Houdini Comes Alive June 25

David London in conjunction with the Jewish museums of Maryland and Milwaukee will present a special Live Stream of his popular Houdini talk and performance on June 25.

JMM Squared - Houdini Comes Alive

On Thursday, June 25th at 7:30 pm EST the Jewish Museum of Maryland in partnership with Jewish Museum Milwaukee presents 'Houdini Comes Alive.' Join us for this magical performance with magician David London as he takes us back in time to truly discover the world's first superstar.

JMMSquared: The Jewish Museum of Maryland and the Jewish Museum of Milwaukee come together to present a unique pairing of programs, only made possible by our current challenging situation. This pair of programs celebrates the ways in which we have been able to successfully work together to bring to both Baltimore and Milwaukee some of our most popular exhibits of recent years including Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini and Stitching History from the Holocaust.

Click here for more information and to register.

Related:

• Discovering Houdini's Baltimore
• 'Inescapable' opens this week at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee

Final weekend for 'Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini'

This is the last weekend to see Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee. The exhibition closes Sunday, January 5.

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini was created by magician David London and the Jewish Museum of Maryland. The exhibition has been shown in Baltimore, Atlanta, and Milwaukee.  I don't know of plans for any more stops.

Related:

• 'Inescapable' opens this week at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee
• Houdini and I call "Action" at The Breman Museum
• Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini

Christmas screening of Houdini (1953) at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee

As part of their Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini programing, the Jewish Museum Milwaukee will screen Paramount's classic 1953 biopic Houdini starring Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh on Christmas Day.

Looking for something fun to do Christmas Day? Come to Jewish Museum Milwaukee to enjoy Houdini, the 1953 biopic starring then husband-and-wife Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh as Harry and Bess Houdini.

The film’s storyline is a fictionalized account of Houdini’s life. It details his beginnings as a locksmith, up through his international success as a world-renowned escape artist and stage magician. Following the death of his mother, he exposes various fraudulent Mediums in the spiritualist movement, while always hoping to make contact with her. The film also follows his love for his wife Bess Houdini and his most dangerous stunts and stage illusions.

We will begin screening the film at 1:00 pm and should end before 3:00 pm, giving you enough time to view permanent and special exhibits before or after the film.

Regular Museum Admission Applies | Members FREE

For more information visit the museum's official website. Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini runs through January 5, 2020.

Related:

• 'Inescapable' opens this week at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee
• Penn talks magic in movies, including Houdini (1953)
• HOUDINI (1953)

Joe Posnanski talks Houdini at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee, Dec. 12

Author Joe Posnanski will be speaking and signing his new book The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdini at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee on Thursday, December 12 at 5:30pm.

Award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Joe Posnanski enters the world of Harry Houdini and his legions of devoted fans in an immersive, entertaining, and magical work on the illusionist’s impact on American culture—and why his legacy endures to this day. 

Thursday, December 12th
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Museum Members $6 | Nonmembers $9 

Program admission includes admission into the Museum and one complimentary Broken Wand Cocktail.

Click for more details.

The exhibition Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini is currently in view at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee through January 5, 2020. For more information visit their official website.

The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdini by Joe Posnanski can be purchased at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

Related:

• REVIEW: A Houdini book for everyone
• Joe Posnanski's "Did I Mention" Houdini book tour
• 'Inescapable' opens this week at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee

Jewish Museum Milwaukee screening The Master Mystery

As part of their Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini programing, the Jewish Museum Milwaukee will screen all the available episodes of Houdini's The Master Mystery. The serial will be shown in three parts on the third Thursday of each month, starting with the first five episodes this Thursday, October 17 at 5:30 PM.

For more information on the screenings and to view all their upcoming Houdini-related events (including a Halloween Seance), visit Jewish Museum Milwaukee's official website.

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini runs through January 5, 2020.

