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'''Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame and Magic Museum''' was once located in Hollywood, California from 1971 until 2004. [[File:SAMHall.png|thumb|right]]
[[File: JNHilliard.png|right|thumb|200px|[[ John Northern Hilliard]]]]


A Magic Hall of Fame for the [[Society of American Magicians ]] was proposed in 1963 during the National President term of [[Edward Schneider]]. He officially called for a place where collections, records and documents could be maintained and exhibited.
'''John Northern Hilliard''' (1872 - 1935) was a Rochester newspaper man  and clever amateur magician.


In 1966 National President [[John Zweers]] had added the Hall of Fame as a permanent standing committee to the S.A.M. Constitution. Now established, a search began for its permanent home.
== Biography ==
Hilliard was dramatic critic with The Chicago Herald and later on the staff of The Rochester (N. Y.) Post Express. After moving to New York, he met [[Howard Thurston]] while a reporter on The New York World and became interested in magic. John was credited with securing the master magician with his first engagement on the stage. Several years later Thurston induced Hilliard to give up his newspaper work and become his personal representative.
On  October 25, [[1971]], the SAM opened their Hall of Fame and Magic Museum in Hollywood, California.


In December 2004, a transformer fire sent toxic fumes into the Washington Mutual Bank Building that housed the Hall of Fame Museum. Local Government officials ordered the building closed until the toxic contaminants could be remediated following EPA procedures. The museum remained sealed and the contents inaccessible for years. Access to artifacts became available in 2010 and the search for a new home for the Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame was  underway.  
With the urging of [[Floyd G. Thayer]], John starting writing for [[Thayer's Magical Bulletin]] magazine. In 1925, Hilliard became an advance man for The Thurston show. During this time he accumulated notes on what he was learning about magic. In 1932, Carl Waring Jones urged him to turn his notes into a book, offering to publish it. But Hilliard suddenly died of a heart attack in 1935 while in a hotel room in Indianapolis.


On  September 17, 2012, The Whittier Museum, operated by the Whittier Historical Society, provided an entire second floor in their historic downtown building for the Hall of Fame & Magic Museum. Although the Hall and Museum is still looking for a permanent  home in the greater Los Angeles area, the exhibits will be on display at the Whittier Museum in downtown Whittier, California until 2013.
[[John Northern Hilliard|Read more about John Northern Hilliard…]]
 
Magicians elected to the SAM Hall of Fame include:
*[[Dedi]] of Ancient Egypt fi. 2500 B.C.
*[[Xenephon]] of Ancient Athens fl. 300 B.C.
*[[Heron]] of Alexandria fl. 150 B.C.
*[[John Rikil]], fl. reign Henry V (1413-1422)
*[[Brandon]], fl. 1521-1535
*[[Reginald Scot]] 1538-1599
*[[Girolamo Scotto]] 1552-1602
*[[Isaac Fawkes]] c1675-1731
*[[Christopher Pinchbeck, Sr.]] 1670?-1732
*[[Breslaw]] ca. 1726-1783
Those inducted in 2012 were:
* [[Doug Henning]] (1947-2000)
* [[David Copperfield]] (b. 1956)
* [[David Goodsell]]
 
[[Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame and Magic Museum|Read more about the SAM Hall of Fame...]]

Latest revision as of 09:23, 20 February 2026

Previous featured articles are located in Category:Featured Article

Proposed candidates are listed in Category:Featured Article Candidate

John Northern Hilliard (1872 - 1935) was a Rochester newspaper man and clever amateur magician.

Biography

Hilliard was dramatic critic with The Chicago Herald and later on the staff of The Rochester (N. Y.) Post Express. After moving to New York, he met Howard Thurston while a reporter on The New York World and became interested in magic. John was credited with securing the master magician with his first engagement on the stage. Several years later Thurston induced Hilliard to give up his newspaper work and become his personal representative.

With the urging of Floyd G. Thayer, John starting writing for Thayer's Magical Bulletin magazine. In 1925, Hilliard became an advance man for The Thurston show. During this time he accumulated notes on what he was learning about magic. In 1932, Carl Waring Jones urged him to turn his notes into a book, offering to publish it. But Hilliard suddenly died of a heart attack in 1935 while in a hotel room in Indianapolis.

Read more about John Northern Hilliard…