HENRY RIDGLEY EVANS

HENRY RIDGLEY EVANS

Baltimore’s own librarian-lawyer-journalist-mason-magic historian extraordinaire!!!

  Considered one of the 20^th Century’s preeminent magic historians (before that kind of thing was popular) offering students of magic esoteric observations and psychological insights into magic history. His ability to write and record benefits the magic profession to this day!

  Henry Ridgely Evans was born November 7th 1861 in Baltimore, Maryland and raised in Georgetown. When living in downtown Washington DC he was first bitten by the “magic bug” at seventeen, while attending Robert Heller’s Wonders Show at the Old National Theatre.

 

Then, in March at Ford's Theatre in DC , he sat in the audience for Harry Kellar’s first appearance in the Nation's Capital.

 Henry had intending on becoming a lawyer, then changed professions to journalism. In1892 he married Florence Stevens and moved into a small but respectable row home at 1430 V St. NW. The turn of the century found the couple moving to Baltimore and then to Virginia. It was during this period that he became a prolific writer of both books on magic and magazine articles; his most famous work probably 'The Old and the New Magic' published in 1906. (see book list below)

An article by Evans from the Ladies Home Journal

  That same year Evans who wrote an article for STANYON’S MAGIC predicting KELLARS’s successor would be THURSTON! This hit the magic community by storm for Paul Valadon was touring with Kellar and considered the shoe-in; while Thurston wasn’t a contender! Can you believe it? We all know what happened there...

In 1908 at Ford's Theater in Baltimore
Kellar retired, turning his cape over to Thurston !!!

How do you like those apples?

  Houdini had a strange and inexplicable connection to Evans having first slammed Evans in ‘The Conjurers Monthly’ magazine for his book 'The Old and the New Magic' where Evans printed an expose on how the handcuff escape was accomplished. Houdini was openly in the pisser about it, which makes it very odd that in early 1917 he gave to Evans what had been compiled for his upcoming book to be called ‘History Makers in the World of Magic’!!!  Houdini knew that Evans was writing a similar book and this certainly denoted the respect Houdini had for Evans.

Evans was also a member of the Pyramid Magic Club in Baltimore.

1930, he and Florence were again living in DC at a stately apartment building on Eye St. NW. Evans worked for a number of Baltimore Newspapers during thee years and also wrote books such as 'Old Georgetown On The Potomac' in 1933. The couple never had children.

A view of the Aqueduct Bridge on the Potomac
which Henry crossed every day near his home.

Like Houdini, Evans was interested in the paranormal, and embarked on a long crusade to expose fraud in the pursuits by alleged spirit mediums and a critic of theosophy. He wrote and spoke so much about this subject it was quoted that “Henry touched elbows and hobnobbed with spooks almost since infancy.”

   Evans staged many interesting spirit photographs.

BOOKS BY HENRY RIDGLEY EVANS
 The explosion in popularity of magic also gave rise to spiritualists, mediums, and others that claimed to possess true magical abilities, such as contacting the dead and predicting the future. Many magicians took issue with these practices and set out to expose those that they felt were charlatans preying upon audiences. They felt that it should be widely understood that the illusions performed were exactly that— illusions created by sleight-of-hand and tricks of perception, not special powers. Harry Houdini dedicated as much of his career to this as to performing magic. Baltimore-born Henry Ridgely Evans, a former journalist and amateur magician, gained acclaim writing books spilling the secrets of spiritualists. In his books, Hours with Ghosts, Or, Nineteenth Century Witchcraft and The Spirit World Unmasked, Evans revealed how many standard practices of spiritualists were performed, such as table tilting, spirit photography, and telepathy. He walked his readers through the processes step-by-step and unmasked some of the most famous offenders.

 

• Magic: Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions, Including Trick Photography (1897) (Henry R. Evans listed as a contributor to Albert A.Hopkins classic)
  
• Hours with the Ghosts, Or, Nineteenth Century Witchcraft (1897)
  
• Magic and Its Professors (1902)
  
• The Spirit World Unmasked (1902)
  
• The Old and the New Magic (1906)
  
• The House of the Sphinx (1907)
  
• Adventures in Magic (1927)
  
• The History of Conjuring and Magic (1928)
  
• Cagliostro and his Egyptian Rite of Freemasonry (1930)
  
• A Master of Modern Magic: The Life and Adventures of Robert-Houdin (1932)
  
• Edgar Allen Poe and Baron von Kempelen's Chess-Playing Automaton (1939)
  
• Some Rare Old Books on Conjuring and Magic (1943)

  

  
  

  

   Evans & Milbourne Christopher

  
  

Henry Ridgely Evans died at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore on March 29th, 1949 and is buried in Washington DC at the Oakhill Cemetery.

