Saga of S.S. Imperator

One of my favorite YouTube channels is Oceanliner Designs with Michael Brady. This guy is wild about ships! In the video below, Michael takes a look at three German superliners, including SS Imperator. Houdini fans will recognize this as the ship Houdini was on when he met and mystified President Theodore Roosevelt with the spirit slates. It's fascinating to learn the full story of this great ship and her sisters. Enjoy.

Want more? You can see an unpublished photo of Harry and Bess Houdini aboard Imperator on my Patreon below. This comes courtesy of the Magic Castle's William Larsen Memorial Library.

Related:

• A day at the pool (UPDATE)
• Houdini and the Presidents
• The ship(s) from Haldane of the Secret Service

1971: Year of the Torture Cell(s)

Houdini's Water Torture Cell made its last public appearance on the night of October 11, 1926, in Albany, New York. This was the night Houdini broke his ankle. Despite plans to resume the cell in Detroit, Houdini died before that happened. After that, the famed prop remained out of sight for the next 45 years. Then, in 1971, two Water Torture Cells, both claiming to be the original, returned to public view.

In May 1971, the Water Torture Cell that Sidney Radner acquired from Hardeen in 1942 was put on permanent display at the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls, Canada. Some assume the cell was in the museum from the start (the museum opened in 1968), but it was actually a later addition, as we can see below.

The Holyoke Daily Transcript and Telegram, May 29, 1971.

Later that same year, magician Abb Dickson announced that he had acquired Houdini's original Water Torture Cell and was making plans to display it. Abb claimed he found the cell in England and had even solved its secrets by having it x-rayed.

The Atlanta Journal, Sept. 6, 1971.

In October, Abb's cell was revealed alongside a collection of other alleged Houdini ratites at the Dutch Square Mall in Columbia, South Carolina.

The Columbia Record, Oct. 25, 1971.

Of course, Abb's cell was pure hokum—it was made of sheet metal with a shower drain at the bottom. One wonders if the arrival of the real cell in Canada had inspired Abb in this endeavor? Abb would tour his Houdini exhibit and cell for several years. The cell was also used in the 1976 television biopic, The Great Houdinis.

The real Water Torture Cell remained on display at the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame until a fire destroyed much of the cell in 1995. Today, the restored cell is back on display at David Copperfield's International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts in Las Vegas.

Abb Dickson's cell also survives today in the collection of Troy Milligan. On occasion, it has been offered for sale on eBay, but I'm not sure of its current status.

Want more? I've uploaded to my Patreon a collection of photos of the original Water Torture Cell on display at the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame throughout the years and what remained of it after the fire.

Related:

• The 100 year history of the Water Torture Cell
• The wild story of Abb Dickson's Water Torture Cell
• A Water Torture Cell has been discovered in Canada

Houdini Periodical Bibliography Revised 3rd Edition

The mighty Arthur Moses has released Houdini Periodical Bibliography References From 1898 - 2023: Revised Third Edition. First released in 2006 and revised in 2015, this latest edition includes over 3700 citations in 40 languages.

Few legendary men, real or imagined, retain their celebrity nearly 100 years after their passing. However, Harry Houdini was one such man. Covering a time period from 1898 through December 2023, this third - revised bibliography includes more than 1400 individual title listings with over 3700 entries from 68 countries which chronicle all significant articles by or about Houdini in magazines, periodicals, journals, etc. This is an increase of citations of over one-third from the last edition ending in the year 2015. A must for any collector, historian, and researcher of "Houdiniana". There is no greater Houdini literary reference bibliography than this extensive resource. 200 Pages with 135 Black & White and Full Color images of Houdini featured covers.

Houdini Periodical Bibliography References From 1898 - 2023: Revised Third Edition is availible in hardcover and paperback and can be purchased now at at Amazon.com (U.S.) and Amazon.co.uk (UK).

Related:

• New book! The Houdini Pitchbooks by Arthur Moses
• Arthur Moses reprints the first Houdini & Holmes adventure
• 'Houdini Speaks Out' in new 2014 edition

Talking Houdini with S.A.M. Virtual Assembly #1

Tonight I'll be the guest of the S.A.M. Virtual Assembly #1. We'll be talking about, what else, Houdini!

While this is something that's offered to S.A.M. members specifically, non-members can join with the Zoom info, so here it is:

Topic: Assembly V1.1

Time: April 21, 2024. 7:30 PM Eastern / 4:30 PM Pacific

Join Zoom Meeting: 

[This meeting is now over]

 Hope to see you there!

