New historical marker coming to Houdini Plaza

The Appleton Post-Crescent reports that a new commemorative plaque will be installed in Houdini Plaza to mark the 100th anniversary of Houdini's death. The Wisconsin Historical Society approved the proposal in February, and on Tuesday, the Appleton Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved the project. The marker will read: 

1874-1926

Born Ehrich Weiss in Budapest, Hungary, Harry Houdini became a world-famous magician and escape artist.

His family immigrated to the United States when he was 4 years old. They settled in Appleton in 1878. His father, Mayer Samuel Weiss, served as the first rabbi of Appleton's Zion Reform Jewish Congregation.

Throughout his career, Houdini proclaimed Appleton as his hometown. In 1897, he and his wife, Bess, performed at the Appleton Opera House. He challenged the local police and escaped from their handcuffs and a jail cell.

Houdini's career soared after he traveled to Europe in 1900, where he performed many daring escapes and stunts. He was also an author, pioneer aviator, silent film star, inventor, and collector.

Appleton proudly remembers its connection to the legendary “Handcuff King.”

I love that it mentions Houdini's 1897 appearance in Appleton. For the record, this was on March 29-30, when The Houdinis were traveling as part of the Rogers' Orpheum Stars company. Houdini escaped from handcuffs at the local police station on March 29. (As far as I know, he did not do a jail escape.)

Related:

• Houdini returns to Appleton in 1897
• The Houdinis are Rogers' Orpheum Stars of 1897
• Appleton launches "Year of Houdini" celebration
  

40th anniversary of Houdini Plaza in Appleton

Today is the 40th Anniversary of Appleton's Houdini Plaza. The plaza was dedicated on May 25, 1985, in a celebration that featured magic performances by members of the Houdini Club of Wisconsin.

The original plaza design centered around an abstract sculpture created by Richard C. Wolter called "Metamorphosis." The dedication plaque said the plaza was built on the site of the Weiss family home.

Houdini Plaza was completely renovated and rededicated in 2013. In 2015, a spectacular new bronze bust was installed in the plaza, further celebrating Appleton's favorite son.

Houdini Plaza Dedication poster reprint from Poster Museum.

Related:

• New Houdini Plaza bust revealed
• New Houdini Plaza opens in Appleton
• Appleton plans to bring Houdini sculpture back into public view

Inside The Official Houdini Séance 2024

The 2024 Official Houdini Séance was held in Houdini's hometown of Appleton, Wisconsin, at the Trout Museum of Art in Houdini Plaza. Among the honored inner circle attendees this year included Debbie Hardeen-Bloom and Meg Hoppe, the great-granddaughter of Gustav Keller. Kellar was a friend of Houdini's who corresponded with him about his Appleton memories and exploits. Entertainment was provided by magicians Daryl Rogers and James David. Mike Schroeder, current president of IBM Ring 398, did a straitjacket escape. The seance was conducted by Cheryl Burch of DePere, Wisconsin.

Appleton's own Tom Boldt organized this year's seance. Items from his incredible collection were on display. The seance was by invitation only. Someone must have forgotten to send Houdini's invite because, for the 98th year in a row, he was a no-show. But the seance was once again a terrific tribute to Houdini and everyone appears to have had a great time.

Here are some photos from the event courtesy of New Normal Studios.

Seance table and program.

The Inner Circle

Medium Cheryl Burch leads the attempt.

Are you here, Harry?

The seance handcuffs remained locked.

Debbie Hardeen-Bloom

Magician Daryl Rogers

Magician James David

Escapist Mike Schroeder

Rarities from the Tom Boldt Collection.

Perfect day for a seance.

The seance received some nice press this year. Below is a report from WLUK-TV.

Want more? I've posted video of Bill Radner showing Houdini's modified Bean Giant handcuffs and the famed "Séance Cuffs" at the start of the seance on my Patreon. 

Thanks to Tom Boldt, Bill Radner, Bruce Averbook, and  New Normal Studios for the info and pics. 

