Inside America’s Oldest Magic Shop: The Illusion, Mystery, and Legacy of Minneapolis’s Eagle Magic Store
For magicians, illusionists, perceptionists, and magical thinkers, a brick-and-mortar magic shop is more than just a retail store. It is a sanctuary of secrets, a laboratory of wonder, and a living museum of the craft.
Deep in the heart of the Twin Cities metro area lies a legendary landmark that holds a monumental title: Eagle Magic Store is the oldest continually operating magic shop in the United States. Founded in 1899, this historic institution has been fueling the deceptive arts, sleight-of-hand mastery, and mentalism breakthroughs for well over a century.
Whether you are a seasoned pro perfecting a stage illusion or a close-up worker seeking the ultimate gimmick, the history of Eagle Magic is bound to captivate your imagination.
The Genesis of Wonder: Collins Rice Pentz and Harry Houdini
The story begins in downtown Minneapolis at the turn of the 20th century. In 1899, an ambitious magic enthusiast named Collins Rice Pentz opened the doors to Eagle Magic. Pentz was not just a merchant; he was a creator, a publisher of “The Eagle Magician” magazine, and a deep thinker in the community of mystery workers.
During the golden age of vaudeville, the shop became a mandatory stopover for legendary performers traveling through the Midwest. Among them was the master mystifier himself, Harry Houdini.
Houdini and Pentz forged a close friendship. In fact, it was while collaborating with Pentz in downtown Minneapolis that Houdini performed his historic, first-ever aerial straightjacket escape in 1915—suspended high above the bustling city streets. Inside the shop today, history breathes through an 1880s desk where Houdini himself used to sit.
Passing the Wand: Larry Kahlow’s Living Legacy
A magic shop requires a caretaker who understands that the true inventory isn’t just props or playing cards, but the secrets and psychology behind them. Enter Larry Kahlow.
Larry first stepped into Eagle Magic as an 8-year-old boy in the 1950s, instantly spellbound by the demonstration of illusions and classic pocket tricks. By 1970, he was working behind the counter, and in 1976, he officially bought the business, dedicating his life to preserving magic history.
For decades, Larry and his wife, Jennifer, operated the shop in downtown Minneapolis near the old Metrodome. Throughout his tenure, Larry has served as a mentor to thousands of magical thinkers, providing real-time demonstrations and invaluable theory on misdirection and stagecraft.
The store’s guestbook reads like a pop-culture hall of fame:
- Steve Martin stopped in during his early comedy days to purchase his iconic “arrow-through-the-head” illusions.
- The Amazing Kreskin frequently dropped by to talk mentalism and perception while in town.
- Muhammad Ali, a passionate amateur magician, once spent six hours straight in the shop during the early 1980s, jamming on coin tricks and sleights.
In 2008, after more than a century in downtown Minneapolis, Larry relocated the physical shop to a commercial space in nearby Burnsville, Minnesota. Though the coordinates changed, the layout inside remained exactly the same—a split world of classic practical jokes on one side, and pure, unadulterated magical apparatus on the other.
Preserving Brick-and-Mortar Secrets in a Digital Era
In an age dominated by instant downloads and YouTube tutorials, Eagle Magic Store remains a vital bastion for the community. It reminds us that magic is an oral tradition. The nuances of a pass, the timing of a glimpse, or the framing of a psychological force cannot be fully replicated on a screen—they are best passed down face-to-face across a glass counter.
Shape the Future of Magic: Join OurMagicUniverse.com
As we honor the rich, brick-and-mortar legacy of spaces like Eagle Magic Store, we must also look toward the future of how magicians connect, learn, and collaborate globally.
If you are a magician, illusionist, or creative force who cares deeply about preserving the art form while innovating for the next generation, there is a groundbreaking digital ecosystem on the horizon.
You have a unique opportunity to help build OurMagicUniverse.com from the ground up as a Founding Member and Advisor. This platform aims to unite international creators, protect proprietary secrets, and foster genuine community in the digital age—honoring the spirit of the old-school magic shop while providing 21st-century tools for the modern perceptionist.
Have you ever visited the legendary Eagle Magic Store or sessioned with Larry Kahlow? What is your favorite piece of magic history? Let’s talk about it in the comments below!