Howard Thurston Master Magician - www.ThurstonMasterMagician.com - Thurston Item Of The Month

October 2006

Howard Thurston's Wallet

Featured Item In The September 2006 M-U-M Magazine

Click Here To Read The Entire M-U-M Article In PDF Format

On May 14, 2006 I was contacted by a gentleman named Keith. Keith is a retired writer, reviewer, & novelist that has worked for the New York Times, Time Magazine, Playboy Magazine, and The National Review... just to name a few.

Keith explained to me that Howard Thurston visited his grandfathers house in Whitestone, Queens (New York City) back in the 30's. Thurston once brought a lion to the house in Whitestone that he kept in the cellar for three days before doing a show with that lion.

Inside Of Howard Thurston's Wallet

Outside Of Howard Thurston's Wallet

Keith told me that his grandparents and parents were very close friends with Thurston. Thurston gave them his own wallet that had the name Howard Thurston embossed, in faint but emphatic gold lettering. The wallet opens into a triptych, the right hand frame is covered by a glassine.


Keith (Left) holds Howard Thurston's Wallet and Rory Feldman holding a copy of My Life Of Magic (Right) meet up at the Strand Diner on 96th Street, in Manhattan, New York City.		Strand Diner on 96th Street, in Manhattan, New York City.		Keith (Left) and Rory Feldman (Right)

Two months to the day we first started talking, July 14, 2006, we met in Manhattan, New York City at the Strand Diner on 96th Street.

Front Of Howard Thurston's Wallet

Back Of Howard Thurston's Wallet

In our almost 4 hour lunch we had together, Keith told me a ton of great stories that his parents told him about their interactions with Howard Thurston.

"Howard Thurston" embossed in gold lettering

"Howard Thurston" embossed in gold lettering (close-up)

He said "hoping some of its magic [Thurston's Wallet] would rub off on me, I used the billfold through my high school years [1959], as a pick-up line. None had heard of Howard Thurston. He made his disappearance and nothing I could do would call him back".

It was so much fun being able to spend time with Keith and hearing all of his stories.

Most of the time when you acquire items such as this, it doesn't come directly from the "original source", but this was one of those lucky times in which the piece did.

CLICK HERE to read about Rory and Keith's next meeting...

The Original Wallet Is In The Rory Feldman Collection (TRFC)

Images Of This Wallet Are From The TRFC And Cannot Be Used, Duplicated, Reproduced, Manipulated, Posted, Copied, Distributed In Printed Or Electronic Form Without Prior Written Permission From The Owner /Creator Of www.ThurstonMasterMagician.com