Society of American Magicians

Society of American Magicians
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Name	Society of American Magicians
Type	Fraternal and professional magic organization
Founded	January 10, 1902
Founder	Harry Houdini, Harry Kellar (inaugural leadership figures)
Headquarters	New York City
Location	United States

Society of American Magicians

The Society of American Magicians is a long-standing fraternal and professional association for practitioners and enthusiasts of magic (illusion) and conjuring. Founded at the start of the 20th century, the organization fostered networks among performers such as Harry Houdini, Howard Thurston, Hermann Röntgen and later figures like Dai Vernon and Penn Jillette. It has been influential in the careers of stage magicians, close-up artists, and mentalists affiliated with institutions including the Magic Castle, the International Brotherhood of Magicians, and various theater circuits such as vaudeville.

History

The organization traces its formal origin to meetings involving prominent performers of the vaudeville era and touring producers like P. T. Barnum's successors and agents for Harry Kellar; early supporters included managers tied to the Lyceum Theatre (New York City) and agents of Hercules Doleh-era shows. During the early 1900s the group intersected with the careers of Annie Abbott, Chung Ling Soo, and Alexander Herrmann-era practitioners, while legal disputes with publicity-seeking figures such as Harry Houdini shaped policy on performance ethics and secrecy. In the interwar period the body expanded its local assemblies to reflect growth in touring circuits associated with companies like the Keith-Albee-Orpheum Corporation and venues such as the Roxy Theatre. Post-World War II, members active in Radio broadcasting and early Television broadcasting in the United States—including Mark Wilson and Siegfried & Roy contemporaries—helped modernize the society’s programming.

Organization and Membership

Membership historically included stage magicians, close-up artists, mentalists, and promoters connected to organizations like the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the Academy of Magical Arts. Local assemblies (often called "assemblies") operated in cities such as New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Toronto; notable regional organizers included producers linked to the Shubert Organization and individuals who worked in circuits with John Nevil Maskelyne-influenced repertories. Membership categories ranged from student affiliates to professional fellows connected to institutions like the Magic Circle and archival collaborations with museums such as the Smithsonian Institution.

Notable Members and Leadership

Leaders and prominent members across decades have included figures associated with major theatrical and broadcast presences: early luminaries connected to Harry Houdini's network and managers tied to Harry Kellar; mid-century influencers such as Dai Vernon, T. Nelson Downs, Cardini, Howard Thurston, Blackstone Sr., and Blackstone Jr.; television-era performers like Mark Wilson and David Copperfield; contemporary names tied to Las Vegas residencies and illusion productions including Penn Jillette, Teller (magician), Siegfried Fischbacher, and Roy Uwe Ludwig Horn. Organizational presidents and honorary officers have been allied with producers from the Keith-Albee-Orpheum Corporation and societies like the Academy of Magical Arts; librarians and curators working with collections associated with Harry Houdini’s estate and Milbourne Christopher’s scholarship have also held leadership roles.

Activities and Events

The society organizes conventions, local assembly meetings, workshops, and performance showcases that mirror programming at venues such as the Magic Castle and festival circuits like the World Magic Seminar. Annual conferences have drawn performers who also appear at industry gatherings including the FISM World Championship of Magic and trade events tied to theatre chains like the Fox Theatres group. Educational activities have linked with universities hosting magic history symposia, collaborations with archives at the Library of Congress, and practical masterclasses led by practitioners such as Dai Vernon protégés and corporate entertainers who have performed for companies like Disney.

Publications and Media

The society has produced periodicals, bulletins, and program books paralleling publications in the magic field such as titles published by Milbourne Christopher and issues circulated among members of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Its newsletters historically documented lectures, lecture tours, and legal advisories relevant to performers who circulated in venues ranging from vaudeville houses to Las Vegas Strip showrooms. Members have contributed to broader media projects including televised specials featuring performers associated with NBC and cable networks that showcased illusions by figures like David Copperfield and Doug Henning.

Awards and Recognition

The society has bestowed honors and citations recognizing lifetime achievement, technical innovation, and service to the art of illusion, often in parallel with awards from the Academy of Magical Arts and international bodies like FISM. Recipients historically include practitioners known from stage, television, and theatrical residencies—names that overlap with honorees at institutions such as the Magic Castle and at major festivals in Blackpool and Monte-Carlo.

Headquarters and Museum

Headquarters established in New York City served as administrative center and a locus for archival material, connecting collections related to Harry Houdini and manuscripts later consulted by scholars such as Milbourne Christopher and curators affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress. While the society itself has maintained traveling exhibits and loaned artifacts to museums like the Museum of the City of New York and private collections tied to the Magic Castle and Magic Circle archives, its artifact stewardship has informed public exhibitions and scholarly research into performance history.

Category:Magic organizations Category:American fraternal orders