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Monday May 11, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n 6a-4p<\/strong><\/p>\n Left LAX and arrived DoubleTree by Hilton Newark Airport<\/p>\n 4p-9p<\/strong><\/p>\n At 4p met Fred Pittella<\/strong>, Arthur Moses<\/strong> and Mark Horowitz<\/strong> in lobby and Freddie<\/strong> drove us to the lake front home of Roger & Ava Dryer<\/strong> and Grizzly<\/strong> (dog the size of a bear), where we got there early enough to park in the drive-way. The three of them were such gracious hosts. I got to enjoy the incredible collection and Houdini items on display. This included: Eight Large Punch and Judy Figure Heads that Houdini used in the early days and flipping thru a notebook of unpublished stills (many from his Houdini\u2019s movie days).<\/p>\n Got to meet some old friends (e.g., Dorothy Dietrich & Dick Brookz<\/strong>) who I hadn\u2019t seen in person for many years and a new friend (i.e.,Barry Spector<\/strong>), who I previously exchanged emails with but never met in person until now. Barry<\/strong> gifted me a piece of wood from Houdini\u2019s house at 278 W 113th<\/sup> Street, which was very kind of him.<\/p>\n 10a-11p<\/strong> Cocktails at the Double Tree Hotel Bar with Fred Pittella, Arthur Moses, Charles Greene and Mark Horowitz<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Tuesday May 12, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n 7:30a-1p<\/strong><\/p>\n Met Arthur Moses<\/strong> and Fred Pittella<\/strong> for breakfast buffet.<\/p>\n Fred Pittella <\/strong>suggested rearranging my plans to include checking out on Thursday instead of Saturday, so I could stay near his place, see his incredible collection, and then see the screening of The Grim Game at the NYPL before flying home out of Laguardia the next day. My original plan was to uber to and from NYPL on Friday after Magic Collectors Conference<\/em> was over and then fly out of Newark at 6a. Not sure what I was thinking, but the new change of plans suggested by Fred<\/strong> would made my east coast trip extra special.<\/p>\n Attempted to change flight on my phone at the breakfast table and book a hotel near Fred\u2019s place, but was having a heck of a time. Decided just to enjoy breakfast and deal with after which I did. Expedia customer service was very helpful.<\/p>\n Now that my travel plans and accommodations was set, I met Arthur Moses<\/strong> in the Dealer\u2019s room and we set up our booth that we were sharing, which included our latest Kinema Comic books on Houdini Exploits<\/em>. From Arthur<\/strong>, I picked up a Houdini Unbound<\/em> paperback book and French magazine ad that included the Master Mystery.<\/p>\n Other dealers with Houdini items included:<\/p>\n 1p-4p<\/strong> Dealer room was open<\/p>\n Michael Tallon<\/strong> was my first customer. Michael<\/strong> picked up a numbered copy of Houdini Schooldays<\/em>, which included the bonus card of Houdini as a schoolboy (unpublished). Thank You Michael<\/strong>!<\/p>\n Jim Hagy stopped by our table and gave me my copy of the latest Perennial Mystics, Squared<\/em> publication and also let me know the latest status on my article, My Official S\u00e9ance Program Collection<\/em>, I had recently submitted for a future publication.<\/p>\n 4p-5p<\/strong> Session 1<\/p>\n 5p-7p<\/strong> Dinner Break<\/p>\n Hopped in Jim Zoldac\u2019s<\/strong> car with Charles Greene<\/strong>, Peter Dusche<\/strong> and we went to Elm Street BBQ<\/em>, which is highly recommend.<\/p>\n 7p-8:30p<\/strong> Session 2<\/p>\n 8:30p-11:30p <\/strong>Dealer room was open<\/p>\n Hung out at my dealers table. That’s Fred Pittella<\/strong> and I with the Bean Giant Handcuffs in one and Michelle Ainsworth<\/strong> and I in the other.<\/p>\n 11:30p <\/strong>Picked up an IPA at the bar and called it a night.<\/p>\n Wednesday May 13, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n 8:30a-9a<\/strong> Picked up coffee, banana, and cinnamon roll from coffee bar.<\/p>\n 9a-1:30p <\/strong>Mystery & Wonder Tour<\/p>\n Fred Pittella<\/strong> and I took first bus to NYPL\/Lincoln Center as we waved to Arthur Moses<\/strong> who was running to catch the second bus which thankfully he did.<\/p>\n Walked thru exhibit on A Legacy of Golden Age Magicians In New York City<\/em>.