Harry Houdini
1874 - 1926
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
01
October
1849: Robert-Houdin presents for the first time at his theatre the act entitled "The Acrobat on the Trapeze" with the mechanical puppet Antonio Diavolo
1878: Robert Heller - South Broad Street Theatre - Philadelphia
1902:
- Houdini - Circus Carre Munchen - Bavaria
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1903: Houdini - Central Theatre - Dresden, Germany
1906: Adelaïde Herrmann - Grand Opera House - Indianapolis
1909: Thurston - Giradro Avenue Theatre - Philadelphia
1917: Thurston - Lumberg Theatre - Utica, NY
1920: Blackstone - Empire Theatre - Buffalo
1928: Thurston - Academy Theatre - Scranton, PA
1931:
- Birth of Michel Cailloux (Michel le Magicien)
- Visit the Michel Cailloux exhibition (exclusive to members)
1960: The series "The Magic Land of Allakazam" premieres on CBS
03
October
1878: Robert Heller - South Broad Street Theatre - Philadelphia
1883:
- Birth of Dante
- Visit the Dante exhibition (exclusive to members)
1902:
- Houdini - Circus Carre Munchen - Bavaria
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1906: Adelaïde Herrmann - Grand Opera House - Indianapolis
1916: Thurston - Prospect Theatre - Cleveland, OH
1917: Thurston - Lumberg Theatre - Utica, NY
1922: Thurston - Plymouth Theatre - Boston
1923: Houdini gives a lecture on the dark side of spiritualism at Marquette University in Milwaukee
1928: Thurston - Academy Theatre - Scranton, PA
1942: Death of Max Malini (aged 69)
1944:
- Birth of Roy Horn
- Visit the Siegfried & Roy exhibition (exclusive to members)
- Profile of Siegfried & Roy in Zombie magazine no.5
1980: Premiere of the film "Terror Train" starring Jamie Lee Curtis and David Copperfield. The film was directed by Roger Spottiswoode and distributed by 20th Century Fox
2003: 45 minutes after the start of their first show of the evening, at the Mirage casino in Las Vegas, magician Roy Horn (Siegfried & Roy) was attacked by the white tiger Montecore and suffered serious injuries which would put an end to the career of the famous duo
05
October
1801: Birth of Ludwig Döbler
1878: Robert Heller - South Broad Street Theatre - Philadelphia
1902:
- Houdini - Circus Carre Munchen - Bavaria
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1906: Adelaïde Herrmann - Grand Opera House - Indianapolis
1914: Thurston - Crescent Theatre - New York
1916: Thurston - Prospect Theatre - Cleveland, OH
1917: Thurston - Bastable Theatre - Syracuse, NY
1922: Thurston - Plymouth Theatre - Boston
1925: Thurston - Bronx Opera House - New York
1928: Thurston - Academy Theatre - Scranton, PA
1934: Thurston - Century Theatre - Baltimore
07
October
1878: Robert Heller - South Broad Street Theatre - Philadelphia
1902:
- Houdini - Circus Carre Munchen - Bavaria
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1903: Death of Buatier de Kolta (aged 55)
1916: Thurston - Prospect Theatre - Cleveland, OH
1922: Thurston - Plymouth Theatre - Boston
1925: Thurston - Bronx Opera House - New York
1934: Thurston - Century Theatre - Baltimore
09
October
1878: Robert Heller - South Broad Street Theatre - Philadelphia
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1916:
- Thurston - Palace Theatre - Toledo, OH
- Houdini - Shea's Theatre - Buffalo
1917: Thurston - Avon Theatre - Rochester, NY
1925: Thurston - Bronx Opera House - New York
1928: Thurston - Irving Theatre - Wilkes-Barre, PA
1934: Thurston - Century Theatre - Baltimore
11
October
1878: Robert Heller - South Broad Street Theatre - Philadelphia
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1916:
- Thurston - Palace Theatre - Toledo, OH
- Houdini - Shea's Theatre - Buffalo
1917: Thurston - Avon Theatre - Rochester, NY
1923: Houdini - Orpheum - Kansas City
1928: Thurston - Irving Theatre - Wilkes-Barre, PA
13
October
1865: Robert Heller - Smith & Nixon's Hall - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1916:
- Thurston - Palace Theatre - Toledo, OH
- Houdini - Shea's Theatre - Buffalo
1917: Thurston - Avon Theatre - Rochester, NY
1923: Houdini - Orpheum - Kansas City
1924: Houdini - Texas State Fair - Dallas, TX
1928: Thurston - Irving Theatre - Wilkes-Barre, PA
1939: Death of Nate Leipzig (aged 66)
1941: Death of David Devant (aged 73)
15
October
1865: Robert Heller - Smith & Nixon's Hall - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1916: Thurston - Lyceum Theatre - Detroit
1917: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Buffalo
1922: Blackstone - Pantages Theatre - Winnipeg, Canada
1928: Thurston - Garrick Theatre - Philadelphia
1934: Theodore Annemann - Palmer House - Chicago
