Monday, May 12, 2025
LINK: HHCE highlights from Magic Collector Expo
Sunday, May 11, 2025
A spectacular fastening
I first shared this image back in 2013 as part of my Unpublished Houdini series. But I felt like it was worth a repeat. You may think you've seen this photo, but look again closely. Notice the additional ropes from Houdini's wrists to his neck and the chair sitting in front of the ladder. This is actually an unpublished and uncropped shot taken during the same session. But this shot gives us a much better look at the studio setting for this "spectacular fastening."
If you like this, let me know in the comments and maybe I'll repeat some of the other terrific images that came to us via the generosity of John Hinson in 2013.
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"Strange as it may appear, I have found that the more spectacular the fastening to the eyes of the audience, the less difficult the escape really proves to be. For example, the ladder tie here shown gives the impression of an almost unescapable restraint, while in reality it is simply a slow but sure proposition."
- Houdini, Magical Rope Ties and Escape (1921)
If you like this, let me know in the comments and maybe I'll repeat some of the other terrific images that came to us via the generosity of John Hinson in 2013.
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Thursday, May 8, 2025
Cover reveal! Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899
Today, I'm excited to reveal the final cover of Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899, which will be published by Mike Caveney's Magic Words. The talented Michael Albright designed the cover and book.
The book will be sold exclusively by Mike Caveney's Magic Words. The release date and price have yet to be determined. The hope is to have the book available in time for MAGIC Live in August, although it could be much sooner. I will give my Patreon supporters an early heads-up when the purchase link goes live. We expect the special edition to sell out fast!
The book runs 376 pages and contains over 200 images. Every page of Houdini's first diary from the collection of Dr. Bruce Averbook is reproduced, along with material from several other major magic collections, including the David Copperfield collection. I have annotated the entire diary so you can follow the remarkable story of Houdini's early career toiling in dime museums, circuses, medicine shows, and even seance chambers. The book contains a wealth of new information and tells the story of Houdini's early career like no other.
Attendees at this week's Magic Collector Expo in Las Vegas got a first look at the book. Below is a pic of publisher Mike Caveney with the unbound proof edition and some reactions below.
David Charvet: I shared a dealer booth with Mike at the Expo and was able to look at the proof copy of the book closely. In a word: SPECTACULAR.
Patrick Daniel: It is absolutely amazing!!!! I cannot wait to get a copy.
Lance Rich: It's verrry cool. I haven't checked it out in depth.... but the slipcase and design are beautiful.
Joe Notaro: It's truly amazing! Can't wait for it to come out!!
Want more? I've shared the evolution of this cover design with some early concepts on my Patreon.
Thanks to Charles Greene III for the convention photo.
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Houdini Legacy Card Deck Kickstarter
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Dorothy Dietrich honored in New York City
Dorothy and Dick Brookz run the famed Houdini Museum in Scranton, PA. Dorothy is also the head of the S.A.M. committee that looks after Houdini's gravesite and is currently working to get the large crack in the exedra repaired in time for the 100th anniversary of Houdini's death next year.
Monday, May 5, 2025
Houdini diary book in the wild!
I'm not at the expo this year, so attendees will be seeing the book before I do. Let me know what you think! I'll reveal the final cover here on Thursday.
This year's expo includes a tour of David Copperfield's International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts. David was very kind in allowing us to use several rarities from his Houdini collection in Escaping Obscurity.
Friday, May 2, 2025
Where Houdini wasn't
Recently, four unusually nice Houdini letters sold at RR auctions online. Among them was a letter to Faber Birren in Chicago in which Houdini included the route for his current vaudeville tour. What stood out to me was that the list showed Houdini playing a split week in Sacramento and Fresno starting March 25, 1923.
That never happened. Houdini pulled a vanishing act and played Oakland this week instead. I don't know why his route changed, but it's likely Houdini was happy about it as it involved less travel. Oakland was a short hop over the bay from his previous booking in San Francisco, and a full week is better than a split.
However, this meant Houdini would never play Sacramento. He would have likely done a suspended straitjacket escape in the city as well. You were so close, Sacramento! But at least Sacramentans got to see Hardeen at the Pantages in 1908 and 1910. He even jumped off the Yolo bridge.
