Houdini's 278 parlor revealed

Here's an extraordinary new (old) photo of the inside of Houdini's 278 during his lifetime. This is the 2nd floor parlor looking towards the street. This comes from the John C. Hinson Collection and was part of our 2013 Hinson Endowment. At the time, I did not recognize this as 278. But now having been there, I can see it's unmistakably Houdini's house (and the clock on the left is the clincher that it's Houdini era).

You'll notice this photo shows Houdini's piano (referred to as a "player piano" in a 1919 inventory). This is clearly not the same piano that was inside 278 last year. That piano was said to have been original to the house, so I suspect it actually belonged to the Bonannos. The piano was not among the items purchased by David Copperfield for his International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts in Las Vegas. Looks like that was the right call!

Below is the same room in 2017.

And before you ask, no, I don't yet know who bought Houdini's house. The house went under contract in January. We'll need to wait for the deal to close before we'll have a shot at finding out who the next owner of 278 will be. But the suspense is killing me!

Thanks to John Hinson.

Related:

• Inside Houdini's 278
• Houdini's bookcase and piano are no longer inside 278
• Houdini's office inside 278 is finally FOUND!

Unpublished Houdini: Street shoot

Here's an unpublished shot of Houdini filming street scenes with an unidentified cameraman. This was most likely taken in Europe during Houdini's return tour in 1920 when he was heavily involved in making movies. Footage he shot during this tour would untimely appear in his 1923 feature, Haldane of the Secret Service.

"I think the film profession is the greatest and that the moving picture is the most wonderful thing in the world."

– Harry Houdini

This photo comes from the collection our good friend and benefactor, John C. Hinson, the great nephew of Harry and Bess Houdini. You can check out more unpublished photos from the Hinson family collection HERE.

Related:

• Haldane was here
• Unpublished Houdini: Man of action
• Houdini's film lab - then and now

The mothers Houdini

On this Mother's Day, here's an unpublished shot of Bess, Cecelia Weiss, and Bessie's own mother, Balbina Rahner. This photo comes from the collection of John C. Hinson and appears to have been taken in Southampton when the Houdinis brought both their mothers on a tour of Europe in 1909. I expect the photographer was Houdini himself.

Let's treat all our moms as well today!

Click to enlarge.

Happy Mother's Day.

Bessie's Christ

Here's something special for Easter Sunday. This is a needle point by Bess Houdini of...well, you know who that is. (No, not him.) This hangs in the home of our good friend and benefactor, John C. Hinson, the great-nephew of Harry and Bess Houdini. As with Bessie's letter to John's father Vincent, this again shows how she re-embraced religion later in her life.

Happy Easter.

Houdini's house then and now

Here is a photo of Houdini's house at 278 West 113th Street in Harlem, New York. This comes from the collection of John C. Hinson and appears to be the house during Houdini's own time. The house still stands today and still looks much the same. However, in Houdini's day you can see that the top floor had an open balcony, and the rooftop has now been enclosed, probably to contain modern heating and plumbing equipment.

Also notice there is someone looking out the window. Who might this be?

278 in Houdini's time.

278 in 2005.

Soon I will share some interesting details about what happened to 278 after Bess sold the house in 1927. For other look at the house today, click here for a Google street view.

Thanks as always to John Hinson.

Related:

• Discovering 278: the home of Houdini
• The man who lives in Houdini's house
• Petition to rename 113th Street "Harry Houdini Way"

"Dearest Vincent" - Lost Bessie letter comes home

A few weeks ago a truly incredible letter from Bess Houdini to her nephew Vincent sold on eBay for $434. Vincent Ehrich Hinson was the son of Bessie's closest sister, Marie, and the father of our friend and benefactor, John C. Hinson. I didn't blog about this at the time because there's a story behind this letter and this auction that I couldn't really share until now.

This letter was a cherished part of the Hinson family collection. It was the only letter from Bess that Vincent had saved. But it was recently lost in storage. In fact, John Hinson discovered the loss when he went to make a copy of the letter for me as part of our Hinson Endowment. Then the letter showed up on eBay via a seller that the family did not know.

The good news is the letter is home! The letter was purchased by Houdini collector and close family friend, Jon Oliver (the man who sleeps in Houdini's bed), who returned it to the Hinson family yesterday. I'll let Jon tell the story himself:

A couple of weeks ago, while coming back from New York, I was talking to a friend named David Sigafus on the phone. David is a magician, and he and I were the adopted sons to another magician named Rev. Robert Olson. Rev. Bob was an world expert on Howard Thurston, as well as many others. David and I are both history nuts to ALL things magic, and talk often about things we see or acquire.

