Run! Don't walk! Be prepared to laugh your head off. Dorothy is FANTASTIC. So much rich history & so much fun to be had. She is amazing with kids as well. Truly, so funny. Also, yes it's long. Which is a DELIGHT. It's so kind of Dorothy. Be prepared for 3.5 hours or so; she has so much to cover! I think she's probably only scratching the surface. read more

Harry Houdini Museum Tour & Magic Show - Museums Near Me - Scranton, Pennsylvania

She is very knowledgeable about harry houdini. I don't want to crap on her, she seems to have enough challenges already. However this event should have been more in the $6 range. Pro tip: don't sit down, you'll thank me later. read more

This was awful. We booked on a whim because we were making the trip to go to the nearby aquarium. We should have known better when we had to go down an suspect alley and park behind a house. We had to wait outside the 'Abracadabra' door which was a horrible seating arrangement. It had standing, dirty water everywhere and everyone outside was getting eating alive by gnats and mosquitoes. The host finally came out but never said who she was or even her name. She must have been having an off day because she was not received well. It was awkward. The building itself was someone's home. The downstairs was the showroom and two beyond cluttered 'museum' rooms. The ceiling had severe water damage. The showroom smelled awful. There were gnats overwhelming the bathrooms. In the "prop room" the ceiling was cracked and in need of maintenance. Molding was falling off the walls. There was even garbage, plates and drinks left out from some kind of celebration. At it's prime I'm certain the collection and rooms looked prestigious but years later, no upkeep and cleaning just left it sad. The show started with the magician giving a blurb about herself starting with she was raised by an abusive alcoholic father. You could tell this was more about Dorothy than Houdini. The monologue was done via microphone that was tied around her neck and blared out of a speaker that had a loud, annoying feedback that no one tried to correct. This shifted into an old DVD that's displayed on blurry television. The audio/visual were terrible. At some point they forgot to update the equipment. For the price that you pay for admission, you would feel they would upgrade the devices. We learned about Houdini and the way Dorothy engaged with the audience was just weird and she would giggle when it got creepy, awkward. There also was an old man sitting in the back of the room, just staring at everyone and not talking. You'd think, the person would be introduced but we didn't learn about him until an hour later. The history was painful and it was almost a look but don't touch and listen to me dialogue. Dorothy told the kids not to jump off bridges but they could eat swords. She told another kid that he was going to be locked in a mill crate like Houdini. The cake topper was the child she yelled at for touching something. The child started wailing and rushed to hide behind her mother. A child sneezed in one room and she snarled they better not have given her Covid. I mean her, when there were other people in the room, but really - who says that! Let alone to a child. The long drawn out history finally gave way to another video displayed poorly to the audience while the magician got ready. Before starting the video she asked if any one knew how Houdini died and she said the creepy old man in the back did. He stood up and just shrieked loudly for 20 seconds. Dorothy, creepy guy and another associate found this hilarious. The audience was confused. The video displayed the magician doing escape artist tricks and the jinx bullet trick. Very different from the basic magic that was about to happen. None the less performed to very loud 70's instrumental music. It almost felt like being at a child's birthday. Except we did the same trick over and over. We changed gears but it was basic. The magic was fun but the slight of hand was so obvious it took away the magic. It seemed like the touch was gone. I wouldn't recommend. read more

Had a fabulous time. Museum is so interesting. The show was great, and lots of humor. Almost everyone gets involved in the show. If your a Houdini fan, you have to visit. read more

Took my magic obsessed son to the museum as part of his magic club. He had a great time hearing all about Houdini from Dorothy and loved her magic show. His favorite part was going on stage with her! Would definitely recommend for history and magic lovers! read more

We had a great time. My kids loved being part of the show and we learned a ton about Houdini!

