Here is an unpublished photo of Houdini preparing for a suspended straitjacket escape. Houdini first performed his signature outdoor escape on September 8, 1915. But was the suspended straitjacket original to Houdini? If not, where did he get the idea?
This is a teaser for a post tomorrow that will showcase a 100-year-old discovery that might just rewrite recent Houdini history.
Excellent! I hope it will answer the question that I posed at the end of my blog on candidates for who gave Houdini the idea: http://harryhoudinicircumstantialevidence.com/?p=1716
ReplyDeleteI thought the answer was already in the Sloman/Kalush's Secret Life book. Didn't a British teenager come up with this in a barn and gave the idea to Houdini?
ReplyDeleteI believe who are referring to Randolph Douglas but there is at least one other candidate, Al Pitroff; and maybe John will surprise us with another.
DeleteHehe, you fell into my trap, Leo. ;)
DeletePitroff? Hmmm...I better re-read you post.
Ah, shit! I'm sorry Joe. I didn't see your update. Looks like Bill sent you the same clipping.
ReplyDeleteI actually didn't know Alvin/Mysterio was called Pitroff as well. Yeah, he's the guy.
Oh well, not such a scoop after all.
I still think it is a great scoop and look forward it. It will carry more weight coming from the number one Houdini site.
DeleteI should have known better John. You do take delight in demolishing certain "facts" about Houdini that many scholars cling to.
ReplyDelete