David knowing of my fondness for Houdini told me about a letter from Bessie for sale on Ebay. As he described it, he turned on the computer and brought up the link. The letter was addressed to Vincent Hinson, and written in 1935. It was also being offered by a dealer in Mass., near where John Hinson lives.

I was a little shocked because any letters from the Houdinis to any of Marie Hinson's family in that area of the country would be in John Hinson's ownership. Telling David this, I called John and confirmed what my thoughts were, and when after unpacking, I wrote this seller asking him to call me. The next day when he called I tried to explain how the letter belong to John's father and that either a family member took it, or it was stolen at a show.

Becoming a little gruff, he told me he hears that story all the time, and how could he believe me. He was told how Vincent Hinson was John's father, and Bess was his aunt. If he didn't believe me he could check it out himself, and he was given John's number. I also gave him the name of Ray Goullets magic shop in Watertown, and told him Ray will confirm John's honesty.

20 minutes later he called me back and told me he had confirmed my story, but wouldn’t pull the auction.

John called me, and said the guy told him there is really no way John could prove it, but said if John really wanted it back, to put a really high bid on it. Like $5000.00 and if it went over that amount he would eat the difference. My wife Melissa and I talked about this, and agreed the fellow was trying to shill bid it up much over what it was worth.

On the last day of the auction, I placed a $500.00 bid 3 minutes before it was to end. It was enough for it was won for just $400.00

In the listing on Ebay it said there was a Houdini photo with it, that the seller claimed was a copy, and it would go with the letter. Turns out it is an original 11x14 photo of Houdini.

-Jon Oliver

As I said, Jon returned the letter yesterday, but he was able to keep the original Houdini photo, which alone is worth the price of the auction. It's a bit of poetic justice that the seller didn't realize what he had there.

This amazing letter (transcribed below) was written on January 19, 1935 while Bess was living in her Laurel Canyon house in Hollywood ("right here in the mountains it is so beautiful"). Twice she evokes "Gods Will", showing that she was more outwardly religious than her husband. It also shows that she was, ironically, the more literate of the Houdinis. Her letter is not filled with the misspellings and what Ken Silverman calls the "tortured grammar" of her husband's letters. I'm not sure what accounts for the difference as it's unclear if Bess had any more education than Houdini, and she was also raised with German speaking parents.

Bess also makes mention of their "sad memories of Harry's tragedy." This is not a reference to her late husband, but to the premature death of Harry Houdini Hinson. This is an untold story that I will be sharing soon here on WILD ABOUT HARRY.

Below is a wonderful unpublished photo of Vincent Hinson, courtesy of John Hinson. It shows him with the famous Houdini bust and Mirror handcuffs. He is holding a Houdini magic wand. Happily, this photo has remained safe in the family collection. Now his letter is home as well!

Vincent Ehrich Hinson with treasures from his Uncle Harry.

Hollywood Calif Jan. 19 - 35

Dearest Vincent 

        Your letter was a pleasant surprise - you know Vincent it was the most manly letter you had ever written - and you have no idea how pleased I was - it proved to me that no matter what you or any one may say about your fondness for play - you are growing into a fine young serious minded nam - and I am sure you will never fail your parents. I was sorry to hear of your friends death - it was Gods Will - however it is also Gods Will that children should not disobey their parents commands - and it makes me very happy to know that when your parents asked you not to go sleighing - that you obeyed them. You know their sad memories of Harry's tragedy is still very deep - and you must help them never to have cause for any more. It is really very little to give up isn't it? Some day when you become rich you must come to California - and right here in the mountains it is so beautiful - I wish I could have you during your Summer Vacation - but alas it costs too much - but and this is a big but - you will have the entire vacation in Rye - that isn't so bad either is it? And I'm going to whisper a secret to you - keep it to yourself for awhile - maybe if all turns out as we hope it will - we may take a trip to N.Y. this coming July - I did not say anything to your mother or Marie - because I am not yet quite sure that I can take the trip - but as you are one of the men of the house - I can tell you the secret - and you can tell your Dad - but not the women folks - they would take to worrying - and I do not wish to have them worry - but won't it be grand to be together again? I'm all excited about seeing you all again - and I'll bring Satan along - you will love him. 

