When radio was still new illusionist Harry Houdini used a giant radio as a prop in his 1926 act to look into the future and reveal the “Radio Girl of 1950.” That was Dorothy Young, who died this week at age 103.
Although Young died on Monday (3/21) and her passing was announced the next day by Drew University, her death didn’t receive widespread news coverage until Thursday, which happened to be the 137th anniversary of Houdini’s birth. He died the same year that Young appeared in his act, 1926.
But Dorothy Young went on to a successful stage career as a dancer and appeared in several films. She achieved fortune as well as fame and made a $13 million gift to Drew University, where her brother, Doc, was baseball coach for 22 seasons. Their father had also attended Drew.
The Dorothy Young Center for the Arts at Drew University honors her legacy.