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| The Sacramento Bee, Nov. 9, 1908. |
Of course, I wanted to know precisely where Houdini would have appeared had he played these dates. This was a little tricky to find as the Orpheum circuit never built its own theater in either city. They used existing theaters that changed over the years. But with some digging, I discovered that the Clunie Theater on 811 K Street was the home of Orpheum vaudeville in Sacramento at the time of Houdini's planned appearance. (They would move to the State Theater later that year.) Below is the only photo I could find of the Clunie.
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| www.performingartsarchive.com |
Instead of Houdini, the Clunie featured William Gibson and Regina Connelli in the comedic skit "One Night in Spring" as the headliners. Gibson & Connelli also filled Houdini's spot in Fresno starting on March 29th. I'm sure they were the cat's pajamas!
In Fresno, Orpheum vaudeville was featured at the White Theater at 1317 Broadway. Houdini would give his spiritualism lecture at the White Theater on Oct. 26, 1924, so Houdini did eventually make it to Fresno, if only for one day.
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| The Fresno Morning Republican, Oct. 26, 1924. |
Both theaters are now long gone.
Thursday, May 1, 2025
The Houdini Magical Hall of Fame fire 30 years ago today
Our friend Tom Interval at Interval Magic reminds me that today marks a grim anniversary. It was 30 years ago tonight that the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls, Canada, burned in a late fire. Among the Houdini rarities destroyed was the original Water Torture Cell. Below is the news as it appeared in The Toronto Star the following day.
Do you remember when and where you learned the news that the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame was no more?
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| The Toronto Star, May 2, 1995. |
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Wednesday, April 30, 2025
"Guess who's back?"
This post from the Winchester Mystery House Instagram speaks for itself. That happens to be an original Houdini poster!
This beautiful lithograph was displayed at the Winchester Mystery House's museum in the 1950s-60's. It was their way of honoring Houdini's famous 1924 visit and the fact that Houdini himself suggested the name "Mystery House." But at some point, it slipped into storage and was forgotten. It was rediscovered several years ago and put back on display in their cafe. But Covid closed the cafe, and the poster was once again out of public view. But now he's back! Worth the price of admission alone.
An annotated newspaper clipping that Houdini mailed to the House after his visit is currently not on display. That is kept in their archives.
I got a nice look at both these rarities when I visited the Winchester House to shoot my Ghost Adventures interview last year. I've shared photos on my Patreon below.
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
The Impossible Man premieres in Sanremo, Italy
Playbill reports that the Houdini musical The Impossible Man made its world premiere at the Ariston Theatre in Sanremo, Italy. The play was performed in English. Producers are hoping to open a full run of the show on October 31, 2026, marking the centennial of Houdini's death.
The musical features Ryan Silverman as Houdini, Alice Mistroni as Bess, and Lewis Griffiths as Theo. The show is written and directed by Federico Bellone, with music by Giovanni Maria Lori. More than 20 stage illusions were devised by Paolo Carta. Choreography is by Gillian Bruce.
Monday, April 28, 2025
Going ape over Houdini
Here's a fun clipping from the May 7, 1977, The Observer, about the growing popularity of magic. This was during the second year of my Houdini obsession, so I can attest to its accuracy. I even got one of those cool King of Cards posters! (Still have it.)
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| The Observer (La Grande, Oregon), May 7, 1977. |
May 1977... What else happened that month to make kids go ape? Probably nothing.
In what era did you go "ape" for Houdini or magic? Let us know in the comments below.
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Saturday, April 26, 2025
Houdini traveling trunk rolls away with $48,000
The bidding was fast and furious at Potter & Potter's auction of Houdiniana and Magic Memorabilia today. As expected, the Houdini traveling trunk, which was featured on the catalog cover, was the top seller at a $48,000 (hammer price).
The real surprise was a 1925 challenge playbill from Gimbel Bros, which sold for a whopping $8000! Most challenges like this sell in the neighborhood for $400. I have no idea why this challenge went so high. Apart from the recognizable Gimbels name, I see nothing special about it. Maybe two deep-pocketed Gimbels collectors were competing?
Many of the Houdini lots in today's auction came from the Kevin Connolly collection. As always, congrats to the buyers.
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