        Well Dear Vincent - I want to thank you also for your congratulations on my birthday - and write soon - Edward sends his best to you. 

Lots of love from your Aunt Bess

(Mrs. Harry Houdini)

Thanks to John Hinson and Jon Oliver for sharing this remarkable letter and the story behind it.

UPDATE: In case you're wondering who "Satan" was; Jon Oliver tells me it was Bessie's pet marmoset monkey, which was vicious, hence the name.

A gift for Valentine's Day

Here's a priceless artifact that hangs in the home of John C. Hinson, the great nephew of Harry and Bess Houdini. One of Bess's hobbies was embroidery, and this is a little something she made for her husband. Speaks for itself, I think.

Happy Valentine's Day to all Houdini lovers.

Houdini's rough ride at Niagara Falls

The Man From Beyond crew at the American Falls.

Michelle Ann Kratts, author of The Missed and a researcher and tour guide at the historic Oakwood Cemetery in Niagara Falls, has uncovered some very interesting information about Houdini filming The Man From Beyond at Niagara Falls in early May 1921. While Houdini had knack for charming local police and reporters, that seems to have failed him on this particular trip.

Houdini arrived in Niagara Falls with a film crew of 16 people, including director Burton King and five cameramen. They were there to shoot the climax of the film, which sees Howard Hillary (Houdini) saving Felice Strange (Jane Connelly) from going over the falls in a canoe. Not only did Houdini film himself swimming the rapids, but the production also maneuvered two canoes along the waters with stunt dummies doubling Houdini and Connelly aboard. Whatever faults Houdini's films have, the Niagara Falls sequence in The Man From Beyond remains genuinely exciting even today.

The canoe with stunt dummies.

The first piece of wild new information that Michelle's research has uncovered is that Houdini filmed his famous scenes on the Niagara rapids on the very same day as the funeral for Annie Edson Taylor. Taylor was famous for being the first person to survive going over the falls in a barrel. Incredibly, she performed the daredevil stunt at age 63!

Was it just a coincidence that Houdini shot his own Niagara "stunts" on the day of Taylor's funeral, or was it a ploy to generate publicity? If it was the latter, it backfired somewhat.

The Niagara Falls Gazette did indeed report on the duel events on May 6, 1921, but it was decidedly critical of the film company and, worse, it did not mention Houdini or the film by name. Under the headline: "Canoes with 'Dummies' Are Sent Over Falls as Body of Mrs. Taylor, Cataracts' Conqueror, Is Buried," the paper observed:

Those who attended the funeral services yesterday spoke of the fact that just a few hours before Mrs. Taylor's funeral, a motion picture company had sent canoes carrying dummies over the American Falls. The canoes and dummies were smashed to fragments on the rocks below but pictures of them were taken as they made the plunge over the brink. These pictures will form the climax of a picture romance of Niagara that will probably make thousands of dollars for its producers, while Mrs. Taylor, the only woman who ever made the Falls trip and survived, was unable to derive a fortune from the feat and was buried through the generosity of friends.

It should be noted that the shots of the canoe going over the falls in The Man From Beyond is dummy free. It had to be for the sake of the plot! However, it's possible the film crew sent their second canoe with the dummies over the Falls as well. This photo below show the dummy canoe on the brink of the falls. While the canoe was tethered, it's possible it was irretrievable at this point and was cut free. Interesting to think that for a time a Houdini dummy lay at the bottom of Niagara Falls.

On the brink.

Houdini's rough PR ride in Niagara had started almost from the time he arrived in the city. The police had forbid him from performing any stunts on the Falls, and on May 4 The Gazette reported this remarkable exchange with Houdini at his hotel:

Houdini is temperamental, like the great artist he is. He was much upset when a reporter called on him at his room in the Prospect Hotel this morning. He made no excuse for his appearance, although his blue trousers has yet been flocked of the dirt they had accumulated during his work on the bank of the rapids above the American Falls earlier in the day while staging film play scenes in which he appeared as the star. His black pompadour hair, surrounding a somewhat pale but classic countenance, stood crinkly aloft and accentuated the temperamental attack which caused him to pace quickly to and fro as he conversed. [...]

"Why so upset?" ventured this interviewer.

