and please put CONTEST in the subject heading. Also include your name in the body of the email.  

Music for the podcast is provided by http://www.purple-planet.com  

This is the final episode for Season 1. Season 2 will start up in October 2019

Complete transcript of this episode https://www.themagicdetective.com/2020/01/buatier-dekolta-master-of-illusion.html 

Samuel Baldwin may look like Mark Twain, but he was one of the pioneers of Mentalism and Mind Reading. He created an act that was stolen, copied, borrowed by near every performer who ever attempted to read minds. He had a very long career having traveled the globe numerous times. His story has plenty of unexpected twists and turns.

As always the music is provided by http://purple-planet.com   And at the end of the episode I give the question for the next Magic Detective History Contest, so take a listen and enter for a chance to win a piece of real magic history ephemera!