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Tuesday, December 7, 2010
The alleged loves of Harry Houdini
Tags:
[History],
Bess,
Charmian London,
Controversial,
Daisy White,
Death Defying Acts (2008),
Julia Sawyer,
Marriage,
Mistresses,
Patreon,
Risqué,
Sadie Weiss,
Sex,
Terror Island (1920),
The Great Houdinis (1976)
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Oh wow ... this was worth the wait (and I've been staking out the Facebook page all morning in anticipation).
ReplyDeleteOne thing I've been wondering about is how much of Bess's "feeling sick" or "unwell" over the years was due to simply being married to the great man? Even without the affairs, life with him would never have been easy. I really liked how she got her revenge on those girls afterwards though. I could imagine them all arriving at the same time, checking each other out and then being handed their piles of letters to take with them.
And yes, the Gary Gilmour story is just silly.
I think Bess had genuine heath issues. She was very frail and I think she probably has problems with her immune system. But I'm sure there was also stress and stain, and also I wonder at what stage she became alcoholic. That could account for many of Houdini's references to her being "ill" and "unwell" (and having her "brainstorms").
ReplyDeleteEver since I can remember, I’ve always thought of Daisy White as the “other woman” in the Houdini saga. And oddly enough, I’ve always thought of her as looking just like Adrienne Barbeau. Now I’ll forever imagine Milla Barry as looking just like Milla Jovovich as well. In my humble opinion John, your important and lasting contributions to Houdini scholarship are increasing all the time.
ReplyDeleteNot to be rude but this is complete bullshit all we have is a few words in the diary and no physical evidence of any such counters soon af not to be rude but this is complete bullshit all we have is a few words in the diary and no physical evidence of any such encounters. Who the heck cares if he walked a woman to a carriage he was an actor with twinkling eyes when the most famous people of the time what do you expect careful not to believe everything you read.
DeleteI'm giving you a standing ovation on this one my friend! Bravo Bravo!
ReplyDeleteThank you, guys. Means a lot to me to hear that. :)
ReplyDeleteBest part of doing this article -- browsing for the perfect sexy pic of Milla Jovovich. :p
Yes, if you're going to be a bunny boiler, this is the kind of outfit to wear.
ReplyDeleteHow are we going? Is this post at the top of the blog yet????
Nope, but it's climbing fast. If you look below at the "Popular Posts", that's an automatic official ranking (but it's a little behind, the jail escape has passed Brothers Houdini).
ReplyDeletePat Culliton has just posted up this tease on his site. He won't say who these "girlfriends" are, just pics. Gotta say, the gal on the right is a stunner!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.houdinisghost.com/girlfriends.html
BTW, this story (now my most viewed) has received some good feedback, and some criticism, at The Magic Cafe. Join the discussion.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=392870&forum=134&20
Yes, the one on the right was gorgeous. Would love to know who she was. Off to view the discussion at the Magic Cafe.
ReplyDeleteActually, he's added more, so the one I was talking about is in the middle now. Great pic of HH too.
ReplyDeleteYes I noticed that. I think we're all talking about the same girl. It's not just her looks ... there's something about the expression on her face that makes her seem very "alive" for want of a better word. It's something that's often missing in old photographs.
ReplyDeleteYou know I just looked up some photos of Gary Gilmore on Google, and wow...he kind of looks like a very ugly, scar-faced Houdini with straight brown hair. CREE-EE-EEPY! O_o So even if the story is completely bogus, I can totally see why he would have thought he was descended from Houdini.
ReplyDeleteThe stunt of giving each woman their letters is so cinematic. I'd die laughing if this was translated into an actual movie. What a brilliant move by the obviously territorial Bess!
ReplyDeleteWow. Bess must've really been a charatcter!!
ReplyDeleteShe was indeed!
DeleteI agree with the person above, Bess WAS a real character :D The more I read about her, the more I like her. To be honest, I've always had my suspicions that Houdini was a bit of a ladies man, but it's also pretty clear that his real love was for Bess (his 'Precious Lump of Sweetness'.)
ReplyDeleteHoudini was a man who set an example for all of us at some point.but to be honest i do not understand how any man could be with more than one woman at a time this also does not mean that i do not like Houdini infact he is the man i look up to and forever will.
ReplyDeleteDid Houdini teach punctuation to escape you?
ReplyDeleteActually I discovered the Houdini=Charmian London connection at the Huntington Library, and advised Kenneth Silverman of such. I discuss in my book Jack London's Women.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow, I will pick up your book. Thanks for commenting.
Deletewhat is the actual name of lady butler character ?? pls answer ..
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Thompson.
DeleteOk sorry to sound harsh but this is complete bullshit we forget that he was an actor very charming and though he was believed to have an affair is no actual physical evidence any sexual encounter or adultery some records and some words in a diary aren't exactly physical evidence how would I know this because im the great-nephew great nephew of Harry Houdini
ReplyDeleteSorry to sound harsh but this is complete bullshit some reports and a diary aren't exactly physical evidence of an encounter there's no physical proof just words passed on from generation. I mean come on the woman in white classic poetry almost makes me laugh so the next time you think of the conspiracy theory bring up physical textual evidence and then you'll sway the minds. my great uncle would be appalled if he were alive today and ha dent died 1926
ReplyDeleteI was trying to be clear throughout that almost all of these "suspects" are based on speculation and downright gossip. I'm not saying HH had affairs with any of these women. Just that these are the ones that have been whispered about.
DeleteI tend to put a lot of trust in Ken Silverman's instincts as a researcher and biographer, and that's why I do give more weight to the Charmian London claim. But like you, many have suggested that her diary entries might be romantic exaggerations. I admit I've never read them myself.
But I appreciate the comments as I do what to be clear that none of this is known fact. It's speculation and, yes, somewhat sordid.
Looks like he slipped out of that too.
ReplyDeleteRumours, speculation, and gossip. Ew. Also, stop explaining everything away with ''midlife crisis'', not everyone has it, how banal.
ReplyDeleteI kind of agree with you, Anon. I wrote this post 12 years ago when the blog was new. This wouldn't be the kind of thing I'd write today. I've considered taking it down and still might. But it is what it is.
Delete