WILD ABOUT HARRY

A Houdini movie mystery

2013-05-20T07:05:00.000-07:00

Bill Mullins over at the Genii forum has shared a very interesting discovery from a December 27, 1920 issue of the Gettysburg Times. This is an ad for what appears to be an unknown movie starring Houdini called The Marked Woman. Has Bill found evidence of a long lost Houdini film?

Maybe not. Bill suggests (and I concur) that this is actually Houdini's 1919 serial, The Mastery Mystery, recut into a 5-reel feature. The mention of supporting player Ruth Stonehouse is a giveaway.

Below is a second ad for The Marked Woman from a December 1920 Winona MN Republican-Herald. It shows even more cast members from The Master Mystery, including leading lady Margaret Marsh. However there are a few actors named here who are not in the Houdini serial. Certainly silent star Ruth Roland is not in The Master Mystery. So is The Marked Woman some kind of combination of the Houdini and Roland serials?

I suspect Houdini was unaware of The Marked Woman. The practice of recutting movies to sell as "new" attractions went on in the days of silent cinema. In fact, the only reason we have the famous plane crash footage from Houdini's The Grim Game is that it survived as one of these recut jobs -- in that case the footage was made into a short film called Desperate Chances.

Of course, it would be great to somehow find a print of The Marked Woman. The existing print of The Master Mystery is far from complete. Might The Marked Woman contain some of that missing footage?

Thank you Bill.

Pausing Houdini

2013-05-19T09:04:00.002-07:00

Here's a nice paused moment from the 1953 movie Houdini in which star Tony Curtis points to a collection of real Houdini artifacts and Hollywood mock-ups.

"Everybody knows who I am, Mama. Look at those!"

The yellow Metamorphosis poster behind Curtis is based on a real woodcut The Houdinis used early in their career. A mock-up King of Cards poster is in the upper left corner. Below that is a photo poster of Curtis/Houdini emerging from a safe based loosely on Houdini's Slander in Germany litho. The black and white photos on the table are real shots of Houdini's overboard box and suspended straitjacket escapes in New York. The display cases up front were made for the film but contain real Houdini handcuffs from the Dunninger collection.

UPDATE: I've turned the above shot into my first meme and posted it to the WILD ABOUT HARRY Facebook page. Please give it a look, like, and a share.

The Handcuff King's blog: Shipwrecked

2013-05-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

When Houdini first toured Europe during his early fame as The Handcuff King, he penned a regular column for the American newspaper the Dramatic Mirror. The columns are filled with wonderful tidbits about Vaudeville performers of the day, and also contain many revealing opinions and slice-of-life gems about Houdini himself. In a way, these can be read as if they are Houdini's own personal blog -- The Handcuff King's blog.

I'm going to conclude this series with some advice from Houdini for all you American singers, comedians, magicians, jugglers, loopers, hoopers, ventriloquists, cakewalkers, animal trainers, clay modelers, contortionists, and, yes, even escape artists, who are looking to make their names and fortunes in Europe.

It's November 12, 1903, and Houdini writes to us from foggy London:

I arrived safe and sound in England and walked around the streets of London so as to become accustomed to the foggy air. While strolling about Leicester Square, I discovered quite a few "shipwrecked" American acts. When I say "shipwrecked," I mean acts that hail from America that failed to obtain a prolongation of contract, or that came over without being booked. I think that it is only fair and just to let Mirror readers know that you have to make good in England, just the same as in any other country, and if you have a hankering to come over and cut your "capers," you should also be prepared to "do or die." Out of respect and good fellow-feeling the failures are never mentioned, and you only hear of the acts that have made good. So if you wish to come over to England, it is a good idea to have some agent book your act up for a run of six or eight months, and then you don't have to make good. You will work your contracts, and that is your finish, as an English contract is almost as good as so much money.

Houdini knew first-hand the hazard of being "shipwrecked" in England. Legend says Houdini and Bess gambled on making it in Europe and set out with no bookings and only $20 cash in their pockets. But in truth, the European trip was the idea of Martin Beck, Houdini's new manager, who had successfully shaped Houdini's act and booked him on his Orpheum vaudeville circuit in 1899.