Related:

• S.A.M. Hall of Fame exhibit opens in Whittier, CA
• Houdini's history with the S.A.M. told in new book
• Wishing Houdini Happy Birthday with the S.A.M. Podcast

Magic mural in Wauseon, Ohio

Houdini is one of the gang on this mural depicting famous magicians in Wauseon, Ohio. The Magic Corner building is owned and operated by Dr. Kenneth P. Ladd, a magician and Ph.D. in clinical psychology. You just never know where you'll find Harry!

MAGIC IN THE MAKING … Artist Chris McDaniels – who works under the moniker “Zen Mullet” for Columbus-based business Artisan Rooms – begins putting the finishing touches on Harry Houdini during his final day of work on a Wauseon mural depicting the history of magic. Shown at the center, levitating a woman, is building owner and magician Dr. Kenneth P. Ladd.

You can read more about Wauseon's magic mural at The Village Reporter.

Related:

• Merlin McFly's stained glass Houdini window
• Houdini hangs at MAGIC Live
• Salem's "Houdini Way" mural

Inside Houdini's Los Angeles Orpheum

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of touring the Palace Theater with the Los Angeles Historic Theater Foundation. Houdini appeared here in 1915 and 1923 when it was the Orpheum. It was here that he had his famous verbal fisticuffs with heavyweight champion Jess Willard. So this is a very historic Houdini theater! Today it is used primarily as a rental for movies and television, so getting a chance to not only see inside but also explore every part of the theater was an amazing opportunity. I could feel the spirit of Houdini in this amazing space.

The Orpheum was built in 1911 and remains very much the theater Houdini would have known. It's surprisingly shallow. But it was built for vaudeville before amplification, so the acoustics are such that someone on stage can be heard throughout the auditorium. This was the third Orpheum in Los Angeles (Houdini played the others in 1899 and 1907). It served the city until a new Orpheum was built down the street in 1926.

Los Angeles Evening Express, April 6, 1923.

One big change, which I learned about during the excellent presentation by LAHTF's David Saffer, is that the box seats that existed on both sides of the auditorium were removed when the theatre switched to all movies in 1929. They were replaced with two gigantic paintings by Los Angeles artist Anthony Heinsbergen. Jess Willard would have been sitting in one of those box seats.

While the boxes are gone, you can still see the outline of the doorway that led to the seats. This is where Willard would have slunk out as the audience of 2000 hissed him from the theater. Don't hit your head, Jess!

But it's where Houdini went after the performance that had me most excited. The star dressing room still survives! It's located just off stage right and up a flight of stairs. The other dressing rooms are located below the stage. This is a configuration I've not seen before, but I can appreciate the luxury of having a dressing room just steps from the stage and away from the other players, props, and animals. 

The dressing room had a "Do Not Enter" sign on the door as work was being done inside. Fortunately, there was an open vent through which I could see inside. What appears to be the original sink survives. It also has a second connecting room. This is the largest star dressing room that I've yet seen in a theatre from Houdini's time.

An "A" above the door? Is this from Houdini's day? I'd like to think so.

It's interesting to think that Houdini could have watched the other acts from just outside his dressing room. He had a great view. Thanks to fellow Houdini nut and artist Jenny Lerew for snapping this photo of me in Houdini's perch. You can check out Jenny's own photos on her Instagram @blackwingjen.

There was a lot more to see and learn. In fact, we spent three hours exploring the theater from top to bottom. I even wandered into a few places I later learned were off-limits. If you'd like to see more, I've uploaded a collection of 40+ photos to my Patreon below.

Thanks to the Los Angeles Historic Theater Foundation for this amazing day. The LAHFT regularly tours historic theaters and also offers talks via Zoom. Check out their website for more information and consider becoming a member.

Lastly, here's an unknown challenge from Houdini's 1915 Orpheum/Palace appearance.

The Los Angeles Times, Dec. 2, 1915.

Related:

• List of surviving Houdini theaters
• Houdini vs. the Pottawatomie Giant
• Tour Houdini's Los Angeles Orpheum, April 13

Harry and the Highwire released in the UK

The new book Harry and the Highwire by Julie Carpenter and illustrated by Laura Catalan has been released in the UK by Green Bean Books. It will be released in the U.S. on May 31.

