Scranton, PA, November 04, 2013 -- The Mayor of Scranton, Chris Doherty, proclaims First Friday, November 1, 2013 as Dorothy Dietrich Day. The honor was bestowed to Dorothy Dietrich for the tourism, publicity and business her Houdini Museum has brought to the city, her appearances on national television, as well as the public awareness generated when she and fellow magicians Dick Brookz and Steve Moore restored Houdini's bust at his grave in Queens, New York, exactly 2 years ago. The bust was destroyed by vandals and had been missing for 38 years. This year is the second anniversary of that restoration. It was done at a cost of $10,000 to the not for profit 501 C-3 museum. His grave site has been abandoned by the Society of American Magicians and she is advocating the raising of funds to bring the grave site back to its former glory.

Dorothy Dietrich attended a special signing on November 1, 2013 at 222 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, PA, original home of the Poli Theater where Houdini himself performed. It has since been renamed the Ritz Theater building, and is the home of Wendell & Company Interior Design. She distributed at no charge autographed pictures of herself, and the Houdini Museum. She had on hand a full sized reproduction of the bust made that now adorns Houdini's grave for all the world to see. She performed Houdini's signature escape from a Strait Jacket to thunderous applause. Electric City, the area entertainment guide, devoted this weeks cover story to Dorothy Dietrich. http://the570.com/index.php/2013/10/celebrate-dorothy/

The proclamation also acknowledged Dorothy's many accomplishments and accolades given to her over the years being named The First Lady of Magic, America's #1 Female Magician, The Female Houdini, and the Modern Day Houdini. She's celebrated as the first and only woman to perform the death defying Bullet Catch in her mouth, that has killed 12 men. It is the one trick Houdini backed away from after announcing he would attempt it. Her Scranton based Houdini Museum, the only building in the world totally devoted to the legendary performer Harry Houdini, has celebrated the magician for over two decades. As the site of the annual Original Houdini Seance it garners publicity all over the world for the city of Scranton. According to the Internets main site for Houdini news, WildAboutHoudini.com, a recent article said "She's not only a bonafide legend of magic, but she is a tireless and selfless promoter of Houdini's history and legacy. With her museum, radio show, TV appearances, and her continued upkeep of Houdini's grave site, it could be said that no one is as devoted to persevering Houdini's memory as Dorothy Dietrich." Columbia Encyclopedia has called her "One of the most noted magicians of the late 20th century." The proclamation asked all citizens to join in applauding Dorothy Dietrich for all her accomplishments in bringing tens of thousands of visitors to the City of Scranton and making people around the world aware of the City of Scranton as the home of the world famous Houdini Museum, Tour & Magic Show. Her tireless commitment to the community and magic is also evident with her two weekly radio programs, The Sensational Tales, and The Dietrich & Brookz Show, which can be heard four times a week on WFTE FM in Scranton and Mt. Cobb and WXPI FM in Williamsport and Jersey Shore. The shows can also be heard at http://DorothyandDick.com and http://WFTE.org where they are archived.

Dorothy Dietrich performs a special stage act at The Houdini Museum which is available to the public every weekend throughout the year and every day in July and August, subject to availability. The show includes her doves, a rabbit, a duck and two poodles. She also floats a member of the audience who rises in the air and even has a hoop passed around them to prove their is no visible means of support. There is also be a guided tour of the museum. Reservations are required.

A high definition picture of new Houdini Museum marquee can be downloaded at:
http://houdini.org/NewMarquee2crop.jpg

For more information contact Penny Wilkes at the Houdini Museum, (570) 383-1821 or (570) 342-5555.

Below is the exact wordage of the Mayor's document.

“DOROTHY DIETRICH DAY”
November 1, 2013 WHEREAS, Dorothy Dietrich, museum curator, of the Harry Houdini Museum in Scranton, is the event coordinator of the three-day Houdini celebration in Scranton, recreating the original Houdini séance as requested by Houdini's wife Bess, and his signature escape from a strait jacket at the Ritz theater, where Houdini himself performed; and WHEREAS, Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Dorothy Dietrich, Dick Brookz, and Steve Moore, Houdini’s missing statuary bust was restored to his abandoned grave site in New York City on September of 2011, to the delight of Houdini fans worldwide; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy is a famous magician and escape artist, holding accolades such as America's No. 1 Female Magician, the First Lady of Magic, the Female Houdini, the Modern Day Houdini, and One of the Most Noted Magicians of the Late 20th Century. She is the only woman to perform the death-defying bullet catch in her mouth, the trick Houdini backed away from afterhe announced he would perform it; and WHEREAS, Dorothy Dietrich is not only a bonafide legend of magic, but she is a tireless and selfless promoter of Houdini’s history and legacy, bringing tens of thousands of visitors to the city of Scranton and making people aware around the world that Scranton is the home of the Houdini Museum, Tour and Magic Show; and WHEREAS, Her activism such performing at local schools and nursing homes, her countless shows on National Television, her two sustaining shows on community radio WFTE FM in Scranton and Mt. Cobb, and WXPI in Williamsport and Jersey Shore, throwing the first pitch at the Yankees Railriders Magic/Houdini Day, and even reaching Hollywood as the inspiration for The Isla Fisher portrayal of a female escape artist in the hit movie "Now You See Me, and WHEREAS, Houdini Fans all over the world appreciate and applaud you for all you have done in creating and maintaining Scranton’s Houdini Museum, the only building in the world exclusively devoted to the legendary performer, for over two decades.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Christopher A. Doherty, Mayor of the City of Scranton, do hereby proclaim Friday, November 1, 2013, as “Dorothy Dietrich Day” and ask all citizens to join me in applauding her and her outstanding commitment to honor the legendary magician of all time, Harry Houdini, and bring honor to him and to the City of Scranton as well.
Christopher A. Doherty, Mayor of Scranton

For more information contact:
Penny Wilkes at the Houdini Museum, 1433 N. Main Ave, Scranton, PA 18447
(570) 383-1821 or (570) 342-5555, [email protected] http://Houdini.org

Contact:
Penny Wilkes
Magic USA Promotions
229 Willow Ave
Olyphant, PA 18447
570-342-5555
[email protected]
http://www.houdini.org