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
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 31, 2019
This week I discuss Talma The Queen of Coins. She was part of the famous show, LeRoy, Talma, & Bosco-The Monarchs of Magic, but she also had her own solo career for a time. This is another show episode running 14 minutes. You can see some rare images of Talma over at my blog, TheMagicDetective.com
Also, the music for this episode was provided by http://www.purple-planet.com
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 20, 2019
This short episode comes directly from my blog, TheMagicDetective.com. However, it contains information that I didn't have when I originally published the blog article. You'll discover what happened to Minerva after she married Guy Jarrett, and when she died and where she is buried.
Music for this podcast is provided by http://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.
May 17, 2019
Ep 22 is another 'short' episode. This time I talk about the strange relationship between Houdini and Stage Medium Anna Eva Fay. There will be a full Anna Eva Fay Podcast coming in the future. But for now, you can enjoy this piece on Houdini & Anna Eva Fay.
This podcast runs approx 15 minutes.
The music for this podcast comes from http://www.purple-planet.com
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.
February 26, 2019
This episode deals with the three pioneers of Mind Reading from the 19th Century, John Randall Brown, Stuart Cumberland, and Washington Irving Bishop. Stay tuned till the end of the podcast because I have included the FIRST Magic Detective Podcast CONTEST! It's pretty easy. If you don't know the answer, it is contained on one of the podcasts or you can find it in my blog fairly easily as well. http://www.themagicdetective.com Send your answers to [email protected] and remember the 5th person with the right answer wins. If no one wins by the time the NEXT podcast comes out, I'll stop the contest and start a brand new one next week. And if someone wins, I'll still have a new one next week!
Music for the podcast provided by http://purple-planet.com
February 13, 2019
UPDATE: There were a couple editing glitches I had to go back and fix. I think it all is working smoothly now. My apologies...(first time for everything)
Houdini thought he was great, and he never met the man. Houdini was 4 when Heller died. Robert Heller could have been one of the great piano virtuosos but he chose magic instead. In fact, he sorta chose both. And this is his story. I think Heller is more popular among music historians than magic historians, but I am hoping to change that. This episode is dedicated to my magic pal Joe Pecore who recently passed away. Music is used with permission of http://purple-planet.com And don't forget to check my blog, TheMagicDetective.com for any additional notes which I may add to this podcast.
February 6, 2019
Feb 7th, 2019 is the 19th Anniversary of the passing of magic icon Doug Henning. In this episode, I share some of my own recollections of Doug's specials and memories of having seen him perform live. I only get as far as Special #4, as the podcast would have been 5 hours long had I covered everything. At some later date I will do a biographical profile of Henning for the podcast. I hope you enjoy this episode and remember fondly on the days when Doug Henning's magic was popular! The podcast music is used with permission by http://purple-planet.com
January 31, 2019
On this episode I explore the life of another forgotten magician from the 19th Century. His name is John Wyman Jr. and James Madison was president of the US when Wyman was born! His life is fascinating and I know you'll enjoy it. OH, and then at the end of the podcast a special 'audio feature' from the life of Wyman. Podcast Music provided by http://purple-planet.com Special thanks to Richard Wiseman and Cameron Watt for the special feature in today's podcast!
