Oscar S Teale
Oscar Schutte Teale
American
Oscar S Teale was an American architect, teacher and magician, serving as both secretary and president of the Society of American Magicians (SAM). Mr Teale, who specialized in phenomenal magic, worked for Harry Houdini as a psychical researcher. - AsNotedIn
The Centenary Collegiate Institute was among Teale's most ambitious works, and received more press coverage than any of his previous or subsequent designs. His design credits include at least 24 churches and 4 schools in New Jersey, and 15 churches in New York. (Avery Library Archives) According to an article in the October 27, 1927 edition of the Newark Evening News, he also designed the cemetery memorial for the grave of Harry Houdini, world famous magician, and personal friend of Teale's. Teale authored five books on architecture and magic, and acted as Houdini's ghost-writer for a number of books, pamphlets, articles and papers. He was an instructor at both Columbia University's Teachers' College and the Mechanics Institute in New York, and was a member of the New Jersey chapter of the American Institute of Architects. A resident of Plainfield and Bloomfield, New Jersey, Teale maintained a private architectural practice in New York City from 1881 until his death. Teale served on the Centenary College Board of Trustees from 1901 to 1908. Perhaps most significant is that Teale received his formal architectural training in the United States, studying at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of the Arts between 1864 -1866, during a time when most notable practicing architects were products of a European, Beaux Arts background. - NRHP, 13 June 1999