(Hank) Moorehouse 1934 – 2011 - The Society of American Magicians

farewell hank
When I became president of Parent
Assembly 1, I was called upon to
perform a Broken Wand ceremony for
a departed member. I had known him
as a fun performer, but never really got
to know the “man,” behind his tricks.
Since that time I have performed the
ceremony far too many times. As my
years with the Society add up, I have
gotten to know many of the magicians
who have left us, and each year the
ritual gets harder to perform. I can
recite the words by heart.
In July, I suddenly heard and felt
the words in my heart and not on my
lips. “One we talked with yesterday
is silent today.” Hank Moorehouse,
“who walked with us, has gone on
without us.”
Our friendship lasted many years.
Each and every one of us around the globe
has been touched by the real magic of this
man. His unselfish giving and straightforward
manner endeared him to us all. His
even temper never got out of hand. He
and Jackie have always been great hosts
76 M-U-M Magazine
THE DEAN’S DIARY
GEORGE SCHINDLER
to magicians from around the planet.
Although he spoke no foreign languages,
he was a world traveler who did business
as a magic dealer and a consultant; he
never missed a trip to his favorite place,
Sindelfingen in Germany. His generosity
extended beyond all limits. Hank opened
doors for me, introducing me to foreign
Photo by Dale Farris
dealers and negotiating deals for me. Years
ago, when I was producing shows, he could
always be counted on to recommend great
acts.
In his travels he found acts for his
sixteen years as producer of the S.A.M.
convention shows; he also booked talent
for the FFFF convention and the Abbott’s
Get-Together. Hank, Brad Jacobs, David
Goodsell, and I spent many conventions
together as “magic widowers,” while our
wives took over the registration desks as
the “Unholy Four.”
While you are reading this, I will
be at the Abbott’s Get-Together, where
Hank really shone. He never asked us
to have dinner with him each evening
before the shows. He just said, “Look
it! Meet me at the showroom at 5
o’clock; we are eating at the Lakeside.”
On our way to visit our kids in
Chicago, the Moorehouse home in
White Pigeon was the “open house”
place to stop, have a Manhattan with
Hank, and visit with Jackie. Hank was
a good cook. Occasionally we’d stay
over in the guest room, where more
magicians than there are cards in a
deck have slept! We are not sure about
George Washington.
There are too many wonderful
memories to share in this small space.
At the Pittsburgh convention (which,
as I write this, is a week away) there
will surely be a great sharing of
Hank Moorehouse stories. He touched
many, many lives. “No greater tribute can
be paid to any man than this; to say that
he lives on in the hearts of his friends.”
Hank Moorehouse will live forever in our
hearts. �