Our good friend Dr. Bruce Averbook will receive the 2026 Milbourne Christopher Award for Magic History Preservationist. This is certainly deserving. Bruce owns one of the best magic collections in the world and houses it in one of the best private museums, The Averbook Magic Art Museum & Library.
Last year, Bruce allowed the publication of Houdini's first travel diary from his collection. The result is Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899. He's about to do it again with Houdini's original challenge scrapbook, which will be published next week by David Haversat's 1878 Press as A Strenuous Career: The Personal Challenge and Advertisement Scrapbook of Harry Houdini.
Another friend of our blog, Scott Wells of the popular The Magic Word Podcast, is also being honored this year with the Ambassador of Magic Award.
Congratulations to Bruce, Scott, and all the recipients this year.
The Milbourne Christopher Foundation was established by Maurine Christopher in 1989, and was created to perpetuate the memory of her husband and his lifelong interest in encouraging excellence, originality, and leadership in the art of magic.
Well, how about this? WILD ABOUT HARRY and I have received a tremendous honor from the New England Magic Collectors Association (NEMCA), an organization I greatly respect and admire. This was just posted to their Facebook group:
JOHN COX / WILD ABOUT HARRY NAMED NEMCA’S 2025 FOUNDERS AWARD RECIPIENT!
The New England Magic Collectors Association (NEMCA) is an organization of over 150 magicians, magic historians and magic collectors from around the world. It started in Boston, Massachusetts in 1980 with the purpose of preserving and promoting the history, artifacts and publications of the performers of magic and its allied arts.
In 2017 NEMCA created its Founders Award in honor of two of its founders, Ray Goulet and Ed Hill. The Award is used to acknowledge the contributions of people and organizations that exemplify NEMCA’s prime objectives of preserving and promoting the history and artifacts associated with magic and the allied arts. Previous recipients have included the American Museum of Magic, the Conjuring Arts Research Center (CARC), MAGICANA, and The Magic Circle.
It is our privilege to announce that the Board of Directors for NEMCA has unanimously voted to honor Wild About Harry and its founder, John Cox, as the recipient of the 2025 Founders Award.
This celebrates Cox’s many years of effort collecting and sharing information regarding Harry Houdini. Cox’s Facebook page, website (wildabouthoudini.com) in conjunction with the Patreon site, offers pictures and information available nowhere else. The publication of his book, Escaping Obscurity - The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899, is a significant accomplishment and contribution to the community. It is these, and many other considerations, that supported the presentation of this honor.
Magicians around the world will celebrate Harry Houdini in 2026 recognizing one hundred years since the death of Houdini. NEMCA’s next Yankee Gathering will take place in early November and a portion of the conference will be dedicated to scholarship and celebration of Houdini’s memory.
John Cox, through his work on Wild About Harry, has done much to preserve the very rich history of magic and its practitioners, as well as to promote magic to newer generations.
The Board of the New England Magic Collectors Association can think of no more deserving organization than Wild About Harry and its founder, John Cox, to receive its 2025 Founders Award. NEMCA congratulates him for all he has done, and continues to do, on behalf of magic history.
I'm excited to read that a portion of their 2026 "Yankee Gathering" will be dedicated to scholarship and celebration of Houdini’s memory. That sounds like my kind of gathering!
Thank you to the New England Magic Collectors Association and all its members. This is amazing.
Here's some terrific news. The great Dorothy Dietrich received the very first "Houdini Award" at last month's Global Magicians Hall of Fame Celebration 2025 in Las Vegas. The awards are sponsored by the Los Angeles Tribune. The Houdini Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to Houdini's memory. I can't think of a more deserving first recipient.
It was one hundred years ago today that the Scientific American committee, on which Houdini famously served, denied Mina Crandon aka "Margery" their $2500 prize for proof of genuine psychic ability. The committee had sat with the medium in July and August of the previous year. Below is part of a story that ran in The Republican on February 12, 1925.
The Republican, Feb 12, 1925.
J. Malcom Bird, the head of the committee who had been a Margery champion and partisan even before the investigation had begun, blamed Houdini for the failure.
Detroit Free Press, Feb 13, 1925.
The verdict came down during a busy week for Houdini. He was playing two theaters in New York at the same time; the Hippodrome in Manhattan and The E.F. Albee in Brooklyn. A police escort sped him between the two vaudeville houses.
Houdini remained relatively quiet on the final verdict. But he had been making his case against Margery for over a year, first with his Margery pamphlet and later with two exposure lectures in Boston. For him, this was vindication.
