LINK: Brad Ricca takes readers on a magical, historical mystery tour

The Land has a nice profile today of author Brad Ricca and his new book, Lincoln's Ghost: Houdini's War on Spiritualism and the Dark Conspiracy Against the American Presidency. Click the headline or image below to have a read.

Tomorrow, March 19, Brad will be doing a reading and signing of the book at the Coventry Library in Cleveland. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.

You can purchase Lincoln's Ghost: Houdini's War on Spiritualism and the Dark Conspiracy Against the American Presidency at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

Related:

• Lincoln's Ghost by Brad Ricca released today
• Houdini Lincoln cover story in Skeptical Inquirer
• Guest blog: Mr. Houdini Goes to Washington, Part I

Lincoln's Ghost by Brad Ricca released today

Today sees the release of Lincoln's Ghost: Houdini's War on Spiritualism and the Dark Conspiracy Against the American Presidency by Brad Ricca. I don't have the book in hand yet, but I'm looking forward to reading this one!

The incredible untold story of how the world's greatest magician, Harry Houdini, waged war upon Spiritualism, uncovering unknown magic, political conspiracies, and surprising secrets along the way.

You won’t live forever, Houdini. You’ve got to DIE. I put a curse on you . . .

During a séance in 1924, Houdini―the greatest entertainer in the world―was cursed by a vengeful spirit, who said his days were numbered. Houdini laughed. He believed talking to the dead was impossible. By 1926, Houdini was dead.

This is the untold story of the last performance of Harry Houdini, who―inspired by his hero Abraham Lincoln―devotes himself full-time to a personal crusade against Spiritualism, the practice of speaking to the dead. In a spellbinding journey across Jazz Age America, haunted by the aftermath of the Great War and a deadly pandemic, Houdini encounters modern-day haunted houses, warlocks, and monsters, and uncovers a shocking conspiracy that stretches all the way to the American presidency―and to the House of Houdini itself.

In a compelling dual-timeline narrative alternating between Houdini’s 1926 dramatic courtroom testimony before Congress and the last otherworldly cases he takes on that lead him there, Lincoln's Ghost is a powerful examination of deception, love, politics, the afterlife, and the very nature of magic itself.

Purchase Lincoln's Ghost: Houdini's War on Spiritualism and the Dark Conspiracy Against the American Presidency at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (UK release date Nov 17).

Related:

• Houdini Lincoln cover story in Skeptical Inquirer
• Guest blog: Mr. Houdini Goes to Washington, Part I
• Margery's Curse

Houdini Lincoln cover story in Skeptical Inquirer

The March/April 2025 issue of Skeptical Inquirer magazine has a cover story by Jason Emerson about how spiritualists tried to claim President Lincoln as a believer and Houdini's role in debunking that. This one is a must buy just for the awesome cover art!

You can read or listen to the article HERE, or pick up a print edition in stores. To subscribe visit the Skeptical Inquirer website.

I suspect this subject will be covered in greater detail in the upcoming book, Lincoln's Ghost: Houdini's War on Spiritualism and the Dark Conspiracy Against the American Presidency by Brad Ricca. You can pre-order that book now on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. Release date is October 28.

Related:

• Houdini, Rose, and Randi in Skeptical Inquirer
• Skeptical Inquirer looks at Houdini and Lovecraft
• Skeptical Inquirer discovers Houdini's Girl Detective

Houdini's last backstage visitor

I recently discovered an account of Houdini's last show from a man who claims to have been the only person allowed to see Houdini backstage after the performance. There are wild connections here to Henry Ford, the Lincoln assassination, and a mummy! I've shared this as a History Exclusive on my Patreon. Click below to go backstage.

Related:

• Backstage with Mr. Houdini
• Houdini takes the stage for the last time
• David Glass remembers Houdini

The two Harrys

Mark Cannon has published a new book about magician and Civil War veteran Harry Cooke called Lincoln's Scout: The Diary of Horatio Cooke Soldier, Spy, Escape Artist. 

