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Sidney Radner's life and avocation seen in exhibit

Date: 9/26/2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

HOLYOKE — If there is one name from the popular culture of the early 20th century that stills sparks the imagination, it's "Houdini," and the new exhibit at Wistariahurst Museum illustrates how one local man's life was changed by his love of the legendary magician and escape artist.

Some of the late Sidney Radner's collection of magic-related items is now on exhibit at the museum through the end of October courtesy of his son William Radner. While Sidney sold off part of the collection in 2004, many items were retained.

Melissa Boiselle, the museum's executive director, explained that at an early age, Radner was fascinated by Houdini's career. The collection includes a school essay he wrote at age 13 about the magician in 1934 and showed his fascination.

"That's the spark," Boiselle said.

Harry Houdini died in 1926 after a career of amazing performances with intricate and often death-defying illusions. Known as "The Handcuff King," Houdini proved that he could escape from nearly every form of the device presented to him by eager members of law enforcement. Sealed boxes and straight jackets couldn't hold him either.

She explained, Houdini left many of his tricks and props to his brother, who performed as a magician himself under the name "Hardeen." Radner met Hardeen at a magician's convention in Springfield in 1935. A friendship formed and Radner bought as many Houdini items as he could from Hardeen. When Hardeen died in 1945, he left the remainder of the collection to Radner.

Radner maintained and acquired one of the largest and complete collections of Houdini memorabilia.

Boiselle explained, and the exhibit shows, that Radner was much more than just a fan. He performed as "Rednar the Magician" and became an escape artist himself and an expert in exposing gambling scams. His knowledge about cooked games and con artists was used by law enforcement and an appreciative letter in the collection from J. Edgar Hoover to Radner attests to Radner's reputation.

Locally, Radner was a businessman and the owner of American Rug. He died in 2011.

Radner also helped keep alive a unique tradition: the annual Houdini séance, the last one being conducted at Wistariahurst in 2011. Houdini became very well known in the 1920s for questioning spiritualism and mediums who claimed that they would speak with the dead. He instructed his wife Beatrice to hold a séance on his birthday every year after his passing to see if he could be contacted. Houdini gave her a secret password to confirm the authenticity of the event.

In the exhibit, a number of vintage posters heralding a Houdini performance are on display that testify to his skill as a showman. Many of the posters take the form of a challenge from sailors who vowed to tie knots in rope Houdini would not be able to unravel to builders that boast they can construct a wooden box that will hold Houdini.

Among the other artifacts is a signed photo of Houdini, a scale model of the magician's famed Chinese Water Torture tanks, handcuffs from Houdini's collection and a rare book signed by both his widow and his brother.

There are also other posters and items reflecting other magicians such as The Great Raymond and Blackstone the Magician.

Admission to the gallery during regular hours is $3.

Wistariahurst Museum is dedicated to preserving Holyoke's history and inspiring an appreciation of history and culture through educational programs, exhibits and special events. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Wistariahurst is the former home of William Skinner and his family, prominent silk manufacturers and residents of Holyoke.

Wistariahurst Museum as well as the Carriage House & Gift Shop are open Saturday, Sunday and Monday from noon to 4 p.m. Historic house tours are $7 general admission and $5 for students and seniors. Hours for archive research are Mondays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information or a schedule of other upcoming events, visit www.wistariahurst.org.