This wasn't the end of investigations of Margery. In June 1925, a committee of Harvard scholars sat with the medium. After witnessing her retrieve objects from her lap to aid in her manifestations, they concluded she was fraudulent. The American Society for Psychical Research investigated her in 1926 and also concluded that the phenomena she produced was fraudulent.
Speaking of music videos, check out the nominations for the Best Music Video at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards. Yes, we have TWO videos called "Houdini" in competition. Houdini by Eminem and Houdini by Dua Lipa.
Our new friend Dua Lipa performed part of her hit song "Houdini" at 66th Grammy Awards last night. It was included in a three-song melody that opened the show. You can watch "Houdini" below.
UPDATE: Whoops. Looks like the video went Houdini!
Following the Milbourne Christopher Awards last month––where I was honored to receive the Ambassador of Magic Award––I embarked on a whirlwind tour of Houdini locations in the region. Four states in three days! Here's what I saw on my self-proclaimed "Ambassadors Tour."
My explorations began the day of the Awards, Sept. 16, with a visit to the site of the former Winchell Smith Dam and Grist Mill in Farmington, Connecticut. This is where Houdini filmed the rapids action for The Man from Beyond. I also got to slip on the steel straitjacket from the Tony Curtis Houdini movie. Icovered both these with photos in my award roundup post. The day after the awards is when my tour began in earnest.
Sunday, Sept. 17 I left New London early and drove down the 95, a beautiful drive on a sunny Sunday. As I passed through Stamford, Connecticut, I resisted the urge to turn off and seek out the location of the short-lived Weiss farm. I hadn't anticipated passing through Stamford, so I wasn't ready with the address and research. And I had a lady to meet! So I reluctantly let that location pass as I headed toward New York with the perfect soundtrack playing.
I soon arrived at my first New York destination: Gates of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne. This is where Bess Houdini is buried. I've never seen Bessie's grave, so I was excited to finally make this pilgrimage. However, the cemetery is huge, and Bess isn't easy to find. In fact, I was getting worried about ever finding her! So I began to walk and call out, "Show yourself to me, Bessie," and I'll be darned if I didn't walk right to her.
This was a very different experience than visiting Houdini's grave. It was much more emotional. It's sad to see her here alone, but her headstone is beautiful. I realized I should have brought flowers (something I've never felt the need to bring to Houdini's grave) so I left and returned with a lovely bouquet acquired from a florist just outside the cemetery gates. I ensured it had no yellow flowers as Bess was superstitious about the color yellow. I sang Rosabel (badly) and spent a fair amount of time talking to her. Again, this is something I never do at Houdini's grave. It was a cathartic experience that really took me by surprise. Thank you, Bessie. We love you.
I was now ready for my next stop. So I returned to my rental car and dialed a familiar address into the GPS: 278 West 113th Street. Yes, I was headed "home"!
Little did I know that this Sunday was the 54th Annual African American Day Parade in Harlem, so the streets around 113th were closed and packed! I was nervous enough about driving into NYC and trying to find parking. Now trying to do so in a parade...holy smokes. But maybe Bess was watching over me as I quickly found a parking garage just a few blocks away.
I'm always thrilled to visit 278! As far as Houdini locations go, this is easily #1. As I approached the house, I took a photo. The fact that there were no cars parked on the street was a rare opportunity to get a clean pic. It wasn't until later that I looked at the pic and noticed a strange oval of light directly over the house. Not something you often see in digital photos. I think this is pretty weird!
Homeowners Niro and Vincent were out for the afternoon, but Vincent's friendly father, John, visiting from Kansas City, let me inside and invited me to make myself at home. I cleaned up and was able to relax like it was my very own house. I was also able to enjoy the paraders on 113th Street. I imagined it was a parade for the new Ambassador of Magic!
When Niro and Vincent returned, they caught me up on all the latest renovations and discoveries. We had a wonderful dinner, and it was so much fun to enjoy the house as the Houdinis enjoyed it, filled with family and warmth. Vincent also made a terrific cocktail that I think he should name the "278." I had two!
But it gets even better. Niro and Vincent had invited me to spend the night. (Well, I invited myself and they said yes.) Vincent's parents were in the guest bedroom, so I took a fold-down couch in Houdini's top-floor workroom. Ironically, this is the room I always envisioned myself sleeping in. I even set my Christopher Award on the fireplace mantel to forever imbue it with Houdini 278 energy.