<\/p>\n Houdini items on display included 6 posters (Europe\u2019s Eclipsing Sensation, America\u2019s Sensation, Prison Cell and Barrel Mystery, Death Defying Mystery, Upside Down in Water Torture Cell and Double Fold Death Defying Water Mystery), a display case with handcuffs, (courtesy of Fred Pittella), Police Affidavits, letters, programs, books, photos (autographed portrait, Houdini with: Ching Ling Foo; Howard Thurston; Frank Ducrot, Frederick Eugene Powell, and T. Nelson Downs; elephant, straitjacket suspended); movie items (The Grim Game still, Terror Island Ad, White Studio promotional stills for Master Mystery, The Grim Game, Terror Island, The Man From Beyond, and Haldane); Dr. Daneil E. Cohen medical notes for treatment of Harry Houdini, Letter from Theo Hardeen to Dr. Daniel Cohn.<\/p>\n Met in auditorium for a presentations by Annemarie van Roessel<\/strong> and Margaret Steele<\/strong>. Annemarie<\/strong> (Assistant Curator at NYPL) talked about the collection on display which covered the Golden Age of Magic (1880s to 1940s). Margaret<\/strong> talked about Adalaide Hermann\u2019s New York.<\/p>\n Rode back with Arthur Moses<\/strong> on bus.<\/p>\n 1:30p-2:30p<\/strong> Walked over to Holiday Inn and had lunch with Arthur Moses<\/strong> and Fred Pittella<\/strong>.<\/p>\n 2:30p-5p <\/strong>Hung out in Dealer\u2019s Room. Besides selling the books by Arthur Moses<\/strong> and I, we had a Fred Pittella<\/strong> special for $60, which included a collectors pin of Houdini from his image on the Europe’s Eclipsing Sensation Poster; a beautiful Houdini & Key Book mark that included a card with a stunning image on the front of Houdini, a bean giant handcuff & key, and on the back of the card, an early $100 challenge (from Fred\u2019s collection) to any human being living that can escape from all the cuffs like he does, which includes the bean giants locked behind his back. Or you could just get the pin for $25 or just the Houdini & Key Bookmark and collector\u2019s card for $40.<\/p>\n 5p-7p<\/strong> was a break.<\/p>\n Session 3<\/p>\n Mark Holstein<\/strong> led a panel discussion on Kreskin The Magician with his wife Sue Holstein, Bill Schmeelk & Meir Yedid<\/strong>. We got an inside look at the magical side of him through the eyes of some of his friends.<\/p>\n 8:30-11:30<\/strong> Dealer\u2019s Room and late night pizza with Arthur Moses<\/strong><\/p>\n Rick Strange<\/strong>, Mega Magic Book Collector, with 1922 Kinema Comic<\/em> books on Houdini Exploits<\/em> compiled by Arthur Moses<\/strong> and I. Thank you Rick<\/strong>!<\/p>\n Thursday May 14, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n 9a-11a<\/strong> Dealer Room Open<\/p>\n Session 4<\/p>\n Jim Hagy<\/strong> presented Animal Wizards: A Critical History of Magician\u2019s Most Trusting Assistants<\/p>\n 12:30-2p<\/strong> Dealer\u2019s Room Open (last chance)<\/p>\n Adam<\/strong> of Tannen\u2019s<\/em> bought all of my remaining books at a very fair price to sell at Tannen\u2019s<\/em>, which made my day. Thank you Adam<\/strong>!<\/p>\n Session 5<\/p>\n 2p-3:30p<\/strong><\/p>\n Don Greenberg<\/strong> gave a presentation that featured finding a Houdini poster in the basement of his father\u2019s house. And he unrolled it for all in attendance to see. What a find. Prior to this find, there was only 3 known, now there is 4.<\/p>\n Lance Rich<\/strong> interviewed Stan Allan<\/strong> about the stories behind the stories of Magic Magazine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Bill Smith<\/strong> revealed next years expo will be held in Chicago April 29 thru May 1, 2027.<\/p>\n 6p-7p<\/strong> Cocktails & Close Up<\/p>\n Folks got a drink and found a table for dinner and then were treated to some amazing closeup magic by Alexander Boyce<\/strong>, Rachel Was<\/strong> & Adam Levine<\/strong>. Each performed in their own personal styles in a different corner of the room. We rotated from one magician to another after a set amount of time.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/harryhoudinicircumstantialevidence.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/HappyHourFanstasma.jpg\")
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<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>Mike Caveney<\/strong> presented Dante In Hollywood<\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a>Richard Cohn & Adam Blumenthal<\/strong> presented Old New York Magic Shops with Adam<\/strong> focusing on Tannen\u2019s<\/em> and Richard<\/strong> focusing on the others.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a>Gabe Fajuri<\/strong> conducted a Potter & Potter<\/em> auction with no buyer\u2019s premium. There was one Houdini item, Lot 10 which went to Sal Perotta<\/strong>.<\/p>\n