The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

(Left to right) Chanin the Magician & Neil Harvey
WFIL-TV
1952

(Click on the photo to see a larger version)

This picture was taken at the WFIL-TV studios at 46th and Market Streets in West Philadelphia and dates from about 1952. On the left is well-known magician Chanin. His "assistant" (on the right) for this program was WFIL-TV's staffer Neil Harvey, a member of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia.

Chanin was in reality Jack Chanin. He had a "Studio of Magic" in Room 618 of 130 Juniper Street in Center City Philadelphia. It was the city's oldest magic studio and closed in 1981 when Chanin retired at the age of 73. He was born in 1908 and passed away in 1997. He was a magician, teacher, dealer and inventor and his speciality was "sleeving," that is slight of hand. He authored several books about magic and marketed hundreds of magic items that he invented. He also performed as Cha-Nin, an "Asian" magician.

One other thing, the sponsor of the broadcast was Reisman's Pretzels, owned by the family of Broadcast Pioneers member Barry Reisman.

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com