A local history writer, Bill Miller, has a piece in today's Medford Mail Tribune entitled "History Snoopin': Showbiz Magic on the Whistle-Stop Tour" about a visit to Medford, Oregon in 1924 by Harry Houdini, who gave a lecture/demo on fraudulent mediumship.

http://mailtribune.com/news/top-stories/......top-tour

Hope you enjoy it,

Gordon

Great post Gordon! Thank you for it.

Great article. it proves a lot of things I've been saying about Houdini. History is written by the winners....

Does anyone remember the Magician who often appeared on Capt. Kangaroo - he wore a 'flaminco dancer' type costume- was very good, I think he was spanish. I remember an effect where He would cause an egg to appear, then smash it against an empty cage - making a canary appear. and many other effects.

Russo- I think that may have been Reuben Bowen, who appeared on Captain Kangaroo as "Kajar The Magician". Here's a link to something he published with artist Jon Gnagy: http://www.jongnagyart.com/Jon_Gnagy_Art/Kajar.html

Could be - though 'sketch' doesn't look 'slick' enough - anyone else have an Idea??

BTW, Reuben Bowen aka "Kajar The Magician" was married to Jean Darling who was an actor in the original Our Gang comedies during the Silent Era.