December 5, 2019
“Cline Curator of Theatre and Performing Arts Eric Colleary unravels the surprising stories behind Harry Houdini’s collecting, rivaling the drama of his greatest escapes.
A side to the famed illusionist that is rarely discussed or seen, Houdini spent a lifetime and a substantial fortune building his magic and dramatic library, the bulk of which came to The University of Texas at Austin in 1958 and form the foundations of the theatre collections at the Harry Ransom Center. From the travel diary of David Garrick to a massive bookcase that’s been hiding in plain sight in Austin for the past 60 years, Houdini’s collecting practices provide a different way of understanding the man behind the legend.
The talk is free, open to the public, and ties with our current display of magic posters in our galleries – several of which are from Houdini’s personal collection.”
21st and Guadalupe
Austin, 78713 TX
512-471-8944
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