Popular Entertainment: Vaudeville, Circus, Pantomime, Magic, Puppetry, and Minstrel Shows
Poster depicting Houdini's Giant Milk Can
Escape, ca. 1908. Harry Houdini Collection
- Crain, W. H. (1917-1998). Barnum & Bailey Circus Collection,
1805-1937 (bulk 1886-1902) - Fostell, Al Emmett (1856-1920). Papers, 1879-1920
- Houdini, Harry (1874-1926). Collection, 1750-1972 (bulk 1895-
1926) - Magicians Collection, 1750-1920
- Marcus, Stanley (1905-2002). Collection of Sicilian
Marionettes, ca. 1850, ca. 1960 - Minstrel Show Collection, 1821-1959 (bulk 1860-1940)
- Pantomime Collection, 1793-1977 (bulk 1860-1910)
- Pastor, Tony (1837-1908). Collection, 1861-1908 (bulk 1866-1890)
- Ward, Joe E. (b. 1894 or 1895, d. 1971). Circus Collection, ca. 1811-1970 (bulk 1850-1950)
- Ziegfeld, Florenz (1867-1932). Collection, 1893-1979 (bulk 1910-1930)
In addition to these major holdings, the Book Collection contains the McManus-Young Collection of books about magic. Costume designs for French music-hall dated ca. 1920-1955 can be found in the W. H. Crain Costume and Scenic Design Collection. For an overview of puppetry holdings, see Carolyn Roark, "The Harry Ransom Center: An Archive for Scholars and Artists," Puppetry International 19 (2006): 36-38.
Watch broadcast journalist Mike Wallace's interviews from the television program The Mike Wallace Interview. Wallace donated the show's footage on 16mm kinescope to the Ransom Center in the early 1960s. Most episodes have not been seen since they aired.