Of course these days, you can buy Evans complete works...

http://miraclefactory.net/zenstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=&products_id=42 

"POOF" A short tale by DON DRIVER

PAUL TRATTNER

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Paul H. Trattner

A retired Baltimore public schools art educator and webmaster who was also a noted prestidigitator and popular Santa Claus.

"Paul was a kind, gentle person who was a great asset to the magic fraternity," said George Goebel, a veteran Baltimore illusionist who owns A.T. Jones & Sons, the Howard Street costumer.

"He was a wonderful performer and had charisma. He was also a magnificent Santa Claus. If there was ever a symbol of Santa Claus in anyone's mind, it was Paul," said Mr. Goebel.

The son of a draftsman and a homemaker, Paul Henry Trattner was born in Baltimore and raised in Highlandtown. After graduating from Patterson High School in 1961, he earned a bachelor's degree in 1965 from the Maryland Institute College of Art and a master's degree in art education the next year, also from MICA. Mr. Trattner's teaching career began in 1965 when he taught art at Armistead Gardens and Martin Luther King Jr. elementary schools. He later became a graphic arts designer and webmaster at city schools headquarters, from which he retired in 2002.

In addition to teaching, Mr. Trattner had a parallel career as a magician, psychic reader, palmist, Egyptologist and astrologer who performed both locally and internationally.  

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"His interest in magic began when he was 12, when an uncle showed him some magic tricks. Inspired, he began teaching himself the arts of illusion using books checked out from the Enoch Pratt Free Library," said his wife of 46 years, the former Bernadette Lizurick, who met her future husband when both were high school students.

"It was like a hobby for him at first," said Mrs. Trattner, who was also an art teacher and later became her husband's assistant. "Sometimes he used it to interest and motivate his students."

By the early 1980s, Mr. Trattner was performing magic professionally and as a "psychic entertainer," said his wife. He performed at the Maryland Historical Society, Center Club, Maryland Jockey Club, Laurel Park racetrack as well as at conventions, senior citizen centers, weddings and private parties.The couple also performed on cruise ships, including the former liner SS France, and at the Magic Circle in London.
"Paul liked performing what is called historic magic from the 19th century, and everything he did, he did exceptionally well," said Mr. Goebel. "He was an extraordinary gentle person who was very soft-spoken and very kind."
"He explained the history of magic through magic," said Mrs. Trattner, who said the license plate for their car was "U R MAGIC."
His interest in mysticism, magic and esoterica led him to collect an extensive library of books and paraphernalia devoted to this subject.

"He traveled to Egypt three times to research traditions of belief systems and was proud to have been able to climb to the top of the Great Pyramid," his wife said.

"Paul called himself a 'purveyor of wonderment,' and he really was," she said. "He loved to delight audiences, especially children. His lesson to them was to believe in themselves. He used to say to them, 'You are the magic,' and he made them aware that we all have talent and creativity."

Mr. Trattner maintained a deep interest in the 19th century, including its Christmas traditions. He also became an expert on the international myths and legends of Christmas that are still celebrated today.

In later years, with his full white beard, rotund build and naturally effervescent personality, he became the "personification of a 19th-century Santa Claus while performing historic conjuring tricks using authentic props from the era," his wife said.

For the last six years, Mr. Trattner was the "official Santa Claus" at Greetings and Readings at Hunt Valley Towne Centre, where he listened to children's Christmas wishes.

He also took on the role of St. Nicholas for the last five years in Fells Point's annual holiday celebration, at which he arrived by tugboat.

"He was also a walk-around Santa at the annual lighting of the Washington Monument in Mount Vernon Place and was also the 'Official Santa'" at the Charlestown Retirement Community, where he greeted residents in the dining room, said Mrs. Trattner.

"Paul had a special Santa Claus suit custom-made and real authentic boots as well," said Mr. Goebel. "It was the same as his magic. Everything had to be authentic."

Mr. Trattner was an accomplished musician who enjoyed playing jazz on the alto saxophone and bass clarinet.

Mr. Trattner was a member of the Rosicrucian Order of North America, International Psychic Entertainers Association and the Brotherhood of Magicians.

He had been an active member of the Coldspring Newtown community, where he served on the neighborhood association's board and had been president.

"He was instrumental in designing and installing a labyrinth in Coldspring Newtown based on an ancient design," his wife said.

Mr. Trattner had also been a board member of the Waldorf School.