"Why shouldn't I be upset?" he questioned back. "Here they have been circulating baseless rumors that hurt me. They say I am here to go over the falls, swim the rapids and dozens of other foolhardy exploits which can be performed only at the risk of one's life. I've been warned that I will be arrested if I attempt to stage any such stunt. Well, I would do if if I wanted to, but I don't want to. I have taken great risks but that was earlier in my stage career. I am long past that. I am accounted now an artist. I am receiving a salary of $200,000 a year for acting in moving pictures dramas and directing their filming. No more do I slip loose from manacles and chains for the delectation of crowded houses. That is the past."

The reporter goes on to say that Houdini "summoned" his wife Bess from the other room -- "a petite and altogether charming woman" -- who stated:

"Why of course he will not risk his life in any exploit here, going over the falls or otherwise. I wouldn't let him."

Of course, Houdini (and Bess) weren't being completely forthcoming here. Two days later Houdini did swim the rapids as part of filming, although it's said he did so with a safety line attached. The production actually stayed a day later than they announced to get these shots, along with the canoe action. Perhaps this subtle betrayal had something to do with the rough treatment The Gazette gave him about shooting these scenes on the day of Annie Taylor's funeral?

It's fascinating to see Houdini so out-of-control of his own public image. But with his massive investment in his own motion picture company and career, one can understand how he'd be "temperamental" when he was still being identified as the Handcuff King. He so wants to be perceived as a highly paid motion picture artist -- a Chaplin in his own right. But Houdini's creative efforts in movies could never match his achievements on stage, and Houdini's experience here in Niagara Falls foreshadowed his coming difficulties.

Finally, Michelle pointed out is that Oakwood Cemetery has a special section dedicated to Niagara's daredevils and stunters, including the aforementioned Annie Edson Taylor. While Michelle has yet to uncover evidence that Houdini visited Oakwood's "Stunters Rest", it seems very likely that he did. Houdini could never resist a cemetery, and to have a section devoted to daredevils would have been irresistible for him.

Perhaps if his safety line broke while he was swimming the Niagara rapids, he might have become a resident of "Stunters Rest" himself. But, as always, Houdini escaped.

The Man From Beyond screens at a local Niagara Falls theater.

Thanks to Michelle Ann Kratts for sharing this unknown Houdini/Niagara Falls history. You can purchase her book 'The Missed' on Amazon. And thanks to John C. Hinson for the amazing unpublished images of the stunt canoes.

Related posts:

• Houdini's stunt dummy and the eBay mystery papers
• Houdini and Margery among The Missed
• LINK: Houdini in the Niagara

Sources:

• Niagara Falls Gazette: Houdini, The Great, Who Defied the World's Best Straightjackets and Manacles, Scorns Falls Feat. Niagara Falls, NY. May 4, 1921.
• Niagara Falls Gazette: Houdini Pulled Off a Thriller. Niagara Falls, NY. May 6, 1921.
• Niagara Falls Gazette: Canoes with "Dummies" Are Sent Over Falls as Body of Mrs. Taylor, Cataracts' Conqueror, Is Buried. Niagara Falls, NY. May 6, 1921.
• Oakwood Cemetery (website)

A birthday present for Bess

There has long been a bit a mystery about Bess Houdini's birthday. Almost all published sources say January 22, 1876. But the California death index lists it as January 23. In the past we've celebrated on both days, just to be safe. But this year all that changes.

Bess Houdini's birthday is TODAY, January 23, and here's a wonderful piece of proof from the collection of John C. Hinson, the great nephew of Harry and Bess Houdini, and the benefactor of our Hinson Endowment. This is a copy of Houdini's 1920 book, Miracles Mongers and Their Methods, given by Houdini to his "Sweetheart Wife" on "January 23/1921 - on your birthday." This would have been Bess' 45th birthday.

Inside is this wonderful inscription from Houdini:

Click to enlarge.

So there we have it. We can now confidently celebrate Bess' birthday on January 23. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BESS. 138 years young today!

The Birthday Girl

Don't worry, we haven't forgotten Bess

Yes, I know most sources say today, January 22, is Bess Houdini's birthday. But there's always been a question mark as to whether it's the 22nd or 23rd. In the past we've celebrated on both days, just to safe. But this year our Bessie birthday post will be tomorrow, January 23, and in that post I will share proof that Bess celebrated her birthday on the 23rd.

It's another gem from our amazing Hinson Endowment, so come on back tomorrow for Bessie's big day.

