Shell Reinish

I grew up in New York, actually Brooklyn to be precise. 

I graduated from The College at Staten Island with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Sparks flew.

My interest in history has always been very eclectic, from technology to cinema, magic and beyond.  

While in the Army I got to visit several musuems, as well as many Civil War battle grounds. I could feel history surround me.

For many years I was a Docent in the “Vault” at The Petersen Automobile Museum where I explained the history of some of the rarest  and most expensive automobiles in the world. 

I have been a judge at the San Marino Concours d’ Elegance, in Pasadena, California for several years.  

My interest in Houdini started when I was ten years old and saw “HOUDINI” with Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. 

I was totally blown away. I had heard his name many times, but did not know Houdini’s “story”. From then on I took every opportunity to learn all that I could about him. 

I was at the opening of the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, Niagara Falls Canada where I was asked by Henry Muller, the Director of the Museum to give a few tours of his show case. A great honor and experience for me. 

For over 15 years I had a live call-in television show which included several guests from the Magic Castle – Steve Valentine and Sylvester The Jester, among many others.

I had the honor to be asked to join the Magic Castle by Membership Committee members Celest Mills and Len Reed, but I stupidly passed on that offer. Big Mistake.

I have met many magical people that knew and who had worked with Houdini – Walter Gibson, Sidney Radner and Larry Weeks. I was even more fortunate to study close-up magic at the hands of Tony Slydini, one of the greats. 

In 1976 I was in attendance at Houdini’s grave with the cast of The Magic Show with Doug Henning. 

In 2025, along with Larrian Gillespie MD, I created the Houdinarian Society and am now teaching the first course on Houdini at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.