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83 Queensland history interviews and going strong

By JOL Admin | 21 July 2014

State Library of Queensland's project coordinator Myles Sinnamon has recently completed 83 interviews with ABC Radio, talking about Queensland history every Tuesday night at 9 pm.  An employee for more than 20 years, Myles brings out ephemera, curiosities, and knowledge of collections from the John Oxley Library to share.

Myles Sinnamon shares Queensland history

Myles Sinnamon shares Queensland history

Myles said that his favourite of all the interviews has been a show called “Do you believe in magic?” This show was all about magicians, hypnotists and escape artists who visited Queensland in the 1920s and 1930s.

Magic tricks, explosive submarine charges, thousands of spectators, and the Victoria bridge garnered huge attention in Brisbane for traveling magicians and escape artists. In Rockhampton, an escape artist escaped from a straightjacket whilst a speeding car headed towards him.

Toby Ryan magician and escapologist Rockhampton 19251935

Toby Ryan magician and escapologist Rockhampton 19251935

Hypnotists travelled Queensland extensively during the time as well, with good reviews in local papers,  and enjoyed extensively by communities for many years. Volunteers often offered to be hypnotised and apparently were induced to eat imaginary peanuts, according to one news story. Sports teams were also hypnotised and convinced to beat opponents whilst hypnotised, including the Atherton hockey team, to encourage a win.

The radio shows are lively, fun and full of fascinating stories of Queensland history not available anywhere else. Link to a recent JOL blog post by Maxine Fisher to read more about the interviews Myles has done on the ABC.

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