Beck entrusted Harry's advanced European bookings to an international agent, Richard Pitrot, was supposed to travel with Harry and Bess to England. But Pitrot stood them up on the dock, and when Harry and Bess landed in the UK, they found that no contracts had been secured. They were "shipwrecked."

It took a handcuff escape at Scotland Yard (maybe true) and several auditions (definitely true) to convince C. Dundas Slater, the manager of the Alhambra Theater in Leicester Square, to give "The Handcuff King" a trial run.

The rest is history.

Also enjoy:

Recent arrivals

2013-05-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

Here are two recent additions to my Houdini book collection (which, ironically, use the same photo of Houdini on their covers). While maybe nothing new to hardcore Houdinites, these are both fairly uncommon books, so I thought I share these finds.

First up is Houdini Houdini, a book of poetry by Lynn Luria-Sukenick published by the Cleveland State University Poetry Center in 1982. A few of theses poems appeared in other publications, including the more common, Houdini, a chapbook published by Capra Press in 1973. But Houdini Houdini collects all of Luria-Sukenick's Houdini-inspired poetry. I've been looking for this one for quite a while. My search ended thanks to the good folks at Artisan Books & Bindery.

Next up is a book that is entirely new to me. This is a Russian Houdini biography by Nicholas Nadezhdin published in 2010 by Major. This is not a translation of an existing Houdini biography (for example, Russian Silverman), this book is original to Russia. The title translates to Harry Houdini: "Just a wizard." What new findings might be contained in these pages? I don't know because it's all in Russian!

"Just a wizard" is jam-packed with photos. All of the photos are familiar and appear to have been collected largely from the Library of Congress online archive. However, there is a shot on page 153 of Houdini and Bess with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that I'm not sure I've ever seen before.

Of course, when talking about Houdini foreign editions, one has to mention Arthur Moses, who has the most complete collection of Houdini foreign editions in the world, and it was Arthur who supplied me with this Russian rarity.

Be sure and check out WILD ABOUT HARRY's Bibliography for a complete (as possible) list of books about our favorite "Wizard."

Two mysteries: Hardeen's partner and a lost patriotic poster

2013-05-15T09:01:00.002-07:00

While researching my Handcuff King's blog series (watch for the final installment, "Shipwrecked", coming soon), I came across two curious items in Houdini's Dramatic Mirror column that I thought I'd single out here for closer examination.

The first involves his brother, Theo. Hardeen, whom Houdini set-up in show business during this time. In his April 29, 1905 column, Houdini writes:

Theodore Hardeen is in Paris and shortly returns to England. He has separated from his partner, and will in the future work alone.

Hardeen had a partner?

It's possible Houdini is referring to Hardeen's original female assistant, Miss Trixy, who worked with Hardeen in his version of Metamorphosis. As with the rest of his act, Houdini supplied Hardeen with "Miss Trixy" (a name Houdini would use again for a female escape artist he set-up in Germany). Miss Trixy can be spotted on the early Hardeen poster above. If we believe this image, it looks like not only did she play Bessie's part in Metamorphosis, but she also wore the same costume.

The next concerns a favorite topic here at WILD ABOUT HARRY, lost posters. On March 5, 1903 Houdini writes from Hanover, Germany:

I have had a new lithograph made and have had a small American flag put in the corner. Now everybody thinks that I am a German for no American ever has the American flag on a litho.

What litho could Houdini be talking about here? I can't think of any Houdini posters that have a small American flag in the corner. There is the poster below (from Ken Silverman's Houdini!!! The Career of Ehrich Weiss) with the Great Seal of the United States in the corner. But because this poster depicts his Washington D.C. jail escape in 1906 (in which he escaped from the death row cell of presidential assassin Charles Guiteau), it can't be the poster Houdini is talking about in 1903.

So we have evidence of a lost Houdini poster, made in 1903, possibly in Germany. Let the search commence!

The Master Mystery unlocks $545

2013-05-14T14:20:00.003-07:00

The photoplay edition of Houdini's 1919 serial The Master Mystery by Arthur B. Reeve and John W. Grey sold recently on eBay for $545. Copies of The Master Mystery do show up on eBay from time to time, but it's rare to see one that's still in the original dust-jacket.

