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Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame and Magic Museum

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Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame and Magic Museum was once located in Hollywood, California from 1971 until 2004.[1]

SAMHall.png

A Magic Hall of Fame for the Society of American Magicians was proposed in 1963 during the National President term of Edward Schneider. He officially called for a place where collections, records and documents could be maintained and exhibited.

In 1966 National President John Zweers had added the Hall of Fame as a permanent standing committee to the S.A.M. Constitution. Now established, a search began for its permanent home.

On October 25, 1971, the SAM opened their Hall of Fame and Magic Museum in Hollywood, California. It featured photographs and hand-drawn portraits of the magicians elected into the Hall of Fame by the National Council upon the recommendations of the National Historians Committee. Magicians elected to the Hall date from Dedi of Ancient Egypt to contemporary stars of magic.

In 1994 John U. Zweers produced and edited the first issue of the Magic Museum Messenger. This publication informed subscribers of the progress of the Hall of Fame and Magic Museum and included articles of general interest to all magicians. John Zweers continued to produce and edit the Magic Museum Messenger until 2002 when publication was suspended (with Vol.9, No. 3) due to his illness and subsequent death in January 2004. The final issue of the Magic Museum Messenger was published in the Summer of 2014 (Vol. 9, No. 4) and was edited and published by Roger W. Jennings. It was produced as a tribute to John U. Zweers.

In December 2004, a transformer fire sent toxic fumes into the Washington Mutual Bank Building that housed the Hall of Fame Museum. Local Government officials ordered the building closed until the toxic contaminants could be remediated following EPA procedures. The museum remained sealed and the contents inaccessible for years. Access to artifacts became available in 2010 and the search for a new home for the Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame was underway.[2]

On September 17, 2012, The Whittier Museum, operated by the Whittier Historical Society, provided an entire second floor in their historic downtown building for the Hall of Fame & Magic Museum. Although the Hall and Museum is still looking for a permanent home in the greater Los Angeles area, the exhibits will be on display at the Whittier Museum in downtown Whittier, California until 2013.[3]


Magicians elected to the SAM Hall of Fame (listed by inductee’s year of birth)

Living members (listed alphabetically)

  1. ↑ https://magicsam.com/hall-of-fame/
  2. ↑ http://www.samhalloffame.com
  3. ↑ http://magicsam.com/s-a-m-hall-of-fame-and-magic-museum-reopens/
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