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      Halloween

      Houdini Halloween Magic Show and Curator Talk

      Saturday, October 31, 2026 from 11 am—12 pm

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      Houdini in handcuffs, 1918

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      Location: Morse Auditorium
      $25 members and Salem residents; $30 nonmembers; $15 under 18 years old.

      October 31 marks the 100th anniversary of the death of the great magician and escapologist Harry Houdini. To commemorate this historic occasion, Anton Andresen, the Official Magician of Salem, Massachusetts, will present a selection of mysteries inspired by Houdini's extraordinary life and legendary career. Experience what it might have felt like to witness the world's master mystifier through astonishing demonstrations that capture the wonder and excitement of Houdini's performances. 

      Curator George Schwartz will offer a short historical introduction about Houdini's connections to PEM and Salem. Discover how Houdini's passion for handcuffs, escapes and the art of illusion intersected with the city's rich history and the museum’s collections.

      A pair of handcuffs that Houdini saw when he visited PEM in 1906 will be on view September 3 - November 2, 2026 in the Main Atrium, along with other items related to his  performances in Salem.

      Listen to Anton perform some of his illusions on the PEMcast. 

      About our collaborators

      Anton James Andresen
      Anton James Andresen

      Anton James Andresen, the Official Magician of Salem, Massachusetts, brings the mystique of Salem to life with his spellbinding performances. Known for captivating audiences with a unique blend of magic, mentalism and natural phenomena, his performances must be seen to be believed.

      George Schwartz
      George Schwartz

      George Schwartz has worked on many successful PEM exhibitions and installations, including curating Conjuring the Spirit World: Art, Magic, and Mediums and co-curating the current installation of the museum's historic East India Marine Hall, among others. His specialty and interests are in maritime art, material culture, early collecting and museum history. Schwartz earned his B.A. in Anthropology from Brown University, his M.A. in Historical Archaeology from UMASS Boston and his Ph.D. in American and New England Studies from Boston University. He is the editor and lead author of the Conjuring the Spirit World: Art, Magic, and Mediums exhibition catalogue, which was the gold winner for Foreword Reviews’ 2024 Indie Book of the Year Awards in the Popular Culture category. He is also the author of Collecting the Globe: The Salem East India Marine Society Museum, which explores PEM’s origins and illustrates how global objects were used to shape an emerging national identity in the early United States. Schwartz has lectured internationally and has written articles and essays for museum catalogues, journals and magazines. He is an honorary member of the Salem Marine Society, and also teaches a course on material culture at Tufts University in the Museum Studies program.

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