Houdini greatly admired Cooke and the two men became friends in 1919. The book covers their friendship and includes images of Houdini's letters to Cooke, Cooke's inscribed copy of A Magician Among the Spirits, Cooke's presentation padlock and case constructed for Houdini, photos of Houdini and Cooke together at Cooke's home in Los Angeles and more.

You can purchase Lincoln's Scout: The Diary of Horatio Cooke Soldier, Spy, Escape Artist at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

Houdini and Cooke pic from The Magic Detective.

Related:

• Look who's hiding in this Lincoln mag
• LINK: Houdini and Lincoln

Houdini and the art of faking photos

Here's a video by Dr. Joe Schwarcz using Houdini (and Abe Lincoln) to illustrate the ease and origins of fake photography. Enjoy.

Below are links to a few more Houdini inspired YouTube videos. All the third party videos I share here can also be found in the "Linked Videos" playlist at the WILD ABOUT HARRY YouTube Channel.

Related:

• Ashley Drew discovers Houdini in Memphis
• Houdini and the Mandela Effect
• The Ghost of Harry Houdini

Mystifier, Third Quarter 1996

Continuing my issue by issue look back at the Mystifier, the newsletter of the Houdini Historical Center that ran from 1991-2003.

The Third Quarter 1996 Mystifier begins with a highly critical assessment of the available Houdini biographies for children by HHC curator Benjamin Filene.

I count 14 biographies of Houdini for young readers, a number that would make many a former president green with envy. The sheer quantity of these volumes, however, cannot compensate for their serious flaws. With only a few exceptions, these works are hopelessly sensationalized. They distort the historical record and, worse, obscure Houdini's true legacy.

Filene's objections focus on the mythology that many of the biographies embrace, such as the "pies in the cupboard" and "handcuffed convict" episodes from Houdini's childhood. He is hardest on Houdini: Master of Escape (1973) by Lee Kendall, The Great Escaper (1979) by David Warren, and Houdini (1979) by John Norwood Fago. Alternatively, Filene recommends The Importance of Harry Houdini (1995) by Adam Woog as presenting "a far more balanced and nuanced depiction of Houdini's life."

The newsletter continues with a look at passages in the 1960 biography, The Lincoln Collector: The Story of Oliver R. Barrett's Great Private Collection by Carl Sanberg. Barrett was friends with the Houdinis and the book contains an excerpt from a letter written to him by Bess not long after Harry's death:

I must write to you about my beloved, I just cannot rest, he was so proud of his friendship with you, and I know you truly mourn with me. I am a mere shadow, weigh scarcely eighty-five pounds, have been confined to my bed six weeks now, long before my sweetheart went away, yet I live and he in his glorious strength died. His brilliant clear mind never left him for a moment.

An update on the Houdini gravesite repair fund follows with news that the repairs will be completed by Fall. HHC Director Steven M. Wilson writes about "Houdini as Legend", stating: "What the HHC has done, and will continue to do, is to interpret Harry Houdini and his time." The center announces that The Man From Beyond will be screened on Halloween to mark the 70th anniversary of Houdini's death. The Museum Shop reports that a facsimile reprint of Houdini's Margery pamphlet ("a neat little book") is now available for $4.50.

Sid Radner begins his "Backstage" column talking about his recent trip to Italy where he was hosted by magician Silvan. He reveals that Kenneth Silverman's new book will be called Houdini!!! The Career of Ehrich Weiss, and that Ken will be attending the Yankee Gathering in Fall. Sid also announces that Gene Gamache's new documentary, Houdini People Came to See Him Die, is available on VHS, and that it will air on the Discovery Channel in 1997 (in a shortened version). Finally, he announces that the Official Houdini Seance will be held at the Players Club of New York that year.

The newsletter concludes with an article revealing plans for a special online conference to be hosted on AOL on Halloween called "Houdini Escapes the 20th Century" with HHC curator Benjamin Filene. Should we consider this Houdini's very first first foray on the internet?

