Friday, December 31, 2021

Ron Cartlidge has passed away

We end the year with some sad news. Ron Cartlidge, who wrote the groundbreaking 2002 book, Houdini’s Texas Tours 1916 & 1923, passed away on December 12 at age 82.

Ron was a member of the I.B.M., The Magic Circle, and a Life Member of the S.A.M. He was Past President of S.A.M. Assembly #206 and served as the Chairman of the Austin World Famous Magic Auctions for 11 years.

I was happy to have met Ron at the Midwest Magic History Weekend in Marshall in 2015 (where the photo on the right was taken). I always looked to him as the go-to guy when it came to Houdini in Texas. It's even said that fellow Texan George W. Bush kept a copy of Ron's Houdini book in the White House.

Ron self-published two follow-ups to his Texas book: Houdini and the Ku Klux Klan (2005) and Houdini's Final Texas Tour (2010).

Ron is survived by his children, Justin and Jennifer. You can read his full obituary at the Austin-American Statesman.

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2 comments:

  1. Leo HeviaDecember 31, 2021 at 12:44 PM

    Ron's book is a must have for Houdini scholars. Houdini rubbed shoulders with presidents, so it was fitting that he was once again in the company of another one.

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  2. Roger WoodsDecember 31, 2021 at 2:24 PM

    I had the pleasure of meeting Ron when he visited The Magic Circle Centenary celebrations in London in 2005. We chatted about Houdini matters and he was a lovely gentleman. His book is excellent. RIP. Magic is a lovely brotherhood and sisterhood and matters Houdini never end.

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