tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post1979285941819661434..comments2024-03-28T08:03:31.442-07:00Comments on WILD ABOUT HARRY: Houdini's lost levitationJohn Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-66886047774712766392021-03-05T07:44:42.388-08:002021-03-05T07:44:42.388-08:00Very interesting. Thanks. And congrats on being th...Very interesting. Thanks. And congrats on being the latest owner!John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-72258123667925832272021-03-05T01:12:10.345-08:002021-03-05T01:12:10.345-08:00http://harryhoudinicircumstantialevidence.com/?m=2...http://harryhoudinicircumstantialevidence.com/?m=201407<br />I just found thisProfDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571553281944184830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-34410328389962344572021-03-05T00:50:57.339-08:002021-03-05T00:50:57.339-08:00There were a total of three of the levitations mad...There were a total of three of the levitations made for the TC movie. They were built by a German illusion builder, after the movie, the maker of the illusion received one of the three and is thought to have destroyed it due to its clumsy workings, one ended up at the Houdini Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls where it was lost in the fire, the third went to Dunninger, who made it more "portable&ProfDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571553281944184830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-8561997038732916972021-01-02T09:35:28.711-08:002021-01-02T09:35:28.711-08:00I'm always intrigued when an old post like thi...I'm always intrigued when an old post like this starts getting new heavy traffic. Someone out there researching levitation? :)John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-21113135649405577262018-03-29T18:14:41.170-07:002018-03-29T18:14:41.170-07:00I thought the same thing when I read this book. Wh...I thought the same thing when I read this book. When it stated that Houdini did the Trilby levitation, the first thing I thought about was the Tony Curtis movie. Michael Pascoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10314595383329719714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-32515954545576110822017-02-19T07:36:40.717-08:002017-02-19T07:36:40.717-08:00Thanks I'll let him knowThanks I'll let him knowGogolzzzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16434434395591729166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-29797372715255194382017-02-17T19:53:42.475-08:002017-02-17T19:53:42.475-08:00There's http://magiccollectibles.com. I'd ...There's <a href="http://magiccollectibles.com" rel="nofollow">http://magiccollectibles.com</a>. I'd also think any auction house that specialize in magic, such as Potter & Potter or Haversat and Ewing, would be interested. As long as the prop has good provenance.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-57009226859149473272017-02-17T14:52:21.407-08:002017-02-17T14:52:21.407-08:00A friend has the original levitation illusion from...A friend has the original levitation illusion from the Houdini movie with Tony Curtis. He was looking to find a collector outlet to sell it...does anyone know of illusion collector outlets?Gogolzzzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16434434395591729166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-91640144390423662032012-11-30T15:13:08.677-08:002012-11-30T15:13:08.677-08:00Thank you, Eric. Updated.Thank you, Eric. Updated.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-32513632708941683212012-11-28T19:53:48.254-08:002012-11-28T19:53:48.254-08:00Also see Houdini's catalog of magic reproduced...Also see Houdini's catalog of magic reproduced in Gibson's "The Original Houdini Scrapbook," page 87. Look at item 53 in the catalog. Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-19511988442366415232012-11-24T08:49:02.542-08:002012-11-24T08:49:02.542-08:00The book is out and available in Canada because Br...The book is out and available in Canada because Bruce is doing a book tour -- I think there's a stop today, in fact. In the article I have a link to the publisher where you can order direct. Don't know why it's taking so long on Amazon.<br /><br />Nothing on Bryan in the book that I can recall. But there was an election for the Canadian Prime Minister that year and there's some John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-716127235377178922012-11-24T06:55:43.672-08:002012-11-24T06:55:43.672-08:00Fascinating! That year 1896 was quite interesting ...Fascinating! That year 1896 was quite interesting - does anyone have anything on Houdini's crossing paths with William Jennings Bryan that autumn? Bryan was also crisscrossing the country in the nation's first "whistle-stop" campaign for the Presidency. He drew big crowds - could Marco have been far behind?<br /><br />Re Trilby: recently read that book and cannot find any DAVID SALTMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06270760638995836991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-26389155092336695602012-11-23T21:28:40.327-08:002012-11-23T21:28:40.327-08:00Still waiting for Bruce to send my copies too. Still waiting for Bruce to send my copies too. Kevin Connollyhttp://houdinihimself.