As a young boy of seven, Harry is desperate to do something incredible – but what? A visit to the circus provides the answer when he sees the daring tightrope walker thrilling the audience. From that moment on, all Harry wants to do is to walk the tightrope. But how?

His first try, on the family clothesline, ends in disaster but Harry’s not about to give up yet. He starts practising in his every spare moment and in every location he can think of. Will he get to the other side or will he fall? (And will his pet chicken Banjoe be able to keep up?)

An inspiring tale about one of history’s most fascinating figures, Harry and the High-wire is essential reading for children, teaching them about the importance of ambition, hard work and, crucially, of believing in yourself, even when things seem impossible.

The reverse side of this fun, fully fold-out book includes a biography and illustrated timeline of Houdini’s life, along with a focus on three of his most famous tricks (and hints on how he did them).

You can purchase Harry and the Highwire now at Amazon.co.uk and pre-order at Amazon.com. You can read more about the book at the Green Bean Books website.

Related:

• Jack Hoeffler remembers the "Prince of the Air"
• Prince of the Air: A Story of Young Houdini
• 'A Spotlight For Harry' shines with new cover

Houdini soars at new Diggers Rest Pavilion

A new Community Pavilion opened in Diggers Rest, Australia, last week. Inside, you can find this mural showing Houdni's Voisin biplane. Interestingly, this doesn't commemorate Houdini's famed 1910 flight but Ian Satur's model of the plane that flew during the 2010 centenary celebrations. Either way, it's good to see Houdini is still a star in Diggers Rest.

The Ian Satur model survives today and is still looking for a permanent home.

Related:

• Model of Houdini's plane is safe for now
• 10th Anniversary: Diggers Rest centennial festival
• New photos reveal Houdini's Voisin

Visiting the SAM Hall of Fame in Whittier

Last week I visited the SAM Hall of Fame at the Whittier Historical Society & Museum. It's a terrific exhibit with some fantastic Houdini rarities on view. I've shared 50+ photos and some thoughts on my Patreon (part of the "Adventures in Houdiniland" Collection). Click below to go.

The Whittier Historical Society and Museum is open Tuesday through Friday. Parking and admission are free (donations are appreciated). The SAM Hall of Fame exhibit runs through December 2024.

Related:

• The Russian Manacle is returning to Whittier
• S.A.M. Hall of Fame exhibit opens in Whittier, CA
• Russian Manacle and other Houdini rarities in Whittier (2012)

Own a replica Steel Straitjacket from Houdini '53

One of the standout escapes in the 1953 Houdini biopic is when Houdini frees himself from a "steel straitjacket." The steel straitjacket is a one-of-a-kind piece of magic apparatus provided by Joseph Dunninger. While I've never found any account of the real Houdini doing such an escape, it has become iconic in its own right.

Now, our friend Richard Sherry of Sherry and Krall Magic has manufactured a beautiful reproduction of the Steel Straitjacket. He has produced a limited run of only TEN jackets that can be purchased gaffed or ungaffed. And, as Tony/Houdini says, I'm sure he used "only the very best steel."

If interested, you can find pricing and details on Richard's website or email him at richard@richardsherrysmagic.com. 

"It looks like you have me all locked up."

Related:

• The Steel Straitjacket
• Sherry and Krall's 100th Anniversary Torture Cell tribute
• Canadian Mystery Cell owners revealed

Houdini, Ragtime, and the Valentine

This month, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy a multi-layered Houdini experience in Toledo, Ohio. On April 19 & 21, the Toledo Opera will present the musical Ragtime with Evan Fleming as Houdini. But what makes this extra special is that the venue will be the Valentine Theater, where Houdini himself performed in 1906 and 1907. 

Toledo Blade, March 11, 1907.

But it gets better! The Valentine has a stunning mural by Paul Geiger in its lobby featuring famous performers who have graced the Valentine stage. Houdini is beautifully represented, as you can see in the top image above. So that's a must-see as well.

You can get more information and buy tickets to Ragtime via the Toledo Opera website. For more information about the Valentine and details about its mural, check out their website valentinetheatre.com.

Coincidently, I recently shared on my Patreon a post about a packing case challenge at the Valentine with a photo of Houdini in front of the theater that I've never seen before. You can see that by clicking below.

