Houdini table setting at OC Fair competition

You just never know when and where Houdini will show up! Here's a video Joe Notaro alerted me to from OC Fair Tables Competition 2026. It's queued up to play at the Houdini table. Enjoy.

Thank you, Joe.

Related:

• LINK: The Great Harry Houdini Museum
• Houdini (and friend) in paper mache 
• Surprise! It's a Houdini cake

Friday Flair

Here's a little something I just found for all you folks who need some extra Flair.

American Press, October 8, 1973.

Don't get caught without! Like this loser...

Related:

• Fred Pittella's Houdini key bookmark and lapel pin
• New Houdini Pin from Castle Thunder Graphics
• Even I wouldn't go this far

"Houdini" hits one billion streams

Just in case you're wondering how our friend Dua Lipa is doing these days, know that her single "Houdini" has just crossed one billion streams on Spotify, which I guess is a good thing! This is Dua's 13th song to hit that milestone.

Click below for more Dua Houdini mania.

Related:

• Dua Lipa drops by the Houdini Estate
• Dua Lipa has to explain Houdini was a real person
• Songs Called 'Houdini': Who Did it Best?

The Amazing Race asks, "What would Houdini do?"

Tonight's episode of The Amazing Race is called “What Would Houdini Do?” and sees racers traveling to Budapest, Hungary. What I find amazing is that this show is still on!

“What Would Houdini Do?” – Racers travel to illusionist Harry Houdini’s birthplace, Budapest, Hungary, where a puzzling Fast Forward puts one team to the test, while a horse drawn carriage has teams racing against the clock, on THE AMAZING RACE, Wednesday, Oct. 15 (9:30-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs).

This actually isn't the first time The Amazing Race has contained a nod to Houdini. Back in 2012, racers had to perform a suspended straitjacket escape as part of their challenges.

Thanks to Harry Houdini (real name) for the alert.

UPDATE: The show had a nice Houdini tie-in as David Merlini's The House of Houdini museum was one of the stops. You can temporarily stream this episode for free HERE.

Related:

• Houdini rushes The Amazing Race
• The Amazing Race promises Houdini-inspired finale
• Take a River Cruise to Houdini's Birthplace in 2026

Houdini and Knievel

It was inevitable that I would one day stumble on an article linking Houdini and Evel Knievel. That happened today with a Houston Post piece from September 22, 1974, headlined "Evel Knievel latest of many daredevils." The article isn't really about Houdini and Knievel per se. It's more a list of famous daredevils of the past. But for the photo, they go with the two who matter the most!

I actually think Houdini and Knievel were very different in how they approached their life and art. I think the only real parallel is how they gripped their respective eras and have maintained a timeless hold in the public's imagination. There have been many motorcycle daredevils since Knievel who have jumped further and performed stunts far more breathtaking. Even his own son Robbie Knievel had a spectacular career. Yet, ask someone to name a motorcycle daredevil, and the only name that comes up is Knievel. He pioneered his unique art and owns it to this day. 

We can say the same about Houdini. Over the years, numerous escape artists have performed Houdini's escapes faster, higher, and with greater danger. Yet when we think of an escape artist, the only name that survives is Houdini.

If only Houdini did motorcycle jumps!

Here's a kids' book from 1978 by Robert Kraske that collects tales of daredevils. (Kraske also penned the book, Harry Houdini: Master of Magic.) This book has a nice section on Houdini with some terrific illustrations by Ivan Powell. But the guy who made the cover was Knievel. Hey, he was a hero to kids at this time.

Interestingly, this cover shows Knievel jumping a tank of sharks. This was a stunt he planned to do on live television in 1977, but he cancelled the jump after a crash during a practice run. Jumping a shark would be left to another icon of the 1970s.

Wait, Fonzie also did the Milk Can escape. And Houdini once planned to battle a live shark, but canceled the stunt, just like Knievel did. This is starting to get a little too tangled! Let's move on.

Need more? You can read the full Houston Post piece as a "Scholar" member of my Patreon.

