tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post4152011750575413374..comments2024-03-28T08:03:31.442-07:00Comments on WILD ABOUT HARRY: Vernon now bashing Houdini from beyondJohn Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-74468321287563272542016-08-27T17:37:58.960-07:002016-08-27T17:37:58.960-07:00Indeed. His book is fact based and no nonsense. He...Indeed. His book is fact based and no nonsense. He also omits a lot of the mythology that other bios just can't seem to resist. It's the best Houdini bio, IMO.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-14530735546907427522016-08-27T16:08:45.192-07:002016-08-27T16:08:45.192-07:00Yes Leah--that is precisely what John means. Silve...Yes Leah--that is precisely what John means. Silverman presents the facts as best as humanly possible. On occasion he peppers the book with his own thoughts and opinions about certain events, but that's good writing.Leo Heviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12990057178465581105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-65655047301119188192016-08-26T18:24:50.393-07:002016-08-26T18:24:50.393-07:00Me too! Secret Life was the mother of all novelize...Me too! Secret Life was the mother of all novelized Houdini nonfiction:<br /><br />"I must release myself from these handcuffs!" Oh brother.Leo Heviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12990057178465581105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-15752772380819051602016-08-26T18:14:10.081-07:002016-08-26T18:14:10.081-07:00I just found a copy of Silverman's book at my ...I just found a copy of Silverman's book at my favorite used bookstore! I hope you mean he DOES just give the facts! Leah-Ariadnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18309112338571706891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-77542721703170354542016-08-26T11:40:00.778-07:002016-08-26T11:40:00.778-07:00I also dislike that style of writing in bios. Just...I also dislike that style of writing in bios. Just give me the facts. Silverman!John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-25622264275200505602016-08-26T10:47:44.160-07:002016-08-26T10:47:44.160-07:00Well said! I just read The Masters of Mystery by C...Well said! I just read The Masters of Mystery by Christopher Sandford, and, leaving aside any literary criticism of it, I was revolted by his persistent and repetitive labelling of Houdini as arrogant, egotistical, unattractive...and short! (What? Being short is a crime?!?) He was a PERFORMER, which means he had to attract and keep attention. That's what performers do. Many of the jibes Leah Raynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-8967697892271297332015-11-05T21:16:09.699-08:002015-11-05T21:16:09.699-08:00I just get sick of all the Houdini bashing, & ...I just get sick of all the Houdini bashing, & sometimes by folks who claim to be fans of his. As far as his "ego" goes, I see it as nothing different than any one else's business competitiveness who have managed to get to the top. How do you think you stay at the top?? & when I read about him having waifs in the street who have no shoes taken to get shoes fit to their feet Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-66178059736169308662013-10-13T22:17:45.966-07:002013-10-13T22:17:45.966-07:00Nice find. It's the Hippodrome, so maybe this ...Nice find. It's the Hippodrome, so maybe this piece was Vernon's inspiration. Like I said, everyone seemed to have a version of this story.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-81994627968751859122013-10-13T21:52:36.572-07:002013-10-13T21:52:36.572-07:00I searched for any truth of Houdini being locked i...I searched for any truth of Houdini being locked in a closet at the New York Hippodrome and the only thing I could find was the following bit of humor that appeared in the Once Over Sleight-ly Section of Linking Ring Vol 27, No. 2 (Apr 1947) on page 32:<br />“OPEN THE DOOR, HARRY!” :- Jean Hugard was telling us recently about the time Houdini was playing at the Hippodrome in New York. One day inJoe M. Notarohttp://harryhoudinicircumstantialevidence.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-21905471638755962462013-10-13T19:49:54.338-07:002013-10-13T19:49:54.338-07:00Hehe.Hehe.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-33895151249528574192013-10-13T19:39:43.773-07:002013-10-13T19:39:43.773-07:00Bowers got it wrong about the phone booth. The tru...Bowers got it wrong about the phone booth. The truth is that Vernon tricked Houdini with an Ambitious Elevator. Turns out it was a double lift.David Byronhttp://www.baroquepotion.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-30237781912777625942013-10-13T19:22:30.524-07:002013-10-13T19:22:30.524-07:00No, this is in the latest Castle newsletter, Patri...No, this is in the latest Castle newsletter, Patrick. I can shoot you over a copy if you need it. Yeah, this one was new to me. Bill Bowers wrote the story.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-71797829951318914962013-10-13T17:50:41.465-07:002013-10-13T17:50:41.465-07:00It's impossible to prove a negative, but, I ha...It's impossible to prove a negative, but, I have seen two stories about this kind of prank being played on Houdini and they occurred years before Vernon met Houdini. I don't know who Vernon is supposed to have told this story to, but, he wouldn't have hesitated to share it with me if he had participated in such a gag. Was this in his Genii column? If it was, I do not recall it.Patrick Cullitonhttp://houdinisghost.comnoreply@blogger.com