Related:

• Houdini in the 1981 Ragtime movie
• The next, next stop
• Houdini Plays

Houdini's Russian pitchbook has a new home

Our friend David Haversat has revealed via his newsletter that he is now the proud owner of Houdini's ultra-rare Russian pitchbook. These were created for Houdini's tour of Russia in 1903 and pre-date his America's Sensational Preplexer! pitchbook by several months. That makes this the very first (biographical) Houdini pitchbook.

To my knowledge, there are only two Russian pitchbooks in existence. The other is in David Copperfield's International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts in Las Vegas.

Congratulations David!

Related:

• The Houdini Pitchbooks by Arthur Moses
• The Handcuff King's blog: Breaking into Russia
• Foster Lardner photo albums find a new home

Houdini's eclipse

It's eclipse day! Where will you be to see (or partially see) today's total solar eclipse? Of course, my mind goes to Houdini. Did he ever see a total solar eclipse?

As it turns out, Houdini was in the right place at the right time to experience the famous total solar eclipse of January 24, 1925. The eclipse passed through New York State and through New York City just above 96th Street. Houdini was playing the New York Hippodrome at this time. It was reported that streetlights turned on, seagulls landed in the Hudson thinking it was night, and three women fainted. It was the first total eclipse to pass over New York since 1478. (The next will be in 2079.)

The wonderful image below of the 1925 eclipse was captured by photographer Adolf Fassbender in Bronx Park. This comes from the website New York Historical Society, where you can read more about the photo and photographer.

Houdini would also have experienced the eclipse of June 8, 1918 as a partial eclipse from New York City. September 10, 1923 was another total solar eclipse that Houdini would have experienced partially. He was performing in Memphis on that day.

You can watch today's eclipse track live on NASA's YouTube Channel. Remember, don't look directly at the sun!

New York Times, Jan. 25, 1925

Related:

• Houdini's "Triumphant Return" and farewell
• Ashley Drew discovers Houdini in Memphis (update)
• Wild in Houdini's New York, 2017

Houdini Adaptations by Joe M. Notaro

Our good friend Joe Notaro is on a roll. Having released two groundbreaking Houdini books, The Zanetti Mystery and Houdini's Schooldays, Joe has now released Houdini Adaptations. This new work contains the rare adaptations of The Grim Game and Terror Island and much more. Below are details.

 

Arthur B. Reeve and Houdini worked on three silent film stories together, The Master Mystery (1918), The Grim Game (1919), and Terror Island (1920). The Master Mystery silent film was adapted into a book in 1919. While not adapted to a book, The Grim Game was adapted to a story paper format in 1920, just like Terror Island was in 1921. 

The Grim Game and Terror Island story adaptations are featured in Joe M. Notaro’s book for the first time and illustrated with original movie stills to help tell the story. For each of the 3 films that Reeve and Houdini worked on, Notaro also shares the cast, synopsis, words of Houdini, history, advertising campaign, and missing footage information.

A 1924 newspaper article, "Houdini Breaks into Playwrighting," describes a new, previously unknown stage play that reads like the plot summary from The Grim Game. The book also features tidbits about each of his known stage plays: Challenged or Houdini Upside Down (1911), Walking Through a Brick Wall (1914), and Buried Alive (1914).

As a bonus, Notaro shares the "Out of the Shadows" film treatment from his personal collection, which has never been published. Along with that, he summarizes and shares tidbits about each of Houdini’s other film treatments: The Marvelous Adventures of Houdini (1917), The Far North or The Man From Beyond (1921), Haldane of the Secret Service or Mysterious Mr. Yu (1921), Yar, the Primeval Man (1921), Il Mistero de Osiris or The Mystery of the Jewel (1921), The Great Tontine (1992), The Monster (1992), The Vulture (1992), Floating Through Space (1992), and Blood Brothers (unpublished).

Houdini Adaptations is released today, April 6, and is available for purchase at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

Special offer! U.S. customers can order signed copies (available May 2024) directly from Joe via PayPal to Joe.M.Notaro@gmail.com. Price is $40 and includes a signed book with a Premium Color Interior and USPS book-rate shipping.

Related:

• Joe Notaro publishes 'Houdini's Schooldays'
• REVIEW: The Zanetti Mystery by Harry Houdini
• Houdini the writer

Tour Houdini's Los Angeles Orpheum, April 13

Here's one that has me very excited. On Saturday, April 13, the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation (LAHTF) will tour the Palace Theater in downtown Los Angeles. The Palace was originally called the Orpheum and is where Houdini performed in 1915 and 1923. It's also where he had his famous verbal joust with then-heavyweight champ Jess Willard. So this is a fantastic Houdini location!

