Monday, June 17, 2019

Inside 'Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic'

Our friend Narinder Chadda recently visited Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection in London. Below are some of his photos of the spectacular Houdini and Margery rarities on display.

The Bell Box used during the Margery seances from the collection of Ken Klosterman/Salon de Magie.

Loving cup given to Margery by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle from the Libbet Crandon de Malamud Collection.

Reproduction of the infamous "Margie Box" made by Houdini and Jim Collins.

Original Water Torture Cell poster from the Museums Sheffield.

Letters written by Houdini to Margery from the Libbet Crandon de Malamud Collection.

Margery's seance kimono and chair from the Libbet Crandon de Malamud Collection.

Wax thumbprint allegedly made by the spirit of Walter from the Cambridge University Library and the Society for Psychical Research.

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic runs through September 15, 2019. Galleries are open Tuesday–Sunday. Admission is free. Visit the Wellcome Collection website for more details.

Thank you Narinder!

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4 comments:

  1. I visited this exhibition on 17th June (after a day at The Magic Circle History Gathering on the 16th). It is very good and the two Houdini letters have two versions of his signature. On 15th June I also visited the Senate House Library exhibition at the University of London where there was an original letter from Houdini to Harry Price.

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    1. Thanks Roger. Glad you got to see this. I didn't know about the University of London exhibition and letter. Thanks for heads up.

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  2. What are the holes on the end of the bell box? Was there wires?

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    1. Probably. Electric bell from memory.

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