When did Houdini discover his lockpicking skills?

There are two often-told origin stories about how and when Houdini discovered his skills as a lockpicker. There's the "pies in the cupboard" story and the "convict in cuffs" story. But I recently discovered a third entirely different story told by Houdini himself in 1899. Intriguingly, it involves a hand injury as a boy.

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Related:

• Announcing WILD ABOUT HARRY on Patreon
• Did Hardeen reveal Houdini's most secret secret?
• Another reason to question the 'convict in cuffs' story

Houdini takes the lid off Fleischmann’s Yeast

Ever hear the one about Harry Houdini and Fleischmann’s Yeast? Sounds like the start of a joke, doesn't it? But it's not. Houdini's family connection to Fleischmann’s Yeast is something Patrick Culliton has always talked about. But when I was at the Harry Ransom Center last year, I finally heard it from Houdini himself.

In a letter dated June 8, 1925 to Albert Davis of 351 Bridge Street in Brooklyn, Houdini writes:

    I noticed you live on Bridge Street. Many years ago my uncle, Simon Newman, he brought compressed yeast into this country and he taught the older Fleischman the business, in fact Fleischman was only one of a number of helpers and managed to get financing – my uncle having refused to form a corporation. His place was at 28 Jay Street and many a happy swim I had off the J Street Dock. By the way, the Fleischman people paid my uncle $200. a month all the rest of his life after having practically put him out of business and some how or other I attribute it has conscience money. Will tell you the whole story in person.

    It seems strange to hear that an unknown man brought compressed yeast to this country but he sold it for years and is now entirely forgotten.

Fleischmann’s Yeast is still around today. Unsurprisingly, the official company history doesn't mention Houdini's Uncle Newman. I'm also excited to learn the location of swimming spot for young Ehrich Weiss. Any Brooklyn residents want to try and track down the Jay Street Dock?

Now let's work out the rest of that joke.

Want more? You can see and read the entire original letter as a Scholar member of my Patreon.

Related:

• Houdini's Coca-Cola connection
• Jack Rabbit was a Houdini bunny
• The Ransom files

Houdini arrives in Galveston (at last)

When Houdini ran away from home at age 12, he sent a postcard back to his mother saying he was going to Galveston, Texas. He never made it. Later in life, Houdini annotated the postcard and explained that he got in the wrong boxcar and wound up in Kansas City instead.

Even Houdini doesn't seem to remember why he was going to Galveston, writing on the card, "I was on my way to Texas?" But in looking at the history of the city in the 1880s, one can see that it was a port town with a steady influx of immigrants and a large jewish community. I suspect young Ehrich got a hot tip that there was ample work for young Jewish men in Galveston, and he was heading there to make money for the family.

It would take 37 years, but Houdini finally did make it to Galveston. During his second tour of Texas in 1923, he played the Galveston Opera House (right) on November 6. It was a one-day stop with a matinee and evening show.

This was an unusual engagement. Houdini was actually headlining at the Majestic in Houston this week. He and his fellow performers on the Majestic bill travelled to Galveston for this one day only, then returned to Houston. Al G. Field's Minstrels filled in at the Majestic while the vaudevillians were in Galveston.

The Galveston Daily News reviewed the show on November 7 (Vaudeville Brings a Crowed House). The final paragraph was devoted to Houdini.

Houdini, magician and mystic marvel, whose name did not appear on the program, did several amusing tricks. He escaped from a straightjacket in less than a minute, gave a demonstration of spirit writing and presented other tricks no less interesting.

In his book Houdini's Texas Tours 1916 & 1923, Ron Cartlidge says Houdini conjured a message from a recently deceased black pastor from Galveston during his spirit slates trick. Notice he didn't do his Water Torture Cell. I'm sure that remained back in Houston. I'm not sure why his name didn't appear in the program. He certainly appeared in the advertisements, as you can see at the top of this post.

This wasn't the only time Houdini played a one-day side engagement during his Texas tour. While playing Fort Worth later that month, Houdini travelled to Corsicana for a one day appearance at the Ideal Theatre on November 20, 1923. So it appears Karl Hoblitzelle and his Interstate Amusement Company had their own unique way of doing things, and that turned out to be a good thing for Houdini. It gave him the chance to finally visit the city of his runaway dreams.