Mystifier

Volume 6, Number 3

Third Quarter, 1996

6 pages

Contents:

A Review of Houdini in Children's Literature
From the Center's Director
Halloween at HHC
Museum Shop
Bess' Letter Found in Memoirs
Houdini Gravesite Repairs Update

Backstage with Sid Radner
'Catch' Houdini on the Net

PREVIOUS ISSUE | INDEX | NEXT ISSUE

Related:

• An alternate gateway (Houdini: Master of Escape)
• Gene Gamache 'Houdini' doc arrives on DVD
• Margery Files: Keepsakes

LINK: Harry Houdini and Abraham Lincoln

The Weekly View has an excellent article by Al Hunter about Houdini's interest in Abraham Lincoln. This is from last year, but I only just discovered it now. It's well researched and a good read, so click the headline above and enjoy.

Related:

• Houdini and the Presidents
• Look who's hiding in this Lincoln mag
• LINK: Houdini and Lincoln (Magic Detective)

Ragtime at Ford's Theatre through May 20

Ragtime the Musical is now playing through May 20 at Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C. In this production Houdini is played by Christopher Mueller.

Ford's Theater is, of course, the site of the Abraham Lincoln assassination. As Houdini was a great admirer of the 16th president, this seems like an especially appropriate place to see this production.

For show dates and ticket information visit the Ford's Theatre website.

Related:

• Houdini on the covers of Ragtime
• E.L. Doctorow dies at 84
• LINK: Houdini and Lincoln

New book examines Houdini (1953)

The new book Invented Lives, Imagined Communities: The Biopic and American National Identity professes to be the first full-length examination of American movie biopics. Among the biopics put under the microscope is the Tony Curtis classic Houdini (1953) in an essay by Murray Pomerance called "Empty Words: Houdini and Houdini."

The essay is highly academic and this book is probably published for use as a college textbook, which explains the inflated price of $90. However, you can read a good chunk of the Houdini essay via Amazon's preview feature for free.

Some of the other films examined are: Patton, The Great White Hope, Ed Wood, Milk, and Steven Spielberg's Lincoln.

Invented Lives, Imagined Communities: The Biopic and American National Identity is available as a hardcover and Kindle eBook on Amazon.com.

Related:

• HOUDINI (1953)
• Houdini (1953) makes list of 10 most inaccurate biopics

Were these handcuffs left behind by Houdini?

McSorley's Old Ale House in New York's East Village has what it claims are a pair of handcuffs locked to a bar rail by Houdini himself. The cuffs are a popular attraction and are even mentioned on McSorley's wikipedia page. But could these really have been left behind by Houdini?

Established in 1854, McSorley's is New York’s oldest continuously operated saloon. So it was around in Houdini's time. And even though Houdini didn't drink alcohol, he still could have found himself in McSorley's for a meeting. Also, Abraham Lincoln, a great hero of Houdini's, was said to have been a customer, so Houdini might have been drawn to the tavern for that reason alone and, yes, felt a need to leave behind his own historical marker.

But what about the handcuffs themselves? At initial glance, they do not strike one as being the type of handcuffs associated with Houdini. They appear too modern. Here's what handcuff expert Joe Fox (my recent lecture partner) has to say on that matter:

"The cuffs pictured ARE from Houdini’s time-period (approx. 1915+)…they are virtually of identical design of today’s modern police handcuff.

However, no photo has ever surfaced of Houdini wearing or holding, or mentioning these new type of "swing-through" handcuffs (meaning that these handcuff can be slapped around the wrist & they will automatically lock).

When these handcuffs were marketed in 1914 -1915, they literally made every handcuff up to that time obsolete – including every handcuff that Houdini was ever shown with. But again, they ARE of his time-period.

They are of this type: Peerless Handcuff Co. Springfield, Mass. (still in business today)."

So the bar was around in Houdini's time, the cuffs are of the correct period, and McSorley's seems to have a good handle on its history (it's said no piece of memorabilia has been removed from the walls since 1910). So while we can't really prove the legend, I'm thinking we can trust it, and having a pint (or several) at McSorley's might now be a required part of any Houdini tour of New York.

