After being interviewed by David Sanderson in the Winnipeg Free Press, I was contacted by the Winnipeg Magicians group to do a lecture March 30th on the history of Escape Artists.
The talk lasted a little under an hour, and I was very happy with the response I received. Though I rambled on and on about what an S.O.B. Houdini was (well, he was), everyone took my comments in stride and most likely will continue to look at Houdini as an icon.
Houdini’s brother, hardeen, was overlooked by magic historians as some sort of also ran, and I have been trying to change that by concentrating on researching his career. My belief is that by reintroducing Hardeen I can get other researchers and collectors to consider him in a more enlightened context. It is slow going as magic, like any other interest, has a hidebound community.
Just acquired a copy of Hardeen’s pitchbook (A digest size booklet sold at shows trumpeting the performers life and career) and was pleased to find that the previous owner was Albert Lahaie, and Montreal area escape Artist from the 1930s.