Gilded Age Magic September 9, 2012

Modern stage magic has its roots in the Gilded Age showmanship of Harry Kellar (1849-1922), who performed around the world but made Yonkers his home between tours. With his theatrical spectacles, Kellar founded a "Royal Dynasty" of American magicians including Harry Houdini (1874-1926), a friend and colleague of Kellar's later years, and Howard Thurston (1869-1936), with whom Kellar toured at the end of his career. These modern magicians cultivated a debonair stage persona that set them apart from earlier traveling sideshow artists, who dressed and posed as traditional Chinese conjurers. Despite the supernatural imagery on their posters, these magicians were not occultists but entertainers. Part of their audience appeal was the mystery of how their illusions were accomplished, not any claims to supernatural powers. The exhibition will feature vintage theatrical posters, costumes and magic ephemera from little seen private collections as well as planned performances in the galleries by local magician Benjamin Levy and others.