Cheers!

McSorley's Bar, 1912 painting by John French Sloan.

McSorley's today.

Thanks to Joe Fox for the info and pics. McSorley's is located at 15 East 7th Street in NYC.

UPDATE: Thanks to reader Bruce Thomson, here's a pic of Houdini using Peerless swing-through cuffs!

UPDATE: Important update today from the great Fred Pitella. Looks like these cuffs are not the originals. Check out: McSorley's Houdini handcuffs update.

Related:

• LINK: "I'm going to piss where Houdini pissed."
• Stay happy at Houdini's all day long
• LINK: Houdini and Lincoln

Guest blog: Mr. Houdini Goes to Washington, Part III

Today we have the conclusion of Neil McNally's fascinating examination of Houdini's testimony before Congress in 1926. Will Houdini triumph over the "rabid" mediums of Washington D.C.?

Act Three: Fighting the Good Fight...

As we return to the proceedings, it’s worth noting that Houdini had been through a lot throughout these hearings. While he may have been accustomed to a well-deserved red carpet being extended to him before, what he faced here was a room of cold and apathetic Congressional Representatives. Many of them it seemed were unimpressed by his over thirty years of experience and expertise in magic, sleight of hand, and, most importantly, spiritualism.

However, Harry Houdini had dealt with much, much worse in his long career. So, when the hearings adjourned in May of 1926 he had brought with him a special weapon. It was a weapon that had been by his side for many years, and one that he truthfully valued beyond any pick, lock, or key. Her name was Beatrice Rahner, but in the annals of magic history she was known simply as Bess.

Houdini: (to the Representatives) My religion and my belief in the Almighty have been assailed. I stated yesterday that I do believe in the Almighty. I have always believed and I will always believe. I am a Mason, and you must believe in God to be a Mason. My character has been assailed. I would like to have as witness here Mrs. Houdini.

(Laughter from the audience)

Step this way Mrs. Houdini. One of the witnesses said I was a brute and that I was vile and I was crazy. Won’t you step this way? I want the chairman to see you. I will have been married on June 22nd, 32 years to this girl…There are no medals and no ribbons on me, but when a girl will stick to a man for 32 years as she did and when she will starve with me and work with me through thick and thin, it is a pretty good recommendation. Outside of my great mother, Mrs. Houdini has been my greatest friend. (To Bess) Have I shown traces of being crazy, unless it was about you?

(More laughter from the audience)

Bess: No
Houdini: Am I brutal to you or vile?
Bess: No
Houdini: Am I good boy?
Bess: Yes.
Houdini: Thank you Mrs. Houdini.

(The audience applauds)

To say this exchange was not a calculated move on Houdini’s part is a vast understatement. With three simple words, Bess Houdini continued a long tradition of assisting her husband in times of dire need. While in this particular case their conversation was firmly tongue and cheek, it gives readers an endearing glimpse of how much Houdini loved and respected his wife. To hear him use the words “best friend” to describe her is a prime example of some of the many unique treasures this transcript holds.

Considering that the hearings were being held in Washington D.C., it’s ironic that the testimony eventually turned to one of the country’s founding fathers, Abraham Lincoln. As Lincoln was long rumored to have been interested in spiritualism, Houdini addresses the subject after Jane Coates let it cryptically slip earlier that some of D.C.’s most influential politicians, along with President Warren G. Harding himself, weren’t adverse to visiting mediums for some “otherworldly” advice.

