The magic history podcast, especially stories about Houdini, and many lesser known magicians.
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!
The second episode during Houdini Week 2019 centers on Henry Evans-Evanion, a Victorian era magician and avid collector. You'll learn how he becomes associated with Houdini and more. A shorter podcast but I know you'll enjoy it.
The music for the podcast is provided by http://www.purple-planet.com
Expect another episode tomorrow!!!
This is the first episode of Season 2 OR Episode 32 overall. I'm beginning with a series of episodes on Houdini. This one deals with his big break and how it played out. There has been some controversy about this event recently, so I wanted to address that as well. I give my opinion, backed up by some information I found online. I do think the 'new theory' has merit, so I discuss both.
Music provided by http://purple-planet.com
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!
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.