As night fell, it began to rain and continued to pour all night long. In my pajamas, I could look down on a rain-swept 113th Street from Houdini's office window and hear the rain tapping on the skylights. The atmosphere was indescribably perfect, and the entire experience was a dream come true. I'm the luckiest Houdini nut in the world.
Unfortunately, I had no dreams about Houdini or ghostly visitations in the night. However, early in the morning, I heard what sounded like a parrot somewhere on the top floor. Could this have been the spirit of the mischievous Laura who, by all accounts, was the true boss of the house?
Believe
Monday, Sept. 18
After a lovely morning coffee with Vincent and his father, I said my goodbyes and set out in light rain toward my next state: Pennsylvania. Eventually, the skies cleared and it was a beautiful drive into the Poconos. Around noon, I rolled into Scranton. I was there to see another famed Houdini location: the Houdini Museum!
I was so happy to see Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz! For the next several hours we never stopped talking, gossiping, laughing, and having a generally wonderful time. Their museum is incredible! It's packed with memorabilia both old and new. Some reproduction material is there to help tell Houdini's story to visitors, especially children. But the longer you stay and the deeper you look, the more treasure you find. Dorothy then guides you through each with a twinkle in her eye. She also shared some rarities not available to the general public. It was one of the most extraordinary and unique Houdini museum experiences I've ever had.
But there was more to my day in Scranton. After a terrific dinner at a Chinese buffet, Dorothy, Dick, and I traveled downtown to see what used to be Poli's Theatre where Houdini appeared the week of February 22, 1915. The theater has undergone extensive renovation and is today called The Ritz. But it's a surviving Houdini theater, and we love those!
Dorothy also insisted we go see Scranton's famed Lackawanna Building. I'm so glad she did. The building is remarkable inside and out and said to be very haunted. Now a hotel, it was once Scranton's train station. Houdini and his equipment passed through the massive lobby, so this was a bonus Houdini location!
It was hard to say goodbye to Dorothy and Dick, but it was time to move on. Dorothy invited me to sleep in the museum, and I wish I would have! But I had already booked a motel in nearby Wilkes-Barre where another Houdini location was waiting.
Tuesday, Sept. 19
I woke up in Wilkes-Barre and set out early to find a location that was even more obscure than the Farmington rapids. With some luck, I had nailed down the exact spot where the Welsh Bros. Circus set up their tents for two days of performances in July 1898. The streets have changed and the exact site is now occupied by a construction company (who don't care for nosey visitors). These buildings appear to be new as Google Maps still shows the lots empty as recently as November 2020.
However, the railroad tracks directly adjacent to the property are unchanged and afford a great view of the site. I noticed that the tracks branch off here, which makes sense as the circus train would have parked along the side track during these two days. It's a fantastic early Houdini location and the first Welsh Bros. location I've ever visited. (I'll have some other details about Houdini's time in Wilkes-Barre in the diary book.) I also picked up a few railroad spikes off the ground. So this location comes with free souvenirs!
This Welsh Bros. location was good enough that I could have called this the grand finale of the tour. But I had one last stop and one last state to go.
Around eleven, I rolled into picturesque Wayne, New Jersey, and the home of our friend Roger Dreyer. Here is where Roger houses his amazing Houdini Revealed Museum. Roger was super generous and welcoming as always. He had bagels waiting for me and some awesome gifts, including a new retail 278 item that I will be posting about later. I gave him a Welsh Bros. railroad spike. Then we got down to "work!"
I had seen the museum when it was located in Fantasma Magic in New York City, but Roger's setup here is far larger and jaw-dropping. Roger has an excellent sense of how to frame and display his treasures. He even let me try on Houdini's top hat and a pair of authentic jump cuffs.
Roger then let me go through his Houdini files. I only wish I had more time. I had to leave some files unseen if I was going to make it to Newark and my flight home. But what I saw was incredible, and this was a perfect way to end my Ambassador's Tour.
Thank you to Niro & Vincent, Dorothy & Dick, and Roger Dreyer. You are the true Ambassadors of Magic!
Addresses:
Miss Porter's School Administration (formerly Winchell Smith Dam and Grist Mill)
When I was 16, I decided I didn’t want to be the next Houdini. I wanted to be the next Milbourne Christopher. That's why I'm so honored to have been among this year's recipients of the Milbourne Christopher Awards. The ceremony was held at the Garde Arts Center in New London, Connecticut, last Saturday, September 16, 2023 (which also happened to be David Copperfield's birthday).