17
October
1865: Robert Heller - Smith & Nixon's Hall - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1905: Houdini - Orpheum - Brooklyn, NY
1916: Thurston - Lyceum Theatre - Detroit
1917: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Buffalo
1922: Blackstone - Pantages Theatre - Winnipeg, Canada
1928: Thurston - Garrick Theatre - Philadelphia
19
October
1865: Robert Heller - Smith & Nixon's Hall - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1905: Houdini - Orpheum - Brooklyn, NY
1914: Houdini - Palace Theatre - New York
1916: Thurston - Lyceum Theatre - Detroit
1917: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Buffalo
1922: Blackstone - Pantages Theatre - Winnipeg, Canada
1928: Thurston - Garrick Theatre - Philadelphia
21
October
1865: Robert Heller - Smith & Nixon's Hall - Chicago
1880: Alexander Herrmann - Providence Opera House - Providence
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1905: Houdini - Orpheum - Brooklyn, NY
1916: Thurston - Lyceum Theatre - Detroit
1922: Blackstone - Pantages Theatre - Winnipeg, Canada
1924: Blackstone - Opera House - Huntington, VA
1928: Thurston - Garrick Theatre - Philadelphia
23
October
1865: Robert Heller - Smith & Nixon's Hall - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1905:
- Houdini - Orpheum - Brooklyn, NY
- Leon Herrmann - Hammerstein Theatre - New York
1916: Thurston - Imperial Theatre - Chicago
1917: Thurston - Lyceum Theatre - Pittsburgh
1928: Thurston - Garrick Theatre - Philadelphia
25
October
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1905:
- Houdini - Orpheum - Brooklyn, NY
- Leon Herrmann - Hammerstein Theatre - New York
1909: Adelaïde Herrmann - Proctor Theatre - Newark, NJ
1916: Thurston - Imperial Theatre - Chicago
1917: Thurston - Lyceum Theatre - Pittsburgh
1928: Thurston - Garrick Theatre - Philadelphia
2024: Opening of the exhibition "Witches: From Shadow to Light" at the Pointe-à-Callière Museum in Montreal. The exhibition will close on April 6, 2025
27
October
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1905:
- Houdini - Orpheum - Brooklyn, NY
- Leon Herrmann - Hammerstein Theatre - New York
1916: Thurston - Imperial Theatre - Chicago
1917: Thurston - Lyceum Theatre - Pittsburgh
1925: Houdini - Weiting Theatre - Syracuse, NY
1928: Thurston - Garrick Theatre - Philadelphia
1978: "The Magic of David Copperfield" airs on CBS
29
October
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1911: Harry Bouton & Co. - Empress Theatre - San Francisco
1912: Thurston - Prospect Theatre - Cleveland, OH
1916: Thurston - American Theatre - St-Louis
1917: Thurston - Prospect Theatre - Cleveland, OH
1925: Houdini - Weiting Theatre - Syracuse, NY
1928: Thurston - Garrick Theatre - Philadelphia
31
October
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1904: Thurston - New Orpheum - Minneapolis
1905: Leon Herrmann - Proctor's Twenty-third street - New York
1912: Thurston - Prospect Theatre - Cleveland, OH
1916: Thurston - American Theatre - St-Louis
1917: Thurston - Prospect Theatre - Cleveland, OH
1920: Alexander, The Man Who Knows - American Theatre - St. Louis
1921: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Buffalo
1925: Houdini - Weiting Theatre - Syracuse, NY
1926:
- Death of Harry Houdini (aged 52)
- Visit the Harry Houdini exhibition (exclusive to members)
1936: The last séance organized by Bess Houdini and her manager, Edward Saint, in an attempt to establish communication with Harry Houdini, took place at the Knickerbocker Hotel in Hollywood, California. The secret words "Rosabelle" and "Believe" were never heard
1990: At 32, amateur magician Joseph Burrus (The Amazing Joe) died, buried alive, when his plexiglass coffin collapsed under approximately 9 tons of earth and wet concrete during an escape attempt, a tribute to Houdini, presented at Blackbeard's Family Fun Center in Fresno, California. The scene was captured live by local television cameras
02
October
1878: Robert Heller - South Broad Street Theatre - Philadelphia
1902:
- Houdini - Circus Carre Munchen - Bavaria
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1905:
- Kellar - Grand Opera House - Pittsburg
- Houdini - Colonial Theatre - New York
1906: Adelaïde Herrmann - Grand Opera House - Indianapolis
1909: Thurston - Giradro Avenue Theatre - Philadelphia
1916: Thurston - Prospect Theatre - Cleveland, OH
1917: Thurston - Lumberg Theatre - Utica, NY
1920: Blackstone - Empire Theatre - Buffalo
1922: Thurston - Plymouth Theatre - Boston
1928: Thurston - Academy Theatre - Scranton, PA
2000: Debut of "Masters of Illusion" on PAX TV
