The History of Science and Magic
"The Golden Age"  ca. 1880-1920

Free, but pre-registration is required.  To pre-register, telephone 212-817-8215.

PRODUCER
    Brian Schwartz, PhD
    CUNY Graduate Center VP of Sponsored Research

ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS
    Bob Friedhoffer
    Tom Klem

"The Golden Age of Science and Magic" will be explored in an entertaining and illuminating manner on Monday, Sept 27 at 7:00 p.m. in the CUNY Graduate Center's ground floor, Elebash Recital Hall on. Historians of science and magic will not only speak of the wonder years, but will also perform feats of scientific skullduggery and legerdemain that centered around the world capital of entertainment, New York City with its entertainment palaces that surrounded the Herald Square area from 1880 to 1920.

Magicians could be found headlining in theaters and other performing venues surrounding the Graduate Center (34th and 5th), as well as the areas magic depots, stores and factories. Magicians at the turn of the century were the greatest magicians of all time. Few, but for Harry Houdini, are remembered by the public today. Other magicians of note, whose names have faded from public memory, were household names. This included luminaries such as Annie Abbott-"The Little Georgia Wonder", Lulu Hurst-The Georgia Magnet, Alexander Herrmann Herrmann the Great, The Great Lafayette, T. Nelson Downs King of Coins, Max Malini-, and Harry Kellar- simply known as KELLAR. Magicians were kings of both show business and theatre.

These were the times that scientists and inventors were revered and idolized. Many of the magic tricks were and still are based upon "scientific marvels" based upon the works of scientists such as: Albert Einstein, Thomas Alva Edison, and the Wright Brothers.

In this evening’s program, each performer will talk of the greats from the worlds of science and magic - and then perform a routine as homage; a mystery that will leave you astonished.

The line between magic and science blurred at this time as scientists and inventors first flew through the air on wings of canvas, changed our concepts of the universe, and discovered fundamental forces of nature that others turned into magic and other entertainment. It was a time when Science was Magic and in many cases it seemed that Magic was Science.

This was a period of live entertainment before television, mass merchandising of movies, the internet and popular radio. Theaters were only the entertainment venues for society, both high and low. This performance and lecture presentation will bring us back to this time when Herald Square was lined with theaters and magic was in the air.

THE PLAYERS AND HISTORIANS

Bob Friedhoffer
Historian, magician, and author will host the evening and will also tell us about A.C. Gilbert’s Mysto Magic Company that was arguably the first mass merchandiser of science, magic and engineering toys. Gilbert’s contributions will be exhibited and explained. Friedhoffer’s presentation will contain many surprises of magic and science.

Torkova
This international award-winning magician will tell us of the magician T. Nelson Downs. A contemporary of Houdini, Downs performed internationally, plucking coins from the air in a routine called the Misers Dream. Torkova will then perform this feat of magic as he has done on stages around the world.

Gary Lee Williams
Historian and psychic entertainer as well as the world's leading expert on the 'Georgia Magnet Phenomenon' will talk about the two women, Annie Abbott and Lulu Hurst, physically unimposing women, both commanding powers enabling them to overcome the physical strength of men four times their size. He and his assistant will demonstrate the phenomena that headlined at the turn of the century.

Eric DeCamps
A Historian and multi international award winner including the prestigious Society of American Magicians Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Magic will talk of Max Malini who busked on the streets of the Bowery in the late 1800's, but then went on to perform before the crowned heads of Europe. Eric will present one of Malini’s performance pieces.

George Schindler
Past National President Society of American Magicians, Magic historian, professional magician and actor, appearing in Woody Allen’s “New York Stories” vignette, will tell us of formative years of the Society of American Magicians in 1902, in the Martinka Magic Shop, at 6th Avenue and 30th Street. George will perform a mystery from that wonderful shop that is thought by some to be the oldest magic depot in the continental United States.

Tom Klem
Tom is an associate producer of A HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND MAGIC IN NYC. He is a historian of magical history, and has been an art director of many historical public art projects including, Voices of Renewal (Atlanta), Places That Matter (NYC). Klem was also a steering committee member of the Municipal Society's "Imagine New York" project. His work is archived in the Fales Collection at the NYU Library.