St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis the gateway to the west is the second largest city of the independent city and state of Missouri. The city is the largest urban area in Missouri and 15th-largest in the United States.

Magicians

Magicians 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, Louis Vizard, Harry Monti, John Mendoza, Jonathan Levitt, Chris Kenner, Justin Willman,

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, Bev Taylor operated the Towne House Magic, Will Lindhorst operated Lindhorst magic in downtown, Mike O'Dowd was the mfg. of magic and Fabjance magic was located across the river from St. Louis. Magic n Things was operated by Rev. Fred Kruse, who aquired part of the Thurston collection from Heaney.

Organizations

The first International Brotherhood of Magicians local chapter, IBM Ring 1 was started in St. Louis. Society of American Magicians' assembly 8 is also located in St. Louis and is shared by many of the St. Louis magicians.

The Midwest Magic Jubilee is now held each year in St. Louis, and was one of Dai Vernon's favorites. Gene Devoe and Ernie Heldmen worked on the first idea of the Midwest Magic Jublilee 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.

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 (Vol. 3 No. 8).

Harry Houdini introduced his Milk Can Escape trick in 1908 in St. Louis.

Paul Rosini performed at the Park Plaza Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri. (circa 1936)

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

Map

<googlemap lat="38.646991" lon="-90.224967" zoom="9" controls="large" type="normal" > </googlemap>

References

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