Past Official Houdini Séances:

• The Official Houdini Séance 2023 (Charleston)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2022 (Providence)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2021 (Chicago)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2020 (Online)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2019 (Niagara Falls)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2018 (Baltimore)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2017 (Cleveland)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2016 (Milwaukee)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2015 (San Francisco)
• The Official Houdini Seance 2014 (Danvers)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2013 (Halifax)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2012 (Fort Worth)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2011 (Holyoke)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2010 (New York)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2009 (Melrose)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2008 (Madison)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2007 (New York)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2006 (New York)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2005 (Boston)

Rally at Houdini Plaza to support Ukraine

The Appleton Post Crescent reports that citizens gathered in Appleton's Houdini Plaza yesterday to show support and collect supplies for the Ukrainian people currently under siege by Russian troops. Organizer Johnathan Pylypiv said: "We're so grateful for the Fox Cities, Appleton, all of our communities coming together, stand with Ukrainian families all over northeast Wisconsin and beyond."

Located in the center of Houdini's adopted hometown, Houdini Plaza is a popular gathering place for civic events and rallies. Yesterday's donation drive was in coordination with Wisconsin Ukrainians.

Related: 

• Houdini Plaza turns 30
• New Houdini Plaza bust revealed
• Houdini Plaza sees Trump protests

Appleton gets some r-e-s-p-e-c-t

It's rare that I think, "Hey, that's a great idea for a TV show." But, hey, this is a great idea for a TV show. And it doesn't hurt that there is going to an episode devoted to Houdini's own Appleton. Check out the below which includes a nice Houdini nod.

You can read more about Small Town Throw Down's Appleton visit at wbay.com.

Related:

• New Houdini Plaza opens in Appleton
• Appleton's new Houdini bust unveiled
• Ann Coulter would like Appleton to celebrate Joe McCarthy, not Houdini

Appleton plans to bring Houdini sculpture back into public view

The Post-Crescent reports that Richard C. Wolter's "Metamorphosis" sculpture that once adorned Appleton's Houdini Plaza could return to public view as soon as next summer.

The Appleton Public Arts Committee on Wednesday endorsed a plan to place the 20-by-20-foot sculpture on a plaza along the Fox River at the south end of the Lawe Street bridge.

Deputy Parks and Recreation Director Tom Flick believes the location works well because it's across the street from a marker that points out the place where Houdini almost drowned as a child. The installation would be permanent.

The iconic sculpture was donated to the city in 1985 by Boldt Development Corp. It stood in the center of Houdini Plaza until 2010, when it was removed because the base was deteriorating. The sculpture is currently lying on its side outside the Appleton parks and recreation facility at Memorial Park.

Houdini Plaza underwent a major renovation in 2013. A Houdini bust was added to the plaza in 2015.

Related:

• Future of Appleton's "Metamorphosis" still uncertain
• Appleton Houdini sculpture to disappear
• "Metamorphosis" seeks a new home

Craig Campbell Houdini bust reproductions for sale

Artist Craig Campbell is selling a limited edition reproduction of the gorgeous Houdini bust he made for Appleton's Houdini Plaza in 2015. The busts are bronze, 26" on a 2" walnut base, and come in a limited edition of 25.

You can purchase the bust at Campbell's website. It says there to contact him regarding price, but an article about the bust at City of Lafayette shows the price as $25,000.

Related:

• First look at the new Houdini Plaza bust
• Houdini bust revealed on Monument Guys
• Appleton's new Houdini bust unveiled

Future of Appleton's "Metamorphosis" still uncertain

The Post-Crescent reports that the future of Richard C. Wolter's sculpture "Metamorphosis" -- which once stood in the center of Houdini Plaza in Appleton, Wisconsin -- "is about as certain as Houdini's return from the grave."

The sculpture is currently lying on its side outside the Appleton parks and recreation facility at Memorial Park.

The iconic sculpture anchored Houdini Plaza from 1985 to 2010, when it was removed because the base was deteriorating. Houdini Plaza underwent a major renovation in 2013. A Houdini bust was added to the plaza in 2015.

"There's been talk off and on about bringing it back out," said Chad Doran, Appleton's communications coordinator. "There's some people in the arts community who are really pushing to have it brought back out. I don't know that anything is imminent."

Alex Schultz, president of Sculpture Valley, a nonprofit arts advocacy group in the Fox Cities, said Appleton made a mistake by removing "Metamorphosis" from Houdini Plaza. He wishes the 2013 renovation of the plaza would have reserved a spot for the piece.

"Everybody recognized it as being part of the plaza," he said. "Having taken it out and not incorporated it into the redesign, I think, was just shortsighted."