Do not come here with small children. We took a summer camp trip with 49 nine and ten year-olds, and they were terrified. The "museum" is very small, claustrophobic, with creepy and inappropriate posters/pictures everywhere. There was an elderly man there the whole time, who did not speak and would just sit and stare at the kids. The "gift shop" is quite literally a scam. No receipts, won't let people try items until they buy it, only takes cash, and extremely overpriced for what was being sold. Donald Trump was mentioned multiple times during the magic show. Again, ten year-olds were the audience members. Dorothy (the director and tour guide) got very angry and frustrated when we asked her not to do a trick involving a sword, since the kids were very scared and crying. She then screamed into her already loud microphone at the kids who were scared and told them they couldn't step outside. Not only did that scare the kids, but also scared the staff. Overall, terrible experience and will never come back. read more

What's special about magic? Today anyone can go on the Internet and discover how a trick is done. But yet there's something special about magic, especially when it's performed in your presence by a master. Magic is an art. It is an art of deception. But it also involves belief. The art involves a willing spectator who suspends his notions of reality and allows the magician to take him on a journey of wonder. The Houdini Museum succeeds in taking you on such a magical journey. Make the trip to Scranton (through a rough neighborhood in a city whose glory days are well behind it), turn off your cell phone for a few hours, let your guard down, suspend your disbelief, and you will be well rewarded. Magic! read more

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Absolutely WONDERFUL!!! A must see attraction in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Dorothy Dietrich and Bravo the Great are magician/illusionist legends, extremely entertaining and knowledgable, but also two really nice people. Great way to spend an afternoon which consists of a short movie, guided tour of the museum and fantastic audience participation magic show. They even levitate an audience member. It's a fun and educational experience!!! read more

I regret it took me so long to visit. This isn't just a museum. It's a story telling adventure exploring the life of Houdini, world of magic, a bit of local Scranton & NY history, with a dash of vaudeville. The Houdini collection was spectacular capturing the "magic" of the era. The magic show was ridiculously fun. I was chosen to float up into the air! Carve out about 3-4 hours to get the full experience. Thank you Dorothy and Bravo the Great for keeping Houdini alive!!! read more

Harry Houdini Museum Tour & Magic Show - Of course we had to get the game and take a photo with the amazing Dorothy! - Museums Near Me - Scranton, Pennsylvania

A memory-making place!! I have visited a few times in the past with my boys when they were young. Although not a good choice for preschoolers, school age kids are engaged in the show and will remember it always. And anyone who is a kid at heart and appreciates magic and Houdini will love it. I consider the house magician top notch in traditional acts we all know and would expect to see. The place is funky and campy and fun. Not as much a museum as a fun interactive attraction ideal for a mixed age family event or something different in entertainment for anyone. I recommend this unique experience that is worth its value and I look forward to going again soon! read more

When in Scranton, do not miss the magic show at the Harry Houdini Museum. Dorothy Dietrich is the real thing when it comes to magic, and her sidekick, Bravo the Great, is a fabulous magician. I came back to see their show a second time I liked it so much. These people are great entertainers and have a great sense of humor. They work well with kids in the audience, too. (My only complaint is that I was not picked as a volunteer for the sword through the neck trick!) Plan to spend most of the afternoon. You have to love them. read more

If you're interested in seeing the real America, the kind of America that isn't centered around an amusement park, then the Harry Houdini Museum should be on your list. It's a small, one-of-a-kind museum run by Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz in Scranton PA. It's a converted house in a residential area so be careful not to drive right by looking for a big, commercialized attraction. But inside is everything you'd ever expect in a museum dedicated to Houdini. Dorothy and Dick scour the Earth looking for any bit of genuine Houdini memorabilia from the actual equipment he used in his tricks (such as an actual milk can fron his most famous escapes) to genuine theater programs detailing his life as it was recorded during his lifetime. The museum houses the most complete Houdini collection anywhere. The Houdini Museum is more than just a walk-through, 25-cent tour. Its proprietors, as well as providing a magic show for its patrons, take great care in preserving the Houdini legend in the most factual manner possible. They told us as much about Harry Houdini the man as they did about Harry Houdini the magician and it is a most fascinating story about a most fascinating individual. I came away with much more respect for this entertainer, entrepreneur and most honorable American. Operating the museum is a labor of love for Dietrich and Brookz. I doubt they are wealthy people because of it, but they pour their hearts and souls into keeping alive the Houdini legacy and history for us all. The Houdini Museum is truly an American treasure but one that will not last forever. Maybe in a generation it will not be here anymore replaced by a Disney-fied version of Houdini complete with all the embellishments of a comic book hero cleansed of any trace of his real humanity. I fear that once the museum is gone, Houdini himself will be permanently lost so please plan on seeing it soon. With that all said, I obviously give the Harry Houdini Museum two thumbs up. It's a genuine slice of America and the perfect afternoon diversion from the theme park scene. Yes, they will offer things like for purchase (we bought a deck of magic cards and a reproduction theater program - both very reasonably-priced) but you can rest assured that every dollar you spend there goes directly back into keeping the museum going. read more

