Revisiting the Golden Age of New York Magicians

All Of It with Alison Stewart | Mar 5

The late 19th and early 20th centuries were a special time for magic in New York, coinciding with the rise of vaudevilles, circuses, and mainstream theaters, as well as innovations in publishing and science. A new exhibit at the New York Public Library, "Mystery and Wonder: A Legacy of Golden Age Magicians in New York City," presents rare items from the NYPL's Library for the Performing Arts. Annemarie van Roessel, assistant curator of the Billy Rose Theatre Division, discusses what's on view, and the long history of magicians in New York.

Image: A promotional photo of Harry Houdini. Courtesy of Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Top Stories

NYC could see hottest July 4 since 2010 as dangerous heat approaches

The city is expanding cooling centers and urging New Yorkers to prepare for extreme temperatures.
Gothamist |

Supreme Court Opinions

Emily Bazelon offers legal analysis of the last cases argued this term.
The Brian Lehrer Show |

The Fantasy of America at 250

Plus, life sentences for zine-makers in Texas.
On the Media |

America at 250: A View from Britain, with “The Rest Is History”

The historian-podcasters Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland explain why losing the thirteen colonies “annoyed” the British, but “it could have been a lot worse.”
The New Yorker Radio Hour |
YOU ARE ONLINE