I had arrived in New London the night before, so I had a full day before the ceremony. I started off with breakfast with David Haversat who had brought some amazing Houdini treasures from his collection for me to see. He also gave me a set of Milbourne Christopher's handwritten notes from Houdini The Untold Story. We talked for a long time about collecting and Houdini and hatched an idea for a potential book project. In fact, I would have been happy to talk to David all day, but I had a plan for the afternoon. So I set off on an hour's drive to Farmington, Connecticut, in search of a little-known Houdini location. Which I found!
These are the rapids on which Houdini filmed part of the climatic action of The Man From Beyond. Not Niagara Falls. Farmington! (This is also the location D.W. Griffith used in Way Down East.) I really didn't know what to expect. I only had the address of the former Winchell Smith Grist Mill, which I discovered is today part of Miss Porter's School. But the rapids are easy to see and enjoy, and because it was Saturday, I had them all to myself! (If you want to see video, check out my Instagram.) Also down the street is the Elm Tree Inn where Houdini and his crew stayed during the shoot in May 1921.
It was then back to New London for a quick lunch and rest before the big show!
The Award ceremony was held in the Garde Arts Center in downtown New London. It's a beautiful old theater built in September 1926. Things kicked off with a reception of delicious hors d'oeuvres and a bar. I was happy to see many friendly and familiar faces, including Adele Rhindress, Blackstone's Elusive Moth, who, as always, was so sweet and supportive.
The awards ceremony was hosted by Thomas Ewing. I got a nice laugh during my acceptance speech when I shared my defaced childhood copy of Houdini The Untold Story. The Christopher Award itself includes a handsome plaque, a heavy-duty magic wand in an engraved wooden pop-up display case, and a Milbourne Christopher gold token.
As a surprise, an additional award was presented to David Haversat, who has long worked with The Milbourne Christopher Foundation and, along with Thomas Ewing, puts on these Awards each year.
After the awards presentation, we were treated to a terrific and very funny magical performance by Tim Wright. Tim did his excellent Skilldini act and a special Abbott's Magic act which had the room rolling. A great show.
But there was still one more surprise waiting for me.
When we returned to the hotel for an after-party, magician Rob Allen, who had traveled from Niagara Falls (not Farmington!), invited me to his room, saying he had brought something to show me. I nearly fainted when he took it from its case! Yes, that's the famous steel straitjacket from the Tony Curtis Houdini movie! Rob even let me put it on, and it fits (just). What a fantastic way to end a magical day.
Thanks again to The Milbourne Christopher Foundation for making this dream come true. You can see more photos from the event and my subsequent "Ambassador's Tour" on my Patreon.
The 2023 Milbourne Christopher Awards have been announced and I'm thrilled to be receiving the Ambassador of Magic Award. Milbourne Christopher has been a lifelong hero and role model and to receive this award from The Milbourne Christopher Foundation is a huge honor.
The awards ceremony will be held at 6:00 PM on September 16, 2023 at the Garde Arts Center, 325 State Street, New London, Connecticut. The evening begins with a reception featuring fine hors d'oeuvres and complimentary wine followed by the presentation of the 2023 Christopher Foundation Awards. Festivities continue with a performance by Tim Wright as Skilldini.
To attend, please RSVP David Haversat at Haversat@gmail.com. Tickets are $20.00 per person. Checks should be made out to THE MILBOURNE CHRISTOPHER FOUNDATION and mailed to David Haversat, PO Box 487, Oxford, CT 06478.
Hope to see you there!
The Milbourne Christopher Foundation was established by Maurine Christopher in 1989, and was created to perpetuate the memory of her husband and his lifelong interest in encouraging excellence, originality, and leadership in the art of magic. The award categories reflect Milbourne Christopher’s own diversified career.
The Houdini Museum of Scranton has won the 2022 run-off of 16 regional tourist attractions held by the Lackawanna Country Visitors Bureau. I know some of you voted via links shared on Facebook and Twitter, so thanks for making Houdini #1! You can see how the results played out below.
Click to enlarge
Congratulations to our good friends Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz at the Houdini Museum. When in Lackawanna Country...
Houdini gets a nod in Michael Mezmer's article, "Of Monsters and Magic," in SCARY MONSTERS magazine #121. The article is an overview or magicians and charlatans in horror films and has been nominated for a Rondo Award.
