Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Holmes & Houdini issue 3

The dynamic duo of Holmes & Houdini wrap things up in issue 3 of Zenescope's series, written by Honor Vincent and illustrated by Oliver Borges.

As Nolen Savoy's apocalyptic plot nears fruition, Spencer Holmes and Erica Houdini must join forces, much like their famous ancestors did once before to save the world. But is it already too late?

You can purchase Holmes & Houdini #3 for the Kindle on Amazon.com. You can also buy directly from Zenescope, which offers printed copies with variant covers. Depicted here is cover B by Igor Vitorino and Ivan Nunes.

Based on the preview pages at the official website, this last issue features an appearance of the real Holmes and Houdini in 1913 (below).


Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Houdini's Last Handcuffs by Charlie & Cheryl Young

Today sees the release of Houdini's Last Handcuffs written by our friends Charlie & Cheryl Young. It's a delightful work of historical fiction featuring many familiar faces from the world of magic in the 1950s, including the spirit of Houdini!

Houdini’s Last Handcuffs weaves a mesmerizing blend of historical fiction and fantasy in 1950s Manhattan. On the 30th anniversary of Houdini's death, three young friends, gifted a mystical Ouija Board by the enigmatic writer Walter Gibson, find themselves thrust into a world of wonder.

While the adults attempt to reach Houdini in a Séance at his former residence, the children unknowingly call upon the great magician, not through the Ouija board or séance but via an enigmatic pair of handcuffs from their father's magic collection.

Houdini, in dire need of their aid, reveals a hidden notebook filled with scientific formulas coveted by both benevolent and malevolent secret circles. This notebook is a puzzle, locked behind Houdini's cryptic code.

The unexpected unfolds, setting off a thrilling chase, where the pursuit of Houdini's notebook holds the key to secrets, mystique, and adventure. Houdini’s Last Handcuffs is a riveting journey into a world where magic meets science, tantalizing readers with every twist and turn.


You can purchase Houdini's Last Handcuffs from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. I received mine from Houdini himself!


Related:

Monday, March 25, 2024

Marking Houdini's 150th in Budapest

David Merlini of The House of Houdini led an esteemed delegation to the site of Houdini's birthplace in Budapest, Hungary, yesterday to mark the magician's 150th birthday. This corner of Csengery and Dob was formerly Rákosárok No. 1, where the Weisz family lived in 1874.


In attendance: Jayson Dumenigo @afstunts; David Merlini; Judit Gálvölgyi, daughter of Rodolfo, the famous Hungarian Magician; János Gálvölgyi, legendary Hungarian actor and comedian; Pérer Niedermüller, Mayor of 7th District; Bryce Branagan and Megan Miller, Action Factory Team.

Sunday, March 24, 2024

Houdini is alive and well at 150


Today is Houdini's 150th birthday. I think it's safe to say he's never been more alive. It's a day to celebrate. Speaking of celebrations, here's a personal tidbit from Houdini's 106th birthday excerpted from The Valley News, May 20, 1980...


This is true. I had half the cafeteria singing. I think they were afraid I was trying to start a revolution. But no one is going to stop us from singing today!

Everybody...

🎼 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.... 🎼

Links to some of today's celebrants:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOUDINI (Music Magic and More)
Today's Jewish Birthday: Harry Houdini (San Diego Jewish World)

Friday, March 22, 2024

Celebrate Houdini's 150th with the SAM online

Celebrate Houdini's 150th birthday online with SAM Parent Assembly #1 and The Houdini Museum in Scranton this Sunday, March 24, 2024, at 2 PM ET. Below is more information and the Zoom meeting link.


When:
Sunday, March 24, 2 PM Eastern / 11 AM Pacific / 6 PM UK

Zoom Link:

Meeting ID: 859 8585 1304
 Passcode: 796571

Hope to see you there!

'The Magician's Ghost' reading in Edinburgh

A rehearsal reading of a work in progress, The Magician's Ghost, will be held at The Banshee Labyrinth in Edinburgh this Monday, March 25. You can get more information and buy tickets HERE.

A hundred years ago this year, renowned magician Harry Houdini hired a struggling scribbler called HP Lovecraft to ghostwrite a tale based on a strange experience he had in Egypt.

At the time Lovecraft was himself going through a strange and terrifying event he would avoid speaking of for the rest of his life: marriage to an independent writer and business woman. 

