Magic Scrap Book of Donald M. Pittman

1944. Hardcover. Very Good. 13 x 12". A partially-filled scrapbook assembled by Donald M. Pittman, an aspiring magician living in New Orleans in the 1940's. Collecting menus, postcards, announcements of performances, newspaper clippings, ticket stubs, a birthday card from his mother, and signed photographs of magicians, most notably a signed photograph of Harry Houdini.

Pittman filled eight pages, with many more loose items interleaved, beginning with mementos of "my first real show". With the exception of the photograph of Houdini most items seem to have been collected in 1944. These include:

Pair of caricatures on lined paper, one of Harry Blackstone signed "Don", the other assumed to be Don and signed "Harry Blackstone, 12-21-44".

Birthday card, magician-themed, signed "Mother".

Photograph signed "Mysteriously Yours, Theo. Hardeen, Bro. of Houdini".

Signed leaflet advertising "Hardeen, Successor to His Famous Brother Houdini, World's Master Illusionist, Available for Conventions, Churches and Clubs". Folding leaflet with reviews, partial list of effects, and instructions for booking. Foxing.

Flyer for Hardeen's appearance in "Olsen and Johnson's Hellzapoppin", with stamp from Hardeen.

Flyers for a New Years's Eve magic and juggling performance at the Lakeview Theatre by "The Great Fatzer".

Ticket stub and two newspaper clippings for "Dante the Magician", a Danish-American magician appearing at the St Charles Theatre in Feb, 1944.

Two amateur photographs of a young man in a suit outdoors with magic wand inscribed "Best of luck always to a swell pal in magic, Merrill the Mystic" and "Merrill Cox".

Program from the Magicians' Club of New Orleans featuring "Mr. Gottleib Kogel", "Dr. T.T. Moore", "Mr. Julius Porbes", "The Great Fatzer" and "Mr. Herman M. Suss".

Photograph signed "Best wishes, Dr. T.T. Moore, Oct. 7, 44".

Three newspaper clippings from a performance by "Jordan the Magician" assisted by the 1944 Miss New Orleans contestants.