This issue was released in May of 2021. I don't see it among the back issues on the SCARY MONSTERSwebsite, but I'm sure it can be found via speciality shops or anywhere monsters can be found!
Here's some great news from our friend Tom Interval of Interval Magic. I'll let his tweet speak for itself:
I just received this award from the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) publication, The Linking Ring, for the cover story I wrote about @HoudiniWild in October 2020. The Linking Ring Award of Excellence is given annually. Thanks to TLR and @IBMMAGIC. #magic#ibmpic.twitter.com/xKg6ZQvU7n
Society of American Magician's President Joel Zaritsky recently presented David Copperfield with the "Alliance of Harry Houdini Gold Tier" award commemorating his 50 year of membership in the S.A.M. As you can see in the video, the honors were bestowed in the Houdini section of David's International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts in Las Vegas.
If you missed the livestream of the Houdini and David Copperfield induction into The National Museum of American Jewish History's Only in America® Gallery/Hall of Fame, don't fret! Below you can rewatch the entire event via the museum's YouTube. Enjoy.
Congratulations to David Copperfield and all participants: Brad Garrett, Lucy Darling (a.k.a. Carisa Hendrix), Asi Wind, Jeff and Debbie Blood, George Hardeen, and all the good folks at the NMAJH. And congratulations to Houdini of course!
Let me know what you thought of the show in the comments below.
UPDATE: The NMAJH sent out a final event email thanking viewers and saying the event was seen by over 42,000 people and raised more than $750,000…and counting! They also including the following:
The National Museum of American Jewish History will simultaneously induct Houdini and David Copperfield into their Only in America® Gallery/Hall of FameTODAY at 5 PM PST / 8 PM EST. Below are links where you can watch the special livestream event:
For those who have been drooling over the fantastic artwork created for the event, know you can get one of 250 limited edition posters for a donation of just $25, or a poster signed by David Copperfield for $100. Go to the Tiltify Event Page and click the "Rewards" tab for this and other special offers.
The Only in America® Gallery/Hall of Fame recognizes the achievements and contributions of American Jews who have significantly impacted American society and culture. Past inductees include: Golda Meir, Albert Einstein, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Barbra Streisand, Irving Berlin, Emma Lazarus, and Steven Spielberg.
The National Museum of American Jewish History is going all out in promoting their upcoming Only in America livestream event which sees Houdini and David Copperfield simultaneously inducted into their Only in America® Gallery/Hall of Fame. They've created beautiful original artwork for the event (above), and are sharing Houdini factoids and quotes across their social media. You can also sign up to receive the latest updates by email.
The event will be live streamed December 12 at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on Facebook, YouTube, and the Museum's website. This event is FREE and open to the public. David will accept his honor from his Las Vegas Museum where he will also present Houdini's award. I'm proud to say I had a hand in helping shape the Houdini presentation.
So watch this page or sign up for latest updates, and I'll see you all on December 12!
The Only in America® Gallery/Hall of Fame recognizes the achievements and contributions of American Jews who have significantly impacted American society and culture. The inductees embody hard work and aspiration, courage and imagination, leadership and service.
Houdini and David Copperfield will be simultaneously inducted into The National Museum of American Jewish History's Only in America Gallery/Hall of Fame in a special livestream event on Saturday, December 12, 2020. Below is the full press release.
ILLUSIONISTS DAVID COPPERFIELD AND HARRY HOUDINI TO BE INDUCTED INTO
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY’S
ONLY IN AMERICA® HALL OF FAME
Copperfield Will Accept the Honor from His International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts Which Houses the Largest Collection of Houdini Artifacts in the World
The Philadelphia Museum’s Virtual Gala Will Take Place on December 12, 2020
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (October 22, 2020) – The National Museum of American Jewish History announced today that the two most famous illusionists of all time, Harry Houdini and David Copperfield, will be simultaneously inducted into its Only in America® Gallery/Hall of Fame during the Museum’s annual gala—a virtual event scheduled for Saturday, December 12, 2020.
An honor bestowed to just 21 prior inductees, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Steven Spielberg, Barbara Streisand, Emma Lazarus, and Irving Berlin, the award recognizes the achievements and contributions of American Jews who share and exemplify the ideals of the stories explored in the Museum.