Henry R. Rathbone (Illinois): Mr. Houdini, just a question or two, if you please. The question about Abraham Lincoln and his beliefs is brought up. I do not think it’s material to this bill, but you say you have investigated it and you know he was not a spiritualist.
Houdini: His son says so. I will read it if you wish (A letter from Robert Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s last surviving son, to Houdini). It is written to me and dated September 28, 1925. The importance of that is that they (the spiritualists) always use a great man’s name to get converts.
Rathbone: I think you will all agree who know about Abraham Lincoln that he was not a spiritualist as spiritualism is understood. Abraham Lincoln, if the authorities are correct at all, did believe and seek a number of times in his life, and spoke on the morning of his last day, of having a premonition of coming death. Is it your understanding that that has any relation to spiritualism?
Houdini: I believe in premonition absolutely, but, not in spiritualism…I believe in the subconscious mind, in the hereafter, in the Almighty God. But, I do not believe that the disembodied spirit can come back and do the things that the mediums claim that they can do…I have no malice against any mediums. They say I am quarrelling with their religion but that is their smoke screen…The money they charge means nothing. It is only the opening wedge to get fortunes, to get hold of some old man or lady and bring back (their) beloved dead.

It’s obvious from the preceding paragraph that while he denied it, Houdini rightfully did hold malice towards the spiritualist campaign and their actions against the innocent. In fact, as the hearing neared its end Houdini’s patience was tested when a line of bizarre, rapid, and suspicious questioning was directed at him by William C. Hammer of North Carolina.

Hammer: The original Houdini was a Hindu was he not?
Houdini: No.
Hammer: You are Houdini the second?
Houdini: No.
Hammer: You are the original Houdini?
Houdini: No, the original Houdini was a French clockmaker
Hammer: I thought he lived in Allahabab.
Houdini: Are you joking?
Hammer: No sir. I am in earnest.
Houdini: His name was (Robert) Houdin. My name is Houdini….
Hammer: You said the other day that you were the president of the Magician’s Association of America.
Houdini: Society of American Magicians….
Hammer: Is it a secret organization?
Houdini: No, only regarding our exploits…
Hammer: Is your father living?
Houdini: No, has this anything do with this bill?...I know you are asking spiritualistic questions and I want to let you know I know it.
Hammer: It is contended that you are a medium and do not know it. These people really believe that you have divine power and that you won’t admit it. That is the reason I am asking you these questions.
Houdini: Pardon me.
Hammer: Have you ever been in Allahabab?

The questioning continues on in a similar circuitous nature until Houdini reaches the limit of what even he can take.

Houdini: You did not get those (questions) out of the air! Why are you asking me those peculiar, irrelevant questions? They haven’t anything to do with the bill and are not the kind of questions that a man in your position would ask. They were given to you by some rabid medium and I am surprised you should ask me (them)…You did not get them out of your head.
Hammer: That is all right as to where I got them, but I did not get them from any spiritualist and I did not get them from any divine power either…

And in the End…

As one turns the pages of the transcript, it’s all hard to know where it will all lead. As Houdini sat there about to present his closing statements to the assembled parties he had to have wondered the very same thing. However, as the transcript shows even without his standard arsenal of tricks Houdini was always true to himself and the moral bigger picture at hand.

Houdini: Mr. Chairman, I think there has been enough said. In closing my support for the bill I wish to say that there are 500,000 vote less people here in the District of Columbia. The law as presented there positively does not interfere with anyone’s religious beliefs. They do put jokers in laws the way they have in a number of states, and there is one that I would like to warn the committee against. When I say warn I want to amend that…Now here is the joker in the law placed in there by the spiritualistic associations:

Provided: That the provisions of this act shall not be construed to include, prohibit, or interfere with the exercise of the spiritual functions or office of any priest, minister, or accredited representative of any religion. And Provided Further: That the provisions of this act shall not be construed to include or refer to the practice of the belief known as spiritualism or to any attempt at communication with the spirit world by or through these occult mediums.

I claim Mr. Chairman, and ladies and gentlemen, that this absolutely gives the spiritualist a 100% power to tell fortunes and do everything. One counteracts the other.

What eventually became of the bill? Had spiritualism had its day in the sun? Was Houdini, as usual, victorious in the face of adversity? Sadly, not this time. For reasons still speculated on today, Bill H.R. 8989 did not pass into law and stands as one Houdini’s few failures. Perhaps, as it seemed, politicians and mediums did make likely bedfellows after all.

