This full episode is tied to Ep 13, where I first began to discuss the World of Magic TV Specials by Doug Henning. In this episode I cover Specials 5-8. I also mention some of Doug Henning's final TV appearances and how he was the first to use so many revolutionary illusions like Origami, The Pole Levitation, The Magical Toy Shoppe, Walking Thru A Mirror and more. Today, May 3rd, is Doug Henning's birthday too btw! Music for this episode was provided by http://www.purple-planet.com Please visit ...
May 03, 2019•58 min•Season 1Ep. 20
This is another 'SHORT' episode, running approx 13 minutes. This time I talk about the life of Litzka Raymond Gibson who was married to first the Great Raymond and then Walter Gibson, as well as having an incredible music and magic career of her own. This episode is transcribed on my blog https://www.themagicdetective.com/2019/04/the-magical-musical-litzka-raymond.html and contains additional photos of Litzka Raymond Gibson. Music for this episode is provided by https://purple-planet.com...
Apr 29, 2019•13 min•Season 1Ep. 19
This is a SHORT episode, running approx 14 minutes. The topic is Frederick Bancroft an unusual magician from the late 19th Century. He had amazing posters that were breathtaking, but was his show up to the image he was projecting? Listen to the podcast to find out more! The Magic Det. Contest from last week has been extended. The Question is: Name an illusionist, a contemporary of Houdini, who left a successful stage career to become a gold miner. And though that sounds like a typical magician’s...
Apr 18, 2019•15 min•Season 1Ep. 18
This time I cover a forgotten 20th Century magician as opposed to a forgotten 19th Century magician, lol. His name is Edwin Brush and he lived a rather long life and performed right up until the time he died. I didn't know much about the man prior to researching him, but I think you'll enjoy hearing a bit about him. After the episode I give the answers to the two previous Podcast Contests and reveal the winners. Also, I give the Question for Magic Detective Podcast Contest #3. Be sure to send in...
Apr 15, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 17
On this episode I discuss the life of Professor Harry Cooke, who was a Civil War era magician and had some interesting ties to Abraham Lincoln and Lincoln's death. I also talk about some of the recent deaths in magic of Marshall Brodien, Steve Duscheck, and Johnny Thompson. And, of course, today is Houdini's Birthday, Happy Birthday Harry! So in honor of Houdini I talk a bit about a pet peeve of mine, 'people who say Houdini was a bad magician'. I try and make a case to show in fact he was NOT a...
Mar 24, 2019•35 min•Season 1Ep. 16
This episode deals with the three pioneers of Mind Reading from the 19th Century, John Randall Brown, Stuart Cumberland, and Washington Irving Bishop. Stay tuned till the end of the podcast because I have included the FIRST Magic Detective Podcast CONTEST! It's pretty easy. If you don't know the answer, it is contained on one of the podcasts or you can find it in my blog fairly easily as well. http://www.themagicdetective.com Send your answers to info@carnegiemagic.com and remember the 5th perso...
Feb 26, 2019•31 min•Season 1Ep. 15
UPDATE: There were a couple editing glitches I had to go back and fix. I think it all is working smoothly now. My apologies...(first time for everything) Houdini thought he was great, and he never met the man. Houdini was 4 when Heller died. Robert Heller could have been one of the great piano virtuosos but he chose magic instead. In fact, he sorta chose both. And this is his story. I think Heller is more popular among music historians than magic historians, but I am hoping to change that. This ...
Feb 14, 2019•42 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Feb 7th, 2019 is the 19th Anniversary of the passing of magic icon Doug Henning. In this episode, I share some of my own recollections of Doug's specials and memories of having seen him perform live. I only get as far as Special #4, as the podcast would have been 5 hours long had I covered everything. At some later date I will do a biographical profile of Henning for the podcast. I hope you enjoy this episode and remember fondly on the days when Doug Henning's magic was popular! The podcast musi...
Feb 06, 2019•59 min•Season 1Ep. 13
On this episode I explore the life of another forgotten magician from the 19th Century. His name is John Wyman Jr. and James Madison was president of the US when Wyman was born! His life is fascinating and I know you'll enjoy it. OH, and then at the end of the podcast a special 'audio feature' from the life of Wyman. Podcast Music provided by http://purple-planet.com Special thanks to Richard Wiseman and Cameron Watt for the special feature in today's podcast!...
Jan 31, 2019•31 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Happy New Year! It's 2019 and I've got the first podcast of the year ready on the first day of the year. But don't get used to it, lol. The feature of this episode is a lesser known magician who should have been one of the greats along with Kellar, Thurston, Dante and others. But he died at only 38 years old. This is direct from my lecture on Maro that I presented in his home town of LeLand Michigan, and at the Yankee Gathering in 2016. Music provided by http://purple-planet.com Look for notes o...
Jan 01, 2019•41 min•Season 1Ep. 11