Related:

• 'Inescapable' opens this week at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee
• Houdini and The Master Mystery at Clune's
• A Master Mystery revelation at UCLA

'Inescapable' opens this week at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee

The traveling exhibition Inescapable The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini opens this week at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee in Wisconsin. There will be a special Opening Night Preview on Wednesday, September 25 (details below). The exhibition runs through January 5, 2020.

Opening Preview
Wednesday, September 25, 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Get a taste of the jaw-dropping magic that made Houdini famous with roving magicians, imbibe a signature Houdini cocktail from the mixologists at Central Standard Distillery, and break out of our specially curated escape room created by Breakout Games. Experience guided tours of Inescapable including information on Houdini’s youth spent in Wisconsin. Tickets and Registration.

Other upcoming events will include a Houdini Halloween Seance on October 31; a lecture on "Houdini and the Cult of Celebrity" by Rick Popp on December 5; and a Christmas Day screening of Houdini (1953). The museum is also hosting a special Houdini "ESCAPE ROOM CHALLENGE" by Breakout Games.

Visit the Jewish Museum Milwaukee's official website or Facebook for more events and details.

Related:

• Houdini and I call "Action" at The Breman Museum
• Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini

Last weekend to see 'Inescapable' in Atlanta

This is the last weekend to see Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini at The Breman Museum in Atlanta. The exhibition closes Sunday, August 18.

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini was created by magician David London and the Jewish Museum of Maryland. The exhibition will travel next to the Jewish Museum Milwaukee where it opens September 26, 2019.

Related:

• Houdini and I call "Action" at The Breman Museum
• Houdini arrives in Atlanta today
• Houdini in Atlanta

'Inescapable' extends in Atlanta, next stop Milwaukee

Due to popular demand, the touring exhibition Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini will extend its stay at The Breman Museum in Atlanta by one week. It will now be on show until August 18, 2019.

The exhibition will then travel to the Jewish Museum Milwaukee where it opens September 27, 2019. It will be on display there until January 5, 2020. A special preview will be held on September 26.

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini was created by magician David London and the Jewish Museum of Maryland.

Related:

• Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini
• Discovering Houdini's Baltimore
• Houdini and I call "Action" at The Breman Museum

'Pulling Back the Veil in Search of Cecelia' at The Breman Museum

Today marks the anniversary of Houdini's mother's death in 1913. So this seems like the right day to share that Rolando Santos will be presenting a lecture called "Harry Houdini: Pulling Back the Veil in Search of Cecelia" on July 28 at the The Breman Museum in Atlanta. This is the final lecture of their Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini programing.

Click here for more details.

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini has been extended through August 18. For more information visit the Breman Museum's website, Facebook or Twitter.

Related:

• Death in Asbury Park
• Mama's death and the birth of a myth
• The Mama message

Houdini and I call "Action" at The Breman Museum

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of giving a lecture about "Houdini in Early Cinema" at The Breman Museum in Atlanta, Georgia. My talk was part of their Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini programing.

I'm happy to report that it was well attended and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I know I did! The staff at The Bremam were fantastically friendly. Their museum is a beautiful and even sacred space with powerful exhibits on Jewish life and the Holocaust. It was a great honor to have been invited to speak here. Oh, and I ran into a familiar face in the lobby! (True size of us both.)

This was a quick trip so I didn't have time to seek out the former sites of the Hotel Ansley or the Forsyth Theater where Houdini performed in 1912 and 1915. But I was able to swing by The Wimbish House which was just a short walk from my hotel. Houdini gave his Spiritualism lecture here on March 13, 1924. The Wimbish House still stands as does its adjoining auditorium (both pictured below). The Atlanta Woman's Club is also still active. I've been in touch and I'm hoping they might have some archival material related to Houdini's historic visit. Stay tuned.

I arrived at The Breman early and was given the VIP treatment by the wonderful staff. Whenever I do one of these talks, I'm always a little nervous about whether my presentation will play properly with their own a/v system. But I was in the good hands of Dwayne McBride, and setup proved to be a snap. Dwayne is from Flatbush and he was excited to hear that Houdini lived in Flatbush for a time. (Dwayne, if you're reading this, here's that link.)