When Harry met Bessie

There are multiple versions of how Houdini and Bess met. Bess told her version in the book Houdini His Life Story (1928). According to Bess, Harry was performing at her school and accidentally spilled acid on her dress during a magic trick. He had his mother make her a new dress, and then took her on a date to Coney Island. But when he kept her out too late, Bess became panicky that she would get in trouble. Houdini then gallantly proposed. This version is now considered to be pure fiction, but it does make for a cute short film (below).

The second version was told by Houdini's brother, Hardeen, and first appeared in the 1959 biography Houdini The Man Who Walked Through Walls by William Lindsay Gresham. In Dash's version, Bess was working as a fellow performer in Coney Island with The Floral Sisters when he and Harry were performing as The Brothers Houdini. Dash dated Bess first; but then made the mistake of introducing her to his charismatic older brother. A quick courtship and proposal followed. This version is generally accepted to be the truth, and has evidence in the form of two newspaper articles from the 1894 Coney Island Clipper which mention Harry and "Bessie Raymond" (her stage name).

But now here's a third version, this one from Houdini himself! The Handcuff King related this in his own words to the The San Francisco Call on Sunday, Sept. 1, 1907, in a lengthy biographical article by Arthur L. Price. Under the subheading, "Willing Wilhelmina", Houdini says:

I eloped with my wife from her school books: that was 14 years ago, and she was then just 16 years old. I was only about 20 and was working in a little Brooklyn theater, which she used to pass every day coming from school. Her name was Wilhelmina Rahner and she came about No. 9 in a family of 14 girls. 

I saw her passing the place one day and I said, "Hello." 

"Howdy do?" said she. 

"I do as I please," I said. 

I asked if I might take her home after school. "Yes; but don't let mother see you," replied the girl, smiling a bit. 

She thought I was a real actor, a sort of Booth of Sir Henry Irving, and I didn't put her wise. 

"How'd you like to be an actress?" I asked her one day, knowing that most girls were crazy about the stage. 

She said she would like it. 

"Would you marry me?" I asked quickly. 

"I would if you'd ask me." 

"Well, I ask you." 

That was on Thursday; Saturday night she met me and we went over to New York City and were married in the city hall!

Like Bess' acid on the dress tale, this is almost certainly fiction. But it is a fun story and I love their banter. Now, why Harry felt compelled to make Bess only 16 is a mystery. Bess was actually 18 when they met and married. But the idea of a "child bride" was not unheard of at this time.

Of course, I've always been intrigued by what we might consider a fourth version that Bess told to Dorothy Young, possibly while under the influence of her favorite champagne. Bess confessed to Dorothy that she, "sold her virginity to Houdini for an orange."

Forbidden fruit?

Thanks to Tom Interval for finding and providing The San Francisco Call interview. Unpublished photo of Houdini and Bess made possible via our Hinson Endowment.

Unpublished Houdini: FOREVER

Today we have the final installment of Unpublished Houdini. In this series I shared a new never-before-published photo of Houdini every Monday from our generous Hinson Endowment.

This portrait shot of Houdini has appeared in at least one documentary, but I don't believe it has ever seen print; so I think it's a perfect way to end our Unpublished Houdini series. What can I say? This is a fantastic shot of Houdini, capturing his iconic gaze and intensity, and the background gives it a very contemporary feel. It's almost like this was put together in present day to exaggerate the mystery of Houdini. But this is Houdini's own work in his own time. It's Houdini then, now, FOREVER.

"I am going to live as long as I want to and on my 100th birthday I am going to do my upside-down strait-jacket escape hanging from the tallest building in New York City."

-HOUDINI

I hope you all enjoyed our weekly dose of Unpublished Houdini. But don't worry, I still have plenty of unpublished shots of Houdini and Bess from our Hinson Endowment and I'll continue to share them in posts throughout 2014.

The Complete Unpublished Houdini:

Bound at Last

The ladder tie

Man of action

Hollywood pals

Confidence

In Los Angeles

Bess at home

Harry at work

Tourists

With his baby

From Beyond

Among Gods

FOREVER

Unpublished Houdini: Among Gods

Welcome to Unpublished Houdini. In this series I share a new never-before-published photo of Houdini every Monday from our generous Hinson Endowment.

Here's a photo of Houdini and Bess posing with a group of fellow travelers at "Balanced Rock" in the Garden of the Gods National Park in Colorado Springs, CO. This was most likely taken in December of 1915 as Houdini was performing in Colorado Springs at this time, and that date seems right for his appearance.*

By the way, notice the tall man in the back without a hat. Looks a lot like Adrien Brody, doesn't it? Spooky...

