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Historical Object

Houdini Award

Date: 1941
Description: The Houdini Award, an album, presented to Madison magician Ben Bergor by the Houdini Club of Wisconsin. Because Bergor won the award three years in success...
Photograph

Ventriloquism Act

Date: 
Description: Ben Bergor, Madison magician, ventriloquist, and entertainment agent, performing with Jerry O'Reilly at a farm show. With Bergor is his wife Alva who often...
Photograph

Houdini Award

Date: 1941
Description: Ben Bergor, a Madison magician, receiving the Houdini Award from the widow of Harry Houdini. Behind him is the trunk from which Bergor had escaped, and fou...
Photograph

Off to the Trenches

Date: 05 05 1918
Description: Send off for World War I recruits at the railroad station. The man leaning out of the train window is Ben Bergor, a professional magician and vaudeville pe...
Photograph

Under Water Packing Crate Escape

Date: 1914
Description: Harry Houdini, born Erik Weisz in Hungary and raised as Erich Weiss in Appleton, Wisconsin, preparing to do one of his famous escapes, this time from a sub...
Photograph

Houdini in Chains

Date: 1919
Description: Harry Houdini in a scene from the silent motion picture, "The Grim Game."
Photograph

Ben Bergor Escapes

Date: 1940
Description: Madison magician Ben Bergor, standing in the trunk, and his wife, Alvina, standing nearby, getting ready to perform an amazing escape act. The act had Berg...
Photograph

Houdini Award Presentation

Date: 1942
Description: Mrs. Beatrice Houdini presenting the Houdini Award Album to Ben Bergor, a Madison magician. The award was made annually by the Houdini Club of Wisconsin to...
Photograph

Master of Ceremonies

Date: 
Description: During his career as an entertainer and magician, Ben Bergor of Madison also booked the acts and served as master of ceremonies for many sports shows aroun...
Photograph

Second Annual Convention of The International Brotherhood of Magicians

Date: 06 09 1927
Description: The Second Annual convention, referred to as "The Greatest Gathering of Magicians in the History of the World," of the International Brotherhood of Magicia...
Manuscript

Ben Bergor Letterhead

Date: 
Description: Letterhead of magician and entertainer Ben Bergor, promoting his availability as an after dinner speaker ("a truly new and humorous approach in storytellin...
Manuscript

International Brotherhood of Magicians Letterhead

Date: 
Description: Letterhead of Ring 31 of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, with the seal of the IBM and a cartoon by Wayne D. Peterson (?) of Ben Bergor with a r...
Book or Pamphlet

"Big Stage Show" Flyer Front

Date: 1950
Description: Front of flyer announcing an International Harvester free family party for friends and customers. "No selling"
Book or Pamphlet

Free Family Party Flyer — Illinois

Date: 1950
Description: Inside spread of flyer for an International Harvester free family party for friends and customers. The event was at Turner Hall in Columbia, Illinois, was...
Book or Pamphlet

Family Party Flyer — North Dakota

Date: 1947
Description: Inside of flyer for family party held at Walla Theater, in Walhalla, North Dakota and sponsored by the Cavanagh Implement Company, an International Harvest...
Book or Pamphlet

Family Party Time Flyer — Montana

Date: 1950
Description: Flyer for a family party at the high school auditorium in Columbus, Montana, sponsored by the Nystul Lumber & Imp. Co., an International Harvester dealer. ...

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