Houdini props sell in Vegas auction

Several rare Houdini’s props and posters were sold at The Pugliese Pop Culture Collection auction (advertised as the finest collection focusing on 20th Century pop culture ever privately assembled) held this weekend in Las Vegas.

Among the rarities where a full color billboard advertising Houdni’s straight-jacket escape ($27,500.00), an untypical milk can ($13,000.00), a travailing show truck ($20,000.00), a mailbag ($8,000.00), and a burlap full body straight jacket ($22,000.00).

Surprisingly, one item that didn’t sell was the original packing crate Houdini used in his "Overboard Box" escape stunts. This is certainly a historic piece of Houdiniana, and considering the opening price of $20,000 was below some of the above realized prices, it’s surprising no one bid. The auction estimate was $40,000 to $60,000.

Many of the items in auction were once on display at the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls, Canada. Several items were first sold at a Butterfield & Butterfield auction in Los Angeles in 1999.

Death Defying Acts premiers down under

The new film Death Defying Acts, starring Guy Pearce as Houdini and Catherine Zeta-Jones as a Scottish psychic, had its world premiere at the State Theater in Sydney Australia last week.The premiere was attended by the stars and the film’s director, Gillian Armstrong. A VIP after-party was held at the Zeta Bar at the Sydney Hilton.

No word yet on when the film will be released in the U.S.

Kid Houdini graphic novel in June

Fantastic news for fans of the excellent online comic, Kid Houdini and the Silver Dollar Misfits. Chemistry Set has announced that an in-print edition will be published in June.

Furthermore, a special print copy of Kid Houdini and the Silver Dollar Misfits will be available as part of Viper Comics’ Free Comic Book Day Book on May 3 (cover art left).

Chemistry Set urges everyone to let your comic shops know about the Free Comic Book Day edition of Kid Houdini and the Silver Dollar Misfits and ask them to order it for you. A show of demand might be the only way to ensure you get a copy. Then watch out for the June edition in the next issue of Previews!

Link: Houdini exhumation to test for poison

After a year of no word, the Houdini exhumation is suddenly back in the "news."