I've discovered that Houdini's The Man From Beyond played three days at the Liberty Theatre on Beach Street in Stapleton, Staten Island, starting September 7, 1922. Not only did the theater play the movie, but it featured a full bill of vaudeville and "The Houdini Wonder Show."
On the evening of September 8, Houdini himself appeared on stage at the Liberty, marking his first (known) appearance on Staten Island.
After playing three days at the Liberty, The Man From Beyond and the Wonder Show moved on to the Roosevelt Theater in West Hoboken, New Jersey.
The Liberty Theatre opened in 1918. It had a seating capacity of 1,500 and was said to be the first modern theatre on Staten Island. It ceased operating as a theater in 1953 and later became a bowling alley and a discotheque called Park Villa II. The building still stands today. It's currently being used as a church.
But that's not all. Houdini made a second appearance on Staten Island on February 19, 1925, as part of a benefit staged by the Augustinian Fathers of Grymes Hill. Houdini discussed spiritualism and gave demonstrations. The benefit was held at the Stapleton Club Rooms at the corner of Prospect and Van Duzer Streets.
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The Stapleton Club Room opened in 1874 as the German Clubrooms. Renamed during World War I, it was a popular venue for entertainment and political rallies. It burned down in 1932. Today the site is a parking lot.
The ignominy of it all. All that polyester, platform shoes, and disco music blasting in that hallowed building!
ReplyDeleteThat's BEACH Street. I've also heard that Houdini performed at a Christmas party at the YMCA located at 1590 Richmond Terrace; year unknown.
ReplyDeleteBEACH Street. Thank you. Corrected. Would love to know the date of that Christmas party if you ever find it.
DeleteOk, I found the reference. Turns out that the YMCA became a police precinct and that's where the party was; still no date, but my guess would be 1921-1923. Newspapers.com link: https://www.newspapers.com/image/1116123020/?match=4&terms=%22Houdini%22&search-id=3e6fd854-7b2b-4ba7-8908-f9b94d0d989a&search-rank=1
DeleteHoly smokes, this is an EXCELLENT find! And a first-hand recollection at that. Thank you. Now we just need to discover when this happened.
DeleteWow!! Only you could hunt Houdini down to
ReplyDeletestaten! Super interesting article John!