The show "Masters of Illusion" features mind-blowing magic acts performed by illusionists, escape artists, and top performers, showcasing skills ranging from baffling interactive mentalism to hilarious comedy sketches, all before a live studio audience. The first season was filmed on stage at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California, and aired on Pax TV from 2000 to 2001. MyNetworkTV aired a second season in 2009. The series was revived by the CW network in 2014, with Dean Cain as host. Gay Blackstone is credited as an executive producer
04
October
1878: Robert Heller - South Broad Street Theatre - Philadelphia
1902:
- Houdini - Circus Carre Munchen - Bavaria
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1906: Adelaïde Herrmann - Grand Opera House - Indianapolis
1916: Thurston - Prospect Theatre - Cleveland, OH
1917: Thurston - Bastable Theatre - Syracuse, NY
1919: Thurston - Globe Theatre - New York
1922: Thurston - Plymouth Theatre - Boston
1928: Thurston - Academy Theatre - Scranton, PA
06
October
1878: Robert Heller - South Broad Street Theatre - Philadelphia
1902:
- Lafayette - Smith's Colonial Theatre - Bridgeport, CT
- Houdini - Circus Carre Munchen - Bavaria
- Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1906: Adelaïde Herrmann - Grand Opera House - Indianapolis
1916: Thurston - Prospect Theatre - Cleveland, OH
1917: Thurston - Bastable Theatre - Syracuse, NY
1922: Thurston - Plymouth Theatre - Boston
1925: Thurston - Bronx Opera House - New York
1928: Thurston - Academy Theatre - Scranton, PA
1934: Thurston - Century Theatre - Baltimore
08
October
1878: Robert Heller - South Broad Street Theatre - Philadelphia
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1916: Thurston - Palace Theatre - Toledo, OH
1917: Thurston - Avon Theatre - Rochester, NY
1922: Blackstone - Pantage Theatre - Minneapolis
1925: Thurston - Bronx Opera House - New York
1928: Thurston - Irving Theatre - Wilkes-Barre, PA
1934: Thurston - Century Theatre - Baltimore
10
October
1878: Robert Heller - South Broad Street Theatre - Philadelphia
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1904: Thurston - Opera House - Chicago
1908: Leon Herrmann - Alhambra - Paris
1913: Birth of Ed Marlo
1916:
- Thurston - Palace Theatre - Toledo, OH
- Houdini - Shea's Theatre - Buffalo
1917: Thurston - Avon Theatre - Rochester, NY
1923: Houdini - Orpheum - Kansas City
1925: Thurston - Bronx Opera House - New York
1928: Thurston - Irving Theatre - Wilkes-Barre, PA
12
October
1865: Robert Heller - Smith & Nixon's Hall - Chicago
1878: Robert Heller - South Broad Street Theatre - Philadelphia
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1916:
- Thurston - Palace Theatre - Toledo, OH
- Houdini - Shea's Theatre - Buffalo
1917: Thurston - Avon Theatre - Rochester, NY
1923: Houdini - Orpheum - Kansas City
1928: Thurston - Irving Theatre - Wilkes-Barre, PA
1935: Death of Samuel Cox Hooker (Dr. Hooker) at 71 years of age
14
October
1865: Robert Heller - Smith & Nixon's Hall - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - Londres
1905: Houdini - Orpheum - Brooklyn, NY
1912: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Buffalo
1916:
- Thurston - Palace Theatre - Toledo, OH
- Houdini - Shea's Theatre - Buffalo
1923: Houdini - Orpheum - Kansas City
16
October
1865: Robert Heller - Smith & Nixon's Hall - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - Londres
1905: Houdini - Orpheum - Brooklyn, NY
1916: Thurston - Lyceum Theatre - Detroit
1917: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Buffalo
1922: Blackstone - Pantages Theatre - Winnipeg, Canada
1928: Thurston - Garrick Theatre - Philadelphia
18
October
1865: Robert Heller - Smith & Nixon's Hall - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1905: Houdini - Orpheum - Brooklyn, NY
1916: Thurston - Lyceum Theatre - Detroit
1917: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Buffalo
1922: Blackstone - Pantages Theatre - Winnipeg, Canada
1928: Thurston - Garrick Theatre - Philadelphia
1942: Birth of Juan Tamariz
1948: Robert Harbin - Empire Theatre - Leeds, England
20
October
1865: Robert Heller - Smith & Nixon's Hall - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1905: Houdini - Orpheum - Brooklyn, NY
1916: Thurston - Lyceum Theatre - Detroit
1917: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Buffalo
1922: Blackstone - Pantages Theatre - Winnipeg, Canada
1928: Thurston - Garrick Theatre - Philadelphia
2006: Premiere of the film "The Prestige" starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and Michael Caine. The film is directed by Christopheer Nolan and distributed by Touchstone Pictures and Warner Bros.