Reprints of The Master Mystery can be purchased on Amazon. An eBook version for the Kindle is currently available for free. Unfortunately, none of these modern reprints think to feature Houdini on their covers.

Houdini on the ropes

2013-05-13T05:43:00.000-07:00

Here's a series of rare photos of Houdini freeing himself from a roped chair. These come courtesy of mega collector Arthur Moses and are quintessential shots of Houdini in action. Enjoy.

Thank you Arthur!

Don't forget that Arthur's collection and Houdini voice recordings are featured in this month's issue of MAGIC Magazine.

Here's to the moms

2013-05-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

Bess Houdini with her mother, Balbina Rahner, and mother-in-law, Cecelia Weiss, in 1909. The Houdinis took their mothers to Europe that year. By all accounts the two moms, who were both German-speaking widows with seven children, got along extremely well.

Happy Mother's Day.

Photo from Houdini His Legend and His Magic by Doug Henning.

Wimbledon holds The Seance, May 21-25

2013-05-11T08:53:00.003-07:00

The Carlton Dramatic Society presents a new Houdini-themed play by Kristen McGorry, The Seance, at the New Wimbledon Studio in the UK, May 21-25. Here's a description:

The Seance is a theatrical project that blurs the lines between reality and drama. Join Maliphant and his Dark Circus as they take you on a Spiritualistic adventure. An evening of magic, mind-reading and mystery, where we will attempt to answer the question that has raged for centuries. Is there life after death? Two friends sit on opposing sides of the debate. The world famous magician and medium-debunker Houdini, and creator of Sherlock Holmes and Spiritualist, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Together, with the help of medium Helena Fox, they embark upon an experiment. One last séance to conjure up evidence of something beyond the veil. But what begins as parlour tricks and sideshow illusion, soon takes a more sinister turn. Something wicked this way comes and it will not rest until the players have the proofs they seek. Can anyone survive the night's entertainment?

The Seance stars Richard Gladwell as Houdini, Richard Vaughan-Payne as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Toni Conyers as Bess, and Debbie Fowler as Lady Conan Doyle.

Tickets can be purchased now at ATG Tickets.

Thanks to Harry Houdini Mysteries author Daniel Stashower for the alert.

Huell + Houdini = Amazin!

2013-05-10T10:04:00.003-07:00

I loved Huell Howser and was deeply saddened when he passed away in January at age 67. For those who don't know, Huell Howser was a Southern California institution with his local PBS programs California's Gold and Visiting. His folksy and friendly manner was his signature (as was his tendency to find the most mundane things "amazin'!"), and his low-tech but always interesting and relentlessly positive shows were true comfort food TV. I really miss Huell.

In 2006 Huell visited the workshop of top illusion builder John Gaughan in Glendale, California. It was episode #1031 of Visiting and was simply called Magician.

During Huell's visit he encountered two pieces of Houdini apparatus. The first was John's beautiful reproduction of Houdini's original Water Torture Cell. Unfortunately, John did not identify the cell as being Houdini's most famous escape. Instead he only called it a "stage illusion" for a "magician." This is a shame because Huell -- who was once utterly captivated by a dog that eats Avocados -- would have certainly had a strong reaction this this amazin' piece of magic history. Instead, Huell didn't really give the cell all that much attention.

The only reason I can think that John wouldn't explain the significance of the cell is that this might have been during the time there was some controversy over the existence of the reproduction. Perhaps John didn't want to draw too much attention to the cell.

However, later in the show, Huell did spot the name of Houdini on a trunk in John's collection and was instantly drawn to it. Once again John didn't really provide much information. Perhaps it's just the nature of an illusion builder to be the keeper of secrets.

You can see both Houdini-Huell moments in the video clip below from the WILD ABOUT HARRY YouTube Channel. Enjoy.

History's Houdini will be two-day event

2013-05-10T09:21:00.000-07:00

Ad sales president Mel Berning gave the A+E Networks upfront presentation at Lincoln Center on Wednesday night and officially announced their Houdini miniseries starring Adrien Brody. One piece of new information is that History plans to broadcast the miniseries over two nights. According to TV Guide:

Adrien Brody will also star as Houdini in a two-day miniseries about the escape artist. A premiere date was not announced.

Houdini is being produced for History by veteran TV producer Gerald W. Abrams. Read more about the project here.