Related:

• Wild about Fonzie
• Houdini's Fort Worth street feats
• Houdini's bizarre plan to fight a shark

Houdini art fanzine from 1980

Here's an eBay oddity that caught my attention. This is a 1980 fanzine produced in Bristol, England, called HOUDINI. It's not a magazine about Houdini himself, but a fanzine devoted to music and theater art. However, the man himself is featured on the cover of issue #1, and there appears to be an article about "The Self-Liberator" by Jim Newman. Was there ever an issue #2, I wonder?

You can view the auction HERE.

The real Houdini was no stranger to Bristol, playing the city in 1904 (2x), 1909, 1913, 1914, and 1920.

District Free Press, March 13, 1909. 

Related:

• This post by Tom Interval is Dynamite
• Genii & Houdini: The lost decade
• Houdini Periodical Bibliography Revised 3rd Edition

Houdini's own Reckoning

For those seeing Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning this weekend, you might notice something familiar. The movie features an exciting biplane action sequence with the hero clinging to wings, much like Houdini's The Grim Game (1919).

There are severals similarities here. The biplane action is the climax of both movies. Both feature the hero chasing the villain in a second plane. There is a daring mid-air transfer. Both were filmed with real planes and stunts. Both are featured heavily in advertising, with the star promoted as having done the stunts himself. And both movies are released by Paramount.

In interviews, star Tom Cruise said he was inspired by watching "black and white footage of the very early days of wing-walking." We know Cruise almost played Houdini at one point, so maybe that footage included The Grim Game? It's still a great idea over 100 years later!

But the real question -- who did it better?

Related:

• 100 years ago over Santa Monica
• Tom Cruise was set to play Houdini in 2004
• Did Houdini do at least part of The Grim Game airplane stunt?

Buried beside Houdini?

Here's an odd one. The insurance company Choice Mutual asked more than 3,100 people if they could be buried next to any celebrity, who would they choose. Houdini came in at #43 between Robert F. Kennedy and Bette Davis. He was the only magician to make the list.

For the record, Houdini's mother is buried beside him in Machpelah Cemetery in Queens.

So who's the lucky stiff at #1? Elvis, of course!

You can dig into the entire list at Choice Mutual.

Related:

• Larry Weeks now "Houdini's Biggest Fan" for eternity
• Ashley Drew discovers Houdini in Memphis (update)
• The Houdini-Weiss exedra turns 100

Houdini vs. Houdini

Speaking of music videos, check out the nominations for the Best Music Video at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards. Yes, we have TWO videos called "Houdini" in competition. Houdini by Eminem and Houdini by Dua Lipa.

And the winner is...

Houdini by Ehrich Weiss.

Related:

• Songs Called 'Houdini': Who Did it Best?
• "Houdini" works magic for Eminem
• Dua Lipa has to explain Houdini was a real person

LINK: 2024: The Year Houdini Finally Returned

Let's bid goodbye to 2024 with this piece from Genius about Houdini's footprint in music this year. Notably, the two hit songs from Eminem and Dua Lipa, both called "Houdini." But my favorite part is excerpted below.

Em an Dua weren’t the only artists to give Houdini his flowers this year. According to Genius pageview data, ol’ Harry turns up in 43 songs released in 2024. His admirers range from country-rock hero HARDY to R&B great Kehlani to rapper French Montana. But—plot twist—it turns out 2024 isn’t the top year for Houdini mentions. Not by a long shot.

That distinction belongs to 2020, when Houdini magically appeared in 103 songs. Rounding out the Top 5 are 2018 and 2019 (86 mentions in each year), 2021 (76), and 2017 (64). Houdini might not have been able to holler at his wife from the great beyond, but insofar as he’s a pop-cultural legend whose name still resonates with the public a century after his death, he’s immortal.

Have a safe and Happy New Year.

Related:

• Dua Lipa drops by the Houdini Estate
• Eminem drops his own "Houdini"
• The Inner Me rocks Houdini

"Houdini" works magic for Eminem

Like Dua Lipa before him, conjuring the name Houdini has worked magic for Eminem, with his new single, "Houdini," topping the U.S. and UK charts. The following comes from Billboard.