LAHTF is thrilled to be returning to the Palace Theatre on Broadway for our signature ALL ABOUT tour. Join us for our first event of 2024 when we go behind-the-scenes from below stage to the projection booth above and everything in between.

I've twice missed out on LAHTF Palace events, so I'm thrilled to be jumping aboard this one. It will be my first time inside Houdini's L.A. Orpheum.

If you want to join the fun, you can purchase tickets via the LAHTF website.

Related:

• Houdini vs. the Pottawatomie Giant
• Discovering Houdini's Los Angeles Orpheum
• The Handcuff King, King of Pop, and Heavyweight Champ walk into a theater...

Meet Houdini at Madame Tussauds Budapest

I've always loved wax museums, so this has me very excited. Madame Tussauds in Budapest, Hungary, has a breathtaking Houdini wax figure on display. The best I've ever seen. There's also a Water Torture Cell that you can go inside for a photo-op. The image below comes from the excellent website WAXIPEDIA.

Madame Tussauds Budapest opened in May 2023. According to Merlin Entertainment, over half of their 51 figures have Hungarian connections. As part of the planning phase, a large-scale survey asked the public who they would like to see included. Houdini made the cut along with Bela Lugosi (as Dracula). The majority of the figures were made "secretly" in Madame Tussauds workshop in London.

Okay, Madame Tussauds Hollywood, you're on deck! Let's get one of these gorgeous Houdini figures in LA. This was modeled from The Grim Game, so it fits into Hollywood movie history. It would also nicely complement Houdini's Walk of Fame Star just outside the museum and the Magic Castle up the street.

Thanks to Timothy Randall of WAXIPEDIA.

Related:

• Houdini's head
• Life-like Houdini figure haunts Monsterpalooza
• Life-like Houdini silicone bust by Arturo Balseiro

Trunk from The Great Houdinis sells at auction

The original Metamorphosis prop trunk used in the 1976 television biopic The Great Houdinis sold at Heritage auctions on March 20 for $2,625.00 (including Buyer's Premium). Below is the trunk and auction description.

The Great Houdini (ABC Circle, 1976), Paul Michael Glaser "Harry Houdini" Escape Trunk. Vintage original trunk made of wood and covered in painted cardboard, featuring metal latches and accents. "The Great Houdini" is hand-painted on the front in black lettering. The back of the trunk includes a panel attached with metal hinges that can be detached, enabling the illusion of an escape trunk. It measures approx. 51" x 25" x 20". This trunk appears in the early part of the film during one of Houdini's (Paul Michael Glaser) performances. Displays production wear and age. Much of the cardboard has eroded and there is paint chipped throughout. Special shipping arrangements will apply. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.

Here's the scene from the movie in which you can see the trunk. The idea of Bess getting stuck in the Metamorphosis trunk comes from a real-life incident (read: Boxed Bess).

Related:

• Making the great Great Houdinis
• Water Torture Cell used in 'The Great Houdinis' up for auction
• Watch The Great Houdinis (1976)

Houdini Returns with Craig Diamond

Craig Diamond will present a special evening devoted to Houdini at the historic John Harris Mansion in Harrisburg, PA, on Thursday, April 11, 2024. I had the pleasure of meeting Craig as a fellow recipient at the Milbourne Christopher Awards last year. I'm sure he will do Houdini justice!

This captivating Houdini Experience takes you back in time for 90 spellbinding minutes. It features over 165 pictures from some of the world's leading private collections.

You'll see Harry Houdini like never before. New evidence has recently come to light, possibly linking his death to his battle to expose the shady world of psychic mediums.

Award-winning, Master Magician and Houdini historian Craig Diamond will guide you through this immersive program.

This event includes a guided tour of the historic John Harris Mansion!

Click here to buy tickets via Eventbrite.

Harrisburg is a good Houdini city. He performed in Harrisburg during his Welsh Bros. tours of 1895 and 1898, played the Harrisburg Orpheum in 1912, and brought his "3 Show in One" to Harrisburg's Majestic Theater in 1926. So this is a "Return" indeed!

If you can't make it to Harrisburg, Craig will be bringing Houdini Returns to Liverpool, PA, on April 12. You can get more details and buy tickets to that event HERE.