The Handcuff King's blog: A night at the opera and a day in Liverpool

2013-05-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

When Houdini first toured Europe during his early fame as The Handcuff King, he penned a regular column for the American newspaper the Dramatic Mirror. The columns are filled with wonderful tidbits about Vaudeville performers of the day, and also contain many revealing opinions and slice-of-life gems about Houdini himself. In a way, these can be read as if they are Houdini's own personal blog -- The Handcuff King's blog.

Houdini's letters and diaries reveal that he could be at times quite introspective and also a keen observer of people. He was able to express what he saw and felt quite well. Happily, he also had these moments while writing his column for the Dramatic Mirror.

Below are a couple of passages that reveal the inner Houdini. I love this kind of thing because while we know what Houdini did, it's rare to be able to get inside his head and see how he saw the world around him.

First up, Houdini writes from Dresden, Saxony on October 30, 1903:

At last I have managed to see an opera here in Saxony, and at the Hof Opera House, which means Royal Opera House. I took in Fra Diavolo. The name makes me think of a "Loop the Loop" act, but it was nothing of the kind. The night I saw the opera the house was not well filled, and during the intermission to my astonishment I saw ladies in full evening dress unwrapping ham sandwiches from newspapers and calmly eating them in the vestibule. As all looked as if they belonged to the "400," it was a better sight to me than watching the opera. It looked to me like a small-sized comic opera in the vestibules to see all the well-dressed ladies eating their belegter brodchens, and they seemed to enjoy themselves.

While the above showed an amusingly observational Houdini, the following shows how he could also be introspective and even melancholy. It also suggests a man who might have been haunted by the fear of falling back into the poverty that he had escapes only a few short years before.

On December 5, 1904, Houdini writes from Brighton in the UK:

While walking in Liverpool I looked into a pawnshop and a large American eagle on top of a medal caught my eye. It was the once celebrated medal worth about $3,500, that was given to the minstrel man Sam I. Hague. It bears the inscription: "presented to Sam Hague by a few friends that know him. St. James Hall. Liverpool. May 20, 1875." It tells a mournful tale, lying there in the window, of a once famous minstrel. He has been dead a few years and always refused to part with this while living, but now that he has gone his widow has been forced to part with this once cherished trinket. Seeing this medal in the window brought back to my mind the medals that are pawned in New York with a well-known "uncle" in the Bowery, who displays with pride presentation cups, loving chains and championship prizes of all sorts. Many a time I have walked to this place and looked at the silent remembrances of past favorites and never have I forgotten the fact that "life is but and empty dream."

Ironically, when Houdini died, his own widow had money troubles and a healthy collection of trophies and prsenations cups from Houdini's storied career. But while Bess sold the house at 278 and part of Houdini's book collection, she held onto the trophies. Perhaps she knew all too well Houdini's fear of ending up a symbol of "life's empty dream" in the window of a Bowery pawn shop.

Coming next: Shipwrecked.

Also enjoy:

The Great Houdini reappears as an eBook

2013-05-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

In 1999 The Great Houdini by Alan London played a limited run at The Stella Adler Theater in Hollywood. The London Theater Works production starred Jim Bentley as Houdini and Kim Lores as Bess. I was fortunate enough to see this play and I enjoyed it very much. I especially enjoyed seeing Jim perform the Milk Can -- the only time I've seen the Milk Can performed live (it's pretty harrowing).

Now you can discover (or rediscover) The Great Houdini as an eBook available on Amazon. Here's the description:

THE GREAT HOUDINI
A Play in Two Acts

The newspaper headlines are being barked, "Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Houdini dies! Death ends career of the King of Magic". At least that's what the headlines read. What they didn't tell you is that on this very day, the Eve of Halloween, as his body is being prepared for his final resting place, the irate spirit of Houdini wanders the stage of his last performance before his untimely death. He's not expecting much - after all he's dead. But a scruffy young runaway he encounters is not. The lad is evading a thug he swindled while performing a con. Houdini's last challenge is to unlock the young boys imagination and set him on the straight and narrow. He must do this in order for him to be united with his dearly departed mother, which for years he had attempted to do by attending séances. However, the boy has other ideas. Houdini takes the boy through his struggles from early childhood, to performance in seedy vaudeville shows, to meeting and performing tricks and escape with his wife, and finally leading up to his final performance. The boy finally learns from his mentor, thus allowing Houdini to be united with his mother. The boy turns out to be another prominent figure that is only divulged at the end (Orson Welles).