I then had time to enjoy the museum and Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini. This is the touring exhibition created by David London which opened last year in Baltimore. The Breman has a special section devoted specifically to Houdini in Atlanta, with genuine artifacts from the Hotel Ansley and Forsyth Theater. They've also added a display related to Houdini's use of mass media. I was told the exhibit has been enormously popular, as has all their special programing.

It was now time for my talk. This time I wasn't showing a Houdini movie, so I expanded it to a full hour with more clips, including the unseen overboard box escape from Terror Island. After my talk we had a Q&A with some great questions (always my favorite part). A nice surprise was meeting author James Mahaffey, who told me he had uncovered some new details about Houdini in Atlanta that appear in his book, Atomic Adventures. So that's one to get!

Thanks to everyone at The Breman for inviting me to speak and making this trip possible. And to all of you who came out to hear the talk.

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini has been extended through August 18, 2019. For more information visit The Breman Museum's website, Facebook or Twitter.

Related:

• Houdini in Atlanta
• Houdini arrives in Atlanta today
• 'Houdini in Early Cinema' at The Breman Museum

Houdini in Atlanta

This weekend I'm headed to Atlanta to give a talk on "Houdini in Early Cinema" at The Breman Museum as part of their Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini programing. My talk is on Sunday, July 14, at 2:00pm and is free with general admission. Click for details.

This will be a quick trip, so I don't think I will have time to do any Houdini archeology in the city. But here are some of the sites associated with Houdini in Atlanta.

(Atlanta Time Machine.)

The Forsyth Theater stood at the northwest corner of Forsyth and Luckie Streets. Houdini first appeared here during the week of January 1-7, 1912. He returned April 19-25, 1915. During his 1915 engagement he was challenge by the Red Rock company to escape a packing case. It was also reported that he escaped from his "tank" (likely the Milk Can) after it had been filled with Coca Cola. Unfortunately, the Forsyth and the building that housed it is now long gone.

In January 1920 Houdini’s The Grim Game played for a week at the Strand Theater located at 56-58 Peachtree Street (not be be confused with the later Strand Theater on Decatur Street). Terror Island also played here in May 1920. The theater closed in 1923.

(Cinema Treasures)

Houdini himself returned on March 13, 1924 to give his spiritualism lecture, "Can the Living Communicate with the Dead?", at the Woman's Club auditorium at Wimbish House. Happily, Wimbish House still stands and is still home to the Atlanta Women's Club.

During this 1924 trip Houdini stayed at the Hotel Ansley, which stood on the south side of Williams Street between Forsyth and Fairlie. It later became the Dinkler Plaza Hotel. It was razed in 1972.

As far as I know, Houdini never performed an outdoor stunt in Atlanta, although I've not given up hope that one may turn up. Possibly the good folks at The Breman have uncovered something?

Unless some major Houdini news breaks, I won't be updating the blog until my return. Hope to see some of you in Atlanta!

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini runs through August 11. For more information visit the Breman Museum's website, Facebook or Twitter.

Thanks to to Perry Reed for providing info on the Strand Theater.

UPDATE: Houdini and I call "Action" at The Breman Museum.

Related:

• Houdini arrives in Atlanta today
• Houdini plays Atlanta in 1912...and 2019!
• 'Houdini in Early Cinema' at The Breman Museum

'Houdini in Early Cinema' at The Breman Museum

On July 14th I will be at The Breman Museum in Atlanta giving a talk on "Houdini in Early Cinema". This is part of their Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini programing. My talk starts at 2:00PM and is free with museum admission. Hope to see you there!

Click here for more details.

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini runs through August 11. For more information visit the Breman Museum's website, Facebook or Twitter.

Related:

• Houdini arrives in Atlanta today
• 'Inescapable' opening day event at The Breman
• Houdini plays Atlanta in 1912...and 2019!

'Magic and Theatre in the Time of Houdini' at The Breman Museum, May 19

The Breman Museum in Atlanta will host a special lecture by actor, author, and magician Max Howard about "Magic and Theatre in the Time of Houdini" on May 19 at 2:00pm. This is part of their Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini programing.