Related:

• Christopher Awards roundup
• Houdini has no time for love
• Large '3 Shows in One' poster sells at Potter auction

LINK: Houdini and the Sea Monster

David Britland at Cardopolis has written an excellent account of Houdini's famous escape from a "sea monster" in Boston. It's very thorough and also provides fresh information about the turtle itself. I'm sorry I missed this back in 2021 when it first appeared, but I'm happy to have found it now. Click on the headline to have a read at Cardopolis.

Related:

• When Houdini escaped the belly of the beast
• September 29, 1911: "Saw Houdini"
• 'Houdini Unchained' original art and merchandise

The Houdini Compendium by Alex Rusconi

Released to commemorate Houdini's 150th birthday, The Houdini Compendium by Alex Rusconi is an Italian book collecting Houdini anecdotes and episodes. Below is a translation of the book's description.

One hundred and fifty years after his birth, Harry Houdini is still the most famous and controversial magician in history. His life, like a novel, is full of anecdotes and extraordinary episodes, just as his artistic career was extraordinary.

This book collects 52 (like the years Houdini lived) curiosities about this character, his exploits, his friends and his loves, dispelling some clichés and highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of this giant in the history of entertainment. Even if you know Houdini's life perfectly, in this book you will surely find at least one "gem" that you didn't know about! The challenge is launched...

Foreword by Andrew Basso.

You can purchase The Houdini Compendium at Amazon.it, Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com. An English translation is not currently planned.

Related:

• Andrew Basso now owns Houdini's tuxedo collar
• New Italian Houdini biography by Massimo Polidoro
• A taste of Houdini horror from Italy

Holmes & Houdini issue 3

The dynamic duo of Holmes & Houdini wrap things up in issue 3 of Zenescope's series, written by Honor Vincent and illustrated by Oliver Borges.

As Nolen Savoy's apocalyptic plot nears fruition, Spencer Holmes and Erica Houdini must join forces, much like their famous ancestors did once before to save the world. But is it already too late?

You can purchase Holmes & Houdini #3 for the Kindle on Amazon.com. You can also buy directly from Zenescope, which offers printed copies with variant covers. Depicted here is cover B by Igor Vitorino and Ivan Nunes.

Based on the preview pages at the official website, this last issue features an appearance of the real Holmes and Houdini in 1913 (below).

Related:

• Meet Holmes & Houdini
• Holmes & Houdini issue 2
• Arthur Moses reprints the first Houdini & Holmes adventure

Houdini's Last Handcuffs by Charlie & Cheryl Young

Today sees the release of Houdini's Last Handcuffs written by our friends Charlie & Cheryl Young. It's a delightful work of historical fiction featuring many familiar faces from the world of magic in the 1950s, including the spirit of Houdini!

Houdini’s Last Handcuffs weaves a mesmerizing blend of historical fiction and fantasy in 1950s Manhattan. On the 30th anniversary of Houdini's death, three young friends, gifted a mystical Ouija Board by the enigmatic writer Walter Gibson, find themselves thrust into a world of wonder.

While the adults attempt to reach Houdini in a Séance at his former residence, the children unknowingly call upon the great magician, not through the Ouija board or séance but via an enigmatic pair of handcuffs from their father's magic collection.

Houdini, in dire need of their aid, reveals a hidden notebook filled with scientific formulas coveted by both benevolent and malevolent secret circles. This notebook is a puzzle, locked behind Houdini's cryptic code.

The unexpected unfolds, setting off a thrilling chase, where the pursuit of Houdini's notebook holds the key to secrets, mystique, and adventure. Houdini’s Last Handcuffs is a riveting journey into a world where magic meets science, tantalizing readers with every twist and turn.

You can purchase Houdini's Last Handcuffs from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. 

Related:

• Book Review: "Houdini's Last Handcuffs"
• Charles Young talks Houdini's Fabulous Magic
• Houdini's Fabulous Magic is BACK

Marking Houdini's 150th in Budapest

David Merlini of The House of Houdini led an esteemed delegation to the site of Houdini's birthplace in Budapest, Hungary, yesterday to mark the magician's 150th birthday. This corner of Csengery and Dob was formerly Rákosárok No. 1, where the Weisz family lived in 1874.

In attendance: Jayson Dumenigo @afstunts; David Merlini; Judit Gálvölgyi, daughter of Rodolfo, the famous Hungarian Magician; János Gálvölgyi, legendary Hungarian actor and comedian; Pérer Niedermüller, Mayor of 7th District; Bryce Branagan and Megan Miller, Action Factory Team.

