The Magic Towne House was a magic show spot on three floors at 1026 Third Avenue, north of 60th Street,

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, in the 1970s and 1980s. It was a venue for adults in the

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as well as having a children's theater for patrons of all ages to see and enjoy magic.

Importance

The Magic Towne House became a popular magic show spot in New York City, with the longest continuously running magic shows in New York City's history. For fifteen years it showcased both new and established magicians to the general public. It was in the posh area of the

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Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the List of co ...

Third Avenue Third Avenue is a north-south thoroughfare on the East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan, as well as in the center portion of the Bronx. Its southern end is at Astor Place and St. Mark's Place. It transitions into Cooper Square ...

and 61st Street next to

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Department Store.

Operation

It was headed up by magicians Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brooks. According to William Dorfliinger's book ''The Magic Catalogue'': Dick Brooks and Dorothy Dietrich were "involved in the management and direction of all its activities.

Incubator for young magicians

One of the goals of the establishment was to develop future generations of magicians. Originally opened by Eddie Davis, it was taken over by two professional performers, Dick Brooks (entertainer) and Dorothy Dietrich. They encouraged new and unknown performers by allowing them to perform after the main acts had gone on. Some of the magicians who got their early start at The Magic Towne House include

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, Jeff McBride,

Otto and George Otto Sol Petersen (July 29, 1960 – April 13, 2014) was an American ventriloquist, comedian, and actor known for his act Otto and George, which he performed with his dummy George Dudley. Petersen began performing with George as a street act in Ma ...

, Johnny Ace Palmer and Rocco Silano.

Venue for established magicians

Established performers of the era also performed there such as

Harry Blackstone, Jr. Harry Bouton Blackstone Jr. (June 30, 1934 – May 14, 1997) was an American stage magician, author, and television performer. He is estimated to have pulled 80,000 rabbits from his sleeves and hats. Early life Blackstone was born in Three Riv ...

, Milbourne Christopher,

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, Fantasio , Frank Garcia, Walter B. Gibson, Lou Lancaster, Max Maven,

James Randi James Randi (born Randall James Hamilton Zwinge; August 7, 1928 – October 20, 2020) was a Canadian-American stage magician, author and scientific skeptic who extensively challenged paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. Rodrigues 2010p. ...

, David Roth, Darwin Ortiz, George Schindler and Slydini.

Legacy

Opening a magic show venue in New York City had been a dream of many famous magicians, such as Houdini, Thurston and Doug Henning. This was finally accomplished with the efforts of Eddie Davis, Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brooks (entertainer) and the help of many who worked this venue. Dick Brooks also searched out

Brother Theodore Theodore Isidore Gottlieb (November 11, 1906 – April 5, 2001), mostly known as Brother Theodore, was a German-born American actor and comedian known for rambling, stream-of-consciousness monologues which he called "stand-up tragedy". He wa ...

, whose career had waned, to do several seasons of midnight shows, and helped to bring him back to prominence. After that Theodore appeared on The Tom Snyder Tomorrow Show and a long series of TV and movie appearances. Magic Towne House advertisements appeared in local New York newspapers such as the

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and The New York Post.Magic Towne House advertisement in local New York newspapers
After the closing of the Magic Towne House,

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and Peter Samelson went on to develop "Monday Night Magic" along with

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, Todd Robbins, and Jamy Ian Swiss, which still runs successfully in New York City.

References