I took my Wife & Kids to the museum and we have a wonderful experience. It's a great mix of history, information and stage shows that kept our children entertained the entire 3 hours plus. Our children ages range from 4-12. The people who run the museum, Bravo The Great, and Dorothy Dietrich are both entertaining and really nice & personable people. They performed really well, and took time out to talk to us, and Dorothy even gave my children a lesson on how to use their new magic wands purchased in the gift shop. She even personally walked us out to our car at the end, which was really nice. Overall I felt it was a very well balanced time, and I felt I received a great value for the money spent. I will definitely love to go again soon! read more

HAUNTED! Mind Mysteries & The Beyond! Very entertaining! Dick Brooks does a great job with his paranormal "tricks" - many, if not all, will leave you wondering..."How did he do that?" Over 3 hours of paranormal fun..ending with a seance in the dark. $35.00/person - mention the $5 off coupon when you call for tickets. Website: http://PsychicTheater.com read more

Houdini Museum I have always been fascinated by magic. When I was younger I even dabbled in performing magic for my family. Doing research for a weekend trip I came across the Houdini Museum in Scranton Pennsylvania and I just had to schedule a visit. To call this just a museum is not the best description. It is an experience. Your entrance fee gets a presentation that lasts about an hour full of information about Houdini's life. Following the presentation, you get a tour of the museum. In the first section, there are pictures and movie posters. A tour guide give history of some of the pictures and posters as well as more detailed stories about Houdini's life. The next room is full of props and other memorabilia from Houdini's life. After the tour of the museum you are back in the stage room where you are entertained with a live magic show that lasts a hour. The full tour lasts about 3 hours. I found the whole experience to be a lot of fun and full of information. The tour only has one showing a day and there is very limited seating so I suggest getting your tickets in advance to ensure you being able to go when you want. For anyone who is a fan of Harry Houdini or just a fan of magic in general I highly recommend seeing the Houdini Museum in Scranton Pennsylvania, it is well worth the visit. read more

I walked into the Houdini museum, into a room just packed with... stuff. Magic props, stuff, and ... junk. It smelled like an old lady's attic. I thought "I just paid $15 for this?" But the tour was wonderful. The museum is an old house full of rooms packed with memorabilia - doesn't seem like much at first, but the tour guides made it fabulous. So much sincerity and enthusiasm in their tour, and so much interesting detail. The best part was the magic show at the end. Rabbits were pulled out of hats, women were levitated. It's the kind of fun people rarely have in a world of Playstations and big-screen tvs. It was nice to know that even though the secrets to pulling a rabbit out of hat are available on the Internet, it can still bring a smile to my face to see it done. It was old-fashioned and hokey and just heart-warmingly good. I can't believe how much I enjoyed it. read more

My friends and I were looking for a time killer while we drove through Pennsylvania. By time killer... I mean 30mins to an hour. We weren't expecting much from our visit but figured a cute little museum would be fun. Our first clue should have been the $20 entry. That's pretty steep for a quick tour on some magician memorabilia. Oh wait! Did I say quick? Nope! We were there for THREE hours. And that's only because we couldn't take it anymore and left. We didnt want to be rude but wow! Forget the terrible jokes about immigrants being separated from their children and Bill Cosby's drugging women, the long show was unbearable. Also, it felt like they were promoting Dorothy more than Houdini. It was the biggest waste of time and money. NEVER. AGAIN. read more

Not only do you get to learn about Harry Houdini, but you also get to participate in a classic magic show where they take volunteers from the audience. If you're in the area, I highly recommend stopping here. Definitely take the kids, if you have them. read more

