Magic News

Radner and Houdini Museum Split

Sidney Radner

In 1988, Sidney Radner lent many of his most important Houdini pieces to the Outagamie Museum to seed the exhibition. They had a good run, but now the museum wants to give back the exhibits so that it can use its own pieces collected through the years.

Radner was a prot?g? of Houdini?s brother, Hardeen and through that connection, was able to accumulate one of the finest Houdini collections in magicdom. The museum says it can no longer afford the lease agreement with Radner but won?t disclose the terms or cost.

?I was shocked and disappointed because I thought this would definitely be a forever thing, and my plans were for that,? Radner said. ?I thought the enthusiasm was there, but I guess I was wrong.?

The museum will keep the items donated by Radner ? a smaller portion of the total pieces from Radner ? and will use those pieces in the new exhibit, ?A.K.A. Houdini? set to open on June 2, 2004. ?As much as we admire the collection and appreciate our relationship with Sidney, the bottom line is we couldn?t afford it,? said Terry Bergen of the museum. ?I think the real difference will be really focusing on what people want and expect from the museum experience, which is quite different from when the exhibit first opened,? Kim Louagie, the museum?s curator of exhibits said. ?It will be a brand-new exhibit. We?re approaching it as a new project rather than adapting an old one.?

You still have until October 31, 2003 to see the ?Houdini!? exhibit. It really is something that should not be missed.



Sidney Radner

In 1988, Sidney Radner lent many of his most important Houdini pieces to the Outagamie Museum to seed the exhibition. They had a good run, but now the museum wants to give back the exhibits so that it can use its own pieces collected through the years.

Radner was a prot?g? of Houdini?s brother, Hardeen and through that connection, was able to accumulate one of the finest Houdini collections in magicdom. The museum says it can no longer afford the lease agreement with Radner but won?t disclose the terms or cost.

?I was shocked and disappointed because I thought this would definitely be a forever thing, and my plans were for that,? Radner said. ?I thought the enthusiasm was there, but I guess I was wrong.?

The museum will keep the items donated by Radner ? a smaller portion of the total pieces from Radner ? and will use those pieces in the new exhibit, ?A.K.A. Houdini? set to open on June 2, 2004. ?As much as we admire the collection and appreciate our relationship with Sidney, the bottom line is we couldn?t afford it,? said Terry Bergen of the museum. ?I think the real difference will be really focusing on what people want and expect from the museum experience, which is quite different from when the exhibit first opened,? Kim Louagie, the museum?s curator of exhibits said. ?It will be a brand-new exhibit. We?re approaching it as a new project rather than adapting an old one.?

You still have until October 31, 2003 to see the ?Houdini!? exhibit. It really is something that should not be missed.

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