Renew Now!
Members who have not already paid their dues can do so here. Online payment or mail payments are accepted.
Not a member? Learn more about NEMCA and consider joining us!
Author Archive: Dan Smith
Haversat & Ewing Auction: May 18-19, 2018
The next Haversat and Ewing auction features a choice selection of collectibles. The lots include numerous tokens, photographs, ephemera and apparatus. Many of the items are from Ray Goulet’s Mini-Museum of Magic. Bidding opens at 11:00 a.m. May 18 and the first lot closes at 5:00 p.m. May 19. Don’t miss this opportunity to own a piece of magic history so lovingly preserved by our dear friend Ray.
Upcoming Robert Olson historical performances
Robert Olson has been performing historical shows as magicians Richard Potter and Bayly for several decades. His performances are authentic, entertaining, and educational. And, you will learn what it means to be fooled by a gentleman.
As Mr. Olson says from the 1978 New York Times article, Recapturing Magic of the Past, “Let’s just say that Richard Potter is my contribution to history. I want to conserve his work in all of the authentic detail it deserves. Besides, the old stuff is still good.“
Haversat & Ewing: 100 Lot Auction: April 20-21st
Lots include ephemera relating to Spiritualism from Houdini’s personal research files, a Horace Goldin’s Scrapbook, and apparatus from Ray Goulet’s Magic Art Studio.
Online bidding for Haversat & Ewing’s 100 Lot online auction opens on Friday, April 20th at 11AM EST. Register online at Haversat & Ewing Galleries to view the all the lots and place bids.
Peepshows: A Visual History by Richard Balzer
The arrival of the new Phantasmagoria exhibit at the MFA provides good reason to mention Richard Balzar’s Peepshows: A Visual History. This charming book details the history of optical toys such as magic lanterns and peepshows that predated movies, and which created the illusion of images that moved. The devices flourished as popular entertainment in the 18th century.
The MFA exhibit features many items from the late Richard Balzer’s collection. Years ago, Mr. Balzer presented a fascinating lecture at Magic Art Studio that introduced NEMCA members to his magic lantern collection.
Phantasmagoria at the MFA
The Boston Museum of Fine Arts is sponsoring a special exhibit on The Phantasmagoria now through June 24th.
Phantasmagoria was a form of horror theater that (among other techniques) used one or more optical devices known as magic lanterns to project frightening images such as skeletons, demons, and ghosts onto walls, smoke, or semi-transparent screens. The shows started under the guise of actual séances in Germany in the late 18th century, and gained popularity through most of Europe (including Britain) throughout the 19th century. Learn more about Phantasmagoria at the MFA.
Audio Interview with Richard Potter author John Hodgson
John Hodgson was interviewed on NPR’s WAMU radio station on his new book, Richard Potter: America’s First Black Celebrity. The interview is available for free from WAMU and includes excerpts from the Potter book.
Mr. Hodgson will present on his book in Keene (4/23), Concord(5/5), and Hopinton, NH (6/24). More details..
Club Meeting – March 24, 2018
The meeting at the Magic Barn on March 24 was a great success. Thanks to Vincent Golden, curator of newspapers at the American Antiquarian Society, for his lecture on the less obvious magic items among their holdings. The attending members are pictured below at The Magic Barn in Ashland, MA.
Richard Potter Book Signing, Author Presentation, and Show
John Hodgson, author of the newly published book, Richard Potter, America’s First Black Celebrity, will perform a first presentation and book signing on Sunday, March 4, 2018 at the Temple Israel Social Hall in Portsmouth NH.
As a special feature of the book signing, Robert Olson will perform the magic of Richard Potter.
Book Release: Richard Potter – America’s First Black Celebrity
Apart from a handful of exotic–and almost completely unreliable–tales surrounding his life, Richard Potter is almost unknown today. Two hundred years ago, however, he was the most popular entertainer in America–the first showman, in fact, to win truly nationwide fame. Working as a magician and ventriloquist, he personified for an entire generation what a popular performer was and made an invaluable contribution to establishing popular entertainment as a major part of American life. His story is all the more remarkable in that Richard Potter was also a black man.