Category Archives: History

Revealing Houdini Photos


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Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz, later Ehrich Weiss; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926)

Halloween is National Magic Day

Houdini’s Voice:


Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz, later Ehrich Weiss; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926)

Halloween is National Magic Day

Tony Curtis Straightjacket Escape


Tony Curtis as The Great Houdini

Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz, later Ehrich Weiss; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926)

Houdini Rope Escape


Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz, later Ehrich Weiss; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926)

Houdini’s First Filmed Escape!


Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz, later Ehrich Weiss; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926)

My Southern Can is Mine


Madame Pamita’s wonderful music video of “My Southern Can is Mine,” her butt-kicking answer to Blind Willie McTell’s “Your Southern Can is Mine.”

This recording is from the CD Madame Pamita’s Wax Works. All the music on this CD was recorded on Edison Wax Cylinders.

This video was shot with film cameras from the 1930’s.

I play myself in a cameo appearance.

Madame Pamita makes an appearance on the Pop Haydn Radio-Medicine Show. You can listen here: Pop’s Radio Medicine Show

You can find out more about Madame Pamita and her music at Madame Pamita’s Website

You can hear Willie McTell’s version here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds1xVHsXm7Y

School for Scoundrels at the Magic Castle:


Pop Haydn

Pop Haydn

School for Scoundrels at the Magic Castle in Hollywood will begin on Sunday, November 6, and continue on Nov 13, 20, 27, and also on Mondays, November 7, 14, 21, 28. School for Scoundrels is a course taught at the Magic Castle every November since 1996.

Pop Haydn and Chef Anton (two-time national trick-shot champion at pool), teach the class together.

The course attracts lawyers and law-enforcement personnel, as well as magicians, students of gambling and history, and many who just find the subject fascinating–you don’t need to be a member of the Magic Castle to sign up for this course, and no previous knowledge or skills are required.

The course is $160 for the eight hours–two hours a night, once a week, for four weeks.

You can switch nights from Monday to Sunday or vice-versa–each week the same lesson is taught on both Sun and Mon at 7:00 pm.

This course teaches the basic sleight of hand, psychology, history and importance to magic of the three basic street swindles: Three-Card Monte, the Shell Game, and the various games of Fast and Loose.

We believe that the street hustler makes a better role-model for the modern close-up magician than the card cheat which has been the model since the turn of the century.

We believe that street hustlers have much to teach that is of huge benefit to magicians, especially those who work corporate walk around, trade-shows, or private parties where they need to gather a crowd, hold their attention, control their thinking, and get them to do what they want them to do.

Contact Magic University, and talk to Mark or Nani Wilson at (800) 367-8749 to sign up for the course. $160 for all four nights.

To one who loved not poetry:


Sappho

Sappho, Drexel University, Philadelphia

“THOU liest dead, and there will be no memory left behind

Of thee or thine in all the earth, for never didst thou bind

The roses of Pierian streams upon thy brow; thy doom

Is now to flit with unknown ghosts in cold and nameless gloom.”

to one who loved not poetry, Sappho, translated by Edwin Arnold

****************

“I think that in some later Spring,

Echo will bear to men these songs we sing.”

— Sappho, fragment

A warning from Berlin Police:


Shell Game with Matchboxes. Barcelona

This is an interesting warning for tourists in several languages and cartoons about the dangers of playing the shell game:

Shell Game Berlin Police

 

Waiting for photos from our members:


Anyone else receive their campaign kits?

We are about to ship out another hundred, and still only a handful have posted photos with their buttons. If you haven’t signed up to get your free campaign kit (with big Pop Haydn button, campaign poster postcard, and American Confidence Party membership card), then go to Campaign Headquarters and you will find out more about the Greater American Confidence Party and Pop Haydn’s campaign for President of the United States in 2012.