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Difference between revisions of "Sidney Hollis Radner"

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(New page: Sidney Hollis Radner (born in 1919) is a retired rug salesman from Holyoke, Massachusetts, Houdini enthusiast and gambling history expert. He once owned one of the world's largest and most...)
 
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Revision as of 15:07, 12 October 2008

Sidney Hollis Radner (born in 1919) is a retired rug salesman from Holyoke, Massachusetts, Houdini enthusiast and gambling history expert. He once owned one of the world's largest and most valuable collections of Harry Houdini artifacts which he bought from Houdini's brother Hardeen during the 1940s.Hardeen considered Radner, when he was a student at Yale University, as his protégé.

Radner also organized the Official Houdini Seances.

Radner allowed pieces of his collection to be displayed at The Houdini Magical Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls, Canada. In 1995, a fire destroyed the museum. While the Water Torture Cell was reported to have been destroyed, its metal frame remained, and the cell was restored by illusion builder John Gaughan. Many of the props contained in the museum such as the Mirror Handcuffs, Houdini's original packing crate, a Milk Can, and a straight-jacket, survived the fire and were auctioned off in 1999.

Radner archived the bulk of his collection at the Houdini Museum in Appleton Wisconsin, but pulled it in 2003 and auctioned it off in Las Vegas on October 30, 2004. Many of the choice props, including the restored Water Torture Cell, are now owned by David Copperfield.

More props were auctioned off in 2008.