Happily, the theater Houdini performed at in Galveston still stands and is beautifully preserved. It's still a popular venue for live performance. Below a video that gives a great look inside. You can visit their website at thegrand.com.

Want more? You can read related clippings for Houdini's engagements in Galveston, Houston, and Corsicana as a "Scholar" member of my Patreon. Just click below.

Related:

• Houdini tours Texas
• Homeless Houdini
• Exploring Houdini's Austin

The Boy Houdini makes The Black List

Deadline Hollywood has posted this year's Black List, a roundup of Hollywood’s "most-liked unproduced screenplays." Coming in under #11 is a Houdini project.

THE BOY HOUDINI 

Matthew Tennant 

New York, 1889. When young street urchin and aspiring magician Harry Houdini discovers a mysterious puzzle-box, he must use his talent for illusion and escape to unlock the box’s powerful secrets and keep it from the hands of a vengeful occult sorcerer hot on his tail. 

MANAGEMENT: ECHO LAKE ENTERTAINMENT 

MANAGERS: NICK ARNSTEIN, KARA HUME, KEGAN SCHELL 

PRODUCERS: IAN BRYCE PRODUCTIONS, OLIVE BRIDGE 

Sounds similar to Simon Nicholson's Young Houdini series or Marty Chan's The Ehrich Weisz Chronicles. Also sounds like the kind of thing Hollywood loves. Congratulations to screenwriter Matthew Tennant and his representation for making this list. Maybe this will help bring The Boy Houdini to the screen.

Thanks to Dave Sikula for the tip.

Related:

• What's next, Hollywood?
• Young Harry Houdini (1987)
• The Chronicles of Young Houdini

'Houdini Family Night Out' in Appleton

Here's a fun one from Houdini's home town of Appleton, Wisconsin. This Wednesday, November 16, between 4-7pm, if you mention "Houdini" at McDonald's on Northland Avenue, a percentage of your sale will be donated to the local elementary school named, you guessed it, Houdini Elementary! It's called "Houdini Family Night Out" and you can find more details HERE.

There will be more Houdini Family Nights Out at Noodles & Company in Appleton on November 28 and Badger Sports Park on February 16, 2023.

Here's a photo that purports to be Houdini himself as an Appleton schoolboy.

Related:

• "Houdini's School Days"
• Appleton holds "Houdini 10k" run
• Appleton showcases "Houdini in Art"

More amazing AI brings Ehrich Weiss to life

I had planned on holding this back until Houdini's birthday. But I've decided to run with it today as the reaction to my first post featuring these AI animations by MyHeritage was so popular. (I also fear this viral sensation might be played out by March 24.) My approach has been to create animations that have no possible film equivalent. So below are three combined images showing the young Ehrich Weiss from ages 8 to 18. And this time in color!

Here's a bonus. Who is this stranger you ask? Well, let's just say if you are a fake medium you definitely don't want to see him in your seance chamber!

If you want to animate your own photos, MyHeritage offers a 14 day free trial.

UPDATE: I do know Houdini's eye color is wrong. His eyes should be blue. But I don't have any control over that. I just upload pics to the app and it makes it own color decisions unfortunately.

Related:

• AI brings Houdini photos to life and it's wild!
• Houdini Begins
• The Cecil M. Cook exposé

Another reason to question the 'convict in cuffs' story

We've all read the story of how young Ehrich Weiss apprenticed to a locksmith in Appleton, Wisconsin. One day the sheriff came in with a convict in handcuffs for which he had lost the key. It was left to Ehrich to file the cuffs off the scowling man as the sheriff and locksmith went to get a drink. After a several fruitless minutes of filing, Ehrich hit on the idea of picking the lock, which he did so successfully. Luckily, the locksmith and sheriff reappeared at that moment.

This is a story Houdini himself would tell when he began to flesh out his official biography in the 1900s. He like to add that the convict was the only man to ever witness his secret of opening handcuffs. The story found its way into the Kellock book and was most recently revived in The Secret Life of Houdini by Bill Kalush. While it may be true Ehrich apprenticed to a locksmith (Kalush believes he was named Mr. Hanauer), the "convict in cuffs" story has never passed the smell test for me. It just sounds too much like self-made mythology dished out to give reporters some compelling copy.

