tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post1216276343353842144..comments2024-03-28T21:34:40.656-07:00Comments on WILD ABOUT HARRY: The best forgotten Houdini bookJohn Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-50504021314060739122018-04-03T19:01:48.888-07:002018-04-03T19:01:48.888-07:00When I first started to do magic, I couldn't w...When I first started to do magic, I couldn't wait to find out the secrets to Houdini's method. <br /><br />Now that I have been doing magic for awhile, I realize that it is not important how Houdini did it, but that he did it at all. Knowing the secrets actually gives you respect for the man. <br /><br />Think about it. If you had to do what he did every night for over 25 years, could we Michael Pascoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10314595383329719714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-75077955067745456372015-10-03T11:20:08.852-07:002015-10-03T11:20:08.852-07:00I've been re-reading certain parts of HFM, tha...I've been re-reading certain parts of HFM, thanks to John, and the chapter on the Vanishing Elephant is not that far off. Gibson mentions the magician's Phantom Tube principle at work and this is basically correct. And get this: The Hippodrome stage was so large, it made the cabinet that vanished the elephant look smaller than it really was. Scale can play tricks on the eyes and mind.<br Leo Heviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12990057178465581105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-74530859406328726022015-10-03T06:45:34.990-07:002015-10-03T06:45:34.990-07:00Oh, yes, Pat's book shows you exactly how it w...Oh, yes, Pat's book shows you exactly how it worked, with photos.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-70086118572661694522015-10-03T04:56:22.049-07:002015-10-03T04:56:22.049-07:00So after all this, is Cullitons book regarded as g...So after all this, is Cullitons book regarded as giving the best explanation of how it works?????? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-80296183460263360262015-09-26T05:38:58.052-07:002015-09-26T05:38:58.052-07:00Based upon my examination of the WTC Gibsons expla...Based upon my examination of the WTC Gibsons explanation of its secret was spot on. His phrase "drawer fashion" was what was on my mind as I proded the cell for its secret. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-15138435754285527912015-09-25T19:41:22.707-07:002015-09-25T19:41:22.707-07:00Both the Master Magicians and Houdini's Fabulo...Both the Master Magicians and Houdini's Fabulous Magic get a very basic part of the secret entirely wrong. Sid Radner wasn't happy about either book exposing the Torture Cell, but, Walter had ghosted Sid's books for him and Sid had to forgive him. He told me the books were in print before he knew Walter exposed the Torture Cell.patrick cullitonhttp://www.houdinisghost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-32846648473123315722015-09-25T17:31:12.769-07:002015-09-25T17:31:12.769-07:00Once I saw the explanation of the WTC escape in my...Once I saw the explanation of the WTC escape in my copy of the master magicians I just assumed this was where I saw it. I think if you combine the brief explanation in HFM and the longer explanation within TMM you get the full picture as to the mechanics of the secret. I knew this going into my visit to the Houdini museum at Niagra Falls so I had a good idea where the gaff was. Never in my Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-32642095102039044152015-09-25T16:31:20.556-07:002015-09-25T16:31:20.556-07:00You're right. It does reveal it. My bad. But n...You're right. It does reveal it. My bad. But not the full details of the mechanism, as in Pat's books.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-62437559379539465492015-09-25T15:39:00.111-07:002015-09-25T15:39:00.111-07:00On page 192 of HFM [grey cover], it appears to rev...On page 192 of HFM [grey cover], it appears to reveal the secret for a late version of the USD.Joe M. Notarohttp://harryhoudinicircumstantialevidence.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-35993147771429962842015-09-25T13:04:34.120-07:002015-09-25T13:04:34.120-07:00So how did you know what to look for? Did you read...So how did you know what to look for? Did you read it in The Master Magicians?John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-40323123314175310972015-09-25T13:04:07.186-07:002015-09-25T13:04:07.186-07:00Yes, it does merit a blog entry, but I need to get...Yes, it does merit a blog entry, but I need to get the book. :)John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-69992964577299199822015-09-25T12:48:19.662-07:002015-09-25T12:48:19.662-07:00I've told this story before but I was lucky to...I've told this story before but I was lucky to