We came in from NYC. The museum has so many artifacts from Houdini's locks & actual escapes to his personal belongings. There is plenty to see. We didn't realize the amazing history of the owners of the museum, Dorothy Dietrich and Bravo the Great. They were amazing hosts! The are both famous magicians theirselves and are responsible for keeping Houdini's history alive by acquiring his items at auctions for the museum as well as maintaining his gravesite in New York. They had so many stories they tell as they give you a guided tour and then they put on an amazing magic show. Dorothy levitated a guest right before our eyes. It was worth the trip in! There was a good crowd so it is best to register beforehand read more

It is barely a museum and the gist of the show is to get you to buy the props after. The show is almost entirely prop magic and not worth the price at all. Way to cramped for a show and about 2 other rooms consisted of the "museum". The audience participation wasnt bad, but overall would not recommend. read more

"Over the top weird." We dropped in to the "museum" in 2012 and we stayed to watch the "show". How it is that they have the right to present a show about Harry Houdini I do not know... but all I can say is that you will most likely never see anything like this again. The "museum is basically a collection of Houdini memorabilia in a residential home in Scranton, Pennsylvania of all places. Is it worth the visit? Yes, if you are obsessed with Harry Houdini. No, if you expect to find a museum in any sense of the word. read more

Was told the museum is only opened on the weekend this time a year and only to groups. We were told we had to leave. Would it have killed you to post some winter hours on you site. It took me 6 hours to get here. Then I was told to go home. read more

My husband and I are big fans of Harry Houdini so a visit to this museum was a must. We were not disappointed. The owners are famous magicians themselves, Dorothy Dietrich and John Bravo the great!! What an informative and entertaining tour. Both kept us under their spells for over 3 hours. A great magic show is included in the price of admission. They both made us laugh so much. This museum holds so much memorabilia from Houdini as well as information on other magicians. What a pleasure to meet Dorothy and John. They are such treasures in the magic community. If you love Houdini or just a fan of magic then do not miss this stop. Fun for kids of all ages. read more

SUPER AWESOME! The true pride of North Scranton. Great place for a spooky date, but make reservations,they sell out way in advance,like weeks even! read more

This place is awesome. My kids love watching magic and wanted to stop on our way through. What a great find. The two performers were amazing. The tour was very interesting. If you are in the Scranton area, would definitely recommend. read more

The Houdini museum is a hidden gem!! I stumbled upon it on a google search one day. I won't lie, It seemed a bit shady from the outside of the building. But once I got inside, I was in awe. You will meet Dorothy, a magician herself; she is so bubbly has the most extensive collection of Harry Houdini items in the US. She and her partner have great stories to tell about magic and all of the items in the museum. She also puts on a magic show at the end, and encourages guests in the audience to participate. It's off the beaten path, and nothing like a traditional museum. Definitely a must see! read more

Awesome good time! Charming in a quirky low-budget Wes Anderson kind of a way. Two people who run it are super nice and perfectly strange. If you keep your tongue firmly in cheek they will too. read more

This is a negative experience on this place was unorganized had us wait outside they while the finished settting up on top the magician was very rude towards some of the guest a 2 year old and there mom and was ask to leave and overcharged for a little girls birthday party it was the most negative experience I do not recommended this place at all to no one people save your money and for your trouble after severeal complaints the family should get some type of refund a huge apology for this disaster of a party by the staff read more

This is a not to be missed experience you and your family will remember for a lifetime! Good entertainment like this is quite hard to find anywhere, and from the outside, you wouldn't expect to find it in Scranton, yet if you give it a chance, you'll discover something REALLY special there. There really is nothing like a good live magic show in a small room. Just some tips to make the most of the experience: You really need to follow the directions on their website for the best experience. Arrive by 1pm, catch the movie, do the tour of the artifacts, and see the live show that follows. Parking: yeah, they have parking. You need to go around the corner, and down the alleyway behind the building. Keep your eyes peeled, and you'll spot the rear of the building with some parking spaces. It's easy to go right past it. Remember that if you park first, you may be parked in. But everyone leaves the show at the same time anyway, so that's no big deal. Food: we ate at Bull's Head Pizza. It's on the same side of the street as the Houdini museum, across from Domino's (blech). The place looks like it was a trailer, but the pizza is true New York style (this coming from a New Yorker), and the garlic knots are some of the best I've ever had. Heck, my kids who won't eat anything loved their chicken fingers. read more