Click here for more details.

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini runs through August 11. For more information visit the Breman Museum's website, Facebook or Twitter.  I will giving a talk on Houdini in Early Cinema on July 14 at 2:00 PM.

Related:

• Houdini arrives in Atlanta today
• 'Inescapable' opening day event at The Breman
• Houdini plays Atlanta in 1912...and 2019!

Houdini arrives in Atlanta today

Today sees the opening of Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini at The Breman Museum in Atlanta Georgia. The exhibition will be on show until August 11.

Harry Houdini wasn’t born. He was invented.

The world’s most famous magician began life as Erik Weisz, the son of a Hungarian rabbi. In 1878 immigration to the U.S. transformed Erik Weisz into Ehrich Weiss. It was the first of many transformations for the man who would become the first international superstar.

Inescapable, curated by performer and magician David London, tells the story of how Ehrich Weiss became Harry Houdini and investigates the technologies, marketing prowess and entertainment trends that transformed him into a superstar. On one level, the exhibit is pure fun – incorporating magic, escapes, seances, films, rare artifacts and hands-on illusions. On a deeper level, the exhibit pulls back the curtain, revealing the story of the man behind the image.​

The museum has announced their lineup of related events, including my own talk on Houdini in Early Cinema on July 14 at 2:00 PM. Hope to see you there!

For more details on Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini visit the Breman Museum website or follow them at Facebook and Twitter.

UPDATE: 'Inescapable' extended in Atlanta, next stop Milwaukee.

Related:

• 'Inescapable' opening day event at The Breman
• Houdini plays Atlanta in 1912...and 2019!

'Inescapable' opening day event at The Breman

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini opens this Sunday, April 14, at The Breman Museum in Atlanta with a special opening day event. Details below:

Opening Event: Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini
Apr 14 2019 | 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Curator and Magician David London will share Insights and observations from the process of developing the exhibition, as he traveled around the country searching for keys to Houdini's passion, vision, and spirit. He will highlight aspects of the Houdini story, with a focus on Houdini's early life and Jewish heritage. Various themes of the exhibition will be punctuated with magic tricks from David's performance "Houdini's Trunk." As a special treat, David will give a personal tour, revealing hidden gems and stories that lie just below the surface. 

Non-Members
2 PM - 5 PM - Exhibition open to the public
2 PM - 3:15 PM - Lecture by David London, curator and magician.
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - Public Tour 

Members
10 AM - 2 PM - Members Preview
12 PM - 1 PM - Members Tour
1 PM - 2 PM - Members Reception
2 PM - 3:15 PM - Lecture by David London, curator and magician. 

Not a member? Join today!

The museum has also announced their lineup of related events, including my own talk on Houdini in Early Cinema on July 14 at 2:00 PM.

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini will run April 14 to August 11. For more details visit Breman Museum website or follow them at Facebook and Twitter.

It's beginning to look a lot like #Houdini! 🎩 Our exhibition team is hard at work putting together a magical exhibition at The Breman. Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini opens on Sunday, April 14. To find out more, visit: https://t.co/kwuDopFdCx pic.twitter.com/EWgLlu7XEU

— The Breman Museum (@BremanMuseum) April 5, 2019

Related:

• Houdini plays Atlanta in 1912...and 2019!

Jewish Museum of Maryland's farewell to Houdini

We are in the final days of Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini at the Jewish Museum of Maryland in Baltimore. The museum is saying goodbye to the exhibition with a special event on Sunday and a generous offer on Monday.

A Fantastical Farewell to Houdini
Sunday, January 20, 2019 at 1pm
Performer: Brian Curry, magician
Get Tickets Now

Magician Brian Curry is as sharp as the tack he put on your chair. Part Magician, part mentalist, and part conman, Brian will leave you baffled. Like Houdini himself, Brian blurs the line between hype, skill and deception. Come see what has been called “The World’s Most Difficult Card Trick”, along with the Mind Reading Fortune Cookie in this fun farewell performance to our beloved Houdini exhibit, Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini. 