The song’s impact has been similarly instantaneous, both in terms of its own consumption and in its lifting of associated cuts. “Houdini” has already racked up over 30 million official on-demand U.S. streams through Wednesday (June 3), according to early reports from Luminate, while also selling over 36,000 copies – both tremendous four-day numbers for any artist in 2024, let alone one twice the age of many contemporary superstars. The song has also elevated the rest of Eminem’s discography, with his non-”Houdini” catalog notching nearly 46 million streams combined over those four days, a 38% rise from the equivalent period the prior week. (A big part of that gain comes from 2002’s “Without Me,” whose iconic “Guess who’s back, back again” intro “Houdini” resurrects, and which is up 56% to over 3.1 million streams for those four days.)

Of course, Steve Miller is eating off the “Houdini” success as well: The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s eponymous band’s biggest Hot 100 hit more than doubled its streams over the same period, up 101% to 613,000. And yes, even that other recent hit of the same title is getting some spillover from the deluge: Dua Lipa’s “Houdini” was up 8% in streams over that period, to just over 2 million.

Alt Eminem-Houdini poster by Reddit user BenNice.

Related:

• Eminem drops his own "Houdini"
• Dua Lipa's 'Houdini' reaches #1
• Songs Called 'Houdini': Who Did it Best?

Eminem drops his own "Houdini"

Less than six months after Dua Lipa released her chart-topping single "Houdini," another major artist has released a single called "Houdini." This time, it's Eminem (aka Marshall Mathers aka Slim Shady). The rapper got an assist teasing the release from magician David Blaine on Instagram. The song's release on May 31st marked the biggest streaming debut of Eminem’s career.

The song only mentions Houdini's name in passing (it is the second time Houdini has been named-checked in an Eminem song), but I really like it. It's funny and a breath of fresh air. I also love the single's artwork above. 

You can watch the official music video below or in fullscreen on YouTube.

Related:

• Songs Called 'Houdini': Who Did it Best?
• Dua Lipa's 'Houdini' reaches #1
• "The lean make me feel like Houdini"

The Inner Me rocks Houdini

This morning's big music news is that Eminem will release a new single called "Houdini" this Friday. You may recall that Dua Lipa released her own "Houdini" single last year. While many musicians have released songs inspired by Houdini, Austrian Metal band THE INNER ME has released an entire album! You can listen to Rosabelle Believe on YouTube.

Learn more about The Inner Me at the band's official website www.theinnerme.at.

Thanks to David Stawa.

Related:

• Kate's Bess
• Dua Lipa unlocks 'Houdini'
• Foster The People release video for 'Houdini'

Serenading Houdini with "Houdini"

Here's one I knew I couldn't escape for long. A young woman sang Dua Lipa's hit single "Houdini" at Houdini's grave and posted it to TikTok. The video has gone viral with 2.7 million views. Wild 94.1 reports:

Some celebrities and even brands shared their thoughts in the comments of the video. “Congrats, you won Best Cover Of Houdini At His Grave In 2024,” said MTV. “Do we know if he’s actually in there or did he escape that too,” said the PureWow brand. The Girls Next Door costar Holly Madison even chimed in saying, “Best thing I’ve ever seen.”

Welcome to the TikTok generation, Harry!

Related:

• Dua Lipa drops by the Houdini Estate
• Dua Lipa has to explain Houdini was a real person
• Holly Houdini

Dua Lipa brings 'Houdini' to the Grammys

Our new friend Dua Lipa performed part of her hit song "Houdini" at 66th Grammy Awards last night. It was included in a three-song melody that opened the show. You can watch "Houdini" below.

UPDATE: Whoops. Looks like the video went Houdini!

Related:

• Dua Lipa's 'Houdini' reaches #1
• Dua Lipa drops by the Houdini Estate
• Dua Lipa has to explain Houdini was a real person

Meet Holmes & Houdini

Zenescope has released the first issue of their new series, Holmes & Houdini, by Honor Vincent, with artwork by Oliver Borges. The characters are descendants of their famous namesakes and part of the female-driven "Grimm Universe." Girls get it done!