Purchase The Great Houdini eBook on Amazon.

Speaking of The Great Houdini, check out the blog A Note From Paul Gross about the making of the props for this production.

Italian edition of The Right Way to Do Wrong

2013-05-06T16:20:00.000-07:00

Houdini's The Right Way to Do Wrong has been republished in a new Italian edition by ADD Editore as Il modo giusto di sbagliare.

The book includes an introduction by Italian singer Lorenzo "Jovanotti" Cherubini (odd choice). Translation is by A. Maestrini. Cover art uses Houdini's well-known Europe's Eclipsing Sensation poster.

I don't have the book in hand, so I'm not sure whether this is Houdini's original 1906 book or a translation of the new collection of Houdini's writings published under this same name recently by The Neversink Library.

You can purchase Il modo giusto di sbagliare from Amazon.it or Amazon.co.uk.

A new twist in Houdini vs. Houdina

2013-05-05T12:52:00.000-07:00

The story of Houdini's altercation at the Houdina Company in New York is well-known. It's a Rashomon-like tale in which, according to the owners, Houdini burst into their office wild-eyed, accused them of using his name, and started to break the place apart.

Houdini's version of the story is that he and his secretary, Oscar Teale, went down to the Houdina office to object to the use of the name because he was receiving their bills. He was threatened by four "Gorillas" and a scuffle broke out.

Said Houdini, "Two of the men started towards me and two were behind. Teale was thrown up against the wall, staggering. Had no idea I was smashing up chandeliers. All I thought was to save myself. I picked up a chair and acted in real life the scenes that I have portrayed before the camera."

The incident made the New York Times on July 22, 1925:

But now our friend Dean Carnegie at The Magic Detective has uncovered a remarkable third version of the story. Dean has been in contact with the son of Francis P. Houdina (a fictitious name) who says the entire thing was staged!

You'll have to visit Dean's site to read the details of this latest twist in our Rashomon tale, but this is a major discovery. My only reservation is that, as you can read above, the incident resulted in legal action. Sure, Houdini frequently staged events...but to involve the legal system in a publicity stunt? Seems even Houdini wouldn't have crossed that line.

Nevertheless, Dean's evidence is compelling and this is a true scoop, so click on over and read Clearing the name of HOUDINA at The Magic Detective.

Is this Nathan Weiss?

2013-05-05T11:12:00.000-07:00

This curious cabinet photo was recently listed on eBay as being Houdini's brother, Nathan Weiss. The seller notes that written on the back is: "Nathan Weiss, brother Houdinì 1904."

The photo was listed twice for $89 and did not sell, probably because this doesn't look much like Nathan. Below is a shot of the Weiss brothers probably around 1910. Nathan is the heavyset brother on the end.

Leo, Theo, Harry, Bill and Nathan.

What do we think? Is this Nathan? If not, why the writing on the back?

Brody talks Houdini

2013-05-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

This is Guernsey has the first comments from actor Adrien Brody about his starring role in the upcoming History Channel miniseries, Houdini.

"We are in the beginning stages of that, but it’s very exciting and I have a lot of work ahead of me. There’s a tremendous amount of research necessary to play an actual character, who is someone well-known and loved and revered In interpreting someone like Houdini, there are a lot of specifics that goes beyond imagination in that sense and there are a lot of details that need to be incorporated, and have to become essentially a part of me in order for me to interpret and portray him faithfully."

Houdini is being produced for History by veteran TV producer Gerald W. Abrams (J.J. Abrams' father). Read more about the project here.

Rare 1986 Houdini documentary available on DVD

2013-05-03T05:56:00.000-07:00

In 1986 Wisconsin PBS produced what I think is still one of the better Houdini documentaries. The 30 minute doc features many unpublished photos (below is a screencap of one) and provides a nice look inside the Sidney Radner collection at his home in Holyoke. Watch Sid page through Houdini's crumbling first scrapbook and try to yank a pair of handcuffs from a massive tangle of cuffs in an old suitcase! Wild stuff.

