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Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame and Magic Museum
Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame and Magic Museum was once located in Hollywood, California from 1971 until 2004.[1]
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)
- Dedi of Ancient Egypt fi. 2500 B.C.
- Xenephon of Ancient Athens fl. 300 B.C.
- Heron of Alexandria fl. 150 B.C.
- John Rikil, fl. reign Henry V (1413-1422)
- Brandon, fl. 1521-1535
- Reginald Scot 1538-1599
- Girolamo Scotto 1552-1602
- Isaac Fawkes c1675-1731
- Christopher Pinchbeck, Sr. 1670?-1732
- Breslaw ca. 1726-1783
- Gustavus Katterfelto (Gustav Katerfeld) 1730-1799
- Comus I (Ledru Nicolas Philippe) 1731-1807
- Philadelphia (Jacob Meyer) 1734-1790
- Peter Gardiner fl. 1750-1780
- Joseph Pinetti 1750-1800
- Eliaser Bamberg 1760-1833
- John Rannie 1769-1820
- Daniel Gyngell 1773-1833
- Giovanni Belzoni 1778-1823
- Richard Potter, Sr. 1783-1835
- David Leendert Bamberg 1786-1869
- Signor Falconi fl. 1780-1816
- Louis Apollinaire Christian Emmanuel Comte 1788-1859
- Giovanni Bartolomeo Bosco 1793-1863
- Andrew MacAllister 1800-1856
- Ludwig Leopold Doebler 1801-1864
- Phillipe Talon 1802-1878
- Jean Eugene Robert Houdin 1805-1871
- Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser 1806-1875
- Jonathon Harrington 1809-1881
- Senor Antonio Blitz (Antoni Van Zandt) 1810-1877
- Robin (Henri Joseph Donckele) 1811-1875
- Tobias Bamberg 1812-1870
- John Henry Anderson, Sr. 1814-1874
- John Wyman 1816-1881
- Carl Herrmann 1816-1887
- Wiljalba Frikell 1818-1903
- John Henry Pepper 1821-1900
- Anton Kratky-Baschik 1821-1889
- Robert Heller 1826-1878
- George Alfred Cooke 1826-1905
- Anthony Martinka 1832-1915
- Col. Stodare (Joseph Stoddart) 1834-1866
- Henry Hatton 1837-1922
- John Nevil Maskelyne 1839-1917
- Professor Hoffmann (Angelo J. Lewis) 1839-1920
- Alexander Herrmann 1843-1896
- David Tobias Bamberg 1843-1914
- Francis J. Martinka 1843-1924
- Adrian Plate 1844-1919
- Richard Van Dien 1846-1937
- DeKolta 1847-1903
- Oscar Teale 1847-1934
- Harry Kellar 1849-1922
- Imro Fox 1852-1910
- Ten Ichi 1852-1912
- Saram Ellison, M.D. 1852-1918
- John William Sargent 1852-1920
- Prof. Edward Cooper Taylor, I 1852-1927
- Charles Bertram (James Bassett) 1853-1907
- Adelaide Herrmann 1853-1932
- Ching Ling Foo (Qua Chee-ling) 1854-1927
- Dr. A. M. Wilson 1854-1930
- William Mortimer, M.D. 1854-1933
- Ada F. Zancig (Mrs. Julius, 1st) ?-1929?
