Friday, July 18, 2025

The Ruratania Mystery


In Houdini (1953), we get a close-up on the boat ticket for Harry and Bess's famous trip to Europe. It shows them sailing on the SS Ruratania. The real Harry and Bess sailed on the SS Kensington of the Red Star Line. As far as I can find, there was never a ship called Ruratania. So why did the filmmakers use this name?

I have a theory. “Ruritania” is the name of the fictional European nation featured in the famous novel The Prisoner of Zenda. A film adaptation of the novel was a hit for MGM during Houdini’s production year. So was using Ruratania (slight change in spelling) an inside joke? Maybe!

However, I was recently reading the Sherlock Holmes story, "The Adventure of the Illustrious Client," and was surprised to read this:

It was simply that among the passengers on the Cunard boat Ruritania, starting from Liverpool on Friday, was the Baron Adelbert Gruner, who had some important financial business to settle in the States.

Another reference to a ship called Ruritania! The story identifies it as a Cunard liner, so I checked the listing of all Cunard's ships, and there is no Ruritania or Ruratania. So I still believe a ship with this name never existed.

"The Adventure of the Illustrious Client" was first published in Collier's magazine in 1924. The Prisoner of Zenda novel was published in 1895 and would have been known to Doyle. So is Doyle making the same inside joke that Houdini makes 29 years later?

It's also possible that both Doyle and the Houdini filmmakers were simply modifying the familiar name of Muratania (a very real ship), and it's just a coincidence that they both landed on Ruritania. OR could Houdini screenwriter Philip Yordan have been a Sherlockian, and the joke in Houdini is actually a nod to "The Adventure of the Illustrious Client,” which in itself is a nod to Zenda? Now my head hurts.

I own the two major annotated volumes of the complete Holmes stories, The Annotated Sherlock Holmes by William S. Baring-Gould and The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes by Leslie Klinger, and neither makes any reference to Doyle's use of Ruritania.

This might be a case for Sherlock Holmes!

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Rare Houdini book defaced with fake signature

This is distressing. This beautiful condition copy of Houdini's 1921 book, Magical Rope Ties & Escapes, has been defaced with a fake autopen Houdini signature on the cover. The same signature also appears inside the book.

This same fake signature has appeared at numerous auctions over the past few years. In some cases, it appears on books and photos published after Houdini's death. However, here it is on what is actually a valuable book that would sell well at auction. But this signature makes it worthless.

The auction house is Norwood Auctions in Norwood, Pennsylvania. I don't know if they are a legitimate auction house. Roger Dreyer of Houdini Revealed has fought the good fight in trying to get these fakes taken down, but Live Auctioneers seems to do a brisk trade in selling fakes to gullible buyers. Don't be a gullible buyer!

I actually have a suspicion about who is behind these fakes, but I have no proof.

R.I.P. to this once-beautiful copy of Magical Ropes Ties & Escapes

On my Patreon, I have a "Fraud Pack" that collects images of fakes so people can be aware of them and become familiar with the look of this autopen signature. This is FREE for everyone to download by clicking below. 


Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Escaping Obscurity event at the Magic Castle, Sept 8


On September 8, the Magic Castle in Hollywood will host a special "Behind the Bookcase Live" event showcasing Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899. I will be there with Mike Caveney, Bruce Averbook, and Michael Albright. So far, this is the only book event planned, and it'll be a rare chance to get your book signed by all four principals. The event is open to all AMA members. It will also stream live on the Magic Castle website.

Hope to see you there!

Behind the Bookcase Live:
"The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini"
with Mike Caveney, John Cox, Michael Albright & Bruce Averbook
Monday, September 8, 2025
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Milt Larsen Inner Circle & Online

Register to Attend In Person:
Under "Events"

Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899 is available exclusively at Mike Caveney's Magic Words.

Related:

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Alex Robinson conjures "The Mama Message"

I'm wild for the mock-up comic book cover created and posted to Bluesky by artist Alex Robinson.

#OnThisDay in 1922, #SirArthurConanDoyle hosted a #seance in an attempt to convince skeptic #HarryHoudini. It didn’t go so well. #History #comics #historyComics

[image or embed]

— Alex Robinson (@alexrobinson.bsky.social) June 18, 2025 at 8:57 AM

To be clear, this isn't a real comic book, just an imaginary what-if. However, there was a 1979 issue of Ripley's Believe It or Not! (#89) that is similar to this. You can see that and read the real story of "The Mama Message" via the related links below.