Now here's another reason to doubt the story. The below comes from the December 2, 1905 Walsall Advertiser. Yes, amazingly, Hardeen was also a locksmith's apprentice in Appleton and one day...well, read for yourself:

We know Houdini and Hardeen shared escapes, set dressing, and even stage patter. This shows they also shared the same tried and true publicity. (Hardeen also told a version of being trapped under the ice during a bridge jump.) So I think this just makes the convict in cuffs story all the more likely to be Houdini (and Hardeen) mythology.

Young Ehrich illustration is by Anne Reas from the book The Great Houdini by Monica Kulling (1999).

Related:

• LINK: Is Hardeen full of ice?
• Hardeen in New York
• Did Hardeen really discover the full view straitjacket escape?

"Your loving son Ehrichovitz" (updated)

Ruth Brandon's 1993 biography, The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini, is not a book I reference often. Silverman and Christopher are my usual go-to sources. But maybe this is a mistake. Because recently while thumbing through the Brandon book, I spotted something I don't believe has appeared in any other biography. And it's quite a significant piece of early Houdini history!

On page 20-21 (of the U.S. hardcover), Brandon quotes an undated letter written by Ehrich Weiss to his mother when he was "ten or eleven." This is not the well-known "dear Ma" postcard. This is something else entirely, and would be only the second known letter between Houdini and his mother (Houdini was buried with all their correspondence).

I was excited to see Brandon sourced the letter to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin. So I reached out to our good friend Eric Colleary, who was kind enough to provide an image of the letter for me to share here on WILD ABOUT HARRY. Drink it in!

darling mother at last time time has arrived when I am allowed to write you a few lines how slowly the time passess but still my term will soon be over and we shall be united in happiness again. your loving son Ehrichovitz.

Okay, let's unpack this one!

As this letter is undated, I first wanted to satisfy myself that it was actually written by the young Houdini and not as an adult. The fact that he signs it "Ehrich" doesn't really tell us much as it's likely he signed all letters to his mother with his real name. The handwriting is the key, and it does nicely match the familiar "Dear Ma" postcard (see below). He's writing more slowly and carefully on this one, but it still shows the uncertain and cautious penmanship of a young person. (Brandon calls it "scrawled", which it certainly is not.) Houdini's handwriting because worse with age, so this does appear to be written by the young Ehrich Weiss.

But the real intriguing thing here is his use of the word "term." On the face of it, "term" would imply a school of some kind. This is why Brandon quotes the letter, concluding, "at some point there seems to have been an interval of enforced study."

But there's precious little known about Ehrich Weiss's eduction. There's a photo (in the collection of Dr. Bruce Averbook) of Ehrich and classmates in front of an Appleton schoolhouse. Manny Weltman in Houdini: Escape into Legend says he and his brothers where enrolled at the Humbolt Avenue School in Milwaukee ("but they were always playing hooky, preferring to roam the streets, get acquainted with the kids, and join the gang"). It's also said he would study at various pop-up schools run by his father. But this letter suggests a boarding school of some kind, distant and removed from his family and mother. So none of his known schooling seems to fit this.

It's maybe worth reconsidering the word "term." Should we automatically assume a school? His reference to being "allowed to write" suggests strictness in whatever institution he is writing from. Would a school discourage letter writing?

Is it possible the young Ehrich Weiss did a stint in a reformatory? The adult Houdini did reminisce about stealing eggs from stores in Milwaukee, and he was a lifelong brawler. So maybe at some point he got himself into enough trouble to receive some institutional punishment? Of course, this would never make it into his official biography, whereas you'd think a boarding school education would as Houdini was always eager to showcase his intellect.

The last thing is the signature, Ehrichovitz. The addition of "ovitz" is curious, but it's likely just an affectionate or playful sign off. He'd sometimes sign love letters to Bess, "Houdinisky."

But this letter reveals one thing I think we can all agree on. This boy loved his mama!

Thanks to Eric Colleary for sharing this remarkable artifact. The Houdini Collections are open to the public and available to search via finding aids at the Ransom Center website.