Schultz recommends restoring the sculpture and mounting it in the center of the roundabout at the east end of the College Avenue bridge. He said the location was proposed to the city but wasn't met with much enthusiasm because of safety considerations.

Related:

• Appleton Houdini sculpture to disappear
• "Metamorphosis" seeks a new home
• New Houdini Plaza opens in Appleton

Houdini Plaza sees Trump protests

Local Wisconsin news outlets report that citizens gathered in Appleton's Houdini Plaza on Thursday to protest President Trump's immigration actions. The plaza, which received a makeover in 2013, is a popular gathering place for civic events as well as protests.

Surprisingly, neither the media nor protesters appear to have taken advantage of the perfect symbolism of the Plaza; which, of course, is named after an immigrant.

Related:

• The next Houdini of the United States
• Houdini in the political arena (again)
• All posts related to Houdini Plaza

Houdini bust revealed on Monument Guys

Appleton's new Houdini Plaza bust was revealed on Monument Guys Saturday night. Commissioned by Tom Boldt and the City of Appleton, the bust was created by artist Craig Campbell. As you can see from the pics below, it's a stunner!

The episode showcased the planning and creation of the 125 pound silicon bronze bust. For research, Craig Campbell visited Appleton's Museum at the Castle and was shown into their special Houdini vault. There the museum has a collection keys and lock-picks from Houdini's famous trunk No. 8. Campbell incorporated several of these into the sculpture, including a bobby pin hidden in Houdini's hair and a key that pulls out from behind his ear.

The Houdini bust will officially be unveiled during the Houdini Club of Wisconsin's annual convention in Appleton, August 27-29 .

You can watch the entire episode ("Metal of Honor") at the Monument Guys website.

Related:

• Monument Guys try again July 25
• New Houdini Plaza bust revealed
• Appleton adding bust to Houdini Plaza

Houdini Plaza turns 30

Today is the 30th Anniversary of Appleton's Houdini Plaza. The plaza was dedicated on May 25, 1985, in a celebration that featured magic performances by members of the Houdini Club of Wisconsin.

The original plaza design centered around an abstract sculpture created by Richard C. Wolter called "Metamorphosis." The original dedication plaque said the plaza was built on the site of the Weiss family home, but that claim has been dropped in recent years.

In 1986, the great Doug and Debbie Henning (right) performed their famous quick-fire version of Houdini's Metamorphosis in the plaza center. You can see a clip of that performance in the 1988 documentary, Houdini: The Greatest Illusionist of All Time.

Houdini Plaza was completely renovated and rededicated in 2013. In August, a spectacular new bronze bust will be installed in the heart of the plaza celebrating Appleton's favorite son.

Doug and Debbie Henning pic from Houdinez Home Page.

Related:

• New Houdini Plaza bust revealed
• "Metamorphosis" seeks a new home
• Man killed in Houdini Plaza car crash

HISTORY pulls Houdini bust episode of Monument Guys

As if HISTORY hadn't already done enough to rile Houdini fans (recall Brad Meltzer and a certain miniseries), now, according to WBAY, the network has pulled tonight's episode of Monument Guys that was to feature the making of the new Houdini bust. According to the report:

A spokesman for Boldt Company in Appleton says a show that was scheduled to air on the History Channel Wednesday night about Houdini Plaza will no longer do so.

The episode of Monument Guys was pulled by the network Tuesday night according to the spokesman, who says he was notified Wednesday.

The spokesman says the show has been moved to H2 (History Channel 2), but it is unclear when the episode will air.

I have no idea why the network would do this, and it's pretty disappointing. The episode promised to reveal the bust's "hidden secret."

Brodini is upset.

Related:

• LINK: TV series gifts Houdini bust to Appleton
• New Houdini Plaza bust revealed
• Appleton adding bust to Houdini Plaza

LINK: TV series gifts Houdini bust to Appleton

Good article today by Shane Nyman in the Appleton Post Crescent about the new Houdini Plaza bust. (Click headline to read.) The making of the bust will feature on the series Monument Guys tonight on HISTORY.

UPDATE: HISTORY pulls Houdini bust episode hours before airtime.

