Houdini: Keeping Magic History Alive By Dennis Burks

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Houdini: Keeping Magic History Alive

By Dennis Burks

The Golden Age of Magic, which roughly spanned the 1880s to the 1930s, was a remarkable era when stage magic flourished across the United States.

Theaters in major cities and small towns alike were filled with audiences eager to witness the artistry of performers such as Howard Thurston, Harry Kellar, Adelaide and Alexander Herrmann, Carter the Great, Chung Ling Soo, Harry Blackstone Sr., Max Malini, The Great Leon, McDonald Birch, and Willard the Wizard.

Their illusions shaped the art form and left a legacy that magicians still study today.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

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September 2026 RING 129 – Presidential Column

Those Who Came Before

As our Houdini Celebration gets closer, we are reminded of the impact Harry Houdini ad on the art of magic.  All of us, either directly through performing routines that he iginated, or indirectly through inspiration from his life and example, have been affected by Houdini’s influence.  This influence extends to the general public, as well.  I know from many years of experience that if you ask a group of average people “When I say the word ‘Magician’ whose name pops into your head?” most of the time they will respond with “Harry Houdini”.