Dai Vernon
1894 - 1992
The Canadian Conservatory of Magic is proud to present its special section dedicated to the ephemeris of conjuring. This section explores the fascinating history of magic throughout the year, highlighting significant events, iconic artists, and innovations that have shaped this art. We invite enthusiasts and the curious to dive into the captivating world of illusion and magic and celebrate this extraordinary heritage.
Magic in history
02
August
1902: Leon Herrmann - Great Northern Theatre - Chicago
1915: Houdini - Palace Theatre - New York
1935: Cardini - Chicago Theatre - Chicago
04
August
1902:
- Leon Herrmann - Great Northern Theatre - Chicago
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1915: Houdini - Palace Theatre - New York
06
August
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1915: Houdini - Palace Theatre - New York
1936: Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
08
August
1902:
- Leon Herrmann - Great Northern Theatre - Chicago
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1915: Houdini - Palace Theatre - New York
1936: Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
2017: Death of Eugene Burger (aged 78)
10
August
1902:
- Leon Herrmann - Great Northern Theatre - Chicago
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1915: Houdini - Palace Theatre - New York
1918: Houdini breaks his wrist while working on the film "The Master Mystery"
1936: Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
12
August
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1915: Houdini - Palace Theatre - New York
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
14
August
1866: The Fakir of Oolu - McVickers Theatre - Chicago
1873: Birth of Max Malini
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1915: Houdini - Palace Theatre - New York
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
1939: Premiere of the film "Miracles For Sale" starring Robert Young, Florence Rice, and Frank Craven. The film was directed by Tod Browning and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
16
August
1866: The Fakir of Oolu - McVickers Theatre - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1926: Birth of Channing Pollock
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
18
August
1866: The Fakir of Oolu - McVickers Theatre - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
2006: Premiere of the film "The Illusionist" starring Edward Norton and Jessica Biel. The film is directed by Neil Burger and distributed by Freestyle Releasing and Odeon Films
20
August
1866: The Fakir of Oolu - McVickers Theatre - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1922: Houdini - Rialto Theatre - Washington
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
22
August
1866: The Fakir of Oolu - McVickers Theatre - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1919: Blackstone - Dellinger Theatre - Batavia, NY
1920: Houdini - Sheepshead Bay Speedway - New York
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
1939: Death of Horace Goldin (aged 65)
24
August
1791: The very first periodical on magic appeared in London. Titled "Conjuror's Magazine, or Magical and Physiognomical Mirror," it was sold in all the city's bookstores and newsstands. It changed its name two years later (August 1793) to "The Astrologer's Magazine and Philosophical Miscellany." Only six issues were distributed under this new name
1866: The Fakir of Oolu - McVickers Theatre - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1920: Houdini - Sheepshead Bay Speedway - New York
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
26
August
1902:
- Houdini - Circus Carre Munchen - Bavaria
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1916: Thurston - Thalia Theatre - New York
1920: Houdini - Sheepshead Bay Speedway - New York
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
28
August
1902:
- Houdini - Circus Carre Munchen - Bavaria
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1906: Adelaïde Herrmann - Columbia Theatre - St. Louis
1916: Thurston - Thalia Theatre - New York
1920: Houdini - Sheepshead Bay Speedway - New York
1931: Thurston - Michigan Theatre - Detroit
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
30
August
1902:
- Houdini - Circus Carre Munchen - Bavaria
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1906: Adelaïde Herrmann - Columbia Theatre - St. Louis
1909: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Brooklyn, NY
1916: Thurston - Thalia Theatre - New York
1936: Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
1937: Dante - Empire Theatre - Glasgow, Scotland
03
August
1902: Leon Herrmann - Great Northern Theatre - Chicago
1903: Adelaïde Herrmann - Temple Theatre - Detroit
1915: Houdini - Palace Theatre - New York
05
August
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1915: Houdini - Palace Theatre - New York
07
August
1902:
- Leon Herrmann - Great Northern Theatre - Chicago
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1905: Maskelyne & Devant - St. George's Hall - London
1915: Houdini - Palace Theatre - New York
1928:
- Birth of James Randi
- Visit the James Randi exhibition (exclusive to members)
1936: Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
1942: Premiere of the film "A Haunting We Will Go" starring Laurel & Hardy and Dante. The film was directed by Alfred Werker and distributed by 20th Century Fox
09
August
1902:
- Leon Herrmann - Great Northern Theatre - Chicago
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1915: Houdini - Palace Theatre - New York
1936: Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
1948: Robert Harbin - Finsbury Park Empire - London
1954: Premiere of the film "The Mad Magician" starring Vincent Price. The film was directed by John Brahm and distributed by Columbia Pictures
11
August
1853: Birth of Adelaïde Herrmann
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1915: Houdini - Palace Theatre - New York
1936: Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
13
August
1866: The Fakir of Oolu - McVickers Theatre - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1915: Houdini - Palace Theatre - New York
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
15
August
1849: The Wizard of the North is performing a private show at Balmoral Castle for Her Majesty, Queen Victoria
1866: The Fakir of Oolu - McVickers Theatre - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1912: Chung Ling Soo - Hippodrome - London
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
1939: Premiere of the film "The Wizard of Oz" starring Judy Garland and Frank Morgan. The film was directed by Victor Fleming and distributed by Warner Bros.