Related:

• New Houdini Plaza bust revealed
• Appleton adding bust to Houdini Plaza
• New Houdini Plaza opens in Appleton

First look at the new Houdini Plaza bust

WHBY in Appleton has revealed the first images of the new bronze Houdini Bust that will be installed in Houdini Plaza in August. The creation of the bust will feature this Wednesday, May 20, on the HISTORY Channel series, Monument Guys. The episode description says the life-size bust includes a "hidden secret."

Tom Boldt of The Boldt Company, who played a major role in the renovation of Houdini Plaza in 2013, says sculptor Craig Campbell captured a look of confidence and resolve with the Houdini piece.

"I think this image of Houdini is universal, and I think it’s something that has distinguished America," Boldt told FOX 11. "A land of opportunity, and through your hard work and effort, you can be successful."

I have to agree. I think this is a beautiful bust and I can't wait to see it in Houdini Plaza.

Related:

• Appleton adding bust to Houdini Plaza
• New Houdini Plaza opens in Appleton
• "Metamorphosis" seeks a new home

Appleton adding bust to Houdini Plaza

Today it was revealed that the city of Appleton, Wisconsin, will be adding a life-size Houdini bust to their downtown Houdini Plaza. The bust will be made of bronze and show Houdini from the torso up doing a straightjacket escape. It will be accessible so people can take pictures with it.

Sculpture Valley, of Appleton, spearheaded the effort to guide the bust design and find a permanent place for this exquisite new work near the site of Houdini Plaza's former abstract piece, “Metamorphosis". The new sculpture will fill the void left in the new plaza design which called for a piece of public art but was conspicuously missing from the final execution.

Sculpture Valley is also working alongside Tom Boldt, president of the Boldt Company and a devoted Houdini fan, on a new series of Houdini walking tour markers to add more depth of history to the current set of makers Boldt placed back in 1986 mostly along College Ave.

The new bust and the new markers will be officially unveiled on the weekend of August 27-29th when the Houdini Club of Wisconsin comes back to Appleton to host their annual convention at the Raddison in downtown Appleton.

You'll be able to get an early look at the new Houdini bust on the HISTORY channel reality show Monument Guys next Wednesday, May 20. The show follows the inners workings of The Crucible bronze foundry in Norman, Oklahoma, who cast the bust.

Houdini Plaza, which was once said to be the site of the former Weiss family home (we now know it was a few blocks away), underwent a massive renovation in 2013.

Thanks to Alexander Schultz of Sculpture Valley.

Related:

• New Houdini Plaza opens in Appleton
• "Metamorphosis" seeks a new home
• Ann Coulter would like Appleton to celebrate Joe McCarthy, not Houdini

"Metamorphosis" seeks a new home

In 2010, Appleton's "Metamorphosis" sculpture, which had stood in the center of Houdini Plaza since 1985, was removed and put into storage while the plaza underwent a massive renovation.

The new Houdini Plaza now has a beautiful fountain centerpiece, and WHBY reports that Alex Schultz, president of Sculpture Valley, is trying to find Metamorphosis a new home.

Schultz says one possible location is a roundabout on the east end of the College Avenue bridge. A second location would be along Lawe Street. Schultz points out that there's already a marker at the place where Houdini almost drowned as a child.

Metamorphosis sits atop a red-brick platform that resembles a stage. The abstract metal box is balanced on the point of one of its corners and draped with a padlocked chain. The sculpture was created by Richard C. Wolter and was donated to the city by Boldt Development Corp. (yes, as in Tom Boldt).

Metamorphosis is currently in storage at the city's facility and grounds building in Memorial Park.

Related posts:

• Appleton Houdini sculpture to disappear
• New Houdini Plaza opens in Appleton
• Plans unveiled for new Houdini Plaza

New Houdini Plaza opens in Appleton

The new Houdini Plaza in Appleton Wisconsin was dedicated yesterday with an official ribbon cutting ceremony. The event saw speeches by Appleton's mayor, Tim Hanna, and Matt Carpenter of the History Museum at the Castle. There was also a straitjacket escape performed by Rondini.

Matt Carpenter said the square is not only symbolically Appleton's center, but pointed out that the Weiss family lived in a small apartment that faced Appleton Street just a few blocks away.

"He lived here, he loved this city, and built his name and reputation on the ability to evoke a sense of wonder in people," Carpenter said.