Why it is a fit place for the gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods."

- Surveyor Rufus Cable, 1859

Balanced Rock in the Garden of the Gods National Park still exists today and is a popular stop and photo op for tourists. Now besides being an amazing natural phenomena, we can add: Houdini was here!

Click here to view all the installments of Unpublished Houdini.

* UPDATE: Houdini dated this visit as January 4, 1916.

Unpublished Houdini: From Beyond

Welcome to Unpublished Houdini. In this series I share a new never-before-published photo of Houdini every Monday from our generous Hinson Endowment.

Here's a terrific photo of Houdini as Howard Hillary a.k.a. The Man From Beyond. The 1922 silent feature was the first film made by the Houdini Picture Corporation and reflected Houdini's fascination with reincarnation. The press book shows that this photo was used on an 8x10 lobby photo (captioned: "Dare you say there's no life after death"), so maybe this is not technically "unpublished." However, I've never seen that lobby photo reproduced outside the press book, and I love this clean image of Houdini/Hillary emerging from pure blackness…from Beyond.

Click to enlarge

"But there is something--of that I am convinced--in the theory of reincarnation. Just how much, I cannot say, nor do I believe it will greatly profit us to try and tear aside the veil. In due time it will be lifted, and we shall see beyond with Milton--'the bright countenance of Truth.'"

-HOUDINI, 1919

Houdini's interest in reincarnation is something that you won't find mentioned in any biographies. I'm not sure why this is, because when looking through primary sources, like newspaper clippings and press books, it is found everywhere. Houdini seemed eager to express his ideas about this particular form of "life after death." He even had his own theory about who he may have been in a past life. But perhaps it's a little hard for biographers to reconcile Houdini the skeptic and/or the Rabbi's son with the idea of Houdini the reincarnation advocate. Although according to aish.com, the idea of reincarnation is found in Judaism.

"Dare you say there is no life after death."

Seeing as we are on a somewhat spiritual journey with Houdini, next week I will share an unpublished photo of Houdini "among the Gods."

Click here to view all the installments of Unpublished Houdini.

Related posts:

• Is this Houdini in a past life?
• Houdini, reincarnation, and a man named Von Treck

Unpublished Houdini: With his baby

Welcome to Unpublished Houdini. In this series I share a new never-before-published photo of Houdini every Monday from our generous Hinson Endowment.

Here's Houdini the proud new author holding his first major book, The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin, published in 1908. His baby. In Unmasking, Houdini set out prove that the great French conjurer, Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin -- Houdini's boyhood hero from whom he took his name -- did not deserve credit for the many magic effects he was said to have invented. The celebrated "Father of Modern Magic" was, according to Houdini, in reality "the Prince of Pilfers."

"Wrote until 2:30 AM on Houdin book. This is a labor of love. I shall be happy when it is finished, as it will take a lot of worry off my mind."

- Houdini's diary entry, July 19, 1907
(He finished the next day.)

Houdini was immensely proud of his book, which features many images from his own collection, and dedicated it to his father. In adverts he even offered a cash prize of $250 if anyone could name "a book which has taken so much time, energy, travel and money, with such authentic data regarding real magical inventions." While he knew many would not read the book cover to cover, he still implored them in his inscriptions to at least "read the introduction." (This can be found written in many copies of Unmasking, including one in my own collection).

"Please read the introduction anyway."

However, the magic community, especially in France, severally criticized Houdini's wholesale "attack" on Robert-Houdin, and the book still provokes a strong reaction today. Kenneth Silverman writes in Houdini!!! The Career of Ehrich Weiss: "Some magicians damn the book; others accept or reject its arguments piecemeal; none endorses it whole."

Houdini never expressed any regret for his what is now seen as an over-the-top (one chapter is titled: "Robert-Houdin's Ignorance of Magic") and somewhat Oedipal attack on his namesake. Many think the true roots of the book lie with the French magician's family snubbing the newly famous Houdini during his first tour of Europe.

The one admission Houdini would allow years later was: "The only mistake I made was in calling my book Houdin Unmasked. It ought to have been History of Magic."

Click here to view all the installments of Unpublished Houdini.

Family gathering

Here are all five Weiss brothers gathered for…Thanksgiving maybe? Left to right is: Leopold, William, Theodore, Ehrich, and Nathan. All that's missing is the turkey.

