"The Margery Box was never in Margery's possession, so I do not have it. When I went to a Houdini Seance in Las Vegas (I think 1998?) I was told that someone living in Vegas had the box in a storage unit there. I tried the telephone number later but it was disconnected. Presumably it still exist and hopefully someone will bring it to light. As an aside - my grandfather (her son) understood Houdini to have put the ruler in the box. I guess we will never know what really happened that day."
Okay, to the person who may have the "Margie Box" in storage, here's a plea. How about letting me come out to Vegas and photograph it for WILD ABOUT HARRY? I know it would be a thrill for all Houdini and Margery fans to see this historic item. In return, I'll promote whatever you'd like me to promote on the blog. If this is doable, please shoot me an email. We could make magic history by bringing this back into the light.
Thank you, Anna!
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The plot thickens. Let's see who has a magic collection in Las Vegas? Copperfield, but I dont think it's there. Norm Nielson, but his is mostly posters. How about Geno Munari?
ReplyDeleteI was thinking Geno as well. Or Dixie Dooley.
ReplyDeleteIts a mystery own how owns it.
ReplyDeleteI posted this over at the Genii forums, although I rarely get any reaction to anything I post there. Still, maybe someone will have an idea which collection this is/was.
ReplyDeleteI believe Collins years later stated that Houdini told him to put the ruler in the box.
ReplyDeleteI've never believed that quote. It's never been sourced, and as far as I know, Collins was never interviewed publicly. Even if he was, he would NEVER give up any of Houdini's secrets, including this one. Collins was fiercely loyal to Houdini and Hardeen.
DeleteAh, I found the source. This Collins confession story first appeared in Gresham. Gresham's source was magician Fred Keating. We now know Keating was VERY close to the Crandons, so...
Deletedue they want to be identified, if not just keep them quite on who they are just show us the box.
ReplyDeleteYes, if they'd prefer to remain anonymous, that would be fine. Just let us have a look at the box.
DeleteDixie had the Margery Table but I think it's since been sold.
ReplyDeleteYou would think the table and box would have traveled together.
DeleteThe box probably went to the Jersey warehouse after Houdini's trips to Boston. No point in using it after the Margery episode cooled off. From there, its anybody's guess. Hardeen may have sold it to pay off a gambling debt. He probably didn't think that Radner would be interested in a wooden box.
ReplyDeleteSee, I would think Houdini would carry it around on tour and use it as part of his lobby displays as an artifact of his most famous exposé. Who knows, maybe he did?
DeleteIf it is still around, I would love to know its journey.
Houdini used it in his spirit lectures of 1925 and Houdini might have been used it in his three-in-one show.
ReplyDeleteSee page 350 in the Kellock book.
Cool. Thanks Kevin. This could just be a reference to his Symphony Hall show in January 1925, but the mention of Davenport techniques could mean it was a fixed part of his lecture tour. Yeah, I think it's very possible he used it in the three-in-one show.
DeleteBTW, I have received no emails about this. :(
ReplyDelete