be able to prove out Gibsons explanation of how Houdini escaped from the WTC. Back in the mid 80s I vacationed in Niagra Falls and visited the Houdini museum just as they opened and before security cameras were turned on. I was able to scamper under the baracade and climb upon the small table the WTC sat upon. To my amazement the gaff was not Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-73074809751615819042015-09-25T12:01:59.596-07:002015-09-25T12:01:59.596-07:00There was another book I read where a one - two se...There was another book I read where a one - two sentence explanation was given as to how Houdini escaped from the WTC. I know John does not like secrets being revealed so I will paraphrase......it eluded to the mechanism that locked the lid to the case.......... Unfortunately I forget what book revealed this information. Perry from NJ.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-39485565245258591182015-09-24T20:49:22.246-07:002015-09-24T20:49:22.246-07:00The escape from the carette is described on page 9...The escape from the carette is described on page 91 in Gresham and 144 in Cannell's book. Gresham mentions the can opener and Cannell describes the tool as some type of zinc cutter. Before the Cannell book, I have no idea where the floor theory first appeared.<br /><br />You know something John, the fact that Gibson had already revealed the secret to the USD in The Master Magicians merits a Leo Heviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12990057178465581105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-67874159263439871912015-09-24T18:01:17.352-07:002015-09-24T18:01:17.352-07:00Did cutting through the floor of the carette first...Did cutting through the floor of the carette first appear in Cannell? I thought that was one that came from Houdini himself.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-2388779355284629152015-09-24T17:59:55.162-07:002015-09-24T17:59:55.162-07:00Thanks Pat. Great info. Of course, Houdini The Key...Thanks Pat. Great info. Of course, Houdini The Key is now THE book for Houdini's secrets. But before that, this was the book I trusted, although I always knew we weren't getting it all.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-76336318671529339712015-09-24T17:57:54.500-07:002015-09-24T17:57:54.500-07:00Ah, thanks Perry. I thought I was crazy.
I had no...Ah, thanks Perry. I thought I was crazy.<br /><br />I had no idea Gibson revealed the USD in The Master Magicians. Wow. I'll have to check that out. I really thought that was one secret that had been kept (until Pat's book, that is).John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-34115882496482336652015-09-24T17:45:53.106-07:002015-09-24T17:45:53.106-07:00The Master Magicians was the Gibson book where he ...The Master Magicians was the Gibson book where he revealed the workings of the WTC not Houdinis Fabulous Magic. My error. Look on pages 182-183. Perry from NJ. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-81903798381053253832015-09-24T17:33:03.088-07:002015-09-24T17:33:03.088-07:00Thanks for remembering me Patrick! Yeah, I was foo...Thanks for remembering me Patrick! Yeah, I was foolish enough to even think those old books were accurate. I learned my lesson and have remained repentant. The Dover Cannell book, the Gibson books and Fabulous Magic were pretty much all that was out there for a kid in the 1970s. Go easy on us.<br /><br />The worst explanation for the Vanishing Elephant has to be in J.C. Cannell's Secrets of Leo Heviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12990057178465581105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-81033688797702648582015-09-24T12:55:53.370-07:002015-09-24T12:55:53.370-07:00This is a wonderful book. I pre-ordered it from Ta...This is a wonderful book. I pre-ordered it from Tannens and it came with an 8X10 of Houdini. That having been said, Walter makes things up. Walter did the writing, and Morris did the research. Walter gave Morris the impression he had seen Houdini perform the Elephant twice. Morris told me this. Walter and I discussed the Elephant on our way to the MGM lot (I was giving him a tour, the gate guard patrick cullitonhttp://www.houdinisghost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-56702626174303959282015-09-24T11:48:49.391-07:002015-09-24T11:48:49.391-07:00Well. I have a hard bound copy of this book that...Well. I have a hard bound copy of this book that I bought in the very early 70s. It indeed does reveal the secret of the USD. Not in great detail with photos but instead a clear explanation. Perry from NJ. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-40059450691743996742015-09-24T09:01:53.573-07:002015-09-24T09:01:53.573-07:00Yes - I like that book as well !Yes - I like that book as well !Joe Hanoseknoreply@blogger.com