December 24, 2019
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/
December 17, 2019
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
December 4, 2019
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
November 21, 2019
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
November 1, 2019
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.
October 31, 2019
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
October 30, 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!
September 6, 2019
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
August 18, 2019
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!
August 10, 2019
The Great Raymond was a globe trotting magician from the Golden Age of Magic. He was an excellent performer, but probably less than stellar business man. He had a few run ins with Houdini in his career. Listen to this podcast to learn more about this amazing character. The music provided by www.purple-planet.com
This episode features a new Magic History contest. What is the 'real name' of Maurice Raymond's second wife? Send your answers to [email protected], please include your name in the email. I'll choose a winner randomly from among all the winning entries at the end of August. The winner will receive an authentic piece of magic history ephemera.
July 14, 2019
This short episode features the life of Herbert Albini as well as a discussion of Professor Mingus the inventor of the Catching a Goldfish trick. The music is provided by http://www.purple-planet.com.
June 16, 2019
This is the life story of Germain the Wizard, a truly incredible performer, who, if he had his way, we would know nothing about today. He was friends with Kellar, Thurston, Houdini, Downs, Powell and many others. His story is thrilling and tragic. Listen and learn. Music provided by http://www.purple-planet.com There is a companion article on Germain's Water Jars over at my blog, themagicdetective.com
June 6, 2019
This episode deals with the life of Daisy White and her controversial relationship with Houdini. Daisy was a well known figure in the NY Magic Scene in the 1920s and 30s. She has connections to Houdini, Frank Ducrot, Servais LeRoy and more.
Please visit my blog at themagicdetective.com to see more pics of Daisy White.
Music for this podcast provided by http://www.purple-planet.com
May 26, 2019
T. Nelson Downs was heralded as the greatest manipulator of his day. He was the first of the speciality acts. He retired rather early in life, but continued to stay in touch with magic and magicians. Here is his story, much of which is in his own words.
The music for the podcast was provided by http://www.purple-planet.com
There is an additional story about Downs & Houdini over at my blog. https://www.themagicdetective.com.
To see a video of an older T.Nelson Downs in action, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFxQVQMPsuk
May 9, 2019
Episode 21 deals with the lives of Julius and Agnes Zancig, and later Ada Zancig. They were mind readers at the turn of the 20th Century who obtained world wide fame. Along the way a couple well known magic performers also joined the show, before they became well known.
Contest #4 is also on this podcast. The question: Name the Celebrity That Worked for Kuda Bux. This is someone who was employed by Kuda Bux and later went on to fame of their own. Send your answers to: [email protected] and put 'Contest 4' in the subject line.
Music for this podcast, provided by http://purple-planet.com To see more photos of the Zancigs, visit my blog at https://www.TheMagicDetective.com
May 2, 2019
This full episode is tied to Ep 13, where I first began to discuss the World of Magic TV Specials by Doug Henning. In this episode I cover Specials 5-8. I also mention some of Doug Henning's final TV appearances and how he was the first to use so many revolutionary illusions like Origami, The Pole Levitation, The Magical Toy Shoppe, Walking Thru A Mirror and more. Today, May 3rd, is Doug Henning's birthday too btw!
Music for this episode was provided by http://www.purple-planet.com
Please visit https://www.themagicdetective.com/2019/05/happy-birthday-doug-henning.html to see the video I mentioned of a LIVE theatre performance by Doug Henning.
April 18, 2019
This is a SHORT episode, running approx 14 minutes. The topic is Frederick Bancroft an unusual magician from the late 19th Century. He had amazing posters that were breathtaking, but was his show up to the image he was projecting? Listen to the podcast to find out more! The Magic Det. Contest from last week has been extended. The Question is:
Name an illusionist, a contemporary of Houdini, who left a successful stage career to become a gold miner. And though that sounds like a typical magician’s tall tale, he wound up testifying before Congress about the gold mining industry. Who Was This Illusionist? Send your answers to [email protected] and put Contest3 in the subject heading.
Music for this episode by https://purple-planet.com Please check out my blog, TheMagicDetective.com for more info on this episode.
April 15, 2019
This time I cover a forgotten 20th Century magician as opposed to a forgotten 19th Century magician, lol. His name is Edwin Brush and he lived a rather long life and performed right up until the time he died. I didn't know much about the man prior to researching him, but I think you'll enjoy hearing a bit about him. After the episode I give the answers to the two previous Podcast Contests and reveal the winners. Also, I give the Question for Magic Detective Podcast Contest #3. Be sure to send in your answers to [email protected] and put Contest3 in the subject heading. Music for this episode was provided by http://purple-planet.com
March 24, 2019
On this episode I discuss the life of Professor Harry Cooke, who was a Civil War era magician and had some interesting ties to Abraham Lincoln and Lincoln's death. I also talk about some of the recent deaths in magic of Marshall Brodien, Steve Duscheck, and Johnny Thompson. And, of course, today is Houdini's Birthday, Happy Birthday Harry! So in honor of Houdini I talk a bit about a pet peeve of mine, 'people who say Houdini was a bad magician'. I try and make a case to show in fact he was NOT a bad magician. The music is provided by http://purple-planet.com.
