A Columbus dentist and magician pulled his greatest trick this month: he made his massive, private magic collection disappear.
The treasure trove of tricks and history that includes relics from magic greats like Harry Houdini will become a new museum at a magic venue and restaurant set to open this spring in Chicago.
Once upon a time, not so long ago, the sprawling collection occupied the space above Dr. Timothy Moore’s garage. Custom display cases held tricks and treasures, from cards and handcuffs to signed cabinet photos and giant, framed antique posters announcing magic shows at the turn of the 20th century.
Magical beginnings
Moore fell in love with magic at just 10 years old. It all started when he placed in a Columbus Dispatch art contest. Moore said the winner received an Encyclopedia Britannica.
"Thank God I was second," Moore said. "The prize was a magic trick. And it changed my life."
That first trick was a ball vase. The ball disappeared and reappeared when you closed the lid. Later in life, Moore collected many of them. In his home museum, they could be found tucked here and there between other tricks and photos.
Moore worked his way through dental school at Ohio State University by performing magic at restaurants and private events. He’s happily been a dentist for more than four decades.
He never stopped doing magic.
"Every single kid that comes into my dental office, they get to see a magic trick," Moore said.
The collection
Moore started collecting magic in his early 30s. In 35 years, he amassed a truly impressive assortment that traced the history of the greats.
On a tour of the room, Moore started with a photo of Alexander Herman that occupied a corner near the top of the stairs.
"He was America's magician. Everybody loved him," Moore said.
Moore extracted a gun from the display case, and explained that Herman and his brother used to perform a trick where they’d take someone’s ring, put it in a paper bag and tie that bag to the rafters.
"They would take this gun and blow it to smithereens," Moore said.
Then, a baker would bring out fresh bread, and the borrowed ring would be right in the middle of the loaf.
Moore said Herman performed that trick in 1861 at the White House for President Abraham Lincoln himself.
Moore’s collection includes memorabilia from Howard Thurston, a renowned magician who was born and buried here in Columbus.
"He was the premier magician from 1907. He bought his entire show from Harry Keller for $5,000. That was amazing, a lot of money then," Moore said. "He became the world's best, greatest magician at that time."
The Spirit Lock
Moore's favorite item is a special lock that was passed from magician to magician until it came into the possession of Cleveland native Karl Germain.
“And Germain performed this effect through his whole life," Moore said.
Moore clicked the hefty old lock over a bar and explained that Germain used to use the lock to tell a story about a scoundrel named Faust who was locked up in prison.
Hoping to escape, Faust waited for a moonlit night, then bent his fingers into the shape of a key.
Moore demonstrated the shape. He said that as the moon slid across the sky, the shadow of Faust's “key” crept closer and closer to the lock until it appeared to be inside.
“Faust would start to turn his fingers as if that's the key inside the tumbler," Moore said. "And right at the top of the turn..."
Without Moore touching it, the lock popped open.
“That's how Faust would break out of prison," Moore explained.
Houdini and Hardin
Moore, of course, had quite a few pieces belonging to America’s most well-known magician, Houdini.
Moore showed off a photo Houdini signed while handcuffed, and a rare poster advertising an escape act involving a giant metal milk can.
“What's great is to have items that are actually pictured in the poster, right? Like the pails that they're using to fill [the milk can]. There they are right there," Moore said, gesturing to two metal buckets.
Moore had one of the milk cans too, though he believes it was not used by Houdini, but his younger brother Hardin. Hardin performed the trick after Houdini's death.
From private collection to public museum
The space above Moore's garage no longer holds all these pieces of magic history. The collection's new owner took possession on Nov. 14.
Eventually, Moore will be able to see all of it again. The whole collection will be part of The Hand and The Eye, a new, premiere magic venue in Chicago.
“It's literally going to become a museum. I'm really thrilled about that," Moore said.
It wasn’t an easy decision for Moore to sell his beloved collection, and he said he already misses it. Moore is glad, however, that it's all going to one place and that soon the public will be able to see the history he found and how it works together.
"All these guys...they're connected in one way or another," Moore said. "Their paths cross. A number of them were friends. Some of them are enemies.”
Moore still believes the world needs a little magic — maybe now, more than ever. That's part of what he likes about performing magic.
“The idea is you want to be able to give that person a moment of amazement. And the idea behind it is to give that person a reprieve from real life and to bring back that childlike wonder," Moore said.
This story is part of WOSU's Curious Cbus series. To submit your question, use the form below:
