Los Angeles Conference on Magic History

Stock magic poster from Mike Caveney’s Egyptian Hall Collection as displayed in the exhibit room of the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History.  (Patrice Roe / Los Angeles Times)

Dell O’Dell’s ventriloquist figure, Eddie, in the exhibit room of the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History.  (Patrice Roe / Los Angeles Times)

Teller, left, and Neal Patrick Harris outside the exhibit room at the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History.  (Patrice Roe / Los Angeles Times)

Poster depicting Harry Marvelo performing the Walter Jeans illusion, the Silver Hat, as displayed in the exhibit room of the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History. The poster is from Mike Caveney’s Egyptian Hall Collection.  (Patrice Roe / Los Angeles Times)

Conference attendee and former CIA director, John McLaughlin, outside the ballroom after presentations at the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History.  (Patrice Roe / Los Angeles Times)

A substitution trunk in the exhibit room of the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History.  (Patrice Roe / Los Angeles Times)

John Carney, left, performed at the conference as Mr. Mysto in a comedic version of “The Indian Rope Trick!” Carney is shown with Mac King, a performer at Harrah’s in Las Vegas. The pair stand outside one of the dealers’ rooms at the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History.  (Patrice Roe / Los Angeles Times)

The Orange Tree effect from Martinka & Co. is displayed in the exhibit room at the Tenth Los Angeles Conference on Magic History.  (Patrice Roe / Los Angeles Times)

The Wine and Water trick from Prof. Hoffman is displayed in the exhibit room of the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History.  (Patrice Roe / Los Angeles Times)

A mechanical figure of a magician is displayed in the exhibit room at the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History.  (Patrice Roe / Los Angeles Times)

John Gaughan, left, and Mike Caveney, two of the organizers of the Tenth Los Angeles Conference on Magic History in one of the dealers’ rooms.  (Patrice Roe / Los Angeles Times)

Jim Steinmeyer, left, and Frankie Glass in one of the dealers’ rooms at the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History. Steinmeyer and Glass are two of the conference organizers.  (Patrice Roe / Los Angeles Times)

Cartoonist Bill Stout in one of the dealers’ rooms. Stout created the artwork for the Tenth Los Angeles Conference on Magic History poster, seen in the background.  (Patrice Roe / Los Angeles Times)