UPDATE: Our friend and crack librarian at the Magic Castle, Joe Fox, has solved the mystery. And it looks like I have serious egg on my face. This letter is a fabrication created by Houdini to illustrate an article about code breaking in the April 1908 issue of his Conjures Monthly Magazine. See below:

Guess this is why it was among Houdini's personal papers and not in his casket.

Thank you Joe!

Related:

• The Brandon book
• Homeless Houdini
• Greatest signed Houdini photo EVER

Jack Hoeffler remembers the "Prince of the Air"

Houdini always marked October 28, 1883 as the day he made his professional show business debut. Because it was on this day exactly 135 years ago that he appeared as a trapeze artist in Jack Hoeffler's 5¢ Circus billed as "Ehrich Prince of the Air." And just in case one might think this is mythology, below is a clipping from the September 29, 1915 Appleton Post Crescent which records Hoeffler's visit to his old friend in St. Paul where he recalls the historic engagement.

One area for debate is Hoeffler says they lived in Appleton, which implies his circus was there as well. But by 1883, the Weiss family had moved to Milwaukee, and this is where most biographers say the circus took place. But the math in this account ("thirty-four years ago") would put his debut in 1881, and thus in Appleton. Houdini seemed firm on 1883, but we all know how sloppy he could be with dates!

Regardless, how fun to hear from Jack Hoeffler himself and find evidence of Houdini's professional debut...135 (or 137) years ago today.

Related:

• Prince of the Air: A Story of Young Houdini
• A Spotlight For Harry shines with new cover
• 100 years ago today - a gift for the boss

LINK: Rabbi Weiss’s Farewell Sermon

Tom Interval has update his blog Houdini Museum with a brilliantly researched and superbly written examination of Houdini father, Mayer Samuel Weiss. There's a lot of new information here, including an account of Mayer Samuel delivering sermons in Louisville, Kentucky in 1883 on "The human soul can never die" and "The characteristics of women as shown in Solomon's song entitled 'The Worth of the Woman'."

Tom also helps debunk the idea that Mayer Samuel was fired from his position in Appleton because he could not speak English, finding evidence that his replacement also couldn't speak English.

But you don't need to hear all this from me. Click the headline and have a read at Tom's own Houdini Museum.

Related:

• New thoughts on the firing of Rabbi Weiss

David Saltman continues to reveal Rabbi Weiss

Our friend David Saltman of The Houdini File continues to uncover incredible new information about Houdini's father, Mayer Samuel Weiss. His most recent post on Mayer Samuel's early years is a must read!

Below are links to David's posts. I will add more as he does.

THE EARLY YEARS OF HOUDINI'S FATHER
HOUDINI'S RADICAL RABBIS
HOUDINI'S RABBI (NEW)

David Saltman unearths the Weisses in Milwaukee

Our friend David Saltman is sharing on his blog The Houdini File information he recently uncovered and revealed at the Official Houdini Seance 2016. These are fascinating new facts about the years the Weiss family lived in Milwaukee, which according to Houdini, were years best forgotten.

Most amazingly, David has uncovered an official copy of the rabbinical ordination credential for Rabbi Weiss, issued in 1852 when he was about 21 years old. David found it in an uncatalogued stack of old papers in the vaults of the Milwaukee County Historical Society. Its existence was unknown to Houdini historians and shows us that Mayer Samuel became a Rabbi much earlier that previously thought.

David has also tracked down the various addresses where the Weiss family lived and provides period photos showing what kinds of conditions they were living in at the time.

But instead of me telling you all this, head on over to The Houdini File and have a read for yourselves. Below are links to all of David's stories thus far. I will add more as he posts.

PREVIEW: HOUDINI'S HOOD

HOUDINI FILE DISCOVERS RARE ARTIFACT!

HOUDINI'S DARKEST DAYS

Related:

• The Houdini File finds Rabbi Weiss in Appleton
• Ehrich Weiss in Milwaukee
• Photos from The Official Houdini Séance 2016

The Houdini File finds Rabbi Weiss in Appleton

Our friend David Saltman of The Houdini File recently traveled to Appleton, Wisconsin and has filed some interesting reports. Not only did he take a nice photo safari of Houdini's home town, but David also did research at the Outagamie County Historical Society where he was able to examine rare documents and writings from Houdini's father, Mayer Samuel Weiss. Some great work here, so have a read via the links below:

• IN HOUDINI’S BACKYARD
• HOUDINI’S FATHER SPEAKS!
• THE WEDDING OF HOUDINI'S FATHER

New thoughts on the firing of Rabbi Weiss

It's part of the established Houdini story that his father, Mayer Samuel Weiss, lost his job as the Rabbi in Appleton, Wisconsin because he was  too "old world" for the progressive American town. The fact that he didn't speak English is often cited as evidence of this. All this was recently dramatized in the Houdini miniseries.