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-83769692950237534992012-11-23T19:59:19.092-08:002012-11-23T19:59:19.092-08:00Ah ha! It's in Patrick's book! I new I rea...Ah ha! It's in Patrick's book! I new I read something about a levitation and Houdini!<br /><br />Sadly, I don't have the new MacNab book, YET.Carnegiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10142955905272650610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-16022454891995232752012-11-23T18:52:48.048-08:002012-11-23T18:52:48.048-08:00I'll be darned, Patrick. You sure do say that ...I'll be darned, Patrick. You sure do say that in Houdini--The Key. In fact, you quote the same Moncton review that I quoted above. I'm so sorry I didn't remember that. It just didn't stick with me the way it did after reading Bruce's book because he makes so much of the Trilby levitation and how Houdini came to perform it.<br /><br />I did indeed read your forward to Bruce'John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-34214091104299281542012-11-23T18:26:47.370-08:002012-11-23T18:26:47.370-08:00I mentioned that Houdini and Bessie performed a le...I mentioned that Houdini and Bessie performed a levitation and may have even included a quote about it from someplace on the first page Houdini--the Key which finally saw the light of day on 10-30-2010.<br />John, I know you read the book, but, did you read the forward?<br />Bruce's book is full of material that nobody has covered. The other books sail through this critical time in Houdini&#Patrick Cullitonhttp://www.houdinisghost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-29519896987883394112012-11-23T13:24:55.619-08:002012-11-23T13:24:55.619-08:00Cool. I've actually never seen a script for th...Cool. I've actually never seen a script for this film, although I haven't examined its file at the Academy library. Maybe it's time I did that. :)John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-54643597433562054352012-11-23T13:19:35.959-08:002012-11-23T13:19:35.959-08:00I think it was Stanyon that said Trilby was a susp...I think it was Stanyon that said Trilby was a suspension. I would have to look at the movie again to see if Janet rises or is suspended to make a call.<br /><br />Yes, the cannon stunt and some others were in the script. Also an alternative ending was considered. Houdini dies in that one too.Kevin Connollynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-34367937919442802902012-11-23T12:27:49.955-08:002012-11-23T12:27:49.955-08:00And the levitation (that pic) is still in the movi...And the levitation (that pic) is still in the movie. It's part of his European success montage. (Curtis actually bumps the apparatus, always bothered me.)John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-82072033061975837902012-11-23T12:23:38.303-08:002012-11-23T12:23:38.303-08:00Maybe I'm wrong, but I think when we say "...Maybe I'm wrong, but I think when we say "Trilby levitation" today we are talking about a suspension method, but back then they were just talking about the "story" of the trick -- a hypnotized floating "Trilby" -- because it wasn't a suspension back then, was it? Bruce includes an ad for A. Herrmann that advertistes his "Trilby levitation". I'd John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-75778385969620705792012-11-23T12:12:23.790-08:002012-11-23T12:12:23.790-08:00Ah, interesting, thanks. The levitation really has...Ah, interesting, thanks. The levitation really has a rich history. That's why I included the doc. But then there's the whole hidden history of the methods. Fun stuff.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-38946937666152949922012-11-23T12:09:18.707-08:002012-11-23T12:09:18.707-08:00Not to get too technical, but isn't the Trilby...Not to get too technical, but isn't the Trilby Illusion a suspension? Since there was a suspension in the film already;they may have edited it out because it was similar.<br /><br />Either Boston or Dunninger most likely knew that Houdini performed the illusion. The pair suggested other Houdini illusions/escapes that were written into the movie, that were either later rewritten or edited out Kevin Connollyhttp://houdinihimself.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-4079568417340918012012-11-23T12:07:14.103-08:002012-11-23T12:07:14.103-08:00The levitation patented by Thurston was actually S...The levitation patented by Thurston was actually Servais Le Roy's "Asrah", where a woman floats in the air and then disappears. Thurston's patented it with an idea of Harry Jansen - Danté - the use of the "wedged" table that is now standard fare.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-5045874799067045142012-11-23T11:50:50.294-08:002012-11-23T11:50:50.294-08:00The book has turned out to be a tricky one to get....The book has turned out to be a tricky one to get. I've even seen some on Amazon Marketplace selling it for $80+.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-6285132950039957402012-11-23T11:49:32.021-08:002012-11-23T11:49:32.021-08:00Yea, please look for it and I'll update if nec...Yea, please look for it and I'll update if necessary. I checked the programs of his Magic Revue and his full evening show and saw nothing that sounded like a levitation, although Christopher in Pictorial Life mentions something about a "German" effect in which a girl "flies around the stage like a moth." So that's a levitation -- but not really a Trilby waist high hoopJohn Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.com