"He was originally from Highlandtown. Grew up on Noble St., between Highland Ave. & Conklin St. He got me my 1st Restaurant weekly gig, in the mid 1980's. A restaurant called "Gringo's" which was on Haven St. & Pratt St. The "Mentalist" of the Yogi Magic Club." - Kevin Kirtley

THE DEMONS CLUB

It was the fall of 1911 when America's first magic "union," The Society of Baltimore Magicians had disbanded.  Arthur D. Gans, Thomas C. Worthington III and a few others however decided to form a stronger union among magicians.  The Demons Club was inaugurated on December 7, 1911 at Gan's home in Roland Park.

 Arthur D. Gans

 Thomas C. Worthington
Learn more about him right here...
http://themagicofbaltimore.blogspot.com/2013/08/thomas-worthington-iii-baltimores.html

 Frank P. Knight and Charles Ziegler were elected President and Vice President. 
It was Zeigler who in fact came up with the name, The Demons Club. Early meetings were held at Lafayette Hall and at members home until the finances of the club were stronger.

 THE DEMON'S ORIGINAL CLUBHOUSE 
700 Lafayette Avenue (downtown Baltimore)


 The Demons Club was the first magic club in the world to have its own club house and moved in here on September 17, 1917!   The Demons met bi-monthly and would occasionally had an open house, welcoming all to come visit and be amazed. 

Those early years were of many opportunities and the club progressed rapidly in membership and activities. On March 26th, 1914 the first Demon’s banquet to Howard Thurston, America’s foremost magician, was held.

The officers for that memorable year were:

Arch Demon Supreme 
Harry Kellar

Honorary Arch Demon Supreme  
Howard Thurston

Arch Demon  
Thomas C. Worthington Jr

 Vice Arch Demon 
Charles Fulton Oursler

and Demon Scribe and Treasury Imp Louis Smith  (see below)

 THE DEMONS CLUB 
Wearing their red and horned Imp caps
(left to right) 
Woben Smith, George Most, Ed Yeyl, Louis "Imp" Smith, Harry Watkins, Seymour Ziegler and Joe Bruno.

Magicians that have appeared on the stage of The Demons Club

ALEXANDER
 JOHN CALVERT
 THEO BAMBERG
 HOWARD THURSTON
HARRY BLACKSTONE SR.
HENRY RIDGELY EVANS 
 HARRY HOUDINI
  DANTE


    In those days, if you asked a magician anywhere in the world if he knew of the Demons Club, the answer would most likely have been “YES!”

December 13, 1923

Arthur Gans performing his renowned billiard ball routine for a banquet at Mount Royal Station organized by Gans and the B&O railroad in the “Martha Washington” diner and club car!

How cool is that?

The tickets said “KELTHURMA”

(the name derived from Kellar/Thurston/magic)

DEMONS CLUB MEMBERS
OF THE PAST
 (UNDER DEVELOPMENT)

Bruno, Joe

Dane, Jack

Hambuger, Dr. Louis (noted doctor at John Hopkins)

Kellar, Harry

Oursler, Fulton C. 
Price, Harry 
Smith, Louis "Imp"

Smith, Woben

Test, Robert W. (Director of Baltimore's better business bureau)
Thurston, Howard

Watkins, Harry
Worthington, Thomas C.
Yeyl, Edward
Zerr, William 

Ziegler, Seymour

WAYNE RAEKE

 Wayne Raeke
(1933 - 1998)
Born James W. Raeke, Wayne Raeke was a member of the Baltimore, Maryland Yogi Magic Club and part of the Baltimore magic scene through the 60's & 70's. He was a barber by trade, and did magic as a hobby, with the occasional show here and there. He was always working on new effects and routines.

In 1970 he was the manager of The Jokers Wild Magic Shop on Kenwood Ave. in the White Marsh area. The shop moved to Belair Road in 1972 and lasted until 1976. When the shop closed, Wayne moved to Houston, Texas and started a youth magic group, The Jokers Wild Junior Club. About that time his health started to fail and he ended up with spina bifida and in a wheel chair.

While he worked on and routined quite a number of magical effects for his students, the only thing that he really is known for was his Anytime, Anywhere, Linking Ropes, originally dated 1965, and then reprinted and republished in 1981 in its current form with Bill Palmer's editor's notes and illustrations.His contribution to magic is based on an obscure knot, known as the "Running Knot" and found in the 1919 Boy Scout Manual. It is of little use to anyone, but Wayne recognized its importance to the Linking Rope Routine that he was working on. Anyone who has tried it is amazed that he even discovered this use for such an obscure knot.

"Wayne blew me away with his version of  Four Way Coincidence by John Murray ( originally Preconfiguration by Larry Jennings) which I learned from J Mentzer's Card Cavalcade #3, which I still do this very day." 
-George A. Woo

A link to Mentzer's Card Cavalade # 3
http://archive.denisbehr.de/show.php?book=221

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The Eisenmeiers

Ed Eisenemeier was Secretary of Baltimore Ring 179