Bowery in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Then You Saw It/Now You Don’t

Otto Maurer’s Magical Bazaar

— 321 Bowery —

Then You Saw It/Now You Don’t Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 12, 2016

1. Then You Saw It/Now You Don’t Marker

Inscription. On this spot in the late 1800s stood Otto Maurer’s Magical Bazaar. Called the “Wizard of the Bowery” by the NY Herald, the German-born Maurer made and sold magic and juggling apparatus, performer and taught magic here. Famous and soon-to-be-famous magicians came here to witness Maurer making cords vanish and reappear at his fingertips. Called the back palm. the influential trick is believed to have originated here in the 1890 when Maurer learned it from a Mexican magician who passed through his shop.

Among those who may have learned it from Maurer was Harry Houdini, who worked across the street at the Globe Dime Museum (298 Bowery) and was briefly billed as the “King of Cards”.

With world-famous magicians performing on the Bowery, Otto Maurer’s shop was a popular attraction for over 20 years. In addition to Houdini, who played both the Globe and Miner’s Bowery Theatre (165-167 Broadway), John Henry Anderson, the “Great Wizard of the North,” played the Bowery Theatre (46-48 Bowery), and Hermann the Great played the Windsor Theatre (45-47 Bowery) and People’s Theatre (199 Bowery). It was indeed a magical time on the Bowery.

Erected 2016 by Bowery Alliance of Neighbors.

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list: Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.

Location. 40° 43.527′ N, 73° 59.514′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in the Bowery. Marker is on Bowery near East 2nd Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 321 Bowery, New York NY 10003, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. World’s Smallest Opera House (a few steps from this marker); Alexander’s Musee (a few steps from this marker); CBGB (within shouting distance of this marker); Tin Palace Jazz Club (within shouting distance of this marker); Secret Cemetery Secret Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Bouwerie Lane Theater (within shouting distance of this marker); Casting At The Cast Iron Bank: (within shouting distance of this marker); Hats, Hardware & Horses (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.

More about this marker. One of more than sixty entries in the “Windows on the Bowery” series.

Then You Saw It/Now You Don’t Marker site image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 15, 2016

2. Then You Saw It/Now You Don’t Marker site

321 Bowery had been an open lot since the original building was torn down.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 12, 2016

3. Inset

Otto Maurer (1846-1900)

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 12, 2016

4. Inset

321 Bowery in 1915

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 12, 2016

5. Inset

Maurer’s 128-page catalog. In reality, the shop was in the basement

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 335 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 23, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.