tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post2878963356345195478..comments2024-03-28T21:34:40.656-07:00Comments on WILD ABOUT HARRY: Unfolding the Double Fold mysteriesJohn Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-15627565576121173592015-12-29T18:50:28.650-08:002015-12-29T18:50:28.650-08:00HH is going to hit the ground running in 2016.HH is going to hit the ground running in 2016.Leo Heviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12990057178465581105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-65242379034411995972015-12-29T13:12:35.073-08:002015-12-29T13:12:35.073-08:00UPDATE: I now know where this can is and I have pi...UPDATE: I now know where this can is and I have pics. I will be posting about it in the new year.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-13572438726065872832014-08-20T11:23:12.571-07:002014-08-20T11:23:12.571-07:00Houdini performed this at Hammerstein's Victor...Houdini performed this at Hammerstein's Victoria in July 1914 when he did the Walking Through A Brick Wall. Lots of reviews describe it.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-86640262747521920372014-08-20T11:21:54.975-07:002014-08-20T11:21:54.975-07:00UPDATE on where the auction box came from HERE.UPDATE on where the auction box came from <a href="http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2014/08/the-double-folds-inspirational-journey.html" rel="nofollow">HERE</a>.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-39235437313847899232014-08-20T07:48:41.340-07:002014-08-20T07:48:41.340-07:00Funny, never did find any articles of Houdini perf...Funny, never did find any articles of Houdini performing this, just the replica color litho that keeps popping up. It was Hardeen that was known for this effect and his trunk that is being sold now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-76558330183594221382014-08-17T06:29:21.045-07:002014-08-17T06:29:21.045-07:00Thanks. I've actually been exchanging some ema...Thanks. I've actually been exchanging some emails with Gary Collins, the gospel magician who owned and used the trunk for maybe even longer that Houdini and Hardeen. He's sent me some wonderful material and clippings, but I just haven't had time to work them up into a post. I will soon. Neat to know the story.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-6120041892663563602014-08-16T09:02:27.542-07:002014-08-16T09:02:27.542-07:00Gabe Fajuri shares some interesting information to...Gabe Fajuri shares some interesting information to the whereabouts of the Double Fold Death Defying Mystery in the “Magic Word Podcast, by Scott Wells” <br />Apparently the box has been in use for a number of years by a gospel magician, who used it to close his show. He did not have a milk can, so the escape was from the box only. He bought it from Jack Lawain 30+ years ago.<br />You can listen Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13267830250218051681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-6840536943494435662014-08-07T19:53:49.719-07:002014-08-07T19:53:49.719-07:00Seven of those letters are posted on the Potter &a...Seven of those letters are posted on the Potter & Potter auction website and six of them are readable. One letter unfortunately has the mailing envelope lying on top of it. In one letter Hardeen follows up on the Bean Giant handcuffs that he had sold to Sid. He gives a few suggestions on the correct handling of the key. In another memo, he offers to sell Sid a letter that he was interested inLeo Hevianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-8518935656564641872014-08-07T18:50:35.767-07:002014-08-07T18:50:35.767-07:00In the auction are all the letters between Hardeen...In the auction are all the letters between Hardeen and Sid Radner. That's one of the lots I'm most excited about. I feel like there could be some answers in those about exactly what Sid got from Dash and when. Also, I feel like Sid and Hardeen's friendship is an untold story of magic. I would love to read those letters and write that story,John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-43054196924648952962014-08-07T18:35:13.851-07:002014-08-07T18:35:13.851-07:00So the lid of the Double Fold box appears to be or...So the lid of the Double Fold box appears to be original and the box was altered by Collins to fit Hardeen. That makes sense but as John stated, nothing concrete. The individuals who were the caretakers of Houdini's apparatus did not appear to take an interest in the history of the props. Like John stated, these items were just trophies to them. The trail has now grown cold over the years.Leo Hevianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-26605882215666760502014-08-07T16:13:46.777-07:002014-08-07T16:13:46.777-07:00It's fun to try and puzzle all this out, but I...It's fun to try and puzzle all this out, but I don't think we can draw any firm conclusions from anything here. Heck, we don't even know when that Ransom Center pic was taken. We're just playing with morsels of info and a set of assumptions. Nothing is fact.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-27050699409980066072014-08-07T15:36:31.975-07:002014-08-07T15:36:31.975-07:00Alright, top of box was Houdini's entire botto...Alright, top of box was Houdini's entire bottom Hardeens. Got it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-72872689129276173832014-08-07T11:41:18.592-07:002014-08-07T11:41:18.592-07:00The top is the vital part and it is original. The ...The top is the vital part and it is original. The lower box was obviously rebuilt to allow it to fit the Hardeen Can. Anonymous, whoever you are, Hardeen inherited the Double Fold box from Houdini. He also inherited Houdini's assistants, all of whom were cabinet makers, machinists, or both. I have finally seen photos of the Nest of Boxes that Jimmy Collins made for Houdini as a gift. Patrick Cullitonhttp://www.houdinisghost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-8335715231410434632014-08-07T11:09:44.634-07:002014-08-07T11:09:44.634-07:00I really don't know what that thing is.
