Help us get to over 8,747 articles in 2024.

If you know of a magician not listed in MagicPedia, start a New Biography for them. Contact us at magicpediahelp@gmail.com

W. W. Durbin

From Magicpedia, the free online encyclopedia for magicians by magicians.
Revision as of 13:12, 31 July 2010 by Jpecore (Talk | contribs) (cleanup up some links)

Jump to: navigation, search
W. W. Durbin
BornW. W. Dublin
September 29, 1866
DiedFebruary 04, 1937 (age 70)

William W. Durbin was an politician, magician and owner of the the American Egyptian Hall Theater and Museum from Ohio.

With a brief career as a professional magician, William "W.W." Durbin (1866-1937) was better known as a lawyer and politician in Ohio. The highlight of his political career was a plum appointment by FDR to serve as Registrar of the U.S. Treasury. Applying his political savvy to the magic arena, he became the first elected president of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Durbin created a tiny Egyptian Hall theater in his home, launched the first magic convention and was an avid, if careless, collector of magic memorabilia. His collection (which he started in 1895) became the nucleus of the Egyptian Hall Museum collection, later stewarded by magic historian David Price, in 1953. Durbin also bestowed a great gift on magic collectors -- to entice top performers -- such as Downs and Cardini -- to appear at I.B.M. conventions, Durbin subsidized the creation of attractive window cards, usually featuring photos of the performers and artwork from their lithographic posters. These beautiful creations have become highly prized by collectors.

Durbin was the editor of its Linking Ring from 1927 until 1937. He wrote a series entitled "My life in Magic" for the Linking Ring just before he passed away.

His act was described in Holden's Programmes of Famous Magicians.

IBM Ring No. 71 in Ohio is now called the W. W. Durbin Ring in his honor.

References