But now, Appleton resident and major Houdini collector and expert Tom Boldt (his construction company built the new Houdini Plaza), shares his "2 cents" on why Rabbi Weiss might have really lost his job. Now, 2 cents from a guy like Tom is a little bit of gold, so I thought I'd share his thoughts here:

"I did want to add my 2 cents worth on the reason Rabbi Weiss left Appleton. While his inability to speak English well might be a reason, I think the real reason he lost his job is that the growing congregation wanted their own person. If you look at the places where many of the immigrants to Appleton came from you'd find that they came from Germany and a lot from the Mecklenburg area. That's where my ancestors came from. Take a look at the Outagamie County census record and you'll see this. I think Rabbi Weiss and his supporters were outnumbered by the Germans. They simply wanted to get their man, Rabbi Salomon, to come to Appleton and lead them. I doubt that Salomon was able to speak English any better than Rabbi Weiss. The English problems wouldn't have been that big of a deal in Appleton since German was so common at the time."

On a related note; for all the talk of Houdini coming from "poverty," it appears the Weiss family was doing pretty well in life until this firing forced the family to move to Milwaukee. Only then did they fall into a trap of poverty that took a Houdini to escape.

Thank you Tom.

Tom Boldt and I in the Moses Temple in 2012.

Related:

• LINK: Who was Houdini's father? New insights
• Houdini's Bibles
• New Houdini Plaza opens in Appleton

LINK: Dr. Lynn fools Houdini

Our friend David Saltman has posted another must read on his blog The Houdini File. This time David shares the results of his investigation into whether it was really possible that young Ehrich Weiss saw the famous English conjurer Dr. Lynn and his famous "Bloodless Vivisection" in Wisconsin in the 1880s.

Some great information here, so click on the headline and have a read at The Houdini File...and do try to keep your head!

Related:

• LINK: Who inspired Houdini?

Ehrich Weiss in Milwaukee

Our good friend David Saltman is tackling on his blog The Houdini File a part of Houdini's history that is vastly under-researched. I'm talking about the years young Ehrich and his family lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While Houdini himself said of these years "the less said the better," this was a transformative time for Ehrich Weiss, and David had uncovered some information that has never see print before.

Begin the journey by visiting the links below:

I. NEW LIGHT ON HOUDINI'S CHILDHOOD
II. HOUDINI'S FORGOTTEN YEARS
III. HOUDINI'S MILWAUKEE ILLUSION

LINK: Who was Houdini's father? The duel

Author and historian David Saltman has published another installment in his series, "Who was Houdini's father?" on his blog The Houdini File. This time David tackles the mystery of "The Duel."

Legend has it that Houdini's father, Mayer Samuel, killed a Prince in a duel, and it was for this reason the Weiss family had to flee to America. Furthermore, it's said that Houdini was actually named after the slain prince, Prince Ehrich. It's wild stuff, and despite corroboration from both Bess and Hardeen, most recent biographers have dismissed this as Houdini folklore.

But now David is uncovering information that shows the story is not as outrageous as it sounds, and that the Weiss family may have indeed had encounters with royalty while living in Budapest. It's a must read along with David's other posts on the Weiss family before America.

Click on the headline or here to read all about The Duel.

LINK: Who was Houdini's father? New insights

Author and historian David Saltman is investigating the mystery and history of Houdini's father, Mayer Samuel Weiss. David has uncovered some excellent info that he's presenting in a series of weekly posts on his blog The Houdini File.

Click the headline to read the latest, in which David takes a look at what Mayer Samuel did for a living in Budapest. "Rabbi" Weiss? Not exactly...

David also promises to investigate the strange story of the duel with the prince that, apparently, necessitated the Weiss family's move to America.

UPDATE: Who was Houdini's father? The duel