Isn&#...I really don't know what that thing is.<br /><br />Isn't is a shame how little we know about all the apparatus that just sat there in the Houdini Hall of Fame for so many years? Did Sid ever take notes on any of the things he owned or try to place them in Houdini's career? Sid owned the Challenge scrapbook that had the pic of the can in the box. Did he never see this hasp and make theJohn Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-71887036258795319672014-08-06T23:42:26.781-07:002014-08-06T23:42:26.781-07:00Incredible. Are we thinking that this milk can ha...Incredible. Are we thinking that this milk can had a USD type "gaff". I am at a loss to envision this. So there must have been a hasp that folded over from the lid that then fitted into that slot which was then locked with a key. Perry from NJ.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-89751698229271066682014-08-06T22:27:52.942-07:002014-08-06T22:27:52.942-07:00I've added another photo from Joe Notaro showi...I've added another photo from Joe Notaro showing the can around 1980. In this shot you can see that rectangular hasp on the rim.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-39750390111240082472014-08-06T19:13:49.206-07:002014-08-06T19:13:49.206-07:00The Houdini Magical Hall of Fame was a mixed bag i...The Houdini Magical Hall of Fame was a mixed bag in my book. On one hand, anyone and everyone could go and see (and touch) all these amazing Houdini artifacts. That certainly isn't the case today. But on the other hand, it was horribly run and many items were stolen or decayed from neglect. And who knows what the real story is with that fire.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-28552310631647468192014-08-06T19:00:25.641-07:002014-08-06T19:00:25.641-07:00The can on the right from the 1971 BBC documentary...The can on the right from the 1971 BBC documentary looks like it has graffiti on it. Mr. Mueller seems to have been the wrong man to trust with caring for Houdini apparatus. He lost the lid to a Milk Can? The Magical Hall of Fame, in hindsight, turned out to be a mishandled mess from a group of incompetents.Leo Hevianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-85709388951289073572014-08-06T18:37:12.553-07:002014-08-06T18:37:12.553-07:00I would tend to believe the one up for auction is ...I would tend to believe the one up for auction is Hardeens. Pure speculation with Collins making modifications to the original box which would require all the boards to be torn off because they are clearly a different style lumber than the one up for auction. The one in the black and white photo ( Houdini's) may still be out there! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-38177466016096796902014-08-06T17:15:18.385-07:002014-08-06T17:15:18.385-07:00That's a good question. I'd like to know m...That's a good question. I'd like to know myself. Unfortunately, the later photos I've found of the can in the museum has the mannequin's arm covering this part.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-6803055572005683902014-08-06T17:04:39.959-07:002014-08-06T17:04:39.959-07:00Wow. Am blown away by that second milk can with w...Wow. Am blown away by that second milk can with what looks like a USD type locking hasp system. However I dont understand its function....what am I seeing? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com