What followed would change their lives and forever mark the world. 

The Magician's Ghost tells the story of a friendship spanning the natural, the fictional and the supernatural in a new play by the 2019 Bruntwood Award longlisted and 2021 Through The Mill Award shortlisted writer, Oliver Giggins, specially performed to mark the 150th anniversary of Houdini's birth. 

Please be aware this event is a Rehearsed Reading/ Work in Progress performance.

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Serenading Houdini with "Houdini"

Here's one I knew I couldn't escape for long. A young woman sang Dua Lipa's hit single "Houdini" at Houdini's grave and posted it to TikTok. The video has gone viral with 2.7 million views. Wild 94.1 reports:

Some celebrities and even brands shared their thoughts in the comments of the video. “Congrats, you won Best Cover Of Houdini At His Grave In 2024,” said MTV. “Do we know if he’s actually in there or did he escape that too,” said the PureWow brand. The Girls Next Door costar Holly Madison even chimed in saying, “Best thing I’ve ever seen.”

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

San Fransisco suspended straitjacket anniversary


Last year, I completely overlooked the centennial of Houdini's suspended straitjacket escape in San Francisco on March 19, 1923. So on this 101st anniversary, I'm sharing rare film of this escape on my Patreon. As far as I know, this footage has never appeared elsewhere.


The Hearst Building building still stands today on the corner of 3rd and Market Street. Yes, Houdini hung here!

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Houdini in Blackpool's new "Showtown" museum

The door from a jail cell that Houdini escaped from in 1905 is on display at the new Showtown museum in Blackpool, England. What a fantastic artifact! Blackpool native and magician Karl Bartoni shares photos from a special preview he attended last week.


Below is an account of Houdini's Blackpool jail escape on June 12, 1905.

Lancashire Evening Post, June 12, 1905.

The museum also has exhibits showcasing Murray the Escapologist, a long-time Blackpool resident; Karl Bartoni's straitjacket that he used during his Tower escapes; and a reproduction Houdini Milk Can with a cut-out in Houdini's famous 1908 poster that you can try on for size.


Showtown is located in the heart of the Golden Mile next door to Blackpool Tower. The museum showcases the best of the seaside, magic, circus, Illuminations, shows, and dance. For more details, visit the official website.

If you want to see all the photos Karl sent me, check out my Patreon below.


Thank you, Karl!

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Houdini spoke one year ago today

It was one year ago today that Mike CaveneyDr. Michael Khanchalian, and I heard the voice of Harry Houdini coming from wax cylinders that have not been played since 1970. What an incredible experience. I still can't believe I was a part of it. Click the image below to relive the adventure.


Below are some follow-up posts related to the Houdini wax cylinders.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Discovering Houdini's "O.D. stunt" at last!

Here's one I've been chasing for a long time. In Houdini's 1916 diary, he records an "O.D. stunt" (outdoor stunt) during his engagement in Toledo that year. Unfortunately, he provided no other details. I suspected it was a suspended straitjacket escape, but I've never been able to confirm it or nail down an exact date. But now, thanks to a recent upload of Toledo Blade newspapers, the "O.D. stunt" has been revealed!

Toledo Blade, December 8, 1916.

While this was indeed a suspended straitjacket escape (on December 7, 1916), it was an untypical one. Instead of doing the escape from a downtown building that housed a newspaper, Houdini did this from the "roof of the county jail." It isn't entirely clear where this would have been, but the Lucas County Jail in Toledo is a likely candidate.


Another interesting detail gleaned from another clipping is that the police provided a straitjacket, but Houdini "refused" it and used one of his own.

Finally, if the photo in the clipping looks familiar, it should! The NYPL has the full photo in its digital collection, and it has appeared elsewhere. Who knew we were looking at the elusive Toledo "O.D. stunt" this whole time?


Want more? I've shared all the clippings related to this stunt and Houdini's 1916 Toledo engagement with "Scholar" members of my Patreon below.


Related:

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

"That's an awful river."

I've shared on my Patreon a vivid account of Houdini's handcuffed leap into the Mississippi River on November 17, 1907. There are details here that I've not read before. Dive in by clicking below. 


I recently updated my Bridge jumps page to list all of Houdini's known jumps. Thanks to my patrons for supporting this work. 

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