The documentary also features wonderful footage of Doug Henning performing Metamorphosis in Appleton's Houdini Plaza, and nice footage of the Houdini Hall of Fame in Canada. We also get the full story of how Harry Blackstone's overboard box wound up in the basement of 278, as told by Harry Blackstone Jr. The documentary also contains what might be the first ever on-camera interview with Marie Blood, giving us a nice look inside her home with photos of her "Uncle Harry" covering one wall.

And apart from making the common narrative error of conflating Houdini's mother's death with his anti-spiritualist crusade (and thereby jumping over 10 years of his life), the documentary does a very good job of getting the facts right.

The documentary was first released on VHS in 1988 by Congress Home Video as Houdini: The Greatest Illusionist of All Time (which you can still buy on Amazon). In 2008 Chip Taylor Communications released a digitally enhanced DVD which, believe it or not, I only now recently discovered.

Chip Taylor sells their DVDs with various licenses, including broadcast, but the most requested is for "Home/Personal Use," which is how you can get a copy of Houdini for $24.95.

Just click on over to Chip Taylor Communications and email for details on how to order and arrange payment.

Houdini and The Doctor meet again!

2013-05-01T10:36:00.000-07:00

While Houdini has been name-checked several times on the BBC series, Doctor Who (celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year), it has always surprised me that the Time Lord and the Handcuff King have never been directly teamed-up in any TV, book, or audio adventure.

Happily, this changed back in December with an online short story posted on the official Doctor Who website called, Houdini and The Space Cuckoos. But now we have an even more substantial Who-dini mash-up with Destiny of the Doctor 5: Smoke and Mirrors.

This is the fifth part of an exclusive audio series produced by Big Fish and AudioGo. Written by Steve Lyons and performed by Janet Fielding and Tim Beckmann, Smoke and Mirrors features The 5th Doctor, as played by Peter Davison, and his companions Tegan, Nyssa and Adric. Here's the official plot description:

The Doctor answers a psionic distress call sent from England in the 1920s. There, in the environs of a fairground, he is reunited with an old friend: Harry Houdini. To Adric and Nyssa the name means very little, but to the Doctor's companion Tegan he is a legend. Escape artist extraordinaire, Houdini's reputation will last for decades. But how does Houdini know so much about Tegan herself? Is it really just guesswork, as he says? Is Houdini right to be concerned about the fairground's fortune teller, who claims to have supernatural skills? Both he and the Doctor suspect an alien influence may be at work. What neither the Doctor nor his friends realise is that, somewhere in the shadows, a sinister and all too familiar presence is lying in wait for them...

Destiny of the Doctors 5: Smoke and Mirrors is available now in the UK from Amazon.co.uk. It will be released in the U.S. on June 11 and can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com.

So now we have a Who-dini adventure in print and audio. Could a TV appearance be far off?

Only a Time Lord can tell.

For a complete list of Doctor Who-Houdini references check out TardisWikia.

LINK: Houdini v city police chief: guess who won?

2013-05-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

This post on the blog Medway Memories features two photos of Houdini from the Medway Council’s CityArk archive that I've never seen. Click the headline to have a look at Medway Memories.

Moses makes May MAGIC

2013-04-30T12:50:00.000-07:00

The May 2013 issue of MAGIC Magazine features an article by Bill Winters that takes us inside the extraordinary Houdini collection of Arthur Moses. The article includes photos of Arthur's magnificent Houdini Room in his home in Texas (I'm honored to say I've worshiped in this temple), as well as covers of Houdini foreign editions that I guarantee you have never seen. Here's a tease:

THE MANY EDITIONS OF HARRY HOUDINI

Arthur Moses not only collects Houdiniana, he specializes in Houdini in print -- every edition of Houdini literature in print. Plus, Moses shares the story of the complete known Houdini voice recordings, along with a transcript.

The article about the complete Houdini voice recordings is written by Arthur himself and includes the full transcript. You'll remember Arthur revealed the complete recordings last year at the Magic Collectors Weekend in Chicago.

You'll also find coverage of Penn & Teller's recent star ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Milt Larsen's latest installment of "50 Years at the Castle", and much more.

