54 | JUNE 27 • 2024
J
N
Looking Back
From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History
accessible at thejewishnews.com
The Magic Touch
F
our years ago, I wrote about Michael Jacobson, who passed away
on June 14, 2020. For 30 years, Jacobson was a well-known
magician in Metro Detroit, who performed thousands of magic
shows around the city (see Abracadabra, July 23, 2020). In particular, he
loved performing for children. Jacobson was an entertainer who left his
mark upon a wide range of audiences.
His son, Matthew, also an accomplished magician (for a story on him,
see the Nov. 24, 1989, JN), just alerted me to a most important
event: His mother and wife of Michael, Harriet Jacobson, was
recently inducted into the American Museum of Magic Hall
of Fame on Michigan Magic Day in Vicksburg,
Michigan, on April 6, 2024. For magicians, this
is a big deal.
The American Museum of Magic can be
found in Marshall, Michigan. Established in
1978, it is “dedicated to preserving and sharing
the history of magic for audiences of all ages.” It
has the largest collection of magic artifacts in the
U.S. and has been described as the “Smithsonian
of American magic.”
I’m glad Matthew alerted me to Harriet’s big day, and this
fresh bit of Jewish Detroit history. Although I knew about
Michael and Matthew’s careers in magic, I did not know that
Harriet was also an accomplished magician. I guess one might
honestly say that the Jacobsons are a “magical family.”
Per Matthew, Harriet has “assisted over 150 magicians on many stages across the United
States” and is a prominent ambassador for the American Museum of Magic. As a practitioner,
she is active in prestigious magic organizations such as the International Brotherhood of
Magicians, the Society of American Magicians, the Invisible Lodge and the Magic Circle in
London, England.
Matthew also provided some interesting insight into women in magic. Harriet “was often
overshadowed by my dad and her son. Women in magic? It wasn’t so accepted or expected back
then, other than working as a magician’s assistant. My mom did perform as an assistant, but she
was also a pioneer who stepped out on her own as a magician.”
As always, when I hear an intriguing story, I see what I can find in the William Davidson Digital
Archive of Jewish Detroit History. So, I searched for Harriet Jacobson. One of the first items I found
was a quarter-page photo titled “It’s Magic” in the Aug. 18, 2000, JN. It shows the “Oakland County
professional magical team of Harriet and Michael Jacobson” presenting outgoing president of the
International Brotherhood of Magicians, Jerry Schnepp, with a tribute.
Harriet is also cited on many pages for her work with the Detroit chapter of ORT. This organi-
zation is the world’s largest Jewish nonprofit organization for education. More to the point, many
articles in the archive not only cite Harriet’s important contributions to ORT, but many pages note
her leadership, including serving many years as president.
I also noted one other trait that was on display in any photograph in the JN that featured Harriet.
She has a big, big smile.
So, I hope the Jacobsons like this Looking Back. I certainly don’t want any of them to make me disappear!
I’ll now perform a bit of my own magic and make a big congrats for Harriet appear on this page. Ready? Abracadabra!
Mazel tov, Harriet!
Want to learn more? Go to the DJN archives, available for free at thejewishnews.com.
Mike Smith
Alene and
Graham Landau
Archivist Chair
Harriet Jacobson
Harriet the
magician