If you arrive at the museum at 11:30am on Sunday, you'll be able to enjoy a special tour of the Houdini exhibition conducted by curator David London.

On Monday, January 21, the last day of the exhibition, the museum will offer FREE admission to all federal employees and their families (2 adults & children under 18). You'll just need to show a valid, government-issued ID at the welcome desk to take advantage of the free admission.

Visit the JMM website for more information.

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini will travel next to The Breman Museum in Atlanta, Georgia, opening April 14, 2019.

Related:

• Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini
• Discovering Houdini's Baltimore
• Houdini plays Atlanta in 1912...and 2019!

Houdini plays Atlanta in 1912...and 2019!

On New Year's Day 1912 Houdini opened at the Forsyth Theater in Atlanta, Georgia. It was his first appearance in Atlanta and one of his rare appearances in the deep South. Below is an ad for his "New Year's Big Show" from The Atlanta Constitution.

.

The exciting news is this year Houdini will return to Atlanta! That's because the popular exhibition Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini will appear at The Breman Museum in Atlanta, April 14 to August 11, 2019.

You can find more details at the Breman Museum website, Facebook and Twitter. I will also keep us updated with all the related programs and events.

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini was created by magician David London and the Jewish Museum of Maryland. This Monday (January 21) will be the last day to see it in Baltimore before it closes in preparation for its move to Atlanta.

Related:

• Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini
• Discovering Houdini's Baltimore

Joe Notaro finds Houdini on the East Coast

Recently our friend Joe Notaro of Harry Houdini Circumstantial Evidence took a trip to the East Coast where he attended the Official Houdini Seance, explored Houdini sites, and got to visit some the world's finest Houdini and magic collections. Joe has chronicled his trip in five terrific posts with lots of photos. Click each link below to go, and enjoy the trip!

Day 1: Official Houdini Séance Experience
Day 2: George Goebel
Day 3: Houdini Museum NY, Kevin Connolly, 278, and The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini
Day 4: Ken Trombly
Day 5: Houdini in Baltimore, JMM Exhibition, Houdini in Hollywood and The Grim Game

Christmas Day screening the Houdini Miniseries at the Jewish Museum of Maryland

The Jewish Museum of Maryland will screen the 2014 Houdini Miniseries on Christmas Day as part of their Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini exhibition programing.

Houdini: The Mini-Series
December 25 @ 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Tickets to this program include Museum admission. 

Buy Now! (Members: Reserve Your Seats!) 

Follow the man behind the magic as he finds fame, engages in espionage, battles spiritualists and encounters the greatest names of the era, from U.S. presidents to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Grigori Rasputin. Houdini stars Adrien Brody, Kristen Connolly, and Evan Jones.

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini runs through January 21, 2019. For more information visit the JMM website.

Related:

• REVIEW: History gets a C- in Houdini
• Making the Houdini Miniseries
• Discovering Houdini's Baltimore

'Houdini Comes Alive!' with David London, Dec. 9

Magician David London, who curated the spectacular Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini exhibition at The Jewish Museum of Maryland, will be giving a special "living history performance" at the JMM on December 9th as part of Baltimore's Downtown Dollar Day. Details below.

Houdini Comes Alive!
Downtown Dollar Day
Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 2:00pm
Performance by David London 

Admission: $1
Get Tickets Now! (JMM Members, Reserve Your Seats) 

Harry Houdini wasn’t born – he was invented. 

The world’s most famous magician began life as Erik Weisz, the son of a Hungarian rabbi. In 1878 immigration to the U.S. transformed Erik Weisz into Ehrich Weiss. It was the first of many transformations for the man who would become the first international superstar. 

This engaging and entertaining living history performance tells the story of how Ehrich Weiss became Harry Houdini and investigates the technologies, marketing prowess and entertainment trends that transformed him into a superstar.

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini runs through January 21, 2019. For more information and a full list of events visit the JMM website.

Related:

• Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini
• Discovering Houdini's Baltimore