The Magic Detective Podcast

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

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. 

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.

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

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

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. 

Happy New Year! It's 2019 and I've got the first podcast of the year ready on the first day of the year. But don't get used to it, lol. The feature of this episode is a lesser known magician who should have been one of the greats along with Kellar, Thurston, Dante and others. But he died at only 38 years old. This is direct from my lecture on Maro that I presented in his home town of LeLand Michigan, and at the Yankee Gathering in 2016. Music provided by http://purple-planet.com Look for notes on the episode at https://themagicdetective.com 

Houdini in Washington D.C. This episode is all about Houdini's time testifying before Congress. Much of this information comes from The Congressional Record. Houdini was testifying on behalf of an Anti-Fortune Telling Bill, but was using it as a guise to go after Spirit Mediums. Was he successful? Listen and find out. By the way, though this deals with Congress, this is NOT a political podcast.

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

#HoudiniInDC

Episode 6 The Last Days of Houdini & Beyond. This is NOT a continuation of Episode 5. I will cover the bulk of Houdini's life on other podcasts in the future. This particular podcast covers his last month and then some of the Seances following his death. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com  Please check out my blog at TheMagicDetective.com And please LIKE-SHARE and SUBSCRIBE to my Podcast!

On Episode 2, (which I'm uploading a few days early), you'll hear a new segment called HOUDINI RADIO, I'll talk about 6 Degrees of Separation-Magic Style, and I'll even share the story of how Uri Geller fixed my doorbell. Music provided by purple-planet.com