1990: "The International Magic Festival" takes place at the Quebec City Coliseum until August 26 as part of the Expo-Quebec event. Produced by Mark Wilson, Quebec City residents can enjoy performances by James Cielen, Peter Moretti, and Mr. Electric
17
August
1866: The Fakir of Oolu - McVickers Theatre - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1912: In Phoenix, Arizona, a fire destroys the hotel where magician Paul Valadon is staying. He loses all his equipment and personal belongings
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
19
August
1848: Robert Houdin - St-James' Theatre - London
1866: The Fakir of Oolu - McVickers Theatre - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1917: Birth of Paul Curry
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
1950: Robert Harbin - Palace Theatre - Blackpool
21
August
1866: The Fakir of Oolu - McVickers Theatre - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1920: Houdini - Sheepshead Bay Speedway - New York
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
1992:
- Death of Dai Vernon (aged 98)
- Visit the Dai Vernon exhibition (exclusive to members)
23
August
1866: The Fakir of Oolu - McVickers Theatre - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1919: Blackstone - Dellinger Theatre - Batavia, NY
1920: Houdini - Sheepshead Bay Speedway - New York
1935: Thurston - Fox Theatre - Philadelphia
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
25
August
1866: The Fakir of Oolu - McVickers Theatre - Chicago
1902:
- Houdini - Circus Carre Munchen - Bavaria
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1916: Thurston - Thalia Theatre - New York
1919: The film "The Grim Game" starring Harry Houdini, Thomas Jefferson, and Ann Forrest premiered in the United States. The film is directed by Irvin Willat and distributed by Paramount Pictures
1920: Houdini - Sheepshead Bay Speedway - New York
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
27
August
1902:
- Houdini - Circus Carre Munchen - Bavaria
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1905: Adelaïde Herrmann - Yale's Theatre - Kansas City
1906: Adelaïde Herrmann - Columbia Theatre - St. Louis
1916: Thurston - Thalia Theatre - New York
1920: Houdini - Sheepshead Bay Speedway - New York
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
1959: Premiere of the film "The Magician" starring Max von Sydow. The film was directed by Ingmar Bergman and distributed by Janus Films
29
August
1864: The Wizard of the North - Academy of Music - Chicago
1902:
- Houdini - Circus Carre Munchen - Bavaria
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1906: Adelaïde Herrmann - Columbia Theatre - St. Louis
1916: Thurston - Thalia Theatre - New York
1936:
- Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
- Cardini - Riviera Theatre - Fort Lee, NJ
31
August
1902:
- Houdini - Circus Carre Munchen - Bavaria
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1903: Buatier de Kolta - Avenue Theatre - Detroit
1906: Adelaïde Herrmann - Columbia Theatre - St. Louis
1916: Thurston - Thalia Theatre - New York
1936: Dante - Alhambra Theatre - London
1937: Dante - Empire Theatre - Glasgow, Scotland
August 14, 1873
Born in Austria, Malini emigrated as a boy to the United States in 1887 or 1888, settling in New York City. Working at saloons on the Bowery for tips, he began a new life with nothing but his skill and quick wit. Eventually Malini rose to the pinnacle of show business, making (and spending) several fortunes in his lifetime. During his career, Malini entertained several U.S. Presidents, gave command performances in Buckingham Palace, and received gifts from monarchs in Europe and Asia
Malini made his reputation outside of the theaters, performing close-up tricks in private clubs and lobby lounges. He was always loaded with something to produce, whether a red brick or a head of cabbage. Before a show in someone’s private home, he would stop into the kitchen and load his pockets with various fruits that he would later reveal under cups or inside a lady’s purse.