Search the Wisconsin Historical Society's collections

Searching for

Refine by

Results 1-20 of 23

Photograph

Houdini, Harry

Date: 
Description: Harry Houdini in chains and ropes. He is tied to a wheel on a locomotive.
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

Ben Bergor on Stage

Date: 1930
Description: Magician Ben Bergor of Madison with the stage equipment he used for his performances.
Photograph

Ben Bergor Performs

Date: 
Description: Magician Ben Bergor of Madison performing a trick on stage. With him are his wife, who performed as Madame Alva, and an assistant.
Photograph

Chicago Magicians Hijinks

Date: 1937
Description: Ben Bergor, a Madison area magician (standing third from the left), with a group of Chicago area magicians. Identified individuals are (seated, left to rig...
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

Hypnotism Act

Date: 
Description: Dr. Morton Greene, a graduate psychologist, performing his hypnotism act.
Photograph

Dave & Pauline Coleman

Date: 
Description: Magicians Dave (left) and Pauline Coleman performing their famous "Hindu Torture Board" trick using an anvil on a board full of nails positioned on the abd...
Photograph

Dr. Earl Lockman

Date: 
Description: Dr. Earl Lockman, a well-known escape artist, and his handcuff collection.
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

Houdini on a Rope in "Terror Island"

Date: 1920
Description: Escape artist Harry Houdini being tortured by cannibals in the silent film "Terror Island." Like the other films in which Houdini stared, the plot was desi...
Photograph

Joe Berg

Date: 
Description: Joe Berg, a professional magician and magic dealer, who was based in Chicago. This autographed picture was presented to Ben Bergor, a Madison area magician...
Photograph

Dorny Dornfeld

Date: 1929
Description: Quarter-length studio portrait of Werner "Dorny" Dornfeld, a Chicago area magician who was a leader in several national organizations of magicians. The "Be...
Photograph

Dick DeYoung

Date: 
Description: Professional magician Dick DeYoung of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on a stage with three other people. DeYoung had over five decades of experience as a club and s...
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

Straightjacketed Escape

Date: 
Description: View from street of Madison magician Ben Bergor being raised feet first (upside down) and in a straightjacket to perform an escape act outside a LaCrosse, ...
Photograph

Straightjacketed Escape

Date: 
Description: View from window looking down at the escape act of Madison magician Ben Bergor. He is beginning to make the escape from the straightjacket while the crowd ...
Photograph

Sleight of Hand

Date: 
Description: Outdoor portrait of Madison magician Ben Bergor, who performed as Bennie Golden Berger during the early years of his career. He billed himself as the faste...
Print

Thurston Good Luck Card

Date: 
Description: Two-sided playing card used for advertising by magician Howard Thurston (d. 1936), arguably the greatest magician of his day. The reverse side of the card ...

Have Questions?

If you didn't find the material you searched for, our Library Reference Staff can help.

Call our reference desk at 608-264-6535 or email us at: