WBFO s Michael Mroziak reports.
Though Howard died in 1966, his legacy remains actively celebrated in Albion. Earlier this week, New York State formally dedicated a portion of Route 31 as the Charles W. Howard Memorial Highway. His name is featured on many of the holiday-themed banners hanging from the lampposts lined up along Main Street. Within an open space between two building just south of the Erie Canal there is a mural and a sign, both honoring his memory. Albion people are very proud of the association with Charles Howard and he is indeed celebrated here, said Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian, who welcomed WBFO to peruse through numerous documents including vintage photos, newspaper clippings, brochures and other pieces from the Charles W. Howard Santa School and Christmas Park.
The Inseide Dope
On Sunday I came across an article on Jean Robert-Houdin. How appropriate for Christmas, I thought. Though I doubt you ever heard of him, his last name resembles one you know, and for good reason: Houdini (birth name Erik Weisz) took his stage name as an homage to Robert-Houdin. So who was he? Robert-Houdin is considered the father of modern conjuring. A 19th century French magician, he radicalized how magicians performed, as well as how they were perceived. Before him, magicians were street and festival performers, and were viewed as tricksters at best, mountebanks at worst, and low lifes any which way.