2017: Premiere of the film "Dealt" starring Richard Turner and Johnny Thompson. The film is directed by Luke Korem and distributed by Sundance Selects
2020:
- Death of James Randi (aged 92)
- Visit the James Randi exhibition (exclusive to members)
22
October
1865: Robert Heller - Smith & Nixon's Hall - Chicago
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1905: Houdini - Orpheum - Brooklyn, NY
1917: Thurston - Lyceum Theatre - Pittsburgh
1928: Thurston - Garrick Theatre - Philadelphia
1948: Richiardi Jr. - Spanish Theatre - New York
24
October
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1904: Lafayette - Haymarket - Chicago
1905:
- Houdini - Orpheum - Brooklyn, NY
- Leon Herrmann - Hammerstein Theatre - New York
1916: Thurston - Imperial Theatre - Chicago
1917: Thurston - Lyceum Theatre - Pittsburgh
1928: Thurston - Garrick Theatre - Philadelphia
1953: Birth of Gaëtan Bloom
1979: "The Magic of David Copperfield II" airs on CBS
26
October
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1905:
- Houdini - Orpheum - Brooklyn, NY
- Leon Herrmann - Hammerstein Theatre - New York
1916: Thurston - Imperial Theatre - Chicago
1917: Thurston - Lyceum Theatre - Pittsburgh
1925: Houdini - Weiting Theatre - Syracuse, NY
1928: Thurston - Garrick Theatre - Philadelphia
1981: "The Magic of David Copperfield IV: The Vanishing Airplane" airs on CBS
28
October
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1905:
- Houdini - Orpheum - Brooklyn, NY
- Leon Herrmann - Hammerstein Theatre - New York
1912: Thurston - Prospect Theatre - Cleveland, OH
1916: Thurston - Imperial Theatre - Chicago
1917: Houdini gives a benefit performance for the Sun Tobacco Fund at the New York Hippodrome
1925: Houdini - Weiting Theatre - Syracuse, NY
1928: Thurston - Garrick Theatre - Philadelphia
1955:
- Birth of Carl Cloutier
- Visit the Carl Cloutier exhibition (exclusive to members)
30
October
1902: Thurston - Empire Theatre - London
1904:
- Thurston - New Orpheum - Minneapolis
- Leon Herrmann - Hammerstein Theatre - New York
1905: Leon Herrmann - Proctor's Twenty-third street - New York
1912: Thurston - Prospect Theatre - Cleveland, OH
1916: Thurston - American Theatre - St-Louis
1917: Thurston - Prospect Theatre - Cleveland, OH
1925: Houdini - Weiting Theatre - Syracuse, NY
1981: Birth of Joshua Jay
October 1, 1960
The history-making Magic Land of Allakazam was the first network television magic series. Allakazam debuted October 1,1960 on the CBS Network and aired every Saturday morning on CBS for two years, then switched to the ABC Network. Never missing a Saturday morning, Allakazam aired until December 26, 1964.
Starring Master Magician Mark Wilson, beautiful Nani Darnell and the incomparable Bev Bergeron as Rebo the Clown. The half-hour shows include fast-paced openings, magic with the children in the studio audience, comedy magic and clown gags with Rebo, sleight of hand sequences, audience participation and major illusions.
The shows were shot "live" and recorded on the CBS Television Recording System (35 mm black and white film) for later broadcast. They followed a formula that Wilson devised and which he believed was essential for the success of magic on television—there should be a live audience, there should not be a cut from one view to another during a trick, and viewers should know that they were seeing exactly what the studio audience saw.