"More than 10 years in the making and here we are, with sincere thanks to Appleton for sticking with the project," said Jennifer Stephany, executive director of Appleton Downtown Inc.

The new plaza was built by The Boldt Company (yes, as in Tom Boldt). The plaza hosts three main lawn areas that surround the landmark fountain and lighted column that pays homage to Houdini's Water Torture Cell.

"His name is magical and conjures up, I think, positive images for us," said Mayor Tim Hanna.

Images and info from The Appleton Post Crescent.

NEW HOUDINI PLAZA GRAND RE-OPENING JULY 10

The newly redesigned Houdini Plaza in Houdini's adopted hometown of Appleton, Wisconsin will be officially dedicated on July 10, 2013 with a special event.

The "Houdini Plaza Grand Re-Opening" will start at 4:30pm with an address by Appleton Mayor, Tim Hanna. Matt Carpenter of the History Museum at the Castle will then give a talk on Houdini. The official ribbon cutting will take place at 5:15pm with a magical illusion performed by Rondini.

Following the official dedications there will be a concert with music by RPM. The event will include food and beverage vendors and roaming magic as well.

Houdini Plaza was first dedicated in 1985. The original dedication plaque stated that it was the site of the Weiss family home. Plans for the new plaza were first unveiled in June 2011. Construction on the plaza started on January 22 of this year. The city posted a webcam where you could watch the construction live (and now get a sneak peek at the finished plaza).

Below is the official invitation to the July 10 re-opening, courtesy of the good folks at Appleton Downtown. The new plaza spots a beautiful fountain with a large Houdini picture box pillar. I'm hoping to get some nice pictures of the new plaza to post after the event.

Thanks to Jennifer Stephany at Appleton Downtown.

UPDATE: New Houdini Plaza opens in Appleton (video)

Progress report on new Houdini Plaza

The Appleton Post-Crescent has posted the first photo of the new fountain that fronts the nearly finished Houdini Plaza in Appleton, Wisconsin. Construction started on January 22. Jennifer Stephany, executive director of Appleton Downtown Inc., tells the news site:

"It's an exciting for us and to watch the renovation of Houdini Plaza from Day 1 to where we are today has been really exciting for the entire downtown. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate with us all that well in the early part of the year, so we are a little behind. The construction crews and contractors are all working very hard to catch up.

We’re probably looking at about a 15-day delay at this point, so that’s going to adjust a few of our events. Our hope is July 3, that we are up and running for a great concert with RPM in the plaza."

Houdini Plaza is located at the corner of College Avenue and Appleton Street and is said to be the site of Houdini's boyhood home. More information on the project can be found at appletondowntown.org.

Click here to watch the construction via Live Feed.

By the way, it was exactly 28 years ago today that the original Houdini Plaza was dedicated on Saturday, May 25, 1985.

mooncostumes.com

Rare 1986 Houdini documentary available on DVD

In 1986 Wisconsin PBS produced what I think is still one of the better Houdini documentaries. The 30 minute doc features many unpublished photos (below is a screencap of one) and provides a nice look inside the Sidney Radner collection at his home in Holyoke. Watch Sid page through Houdini's crumbling first scrapbook and try to yank a pair of handcuffs from a massive tangle of cuffs in an old suitcase! Wild stuff.

The documentary also features wonderful footage of Doug Henning performing Metamorphosis in Appleton's Houdini Plaza, and nice footage of the Houdini Hall of Fame in Canada. We also get the full story of how Harry Blackstone's overboard box wound up in the basement of 278, as told by Harry Blackstone Jr. The documentary also contains what might be the first ever on-camera interview with Marie Blood, giving us a nice look inside her home with photos of her "Uncle Harry" covering one wall.

And apart from making the common narrative error of conflating Houdini's mother's death with his anti-spiritualist crusade (and thereby jumping over 10 years of his life), the documentary does a very good job of getting the facts right.

The documentary was first released on VHS in 1988 by Congress Home Video as Houdini: The Greatest Illusionist of All Time (which you can still buy on Amazon). In 2008 Chip Taylor Communications released this digitally enhanced DVD which, believe it or not, I only now discovered.

Chip Taylor sells their DVDs with various licenses, including broadcast, but the most requested is for "Home/Personal Use," which is how you can get a copy of Houdini for $24.95.

Just click on over to Chip Taylor Communications and email for details on how to order and arrange payment.