Monday, July 14, 2025

Houdini: The Man, The Myth, The Legend with Brett Oddly

Magician Brett Oddly presents Houdini: The Man, The Myth, The Legend, at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival July 16-27, 2025. Below are details.

Step into the world of the legendary Harry Houdini in this thrilling tribute to the master escape artist. Combining historical storytelling with daring escapes and mind-bending illusions, this show brings Houdini’s most famous feats to life — just as he performed them. Experience the suspense of his death-defying challenges, the wonder of his signature magic, and the drama of his relentless battle against frauds and fakes. Through gripping reenactments and authentic recreations, audiences will witness the legend as he rises to the world’s greatest illusionist. 
 
A spectacle of danger, deception and daring, this is more than a magic show — it’s a journey into the life and legacy of Houdini himself. 

Visit the Winnipeg Fringe website to buy tickets and for more information.

Friday, July 11, 2025

Houdini book release dates

Determining the exact release dates of Houdini books can be challenging. I typically have to estimate the date based on when reviews begin to appear. However, in some cases, I have been able to nail down a specific date. Here are a few:

  • June 7, 1928: Houdini: His Life Story by Harold Kellock.
  • Aug 3, 1959: Houdini: The Man Who Walked Through Walls by William Lindsay Gresham.
  • March 21, 1969: Houdini: The Untold Story by Milbourne Christopher.
  • Dec 1, 1977: Houdini: His Legend and His Magic by Doug Henning and Charles Reynolds.
  • Oct 31, 2006: The Secret Life of Houdini by William Kalush and Larry Sloman.
  • Oct 31, 2010: Houdini The Key by Patrick Culliton.

No Silverman? Nope. I have never been able to find an exact release date for my favorite Houdini biography. But I know it was sometime in October 1996.

Regarding my own book, Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899, I'm happy to firmly establish the release date as June 25, 2025. That is the day publisher Mike Caveney picked the books up from the shipper, the day it first went live on his website, and the day of the first sales. June 25. Locked!

So what other Houdini events happened on June 25? Here's a list:

  • 1894: The Brothers Houdini begin their second week at Vacca's West End Casino in Coney Island.
  • 1896: Houdini escapes handcuffs at a police station in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • 1898: The Welsh Bros. Circus plays Hamburg, Pennsylvania.
  • 1906: Harry Thaw shoots Stanford White at the Madison Square Garden rooftop theater. (Not Houdini related, but HH was in NYC at the time and would have been following the news of this famous crime and scandal.)
  • 1919: Houdini makes a personal appearance at Clune's in Los Angeles during the 9:30 showing of The Master Mystery.
  • 1920: Houdini attends séance with ectoplasmic medium Eva C. at 20 Hanover Square in London.
  • 1953: Paramount's Houdini premieres at the Des Moines Theater in Iowa.

I'm offering a copy of Escaping Obscurity, signed on June 25, on eBay. This is the first author-signed edition, and the only one signed on the day of its release. If you're interested, the auction can be viewed HERE. It ends on Wednesday, July 16.

You can purchase Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899 from Mike Caveney's Magic Words.

Related:

Thursday, July 10, 2025

S.A.M. will honor Houdini in Appleton next year

I don't need to tell you that 2026 is going to be a big year for Houdini. Here's the first big event to be announced. The Society of American Magicians (SAM) will hold its annual convention in Appleton, honoring Houdini. Dates are July 1-4, 2026.

You're invited to return to where the magic began.

Join The Society of American Magicians in Appleton, WI, Houdini's childhood home, for a once in a century gathering to honor the world's most legendary magician.

Celebrate Houdini's life, artistry, and enduring impact on the art of magic, 100 years after his passing. 

July 1-4, 2026 
HOUDINI 100 Years Later: Honoring the Legacy
Registration and information: magicsam.com/page/appleton

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Meet the Nudos

The book is out, but the discoveries continue!

In Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini 1897-1899, we did our best to decipher Houdini's frequently indecipherable handwriting. But we couldn't get it all. For instance, on page 43, you'll find this:


In the book, I speculated that Houdini could be referring to a trapeze accident, and the illegible word was likely the name of the act. Now, magician and all-around good guy Richard Hatch has puzzled out that the illegible word here is "Nudos." 

The 3 Nudos were trapeze artists Marie, Richard, and Beth. Happily, this was not a fatal accident, as The 3 Nudos continued to perform into the 1900s.


You know, my initial temptation with this entry was to interpret "traps" as a reference to a magic trick. Thank goodness I didn't write that! I just wish I had discovered "The 3 Nudos" myself before publication, as that [illegible] is going to drive me nuts now.

I have launched a page where I will track Escaping Obscurity Discoveries & Corrections. If you believe you've cracked some of these illegible words, feel free to send them my way.

Purchase Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899 exclusively at Mike Caveney's Magic Words.

Thank you Richard!

Monday, July 7, 2025

Lucky Charm with Louise Casemore

A new immersive play, Lucky Charm, written and performed by Louise Casemore, will be part of Edmonton’s Found Festival, July 10-20, 2025. Below is the poster and details.

 
“Harry Houdini has died. Nevertheless, his wife would like a word…”

Join us for the world premiere of Louise Casemore’s immersive new play, Lucky Charm. A Defiance Theatre production produced as part of Edmonton’s Found Festival, in partnership with Theatre YES.

From 1894 to 1926, Bess was married to the most famous magician in the world. That is, until he died under mysterious circumstances. Now, you’re invited to step on up! Satisfy your curiosity, don’t be disappointed! 

“For the price of a personal token, you’ll be permitted to venture inside the home where Mrs. Houdini sleeps, eats, and does her damndest every single week to make contact with her dearly departed. Watch from the gallery, or have a seat at the séance table. Treat yourself to a spectacular display of grace, grief, and with any luck: a little terror and delight of the paranormal. Behold as we explore one of the greatest mysteries from the four corners of the earth: the palpitating possibility of LIFE AFTER DEATH.”

Inspired by the seances held by Bess Houdini following her husband’s death, Lucky Charm is an immersive exploration of grief and the magical possibilities in the unknown.


All performances are sold out, but you can sign up to receive updates on standby tickets and news about future performances at Common Ground Arts.

Related:

Sunday, July 6, 2025

LINK: Joe Notaro reviews Escaping Obscurity

The first review of Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899, is up on Joe Notaro's excellent blog Harry Houdini Circumstantial Evidence. Just click the headline above to read.

Joe has published several very important Houdini books himself. You can check those out in the related links below.

If you post a review of Escaping Obscurity on your website, please send it my way and I will share it here. Even the bad ones! (Well, not too bad.)

Thank you, Joe.

Saturday, July 5, 2025

Speaking of diaries

Here's a curiosity I just stumbled across in the December 11, 1951, issue of the Toledo Blade.

Toledo Blade, December 11, 1951.

I believe this could be a reference to Houdini's 1916 diary (one diary), which somehow escaped the others. The "Hollywood lad" is likely Ray Muse, who wrote in the October 1950 Genii that he had received the diary as a "recent gift." Did he ever show it to Houdini (1953) producer George Pal? That I don't know, but I'd like to think that he did.

The diary was eventually acquired by Manny Weltman, who owned it for decades. (I got a look at it in 1980.) After Manny's death, it was auctioned by Swann Galleries in 2002. Today it resides in The Averbook Magic Art Museum and Library. Yes, Dr. Bruce Averbook owns two Houdini diaries!

While this 1916 diary is still under wraps, Houdini's precious first diary is now published as Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini 1897-1899, available exclusively from Mike Caveney's Magic Words.

Related:

Friday, July 4, 2025

Escape to Patreon with 50% off new memberships

To celebrate the release of Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899, I'm offering 50% off new Patreon memberships in July. This applies to the first month and is open to new members only. Just use promo code DIARY.

On my Patreon, you'll find a wealth of exclusive Houdini content, receive special monthly rewards, and get the scoop on my next book. And if we reach 100 members (only 9 members away), you'll hear something truly wild.

You'll also be supporting all the work I do here at WILD ABOUT HARRY and the creation of books like Escaping Obscurity. So why not join us (at 50% off) and go wild!

Translate