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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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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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Houdini or Star Wars? That era it was girls for me..
ReplyDeleteBTW thanks for update on the book, also are you in Vegas next week, and does DC allow photos in the museum?
I'm not going to be in Vegas, unfortunately. DC does not allow photos in the museum. He does allow people to take photos with the Houdini bookcase, although time will be tight on the tours, so that may not be possible.
DeleteBTW, Mike might have a copy of the book to show at the Expo. I know he was going to try to get a copy FedEx'd from the printer.
DeleteAlso love the 280Z in the picture, had one of those….
ReplyDeleteYes, and that van! Everyone had a van back then.
DeleteI thought I had discovered Houdini in the fall of 1976. It goes back at least another three years around 72 or 73. I first read about him in a school library book about incredible feats in human history. I remember the chapter on him blew me away: He could kneel on needles and tell you how many there were.
ReplyDeleteDid a class presentation on him a year or so later in fourth grade 74/75. Then the Paul M. Glaser movie and the BBC Truth About Houdini documentary in October 1976 closed the deal. Magic hit me at that moment as well. A one two punch.
Thanks John, no pics huh, got to be a way?
ReplyDeleteDisappointed that you aren’t going to be there, it was cool
meeting you at Long Beach last year. How about Joe, Fred, and Arthur can you speak for them attending. Hope Mike gets the book in time.
I know Fred is going.
DeleteArthur Moses can’t make it but will be there in spirit, as I will be there sharing a dealers table with Charles Greene and selling the first book (1920) of a series (1920,..,1926) of books that Arthur and I are compiling on the Kinema Comic Serial, The Amazing Exploits of Houdini.
DeleteThe 70’s is when I became obsessed with Houdini
Well… it all started when I watched a video on the Cottingley Fairy Hoax by one of my favorite YouTubers Kaz Rowe which was around 2022? But Harry goes back further than that. I definitely did know the name Houdini since as long as I could remember but I never thought much of him. He’s a pop culture icon for crying out loud! May have encountered him in elementary school, when I was homeschooled, maybe even the library, but I didn’t think much of him. But the name I definitely knew. That was until I wrote Elsie and one fateful day I was writing one of my drafts of it. I was making a fun little list of historical figures I may have wanted in the story.
ReplyDeleteHe was on my list, didn’t know why, didn’t know why he came to my head. I just wrote it down subconsciously and I asked myself, “Wait, wasn’t he around at the turn of the century?” And he was, and then I did research when he got famous. One thing lead to another and since then I was obsessed. I didn’t get his height quite right at first when I was first doing the sketches of him. His legs were too tall! He was a little guy!
Before I knew it, I was watching documentaries, reading blogs, watching media, any cartoons with him in it. I got an action figure, a poster and all sorts of things. I don’t know why it had to be him I fell for, but it was destiny and he brings me immense joy. It also helped that he was cute too so… yeah. That’s my long complicated story with Houdini! 🙃 - Abby Martin
Very interesting to hear how a young person came to Houdini. Thanks Abby.
DeleteI might have already told you this before. Heheh. 😂 - Abby Martin
DeleteBtw 1977 was when my mom was born! Haha! She’s gonna be 50 soon it’s crazy! - Abby Martin
ReplyDelete