- Agnes Zancig (Mrs. Julius, 2nd) ?-1916
- Julius Zancig 1857-1929
- Herman Hanson 1882-1973
- Charles Lang Neil fl. 1903
- Frederick Eugene Powell 1856-1938
- Chung Ling Soo (William Robinson) 1861-1918
- Georges Melies 1861-1938
- Walter Edwin Floyd 1861-1940
- Mary Mohala Floyd ?-1953
- Dr. Henry Ridgely Evans 1861-1949
- Elmer Pendleton Ransom 1862-1942
- Francis J. Werner 1863-1927
- Sidney Wrangel Clarke 1864-1940
- Jean Henri Servais LeRoy 1865-1953
- Harry Rouclere (Harry Terhune) 1866-1942
- Leon Herrmann 1867-1909
- August Roterberg 1867-1928
- Thomas Nelson Downs 1867-1938
- David Devant (David Wighton) 1868-1941
- Mercedes Talma (LeRoy) [Mary Ann Ford] 1868-1944
- Edward Maro (Walter Truman Best) 1869-1902
- Howard Thurston 1869-1936
- Mildred Searing Rouclere (Mrs. Harry Terhune) 1869-1938
- Paul Henry Razoux 1889-1979
- Herbert Brady Brooks 1870-1926
- John Albert Petrie 1870-1954
- Frank Ducrot (Theodore Francis Fritz) 1872-1939
- John Northern Hilliard 1872-1935
- Jean Hugard (John G. R. Boyce) 1872-1959
- Charles Roltare 1873-1932
- Royal Lee Vilas 1873-1935
- Nate Leipzig (Nathan Leipsiger) 1873-1939
- Ottokar Fischer 1873-1940
- Edwin M. Brush 1873-1967
- Dr. James William Elliott 1874-1920
- Harry Houdini 1874-1926
- Al Baker 1874-1951
- Eugene Laurant 1875-1944
- Okito 1875-1963
- David M. Roth 1875-1972
- Leon (Leon H. Levy) 1876-1951
- Maurice Raymond (Morris Raymond Saunders) 1877-1948
- Floyd Thayer 1877-1959
- Bernard M. L. Ernst 1879-1938
- P. T. Selbit (Percy Thomas Tibbles) 1879-1939
- James C. Wobensmith 1879-1973
- Nicola 1880-1946
- Herman Hanson 1882-1973
- Dante 1884-1955
- Silent Mora 1884-1972
- Long Tack Sam 1885-1961
- Harry Blackstone 1885-1965
- Carl Rosini (Johan Rosen) 1885-1969
- Carl Owen 1885-1974
- J. Hartford Armstrong 1886-1939
- Tenkai and Okinu (Sadajiro Ishida) 1889-1972; 1895-?
- Li Ho Chang (Juan Jose Pablo Jesorum) 1889-1972
- Dr. Harlan Tarbell 1890-1960
- Max Terhune 1891-1973
- Senor Jose Frakson (Jose Jimenez Seville) 1891-1981
- Werner Dornfeld 1892-1982
- La Vellma (David J. Lustig) 1893-1977
- Dai Vernon (David Frederick Wingfield Verner) 1894-1992
- Jack Gwynne 1895-1969
- Susy Wandas(Bennett) 1895-1986
- Al Flosso (Albert Levinson) 1895-1976
- Abraham Cantu 1896-1949
- Senor Maldo 1896-1959
- Raymond F. Muse 1896-1965
- Lenn Oliver Gunn 1896-1975
- Walter B. Gibson 1897-1985
- John Braun 1897-1988
- Ade Duval (Adolph Albert Amrein) 1898-1965
- John Mulholland 1898-1970
- Leslie P. Guest 1898-1981
- Jimmy Grippo 1898-1991
- Little Johnny Jones 1898-1993
- William H. McCaffrey 1899-1989
- Peter Godfrey 1900-1970
- Mystic Craig (William M. Vagell) 1900-1987
- Roger Barkann 1900-1987
- Virgil (Virgil Harris Mulkey) 1900-1989
- Julie (Cipriotti) Mulkey 1912-2000
- Tony Slydini (Quintino Marucci) 1900-1991
- Benjamin J. Kleinman 1900-1994
- Ben Chavez 1901-1962
- Litzka Raymond Gibson 1901-1996
- Albert C. Robbins 1901-2000
- Dell O’Dell (Nell Newton) 1902-1962
- McDonald Birch 1902-1992
- Geoffrey Buckingham 1902-1996
- Edgar Bergen (Edgar Berggren) 1903-1978
- Joe Berg (Josef Bregman) 1903-1984
- Len Vintus (Melvin Justus Given McMullen) 1903-1999
- William W. Larsen, Sr. 1904-1953
- Merv Taylor 1904-1974
- Fu Manchu (David Bamberg) 1904-1974
- Mardoni (Clayton Meryl Hines) 1904-1987
- Louise (Garman Hines) 1906-1992
- Peter Warlock (Alex William Bell) 1904-1995
- Loring Campbell (Alexander) 1905-1979
- Abraham B. Hurwitz 1905-1981
- Jose Vilardell 1905-1983
- Sid Lorraine (Sidney Richard Johnson) 1905-1989
- Maurice Rooklyn 1905-1992
- Ronald Haines 1906-1974
- Gerrie Larsen (Geraldine Larsen Jaffe) 1906-1999
- Francis White 1906-1989
- Gerald Kosky 1907-1987
- Frederic L. Rickard 1907-1989
- Irving Desfor 1907-1993
- Robert Harbin (Edward Richard Charles “Ned” Williams) 1908-1978
- H. Adrian Smith 1908-1991
- Eric Lewis 1908-1993
- Marion Chavez 1909-1978
- Henry Hay (June Barrows Musey) 1910-1985
- Frances Ireland Marshall 1910-2002
- Orville Meyer 1911-1992
- John Calvert 1911-2013
- Herbert Downs 1912-1982
- Harold R. Rice, PhD 1912-1987
- Rev. John Booth 1912-2009
- Protul Chandra Sorcar 1913-1971
- Edward Schneider 1913-1986
- Vynn Boyar 1913-1988
- Milbourne Christopher 1914-1984
- Ronny Cortes 1914-2009
- John Henry Grossman, M. D. 1914-1992
- The Tuckers (Tommy Tucker 1915-1991 and Betty (Elizabeth) Tucker ?-?)
- Fetaque Sanders 1915-1992
- William Caddie “Mac” Wilson 1915-2006
- Leslie Charles Smith 1915-2008
- Edward Lee Rock 1916-1997
- Edward Schuman 1916-2002
- Ray-Mond (Raymond Monroe Corbin) c1917-2003
- John Connelly 1918-2011
- Jay Marshall 1919-2005
- Lee Grabel 1919-2015
- Mary Milam Brigance 1920-1980
- Jimmy Yoshida 1920-2011
- Zicarte (Gustavo P. Juarez) 1921-2005
- Bill Chaudet 1921-2013
- Alton Sharpe 1922-2004
- William “Billy” McComb 1922-2006
- Ed Keener 1923 - 2006
- Robert Lund 1925-1995
- Fred Kaps (Abraham Fister A. Bongers) 1926-1980
- Don Alan (McWethy) 1926-1999
- Alan Wakeling 1926-2004
- Channing Pollock 1926-2006
- John Salisse 1926-2006
- J. Marberger Stuart 1927-1993
- John Underhill Zweers 1927-2004
- Jack Kodell 1927-2012
- William Walter Larsen, Jr. 1928-1993
- Karrell J. Fox 1928-1998
- René Lavand 1928-2015
- Harry Riser 1928-2016
- Raymond Goulet 1930-2017
- Robert Rodriguez 1931-2011
- Glenn Jacob Falkenstein 1932-2010
- Terry Seabrooke 1932-2011
- Cesareo Pelaez 1932-2012
- Alan Shaxton 1933-2012
- Harry Blackstone, Jr. 1934-1997
- J. Gary Bontjes 1935-1985
- Irene Larsen (“Princess Irene”) 1936-2016
- Fantasio (Ricardo Roucau) 1936-2017
- Eugene Burger 1939-2017
- Doug Henning 1940-2000
Living members (listed alphabetically)
- Jim Alfredson (b. 1937)
- Larry Becker (b. 1929)
- Bev Bergeron (b. 1930)
- Walter Blaney (b. 1928)
- David Copperfield (David Seth Kotkin) (b. 1956)
- Edwin Dawes (b. 1925)
- John Engman
- Celeste Evans (b. 1931)
- Frances Willard Falkenstein (b. 1940)
- John Gaughan (b. 1940)
- Goldfinger (Jack Vaughn)
- David Goodsell (b. 1939)
- Richard Gustafson (1931)
- Bradley Jacobs (b. 1931)
- Andre Kole (Robert Gurtler, Jr.) (b. 1936)
- Milt Larsen (b. 1931)
- Jeff McBride (b. 1959)
- Kenrick “ICE” McDonald (b. 1960)
- Howard Mitchell
- Norm Nielsen (b. 1934)
- James Randi (b. 1928)
- William Rauscher (b. 1932)
- Roy (Horn) (b 1944)
- Marvyn Roy (Marvin A. Levy) (b. 1925)
- Dale Salwak (b. 1947)
- George Schindler (b. 1929)
- Haruo Shimada (b. 1940)
- Siegfried (Fischbacher) (b. 1939)
- Silvan (b. 1937)
- Mark Wilson (b. 1929)