“We are thrilled and grateful to be able to induct Harry Houdini and David Copperfield into Only in America at the same time,” said NMAJH Trustee and Gala Chair, Sharon Tobin Kestenbaum. “The kinds of ‘Only in America’ stories we explore in the Museum are in great part about the legacies created for future generations. With this event, we are able to celebrate a cross-generational story. From immigrant Harry Houdini to first-generation American David Copperfield, this event clearly demonstrates what’s possible when individuals are simply given the chance to be great.”
Both magicians share a passion for the history of magic. “David Copperfield cares deeply about the history of his craft—his desire to know and preserve that history is something that resonates strongly with us as a history Museum,” added NMAJH CEO, Dr. Misha Galperin. “Museums and magic actually have a lot in common—they are about storytelling at their core, and are designed to intrigue, inspire, and spark wonder.”
Copperfield will accept the honor from his International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada which houses the world’s largest collection of historically significant magic memorabilia, posters, books, props, artifacts, and is home to the largest collection of Houdini artifacts including his Water Torture Cell, Metamorphosis Trunk, as well as the only known recording of Houdini’s voice—preserved on the original Edison wax cylinders.
To date, David Copperfield has earned 21 Emmy Awards, 11 Guinness World Records, is a recipient of the Living Legend honor by The Library of Congress, and has sold more tickets than any solo performer in history. Born David Seth Kotkin in New Jersey, his mother came from Israel and his father’s parents were born in Russia. Copperfield was invited to join the Society of American Magicians at just 12 years old—its youngest member ever. One of David’s proudest achievements is Project Magic, a program that uses magic as therapy in 1,000 hospitals in 30 countries worldwide. This medically certified program motivates patients to regain their dexterity, coordination, and cognitive skills by learning simple magic and sleight of hand.
During the virtual event, Copperfield will himself induct Harry Houdini. Born Erik Weisz in Hungary in 1874, Houdini came to America when he was just four years old. He toiled at odd jobs as a young man and son of a Rabbi who struggled to make ends meet for his family before becoming the legendary illusionist we know today, touring across America and Europe and drawing audiences of thousands. He had little in the way of formal education and self-educated himself on the history of magic, amassing a large collection, and confronting the scams of his day with historical evidence. His death-defying feats and daring work as an escape-artist set him apart from all other performers of his time. He continues to inspire generations of magicians.
Last fall, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg became the 21st inductee into Only in America. She joined an iconic group of living and posthumous inductees which includes Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Louis Brandeis, Albert Einstein, Gertrude Elion, Mordecai Kaplan, Sandy Koufax, Estée Lauder, Emma Lazarus, Isaac Leeser, Golda Meir, Julius Rosenwald, Jonas Salk, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Rose Schneiderman, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand, Henrietta Szold, and Isaac Mayer Wise.
The award recognizes the achievements and contributions of American Jews who have significantly impacted American society and culture, often despite facing antisemitism and prejudice. The inductees embody hard work and aspiration, courage and imagination, leadership and service. Located on the first floor of the Museum, the Ed Snider Only in America® Gallery/Hall of Fame brings these stories to life through a combination of original artifacts, original films, and multimedia elements.
Virtual Gala
Tickets will go on sale later this month. The event is open to the public and will be a can’t-miss experience for anyone who loves the awe-inspiring wonder of magic. All are welcome to partake in a night of surprise and amazement at this once-in-a-lifetime event honoring the legacy of Harry Houdini and living legend, David Copperfield. Sponsorships with exclusive benefits available.
Our great friends Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz of the Houdini Museum in Scranton will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at tonight's Milbourne Christopher Awards at the Garde Arts Center in New London, CT.
The Milbourne Christopher Awards were established by Maurine Christopher in 1989 to perpetuate her husband's memory and spotlight the best magic has to offer in performing, writing, publishing and invention.
Congratulations to Dorothy and Dick on this well deserved honor!
Tickets to the 2019 Christopher Awards can be purchased HERE.
UPDATE: David Haversat has shared a photo of the 2019 Milbourne Christopher Foundation Award Winners!
Left to Right: William Rauscher (Chairman), Chuck Jones, Jan Jones, Gil Eagles,
Steve Cohen, Daniel Roy, Dorothy Dietrich, Dick Brookz, Bill Herz
I'm very excited and honored to have received an "Award of Excellence" from the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) for my article "Inside Houdini's 278," which appeared in the October 2017 issue of The Linking Ringmagazine. Awards were announced at the IBM's recent convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Thanks to all the members of the IBM and Linking Ring editor Sammy Smith for this honor. It's my first and only Houdini-related award! I will proudly hang it at my desk.