Regardless of the outcome, Houdini simply and matter- of-factly stated that he had “performed a public service by exposing fraudulent mediums who prayed on the vulnerable, gullible, and bereaved.” In a modern age where fictional heroes light up our movies screens and comic books, it’s comforting to know that once upon a time there was a real flesh and blood hero who used his experience in dime museums, theaters, and séance parlors to benefit society’s greater good. For these reasons alone, it’s hard not to see what made “The Great Houdini” truly great!

Houdini at the White House.

Please join me in thanking Neil McNally for this terrific three part series. And be sure to visit Neil's website at neilmcnallywriter.com to see his other work.

This weekend I'll continue the theme of Houdini in Washington D.C. with a look back at his very first visit in January 1906 and his most spectacular jail escape.

Related:

• Guest blog: Mr. Houdini Goes to Washington, Part I
• Guest blog: Mr. Houdini Goes to Washington, Part II
• Read Houdini's D.C. hearing transcript

Houdini and the Presidents

In honor of this Presidents' Day, I thought I'd repost this original photo of Houdini and Theodore Roosevelt taken aboard the ocean liner Imperator on June 23, 1914.

It was aboard this "last boat out of Germany" (before the outbreak WWI) that Houdini would amaze the former President with a demonstration of Spirit Slates -- accurately pinpointing where Roosevelt had just spent his Christmas holiday. The next day it was said that Roosevelt took Houdini aside on deck and asked him, "man to man," if what he did was genuine Spiritualism.

"No, Colonel," Houdini is said to have answered. "It was just hocus pocus."

The above photo is from my own collection and is glued into an inscribed copy of The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin (those ink flecks are from Houdini's signature). I've seen other copies of Unmasking with this same photo glued inside. I'm not sure when Houdini did these or how many exist, but it makes for a nice presentation copy.

The original version of this photo (right) shows Houdini and Roosevelt standing amid a group of other passengers. Houdini had the other men cropped out. This wouldn't be the only controversy related to this photo, as David Saltman explored at The Houdini File.

In his book Shots At Sea, Tom Lalicki had some fun with Houdini and Roosevelt's ocean-bound adventures, although he set his action aboard the Lusitania and worked in his fictional young hero Nate Fuller. In 2011 a remarkable artifact from this voyage sold on eBay.

While fiercely patriotic, Houdini was largely apolitical. He didn't belong to any political party and was said to have voted only once in his life for Warren G. Harding in 1920. In 1914 he met with President Woodrow Wilson, who told the magician: "Sir, I envy you your ability of escaping from tight places. Sometimes I wish I were able to do the same."

Of course, Houdini was also photographed with his favorite President, Abraham Lincoln...via the spirit world!

Related:

• Postcard signed by Houdini and T.R.
• Houdini's toughest audience
• LINK: The Man Who Hated Houdini

Look who's hiding in this Lincoln mag

Here's one that might have slipped past you Houdini periodical collectors last year. This special LINCOLN magazine was released by Hudson Publications as tie-in to Steven Spielberg's Lincoln biopic in 2012. On page 140 is an article titled "Lincoln's Ghost" which uses the famous spirit photograph of Houdini and the late President. The photo also appears in the Table of Contents.

Weirdly, the article calls Houdini "Harry Price (Houdini)". Price??? Well, it sorta sounds like Weiss...

Houdini called Abraham Lincoln "my hero of heroes." He owned a large collection of Lincoln material, including letters, and also material related to John Wilkes Booth and the Booth family. He also corresponded with the President's son, Robert Todd Lincoln. Houdini's Lincoln collection is now housed in the Library of Congress. The photo here is one of several the magician made.

Thanks to my friend and talented artist Ron Mondz for this find.

LINK: Houdini and Lincoln

There's a must read post today over at Carnegie: Magic Detective about Houdini and President Abraham Lincoln. Dean contends that Lincoln, not Robert-Houdin, was Houdini's true boyhood hero (and I concur).

Click on the headline to read the interesting history of the Master Mystifier and the Great Emancipator at Magic Detective.