Houdini: Preserving a Legacy of Magic, Escapes, and Showmanship

This program will be offered both in person and virtually.

As part of the worldwide recognition of the 100th anniversary of the death of Harry Houdini, the Library for the Performing Arts and Parent Assembly #1 of the Society of American Magicians have organized a program featuring leading archivists, collectors, and performers who are preserving the legacy of the complex and inspired magician, escape artist and showman. 

The panelists will showcase particularly interesting and rare items from their collections, discussing what they reveal about Houdini and how they have been utilized in books, films, performances and more. They also will examine questions and issues regarding how historic and archival materials can be utilized to construct a robust portrait of such an intriguing character. 

The event will also include a conversation with Dorothy Dietrich about the details of her remarkable 1980 suspended straight jacket escape, and audiences will witness a riveting performance from Thomas Solomon, one of today’s leading escape artists.

Featuring:

Eric Colleary, Cline Curator of Theatre and Performing Arts at the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin

Dorothy Dietrich, Magician, Director of the Houdini Museum, and Houdini historian

Roger Dreyer, CEO Fantasma Magic/Houdini Revealed

Annemarie van Roessel, Assistant Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

Herb Scher, Chair, Archives Committee, Parent Assembly #1, Society of American Magicians

Thomas Solomon, Magician/Escape Artist

Photo Credit:  White Studio Photograph courtesy of the Billy Rose Theatre Division.