St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis, called the gateway to the west, is the largest city in the state of Missouri and 58th-largest city in the United States. <googlemap style="margin:25px;float:right" width="350" height="350" lat="38.646991" lon="-90.224967" zoom="9" controls="large" type="normal" > </googlemap>

Magicians

Several notable St. Louis Magicians that are either from or have lived in the area include: Brother John Hamman, Forrest Hendricks, Louis Vizard, Don Lawton, Robert Parrish, Paul Le Paul, David Livingston Price, Jr., James Barton, Jim Buffaloe, Bud Dietrich, Frank Everhart, Devo, John Randall Brown, Jack Lippincott, Andrew Buel, Charlton F. Chute, Bev Taylor, Harry Monti, John Mendoza, Jonathan Levitt, Chris Kenner, Justin Willman, Chris Rayman, Ernie Heldman, Joe Scott, Roger Linden, Harold D. Russell, and Don Rataj.

Dealers

Magic shops in st. Louis area include: The Devoe's Magic Den run by Gene Devoe which was located downtown and then was later relocated to Maplewood area and operated by John Mendoza. Don Lawton had a little magic shop in the back of his St. Louis home at one time but also worked at 4 different magic shops (including Will Lindhorst Magic Den). Bev Taylor operated the Towne House Magic.

Will Lindhorst operated Lindhorst Magic Den in downtown. Mike O'Dowd was the a manufacturer of magic and John Fabjance Magic was located across the river from St. Louis. Magic n Things was a shop operated by Rev. Fred Kruse, who acquired part of the Thurston collection from Heaney.

Other magic shops include St. Louis Magic Studio (Roger Linden) Rings & Things, BC Magic, Ickle Pickle (Steve Bender), and Village Square magic shop operated by Conrad Dunn.

Organizations

The first International Brotherhood of Magicians local chapter, IBM Ring 1 was started in St. Louis after the members wanted a change in the club. The Society of American Magicians local assembly, SAM Assembly No. 8, is shared by many of the St. Louis magicians.

The St. Louis Magical Heritage Award, sponsored by S.A.M. Assembly No. 8 and I.B.M. Ring One, was created in 1994 to recognize St. Louis magicians who have, through their outstanding contribution to the magical arts, brought significant recognition to St. Louis and its magic community.

The Midwest Magic Jubilee, a convention is held annually in St. Louis, was said to be one of Dai Vernon's favorite magic conventions. Gene Devoe and Ernie Heldmen worked on the first idea of the Midwest Magic Jubilee convention which was to be held every three years in a different city. The 3 selected cities were St. Louis, Kansas City and Peroria Illinois. The St. Louis and Kansas City magicians agreed to have the jubilee convention every other year in the other city, and now only St. Louis holds the Jubilee convention yearly. It has grown yearly into one of the major conventions in the Midwest.

Events

• The Sphinx magazine, started in Chicago by William Hilliar, moved to St. Louis in 1904 when Kansas City physician, Dr. A. M. Wilson, took over as editor (starting with Vol. 3 No. 8).

• Harry Houdini introduced his Milk Can Escape trick in 1908 in St. Louis and is believed to have invented the trunk change trick in St. Louis while breaking up a box for fire wood.

• Paul Rosini performed at the Park Plaza Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri.

• Harry Blackstone publicly named Bill Chaudet as his successor while in St. Louis in 1946.

References

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• Magic in St. Louis