tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post649426616785601636..comments2024-03-18T20:46:10.605-07:00Comments on WILD ABOUT HARRY: When Jim Collins went soloJohn Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-5579861379345659062018-04-16T12:35:06.037-07:002018-04-16T12:35:06.037-07:00I found that clipping about the party thrown by Mr...I found that clipping about the party thrown by Mrs. Williamson for her son Frank Williamson, associated with Hardeen and the late Houdini years before Bill Mullins published it. This is why I hadn't mentioned it before: I can't find any of these people on Ancestry. Oh, there are plenty of Harry Williamsons, but, none with a son named Frank or a child or sibling named Claire. The address patrick cullitonhttp://www.houdinithekey.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-1749604163176657932015-05-22T08:29:29.249-07:002015-05-22T08:29:29.249-07:00Wayne Wissner transcribes it in his new booklet, T...Wayne Wissner transcribes it in his new booklet, The Houdini Correspondence File, so I'm assuming it's part of his collection? The letter is dated Sept 16, 1926, and it certainly sounds like the apparatus Dunninger provided was shoddy work. Houdini even describes the way it is painted as -- "looks as if it had been placed under a flock of pigeons."John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-91935464017082463592015-05-12T21:19:19.460-07:002015-05-12T21:19:19.460-07:00I wonder where the letter is located?I wonder where the letter is located?Kevin Connollynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-49424857520260476932015-05-12T07:27:09.962-07:002015-05-12T07:27:09.962-07:00Ah, right. Good point. I'll cut that out.Ah, right. Good point. I'll cut that out.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-27525012748972228132015-05-12T04:42:31.013-07:002015-05-12T04:42:31.013-07:00I think Jons comment pertains to the statement abo...I think Jons comment pertains to the statement above "almost certainly the work of Jim Collins"Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17114940067069653377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-8883226008356202162015-05-11T10:04:22.115-07:002015-05-11T10:04:22.115-07:00So you don't think the box pictured here (whic...So you don't think the box pictured here (which is the one from the Houdini Museum) was the prop used by HH and Collins? We do that Houdini did the effect in his show. The story I heard was that Dunninger made the effect for Houdini, but, as you say, the craftsmanship was so poor Houdini remade it. There is a letter in which Houdini voices his dissatisfaction with Dunninger's work. <br />John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-4730544832609478132015-05-09T21:53:37.404-07:002015-05-09T21:53:37.404-07:00Hello, I do not believe the box was made or used b...Hello, I do not believe the box was made or used by Collins.<br />I was told by Walter Gibson, and Bob Lund the box was made by<br />Dunninger, and sold to the Niagara Falls museum shortly before it<br />opened. <br />Look close at the craftsmanship of this item and compare it to other <br />known props made by Mr Collins, it is too rough.<br />Jon Oliver Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-30700429271597739332015-05-04T16:19:54.930-07:002015-05-04T16:19:54.930-07:00frank Williamson is possibly Frank Kukol? Maybe n...frank Williamson is possibly Frank Kukol? Maybe not since there seems to be an entire family of Williamson's. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17114940067069653377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-83618177918358862292015-05-04T15:47:58.046-07:002015-05-04T15:47:58.046-07:00Very interesting information. Collins was known to...Very interesting information. Collins was known to be very shy. I can't wait to hear more about this.Chuck Romanohttp://www.chuckromanomagic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-3016966741911017782015-05-04T14:19:26.037-07:002015-05-04T14:19:26.037-07:00Great finds Bill!Great finds Bill!John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-71267554230156611432015-05-04T13:01:03.260-07:002015-05-04T13:01:03.260-07:00Collins performed as a solo act several times, in ...Collins performed as a solo act several times, in different venues.<br /><br />_Brooklyn Daily Star_ 1/10/1933<br />In an article about a woman being installed as a Matron of the Eastern Star (Freemason organization):<br />"James Collins, an associate of Houdini, entertained."<br /><br />_Brooklyn Daily Star_ 4/5/1929<br />"A novel entertainment was given by Mrs. Harry Williamson Bill Mullinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-1070817069355814442015-05-03T13:04:15.455-07:002015-05-03T13:04:15.455-07:00Thanks Dean. I think even Joe Fox had forgotten he...Thanks Dean. I think even Joe Fox had forgotten he found this. Paul Zenon reignited our interest. He found an old post from Joe on the Magic Cafe about this.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-75645892302425098912015-05-03T13:02:41.926-07:002015-05-03T13:02:41.926-07:00I know the one pictured above was in the museum. N...I know the one pictured above was in the museum. Never heard of an upright version.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-37903096467355034242015-05-03T12:47:36.966-07:002015-05-03T12:47:36.966-07:00Really enjoyed both of these pieces about Jim Coll...Really enjoyed both of these pieces about Jim Collins. I had no idea he had gone out on his own to do a solo show. Wow!Carnegiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10142955905272650610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-90302347161676617732015-05-02T09:17:04.264-07:002015-05-02T09:17:04.264-07:00Hardeen and or Houdini also did a stand up version...Hardeen and or Houdini also did a stand up version of the blade box that was on display at The Houdini Magic Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls. As I remember is was mostly black in color and looked quite portable for a stage illusion from those days. <br /><br />Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz<br />The Houdini Museum<br />The Only Building in the World Dedicated to Houdini<br />Our Mission is to Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookzhttp://houdini.orgnoreply@blogger.com