Review of "Hiding the Elephant: How Magicians Invented the Impossible and L" by Jim Steinmeyer

Jim Steinmeyer has written a splendid history that spotlights the golden age of stage magic. He begins with a prejudiced look at the great Harry Houdini. The author promptly asserts that Houdini was a very poor stage magician. Still he admits that Houdini performed one illusion that has been hotly debated since its inception in 1918. Houdini, performing at the New York Hippodrome Theater made a live elephant vanish. How did he do it? The answer is in this book.

For some fifty years the author takes us behind the curtain and into mysteries of the special world of magicians. You will read about floating ghosts who interact with live actors and vanishing ladies and all about the tricks of such major performers as Harry Keller and many others. It's fall fascinating information.