Click to enlarge.

This (unpublished?) shot comes from the Rahner side of the family via the great nephew of Bess and Harry Houdini, John C. Hinson.

Enjoy your own day with the family.

Unpublished Houdini: Tourists

Welcome to Unpublished Houdini. In this series I share a new never-before-published photo of Houdini every Monday from our generous Hinson Endowment.

For this Thanksgiving week, I couldn't resist this unpublished shot of Harry and Bess Houdini with two Native Americans. Judging by their curious mix of contemporary and traditional clothing, these men appear to be genuine Native Americans and not costumed performers as seen in shots like this. This could have even been taken on an actual Indian Reservation during the Houdinis travels through the American Southwest in December 1915.

In a later installment of UH, I'll share more from this unrecorded trip, but for now enjoy this holiday shot of Harry and Bessie as tourists (click to enlarge).

I couldn't find an applicable Houdini quote to pair with this photo, so on behalf of Harry and Bess allow me to say…

"Happy Thanksgiving."

Next week we'll head back into the portrait studio for a shot of Houdini "with his baby."

Click here to view all the installments of Unpublished Houdini

UPDATE: I believe I've now identified the location of this photo, and it's not what we thought! Check out: The Houdinis at Inceville.

Where did he get the idea?

Here is an unpublished photo of Houdini preparing for a suspended straitjacket escape. Houdini first performed his signature outdoor escape on September 8, 1915. But was the suspended straitjacket original to Houdini? If not, where did he get the idea?

This is a teaser for a post tomorrow that will showcase a 100-year-old discovery that might just rewrite recent Houdini history.

Unpublished Houdini: Harry at work

Welcome to Unpublished Houdini. In this series I share a new never-before-published photo of Houdini every Monday from our generous Hinson Endowment.

Here is an unpublished shot of Houdini hard at work in Hollywood on his first feature length film, The Grim Game. I'm not sure if this is a scene from the actual film. There is another photo of Houdini on this same wall hanging upside down holding actress Ann Forrest in his arms (which can been seen in Gibson's Original Houdini Scrapbook page 148). That shot was almost certainly taken for publicity, so maybe this one was as well? What I'd really like to know is whether this wall still exists somewhere in Los Angeles. [UPDATE: Now I know.]

"The present generation can see me in person, but I want my most thrilling feats perpetuated on the screen, so people in later years can assure themselves that I actually did them. That's why I have saved the most sensational stunts I have ever done for this picture and have worked my head off to make them as successful as possible."

-HOUDINI

The irony of Houdini's quote above (from The Grim Game pressbook) is that The Grim Game is the one Houdini movie that isn't available to the very audience that Houdini says he is making the film for. Hopefully at some point a print will free up and we will finally be able to enjoy the result of Houdini's hard work.

Oh, what the heck, here's a bonus photo. This shot shows Houdini and Ann Forrest in some Grim Game cliffhanger action. The man works hard, people!

Click to enlarge.

More Unpublished Houdini:

Bound at Last

The ladder tie

Man of action

Hollywood pals

Confidence

In Los Angeles

Bess at home

Photo of Houdini's Voisin reveals new detail

This photograph of Houdini's Voisin bi-plane doesn't qualify for our Unpublished Houdini series because it appears on page 169 of The Original Houdini Scrapbook by Walter B. Gibson. However, I still wanted to share it because the much better resolution of this photo direct from the John C. Hinson collection reveals a detail on Houdini's plane that I don't think has ever been spotted before.

You'll note in the enlargement below that there is writing on the tail of the plane above Houdini's name identifying the maker -- "Aeroplanes Voisin" -- and what looks like might be some additional technical specs or registration information (if they even did that back then). Pretty cool.

I've heard talk that the Houdini miniseries will feature Houdini aviation exploits. Maybe it's not too late for the production designer to add this detail to their prop plane?

In other Voisin news, the search for Houdini's plane is the subject of an article by Rebecca Maksel in the November 2013 issue of Air and Space Magazine. The article includes the possibly that the plane ended up in the possession of Chung Ling Soo, which is an idea that we first tackled back in 2010 during the centenary celebrations of Houdini historic first flight in Australia (see links below).

You can read the online version of the Air and Space article HERE.

Related posts:

• Did Houdini’s Voisin land in the hands of Chung Ling Soo?
• Found! The man who bought Houdini's Voisin
• Houdini was the 25th person to fly