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| San Francisco Chronicle, Dec 25, 1975. |
Did you see this special live? If so, share your memories in the comments below.
Friday, December 26, 2025
The World of Magic aired 50 years ago tonight
Had to jump back in to note the 50th anniversary of a magic milestone and a personal one as well. It was 50 years ago tonight that Doug Henning's first "World of Magic" television special aired LIVE on NBC. Doug's magic and his climactic performance of Houdini's Water Torture Cell was a ratings hit, and this special has been attributed to launching Magic's second Golden Age. Having just seen Houdini (1953) the previous month, this special only cemented my newfound Houdini mania.
Did you see this special live? If so, share your memories in the comments below.
Did you see this special live? If so, share your memories in the comments below.
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Escaping obscurity in 2025
It's time for me to wrap up 2025 and take my year-end break. It was another great year for Houdini, and for me personally with the release of Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini 1897-1899. I'm looking forward to continuing the story next year in Handcuff King: The Rise of Harry Houdini, the first book in my 3-volume Ultimate Houdini Chronology.
With more and more AI slop flooding the online space, I'm happy to be moving into the world of books, which is where I learned about Houdini in the first place. I hope you'll join me. But don't worry. WILD ABOUT HARRY will continue into 2026 and beyond.
Here's a look back at the year that was.
2025 in Review:
January (18 posts)
February (16 posts)
March (19 posts)
April (20 posts)
May (19 posts)
June (20 posts)
July (19 posts)
August (13 posts)
September (19 posts)
October (25 posts)
November (19 posts)
December (5 posts)
Most Viewed New Post of 2025
YOU CAN NOW OWN HOUDINI'S FIRST DIARY (June 29)
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Top image: Street advertising for Houdini's 1912 engagement at the Gayety in Washington, DC. Screen capture from The Truth About Houdini (1970).
Friday, December 5, 2025
Exploring Houdini's Boston
While on a recent research trip for my next book, I passed through Boston, which is a fantastic city for Houdini locations. Among these is the site of Keith's Theatre, where Houdini appeared many times and did so many famous feats, including his escape from a sea monster. However, identifying the theater's location can be tricky. Most photos and vintage postcards (such as the above) show an impressive entrance on Tremont Street. This is what stands on that site today.
However, this was not the theater. This was just a facade built along the well-trafficked street that led patrons into an arcade and through a tunnel under Mason Street, bringing them up into the actual theater on Washington Street.
Below is the original building on Washington Street that once housed Houdini's Keith's Theatre. You can see a billboard above it listing the many venues that once occupied the building, including Keith's (I didn't even notice this billboard when I was taking this pic).
The pic below shows a different perspective. On one side of the building is the Paramount Theater. This is where the Adams House Hotel once stood. Houdini stayed at Adams House whenever he was in Boston. It was there that he took the first of his famous ice baths. On the other side is the current Opera House, which was once called the B.F. Keith's Theater. But this was a newer Keith's, opened in 1928, so don't be fooled by this one, especially as it resembles the Tremont Street facade.
This wasn't my only stop. I've shared a series of videos on my Patreon exploring the other locations, including the real location of Houdini's famed "Boston Tombs" jailbreak, which I think might come as a surprise to most folks. I know it was a surprise to me!
If you're a patron, you can continue the tour below.
Still need more Houdini in Boston? Below are a few links you might enjoy.
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
The Dream Big Folio: Houdini’s Illusion That Inspired David Copperfield
Here's a nice holiday gift idea. "The Dream Big Folio: Houdini’s Illusion That Inspired David Copperfield" is a new release by History By Mail. Below is a photo and details.
Step into the moment that redefined what humans believe is possible.Dream Big Folio – Houdini’s Illusion That Inspired David Copperfield brings you inside the legendary 1918 Vanishing Elephant performance at the New York Hippodrome—an act so audacious it later inspired a young David Copperfield to imagine making the moon disappear.
This folio is built around one extraordinary centerpiece: a replica of Houdini’s original letter to Harry Kellar, preserved exclusively in David Copperfield’s International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts, the world’s largest private collection of magic memorabilia. Kellar, widely known as the “Dean of American Magicians,” was the most celebrated magician in the United States before Houdini and one of Houdini’s early heroes and mentors. The original letter resides only in Copperfield’s museum.
Everything in the folio is designed to give you the same spark Copperfield describes in his letter—the spark that later helped fuel some of the most iconic illusions in modern history.
You can purchase "The Dream Big Folio: Houdini’s Illusion That Inspired David Copperfield" at the History By Mail website.
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Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Arrival of the Mirror Cuffs
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On public view for the first time, as part of the seance paraphernalia, will be Houdini's famous "Mirror Handcuffs." Prized by Houdini while he lived, since his death, they have been a part of a private collection held by a niece of Houdini's in New Jersey. The sterling silver handcuffs are engraved:
"Presented to Harry Houdini, The Handcuff King, by the Daily Illustrated Mirror, London, as a memento of his success in escaping from the celebrated Mirror Handcuffs, March 17, 1904."
The article says these are the engraved silver replicas. I don't know whether the working cuffs came at the same time, but I know the museum had both when I saw them on display in 1990. Today, both are in David Copperfield's International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts in Las Vegas.
I'm actually more intrigued by the pouch holding the handcuffs and a photo from the challenge with what may be Houdini's handwriting. Does this pouch date back to Houdini? Is it still around today?
Want more? This month's Patreon reward is a searchable PDF of the 32-page souvenir booklet published by the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame during its 27 years in business. Just click below to claim.
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Monday, December 1, 2025
Houdini historic marker destroyed for second time
The historic plaque was first established in Diggers Rest with help from the local Lions Club in 1990. The Melton council had the monument rebuilt in March after hearing of the first destruction. Melton Lions Club member and former president Greg James is saddened to see the monument destroyed once again.
“I was there when it was first put there – it took a lot of effort from the Lions Club,” he said.
“It’s a valuable monument for the aviation industry and for Australia. To see it destroyed I was devastated, absolutely devastated.”
Residents believe the most damage is caused by vandals, while tire marks on the road lead others to believe the damage was caused by "hooning," an Australian term describing a person who deliberately drives a vehicle in a reckless or dangerous manner to provoke a reaction from onlookers.
Greg James said locals want the monument restored.
“We want it back. The local residents and Lions club members are disappointed that it’s like this.”
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