As a kid, I used to save up & travel across the river to NYC to Al's magic shop. The oldest in the US, owned by Houdini once. It was a little joint above a bar. And it was a MESS. Peeling Thurston posters, old magic props all over. I'd ask for a trick and Al would say, "You don't want that son, it's junk. Here try this..." And he'd show me all sorts of magic effects well above my budget, but he'd give me all of them, take my $20. then ask, "Ya got carfare kid?" Then he'd give me &5. back, and hand me another $5. & send me across the street to Chock Full of Nuts (way before Dunkin') for donuts & coffee for us. On Saturdays famous magicians would come by a discuss old times, the business etc. And some like the Amazing Kreskin would have Al repair some prop or gimmick. ( Kreskin had a tiny pillbox sized transmitter that would attach to his wrist or ankle. And assistants would send him Morse code to where a hidden object was. Al was gonna sell me an old pair of Houdini's handcuffs. But $75. bucks was hard to come by to a 70's 13 yr old. Later, after he passed, his son Jackie took over the shop, cleaned it up, and put stuff like that in showcases. I asked if he sell them, but said no, and if he did... they'd go for like $5 grand. Al was a sweetheart of a guy! ♥️
Did you meet old time Performers there? Al knew a performer in am researching about for years and probably he went many times to his shop... could i write you an email?
