tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post7555606713820407822..comments2024-03-28T21:34:40.656-07:00Comments on WILD ABOUT HARRY: Rick Schmidlin (Bonus): Where did Larry Weeks get The Grim Game?John Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-56730203085106926572015-04-30T17:49:56.037-07:002015-04-30T17:49:56.037-07:00Interesting! Thanks Joe.Interesting! Thanks Joe.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-46136304445734349512015-04-29T20:32:45.949-07:002015-04-29T20:32:45.949-07:00For what it’s worth: Larry was in Hollywood in 19...For what it’s worth: Larry was in Hollywood in 1943 with The Irving Berlin “We’re in the Army” show. In fact, he paid William W. Larsen a visit. Note: William W. Larsen had obtained a large collection of Houdini material from Mrs. Houdini that the late Edward Saint had amassed. At the time of Larry’s visit, Mrs. Harry Houdini was very ill at Cedar Lodge, 2030 Griffith Park Blvd, Los Angeles, Joe M. Notarohttp://harryhoudinicircumstantialevidence.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-64203233383098644712015-04-29T07:00:23.017-07:002015-04-29T07:00:23.017-07:00Sorry again for that, guys. But that was 2 weeks a...Sorry again for that, guys. But that was 2 weeks ago on a different post and I emailed and explained why I thought it was best to delete. You're always free to comment here. Hope you will.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-8934283434593899742015-04-28T16:46:03.270-07:002015-04-28T16:46:03.270-07:00Interesting to see some controversy here. When we...Interesting to see some controversy here. When we posted something even milder we got deleted, so have backed off a little on posting.<br />Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz<br /><br />The Houdini Museum, Scranton, PA<br />The Only Building in the World Dedicated to Houdini<br />Our Mission Is To Do Things Historic For Houdini<br />Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookzhttp://houdini.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-48370259166989567802015-04-27T14:07:48.604-07:002015-04-27T14:07:48.604-07:00I don't believe any thing Jon Oliver says abou...I don't believe any thing Jon Oliver says about this matter. He has never published anything about this most important subject -- ever -- and if there was something to it he should have. Also, the last time he mentioned Douglas Geoffrey to me, it was to tell me that Harry Houdini Hardeen told Jon Oliver that Douglas Geoffrey sold the Houdini Hardeen props supposedly for the family, then, patrick cullitonhttp://www.houdinisghost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-27631627002396221682015-04-27T10:11:02.592-07:002015-04-27T10:11:02.592-07:00Intriguing info. Thanks, Jon. I've always said...Intriguing info. Thanks, Jon. I've always said -- you're the guy who knows where all the bodies are buried. ;)John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-77781080935018140702015-04-27T09:55:24.228-07:002015-04-27T09:55:24.228-07:00Oh, I've always been a fan and a champion of D...Oh, I've always been a fan and a champion of Douglas Geoffrey. As far as I know, I'm the only site to have ever tackled his story and give him credit as, you correctly point out, Hardeen's chosen successor: <a href="http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2011/05/untold-story-of-hardeen-jr.html" rel="nofollow">The untold story of Hardeen Jr.</a>.<br /><br />As far as handcuff authentication John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-52173654384034954682015-04-27T09:16:49.130-07:002015-04-27T09:16:49.130-07:00One final thought, Tony Hassini also knew Larry We...One final thought, Tony Hassini also knew Larry Weeks, and filmed him<br />for one of his dvds. This was the first time EVER Larry claimed to have <br />the Houdini book case. I know many who have been to his apartment.<br />Secondly and most importantly Tony Hassini told me he saw the nitrate <br />movie footage Larry claimed was the Grim Game, and it was in horrible <br />condition. Tony was Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-21897288066115194482015-04-27T09:02:52.509-07:002015-04-27T09:02:52.509-07:00You pay homage to both Larry and Sid Radner 2 of t...You pay homage to both Larry and Sid Radner 2 of the biggest liars out <br />there.<br />If Sid was truly Hardeens Protégé, as he claimed , who is Doug Geoffrey's? You know Hardeen jr. <br />Why was it only after Doug passed that Sid started this line of bull???<br />Of course we can forgive Sid because of giving so many people to own <br />Houdini handcuffs. <br />Selling at auction. Why notAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-63424686602869746332015-04-27T08:43:56.039-07:002015-04-27T08:43:56.039-07:00Apologies. I just thought it's an expensive an...Apologies. I just thought it's an expensive and difficult thing to do, especially in the 1940s and 50s when the idea of film conservation was pretty uncommon (if it even existed at all). It's not so much that they would have elected to not do it, they might not have known it was even an option. Having a collection is work, and sometimes families can feel burdened. But you knew them and John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-76606177413959166622015-04-27T08:28:27.607-07:002015-04-27T08:28:27.607-07:00What a horrible assumption to say the Hardeen fami...What a horrible assumption to say the Hardeen family would not have had the film restored!<br />Shame on you Mr Cox. <br />Both Theo jr and Harry went to collage and had well paying jobs, and interest in their family history. <br />IF LARRY HAD NOT stolen these films (all the nitrate footage) Harry Hardeen would of had them restored and made available.<br />Larry Weeks was lucky that this film Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-40450801316804233652015-04-27T07:54:52.062-07:002015-04-27T07:54:52.062-07:00I never met Larry myself. While I've heard he ...I never met Larry myself. While I've heard he was a "character" (aren't we all?), I've never heard anyone say he wasn't a good person. Takes a certain kind of person to devote your entire life to your art and passions. Easy to misunderstand.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-88563424643891099562015-04-27T07:20:37.925-07:002015-04-27T07:20:37.925-07:00John Oliver's story has to be believed as the ...John Oliver's story has to be believed as the same story came from different sources. Larry although a great Houdini fan was not that great of a person. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17114940067069653377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-43568785031263629712015-04-26T22:53:28.547-07:002015-04-26T22:53:28.547-07:00You know, not to throw us totally off topic, but i...You know, not to throw us totally off topic, but if Larry had this much interaction with the Hardeens, could he have also acquired a copy of the now lost Hardeen short film, Medium Well Done? Might that have been among the film he transferred to 16mm, and could it still be in his closet today? That would be a sensational find.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-6632134537304053572015-04-26T22:32:07.426-07:002015-04-26T22:32:07.426-07:00Hmmm....thank you, Jon, for chiming in on this. Of...Hmmm....thank you, Jon, for chiming in on this. Of all the versions we've discussed here, this is not happiest, but it's human. You gotta think even the Hardeen boys would, at this point, agree that Larry was the correct caretaker. Eventually they would have been faced with decaying and dangerous film and probably would have thrown it out. History plays out in curious ways.<br /><br />TheJohn Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-12266401628281043392015-04-26T21:37:27.742-07:002015-04-26T21:37:27.742-07:00The Hinson family thought Larry Weeks was creepy, ...The Hinson family thought Larry Weeks was creepy, and did not want him around. They never gave or sold him anything. My source is Ruth Kavanaugh.<br />In the 1930s, the Hinson family would invite children over on Saturdays,so<br />they could watch Houdini's movies in the basement of Payson ave home.<br />On a Saturday, a fire marshal for the city noticed lots of children heading <br />to thisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-24028153648115863112015-04-26T19:51:33.589-07:002015-04-26T19:51:33.589-07:00Yep, I'm well aware of all these articles, etc...Yep, I'm well aware of all these articles, etc. I know what Larry said back then. Thing is, the Hinsons say it didn't happen that way, and in the end Larry started telling Rick some very different information, starting with a much earlier year. But Rick never got the full story from him. So we played around with a different idea here, a different possibility. That's what this was all John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-64552400009471473462015-04-26T19:08:10.728-07:002015-04-26T19:08:10.728-07:00Also, The Magic Wand article mentions that after B...Also, The Magic Wand article mentions that after Beatrice Houdini died, the collection of film went into hiding for “several years”. Bess died in 1943.Joe M. Notarohttp://harryhoudinicircumstantialevidence.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-36918671411918023782015-04-26T18:48:51.557-07:002015-04-26T18:48:51.557-07:00Here are a couple references that Patrick is allud...Here are a couple references that Patrick is alluding to: The Magic Wand Vol 46, Part Three Number 255 [1957] p 135 “Can Houdini Live Again? by Larry Weeks and M-U-M Vol 48 [October 1958] p 195 “Houdini Films Discovered”. <br />According to Larry Weeks in the 1957 and 1958 articles mentioned above, he just recently acquired 50,000 feet of 35mm nitrate film that included a complete and perfect Joe M. Notarohttp://harryhoudinicircumstantialevidence.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-85083710334384534572015-04-26T13:36:45.190-07:002015-04-26T13:36:45.190-07:00To Rick,
I have checked ask Alexander for mentions...To Rick,<br />I have checked ask Alexander for mentions of "Larry Weeks" and "the Grim Game." So, this is what I say happened based on my conversations with Larry and the magazine articles which mention the film. In 1958, Larry put out the word that he had 50,000 feet of Houdini film on nitrate. That Houdini had left it to Bess, that Ed Saint took pains to preserve it, then Edpatrick cullitonhttp://www.houdinisghost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-65115151003161143482015-04-26T13:25:42.180-07:002015-04-26T13:25:42.180-07:00Bess past away in 1943.Bess past away in 1943.John Hinson great nephew of Bess and Harry Houdininoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-89710375974209248962015-04-25T17:56:22.429-07:002015-04-25T17:56:22.429-07:00Larry told me he got everything from Bess in the e...Larry told me he got everything from Bess in the early 40's.<br />But I think it may have been later and got the film.He later said he<br />got from Bess is 1947 which of course the time she was long gone.<br />This is a interesting thread with many other who new him and how the story .and date may have changed to get The Grim Game.Thank for all the postings Rick Schmidlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-88513622599351937392015-04-25T11:54:30.347-07:002015-04-25T11:54:30.347-07:00Oh, I'm not arguing it really. That's what...Oh, I'm not arguing it really. That's what he also told Rick, in a way -- that he got it from "Bess" (which could have meant Bessie's family?). But there are still questions about that.<br /><br />Love the VW story. :)John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-84925063982865573992015-04-25T11:36:48.518-07:002015-04-25T11:36:48.518-07:00Look, when I lived in New York, I owned a VW Campe...Look, when I lived in New York, I owned a VW Camper. Unfortunately, Larry Weeks found that out. So, I drove him into Manhattan many times and back to Brooklyn of course. And to New jersey twice and Connecticut once -- with my whole van filled with nonsense larry wanted to sell. I knew him well from all those trips together and we discussed the Grim Game a lot. He' said "I'll show it patrick cullitonhttp://www.houdinisghost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-12830055879114486342015-04-25T10:29:43.889-07:002015-04-25T10:29:43.889-07:00That's a very good question. I doubt the Hinso...That's a very good question. I doubt the Hinsons had a 35mm projector in their home. Their films would had to have been 16mm. But Larry's print was 35mm.<br /><br />The Hinsons role is being minimized only because they've minimized it themselves. They say they threw out their films. But if John had one original 35mm print, makes sense he might hold that one back. So you might be onto John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.com