The Original Houdini Scrapbook turns 50

I'm having fun remembering my Houdini awakening 50 years ago. I've already talked about seeing Houdini (1953), the first Doug Henning special, and the U.S. debut of The Truth About Houdini. The next hit came on July 20, 1976. My stepbrother and I were wandering Hollywood Blvd––because that was a perfectly acceptable thing to let an 11-year-old do back then––and on a table of new releases inside one of the many bookstores that once lined the street, my eyes fell on this...

As it turns out, The Original Houdini Scrapbook by Walter Gibson had just come out on July 10. It was the first of four coffee-table-sized, picture-heavy Houdini books released within a year. A book like this was a dream come true, and I came home with a copy under my arm. I still have that copy, and I still love this book 50 years later.

By the way, Hollywood Boulevard was once a haven for bookstores. Below is a map from the May 9, 1976, Los Angeles Times. Today, only Larry Edmunds remains.

Do you remember when you first got The Original Houdini Scrapbook? Share your memories in the comments below.

Related:

• The Fantastic Four
• The World of Magic aired 50 years ago tonight
• The Truth About Houdini on its 5oth