The May issue of MAGIC is available now from the official MAGIC Magazine website.

S.A.M. breaks (news of) Houdini's bust

2013-04-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

The Summer 2013 issue of The Society of American Magician's North Atlantic Region Newsletter has an article about the resurfacing of Houdini's original grave bust, which was smashed (and "stolen"?) in 1975. Of course, that resurfacing happened here on WILD ABOUT HARRY, and not without controversy (click to read the original post and comments). The newsletter features photos from that post and gives WAH a nice credit and link.

With circulation of 1,950 readers worldwide, I'm hoping this will lead some S.A.M. members to discover my blog for the first time. If you're one of them -- welcome!

S.A.M. North Atlantic Newsletter published and edited by Eric DeCamps (click to enlarge).

Speaking of the S.A.M., they have recently launched a new and very active Facebook Page. Be sure and check that out and give it a Like.

Thanks to Eric DeCamps for allowing me to share this page from the S.A.M. North Atlantic Newsletter.

Houdini escapes D.C.

2013-04-29T09:06:00.002-07:00

Here's a nice way to wrap-up coverage of the Washington Symposium on Magic History. My friend and fellow Houdinite, Jeff Abraham, alerts me to this photo of Houdini's suspended straitjacket escape in Washington, D.C. on January 12, 1922. You'll notice this is different from the more familiar shot showing him bound in the jacket. In this photo he has just broken free!

This is an original 4 X 5 photograph that's available for purchase at Gotta Have It! for $1,950. Handwritten in pencil on the back is, "Return to, BML Ernst, 25 W.43rd St. NYC." (Bernard Ernst was Houdini's lawyer.)

That's a pretty steep price for an unsigned photo, if you ask me. But, hey, it's Washington, it must be inflation!

Thank you Jeff.

Houdini's Russian contract sells for $10,000

2013-04-28T11:12:00.001-07:00

The Washington Symposium on Magic History concluded yesterday with an auction that saw the sale of a major Houdini artifact.

According to a report on the conference from attendee Dean Carnegie at The Magic Detective, Mike Caveney offered for sale the original contract, written in Russian, for Houdini's one and only tour of that country in 1903. What makes this contact especially attractive is that it's signed both "Harry Houdini" and "Ehrich Weiss." According to Dean:

"It sold for $10,000 to Bill Kalush, but word is he purchased it for someone else who has a big ass warehouse in Las Vegas, at least that's the gossip going around."

Head on over to The Magic Detective to read Dean's full report. Congrats to Ken Trombly for hosting what sounded like a very successful and memorable magic event.

UPDATE: David Saltman has posted photos of the contract and explains how it helps solve a Houdini mystery on his blog The Houdini File.

Bill Kalush shares Houdini gold in Washington

2013-04-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

Conjuring Arts Research Center founder and The Secret Life of Houdini author William Kalush wowed attendees of the Washington Symposium on Magic History yesterday with his talk on Houdini. According to mega collector Arthur Moses, Bill's talk included fresh revelations and new unseen material.

Bill has done some research in the David Copperfield collection and has rediscovered some Houdini rarities that were misfiled years ago. First and foremost is a 112 page manuscript written by Houdini in 1924 called The Light Séance. Apparently this manuscript is connected with a 50-60 page Library of Congress manuscript on Spiritualism attributed to Houdini (but most likely written by Oscar Teale). The lost manuscript took up the first part of Bill's presentation.

Bill then showed a clip from a 1928 National Film Institute of Australia film titled Knights of the Air. The Paramount 2 reeler contains a lengthy segment about Houdini's Australian flights with film footage that is much more complete than the spotty fragments we have come to know.

Bill then revealed fresh information about Houdini's father, including a new unseen photo of Mayer Samuel Weiss (which makes this only the second known photo). Bill spoke of how he had uncovered a reliable sourced contact with Houdini relatives in Hungary from 1931 who were able to verify family history. According to these relatives, Houdini's father, who was a lawyer in Hungary (not a Rabbi), left the country because he failed a legal exam.

Thanks to Arthur Moses for these details of what sounded like an incredible talk. Hopefully Bill will be sharing these discoveries in print at some point. The Secret Life of Houdini Revisited? Bring it!

The Washington Symposium on Magic History concludes today.