My wife, grandson and I went to the museum. We all enjoyed it. Scranton was a great week end choice. We did Steamtown trains, Coal mine tour and Houndini museum. Everyone had a good time. read more

Fun afternoon! Good comedy with great jokes so old they are new again! Delivery is everything, and Dorothy Dietrich and John Bravo really know how to keep a crowd entertained. This was well worth the drive from Easton PA and a bargain to boot. Call ahead for a reservation and be sure to arrive on time - you won't want to miss a minute of the presentation and show. read more

Total waste of money. I was ridiculously bored for 3 hours. Definitely not worth 20 bucks. A couple good magic tricks surrounded by cheesy jokes and sales pitches. Not a museum. It's a house with junk in it. read more

We were taken into a room to watch the last part of the magic show which by itself it rather entertaining. But I came to see the Houdini museum. We paid almost fifteen dollars each and we were rushed through two rooms and back in to watch the magic show. I didn't get to read any of the things posted on the walls nor did I get to look at most of the items in the second room. Had I wanted to see a magic show, I would have gone somewhere for that, but I wanted to see the museum. Don't get me wrong. The people there seemed very nice and the magic show was entertaining, but I felt very much like the whole thing was just a setup to promote the magic show. I enjoy going to museums and have enjoyed magic for most of my life. Houdini has always been interesting to me. Its just a shame we didn't get to really look at the exhibits. It would appear that they have some really nice things there, but I couldn't tell anyone for sure as we didn't really get to look at things. They need to schedule more time if there are going to be larger groups in there. If you're looking for a magic show and a few laughs, then go ahead and visit. If you're looking to enjoy a museum, don't waste your money! read more

Garbage. Do not go.cheesy.awful. Extended sales pitch for out dated magic kits.$20 a head? Only magic trick they did, made money disappear

Great time for all! took Boy Scout troop to see show they had a great time show up close to seating and amazing, Dorthy and Bravo did great job with the scouts by getting them involved in show funny and very entertaining would go see again any time Jeff read more

Really great time for both kids and adults! Dorothy and Bravo are so personable. Hope to go back again

This is one of those classic roadside attractions. Great family fun. It is run as a not for profit museum dedicated to the preservation of all things Houdini. The tour once a day at 1pm lasts at least 3 hours. It starts with a brief video followed by a tour of the history of Houdini in the first room then another room of some of his personal artfacts. Then there is a major show by Dorothy a famous magician in her own right and Dick Bravo her sidekick. The two of them particularly Bravo were hilarious. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. In a good old fashioned American way. There definately was no political correctness in the show but it was all done in a good old fashioned everyone needs a sense of humor way. Even when they were hawking the gift shop items it was hilarious. And you didn't feel bad purchasing anything as it was going to support the upkeep and preservation of the museum, not lining some greedy corporation or owner looking to just profit off tourists. We wish them luck and hope the will be around a long time read more

My son and I had a wonderful afternoon at The Houdini Museum!! I can't believe the amazing talent right here in our "backyard". The magic tricks were amazing and the humor injected made it all the more delightful!! Bravo the Great and Dorothy Dietrich are as talented as they come!!! We highly recommend this experience!!! read more

As one reviewer mentioned: "hokey" is the best way to described the experience. We visited the museum as part of a large group of children and adults. We packed the place pretty tight. The show was performed by a man and woman team: The man performed some simple card tricks which was ok and entertaining and his performance was followed by a lot of heavy claims to the woman performer's greatness, then finally a performance by the woman, which was a pretty decent magic show. The hokey part came directly afterward, the man demonstrated some cheaply made magic products and proceeded to sell them, like snake oil, to a bunch of kids and tired parents. The museum was nothing more than a stuffy room full of old pictures and props supposedly used by Houdini. I left not knowing much about Houdini, with a lighter wallet, but entertained. (I would have rated the show as 4 stars were it not for the sale of the cheap magic merchandise). read more