Thank you, David!

Related:

• Houdini is alive and well at 150
• Houdini's Budapest birthplace
• The House of Houdini welcomes special visitors

Houdini is alive and well at 150

Today is Houdini's 150th birthday. I think it's safe to say he's never been more alive. It's a day to celebrate. Speaking of celebrations, here's a personal tidbit from Houdini's 106th birthday excerpted from The Valley News, May 20, 1980...

This is true. I had half the cafeteria singing. I think they were afraid I was trying to start a revolution. But no one is going to stop us from singing today!

Everybody...

🎼 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.... 🎼

Links to some of today's celebrants:

Happy 150th Year Anniversary of the birth of Harry Houdini! (HHCE)

Harry Houdini's 150th birthday magic on display in Appleton (Fox 11)

For His 150th Birthday: A Houdini Finding Aid (Travalanche)

Harry Houdini: The Man Who Inspired Superheroes (IGN)

Today's Jewish Birthday: Harry Houdini (San Diego Jewish World)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOUDINI (Music Magic and More)

Houdini: The rabbi's son who mesmerized the world (Jerusalem Post)

Bound to please (Westminster Extra)

Jessica Jane Peterson

Dan Gutman

UKEA

Al Hirschfeld

Newspapers.com

Masonry Today

Celebrate Houdini's 150th with the SAM online

Celebrate Houdini's 150th birthday online with SAM Parent Assembly #1 and The Houdini Museum in Scranton this Sunday, March 24, 2024, at 2 PM ET. Below is more information and the Zoom meeting link.

When:

Sunday, March 24, 2 PM Eastern / 11 AM Pacific / 6 PM UK

Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85985851304?pwd=VGdoUGMvcHdtaVBvNlk1dFl0akl5QT09 

Meeting ID: 859 8585 1304

 Passcode: 796571

Hope to see you there!

'The Magician's Ghost' reading in Edinburgh

A rehearsal reading of a work in progress, The Magician's Ghost, will be held at The Banshee Labyrinth in Edinburgh this Monday, March 25. You can get more information and buy tickets HERE.

A hundred years ago this year, renowned magician Harry Houdini hired a struggling scribbler called HP Lovecraft to ghostwrite a tale based on a strange experience he had in Egypt.

At the time Lovecraft was himself going through a strange and terrifying event he would avoid speaking of for the rest of his life: marriage to an independent writer and business woman. 

What followed would change their lives and forever mark the world. 

The Magician's Ghost tells the story of a friendship spanning the natural, the fictional and the supernatural in a new play by the 2019 Bruntwood Award longlisted and 2021 Through The Mill Award shortlisted writer, Oliver Giggins, specially performed to mark the 150th anniversary of Houdini's birth. 

Please be aware this event is a Rehearsed Reading/ Work in Progress performance.

Related:

• New radio adaptation of 'Imprisoned with the Pharaohs'
• Weird Tales Presents: The Strange World of Harry Houdini
• Houdini and Lovecraft in action

Serenading Houdini with "Houdini"

Here's one I knew I couldn't escape for long. A young woman sang Dua Lipa's hit single "Houdini" at Houdini's grave and posted it to TikTok. The video has gone viral with 2.7 million views. Wild 94.1 reports:

Some celebrities and even brands shared their thoughts in the comments of the video. “Congrats, you won Best Cover Of Houdini At His Grave In 2024,” said MTV. “Do we know if he’s actually in there or did he escape that too,” said the PureWow brand. The Girls Next Door costar Holly Madison even chimed in saying, “Best thing I’ve ever seen.”

Welcome to the TikTok generation, Harry!

Related:

• Dua Lipa drops by the Houdini Estate
• Dua Lipa has to explain Houdini was a real person
• Holly Houdini

San Fransisco suspended straitjacket anniversary

Last year, I completely overlooked the centennial of Houdini's suspended straitjacket escape in San Francisco on March 19, 1923. So on this 101st anniversary, I'm sharing rare film of this escape on my Patreon. As far as I know, this footage has never appeared elsewhere.

The Hearst Building building still stands today on the corner of 3rd and Market Street. Yes, Houdini hung here!

Related:

• Houdini's 1923 San Francisco straitjacket escape in photos
• Rare footage of Houdini's first D.C. street stunt
• Good day for a hanging