Ancient secret societies! Mysterious advanced technology! Bloodlines tied to the end of the world! 

Few names hold such a high prestige and weight as those of Holmes and Houdini—Spencer Holmes and Erica Houdini have known that all too well, as they both have been carrying the burden of their infamous ancestors their whole lives, completely unaware of the other's existence. But when the death of a loved one sets these two on a collision course, they discover that their worlds are much more entwined and extraordinary than they ever imagined. 

Don’t miss the thrilling first issue!

The good folks at Zenescope sent me a review copy, which I greatly enjoyed. It's a good story, the artwork is the type of highly detailed comic art I like, and there are several mentions of (the real) Houdini. This first issue is focused largely on Erica Houdini (aka Erica Weiss), and, yes, she does magic and escapes. In fact, one of the alternate covers features Erica in escape action.

You can Purchase Holmes & Houdini #1 for the Kindle on Amazon.com. You can also buy directly from the publisher Zenescope, which offers printed copies and four variant covers. Issue #2 is due out on February 21.

Related:

• Arthur Moses reprints the first Houdini & Holmes adventure
• Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini collected edition
• Airship 27 releases 'Holmes and Houdini'

Willem Dafoe namechecks Houdini during Walk of Fame ceremony

Actor Willem Dafoe received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday. During the ceremony, Defoe, who hails from Appleton, said:

"The little town that I come from, Appleton Wisconsin, it's maybe a town of 70,000 people now, someone else from that town has a star. And his name was Ehrich Weiss. You know who that is? Maybe you know him better by the name of Harry Houdini. So I'm in good company."

You can watch the entire event on YouTube. The Houdini mention comes around 15:11 and gets a nice crowd reaction. This marked the first new star of 2024.

Dafoe's star is located at 6284 Hollywood Blvd. near Vine. Houdini is at the other end of the boulevard at the corner of Hollywood and Orange. Houdini received his star in 1975.

By the way, a shoutout to Dafoe's latest film, Poor Things, starring the always amazing Emma Stone. It's excellent!

Related:

• Houdini’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star rededicated
• Houdini makes it onto the Hollywood Walk of Fame...again
• Genii & Houdini: November 1975

Houdini and The Doctor share a long hot summer

It's become somewhat of a tradition for a new Doctor (Who) to namecheck Houdini. That was the case again in the Doctor Who 2023 Christmas Special: The Church on Ruby Road, which introduced Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor. 

In the episode, the Doctor and his latest companion, Ruby, are tied up in an alien ship. The Doctor quickly frees himself, and Ruby asks how he did it...

Later in the episode, Ruby figures out the Doctor is a time traveler by recalling his reference to Houdini...

Even the official Doctor Who Facebook page (below) celebrated the reference. Are they setting us up for a proper Houdini meets the Doctor episode? The summer of 1926 was a hot and wet one. Just saying.

Thanks to Whovian Athena Stamos for the tip and pics.

Related:

• Houdini and the Doctor reunite in STAR TALES
• Harry Houdini's War is at peace with the facts
• Houdini and The Doctor meet again!

Seth Meyers and Dua Lipa talk Houdini (and drink)

I know this is sooooo 2023, but our new friend Dua Lipa is still out there promoting her mega-hit single "Houdini." Here's a fun clip from her appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers. My gosh, they drink a lot.

It's fun to hear their Houdini chatter. And at least they got the basic facts right about his death, Mr. Blaine. 🍻

Related:

• Dua Lipa drops by the Houdini Estate
• Dua Lipa has to explain Houdini was a real person
• Time to rethink the rethinking on the Houdini punch

Songs Called 'Houdini': Who Did it Best?

Here's a clever video by YouTuber Naomi Cannibal that breaks down three pop songs called "Houdini," including the most recent single by Dua Lipa.

Here's another "Houdini" for your consideration. In 1962, Walter Brennan released his own "Houdini" single. You can hear it on YouTube by clicking the image below. It's plenty folksy!

Related:

• Kate's Bess
• Dua Lipa unlocks 'Houdini'
• Foster The People release video for 'Houdini'