As it turns out, this comes from an anonymous and unsourced edit on Downs' Wikipedia page.
Unfortunately, this has been ingested by A.I. and will now show up as part of any search for Downs and Bess Houdini. But I'm certainly not ready to accept this without a proper source. There's also the possibility that this is a prank as anyone can edit a Wikipedia page. (Without a citation, I suspect it will eventually be removed.)
If you are the anonymous descendant who posted this, please contact me. I would love to know your source, even if it's just family lore.
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Probable never happened. Bess preferred younger men in her widowed years
ReplyDeleteHaha. She did. But I could see them having a moment. A vulnerable Bess and a long time friend providing comfort. Stuff happens! Maybe Downs always felt a little attraction to her.
DeleteYou could be right about that. Bess and the King of Koins...
DeleteActually I brought this to your attention back in June when I found it and then contacted the family via a grandson. He did not know which relative put up that information. However, although you can write anything on Wikipedia, there are BOTS and several editors who constantly are notified of any changes, which return the page to its previous position. Anything over 30 days is considered valid ( I know this because you can buy links from a select group of trusted editors to your website but they must stay for 30 days as a guarantee for that reason.) So we know its been there since end of June...which makes it more than likely it is considered a valid fact by the Wiki editors. Note the editor says it is confirmed by the relative, but there SHOULD have been the name of that person, which I agree leaves it up to interpretation, but that is not the kind of thing a relative would put up for public knowledge. My 2 cents.
ReplyDeleteYes, you were one of the two people that I heard this from. (Was that all the way back in June? My, times flies.)
DeleteI don't have ANY respect or confidence in Wikipedia and their processes. Let's hear from the person who put that up and hear the source. That's what I care about.
Hello John. I am behind you 100% re: the Wikipedia question. I know from personal experience and in 2 different situations where Wikipedia ignores the truth about someone, yet validates the truth. One having to do with Boxing Champion Hocine Khalfi, and another the legendary Frank Dux of Bloodsport, the movie, fame. One has to take what one reads on there with a grain of salt in many instances. Appreciate so much all of your timeless work re; The Great Houdini.
DeleteMy last sentence may be confusing: what I meant is, putting that information on the wiki page is not like sharing they won the blue ribbon at the county fair. It seems more like a genuine statement.
ReplyDeleteAlso, that statement was added in 2024 per my notes so we are long past the 30 days review/restoration time period.
ReplyDeletecorrecting my first note..I spoke with a great nephew, not grandson.
ReplyDeleteI vote against the affair, all I have every heard or read that Bess was not
ReplyDeletea sexual woman. Kinda small almost childlike….bs sells
So I found how to contact the person who is a great nephew who put that up in 2022 and was verified in 2024 and requested the person to identify themselves ( it could be the great nephew I talked to but it s a HUGE family of cousins so could have been a big family reveal) so lets see what shakesd out. I agree with John...I think it was a comfort affair, and remember that doesnt mean it was sexual in the traditional means.
ReplyDeleteI just really want to know if it is family lore or if there's a letter or something. For all we know they could have a book in which Bess signed "to my dear" and, without understanding their life-long friendship, jumped to a conclusion.
DeleteI thought of it and maybe it’s just people addressed people like that? Especially if Tommy was friends with Harry. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bess met Harry’s magician besties when he was alive. I dunno. Just a thought I had. - Abby Martin
DeleteWith no named verified source, no clear proof, no previous documentation, no “love” letters, then just pure heresay and titillating gossip. John, have you ever seen any suggestive correspondence between Bessie & Tommy at David Copperfield’s or elsewhere? I haven’t. (BTW David Copperfield’s birthday is this Tuesday 9/16/25. Everyone should send happy birthday wishes to him!) www.AverbookMuseum.com
ReplyDeleteThe verdict is still out on the Houdini Daisy White affair. Then there's the story of Houdini visiting a fellow magician in Boston at some shop and told him Margery was sitting in the back seat of his taxi waiting for him, and would he like to meet her?
ReplyDelete