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
  

Houdini returns to Appleton in 1897

In my Facebook Live chat yesterday with the great Andrew Basso, I mentioned an article I had recently seen in the April 1, 1897 Appleton Post. I thought I'd put that up today so all can have a read. This was well before Houdini (a.k.a. Mr. Weiss) was famous. This is when he and Bess were touring with the Rogers' Orpheum Stars. So this is really just a story about a local boy's return to his home town and that's one of the things that makes it so interesting and special.

The reference to Houdini almost drowning as a boy is especially intriguing. Ken Silverman always made much of the potential psychological motivations this might have played in Houdini's later water escapes. The trip to England appears to be pure fiction on Houdini's part -- unless this is something waiting to be discovered. The reference to his sisters (plural) I find intriguing as it bolsters the idea that Houdini might have had a half-sister.

Houdini would return to Appleton many times during his career and he would always be interviewed by the Post (most famously by Edna Ferber). But how fun to have discovered the first.

I hope you saw and enjoyed the chat yesterday. This was my first live chat and it was an honor to do it with Andrew. I think the chat is re-watchable HERE.

UPDATE: I just realized that Bill Mullins sent me this clipping, I did not "discover" it on my own as implied in my opening paragraph. Thank you Bill!

Related:

• The Houdinis are Rogers' Orpheum Stars of 1897
• Appleton gets some r-e-s-p-e-c-t
• Bill Kalush has been to the mountaintop (half-sister mention)

Mystifier, Second Quarter 2001

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

The second quarter 2001 Mystifier is largely made up of an excellent article by HHC curator Kimberly Louagie about "Houdini in 1897." Along with the California Concert Co. she also includes the Houdinis time with Rogers' Orpheum Stars. This is not one of the better documented years in Houdini's life so this article is a treat.

The newsletter continues with the announcement that the HHC website will replace their mailed museum shop catalog (sign of the times). It then covers a recent documentary shoot by the Travel Channel at the center. New members include Bill Martin and Max Maven. Recent Fund Drive Donors are also listed.

Sid Radner begins his "Backstage" column with news that Tom Carrier's Mysteriarch Enterprises has taken over Norman Bigelow's Escape Masters and will relaunch the publication starting October 1, 2001. (Did this ever happen?) Sid then gives a shout out to the new Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton, and says his sources tell him the Houdini stamp "is closer to becoming a reality." He then alerts readers to a Houdini-related story in the December 2000 issue of Popular Science.

Sid closes by saying he's working with members of New York University's Center for Advanced Technology on a virtual museum devoted to Jewish culture. "One of these days I will get a computer and join the 21st century," says Sid.

Mystifier

Volume 11, Number 2

Second Quarter, 2001

6 pages

Contents:

Houdini in 1897
Fund Drive Donors
Museum Shop News
Travel Channel Documentary Crew Films at HHC

Backstage with Sid Radner

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Related:

• The Houdinis are Rogers' Orpheum Stars of 1897
• Norman Bigelow has passed away

The Houdinis are Rogers' Orpheum Stars of 1897

During their early years, Harry and Bess Houdini joined an assortment of traveling performance troupes. Their stints with the Welsh Bros. Circus, the California Concert Co, the Marco Co. and the American Gaiety Girls are well documented. But what never gets mentioned is the "Rogers' Orpheum Stars Co." which Harry and Bess toured with in Wisconsin in March and April of 1897.

The Rogers' Orpheum Stars Co. was a self-contained traveling vaudeville show with 14 acts that ran 2 1/2 hours. The "Orpheum" in the name is not the same thing as the big time Orpheum Vaudeville circuit controlled by Martin Beck, but I'm sure the Rogers' Stars were happy for any confusion!

Below is an advertisement for the troupe at Rhode’s Opera House in Kenosha, Wisconsin. You'll note Harry and Bess appear three times on the bill. Once together as "The Houdinis" doing Metamorphosis ("Hindoo box mystery"). "La Petite Bessie" then does her "character vocalist" singing act. Finally we see "Mysterious Harry" doing magic as "the only rival to Hermann the great."

Below is a review of the show at the Belle City Opera House in Racine, Wisconsin. Notice that Houdini seems committed to "Mysterious Harry" being his solo stage name at this time. Yikes.

Here's one last thought. I have seen evidence in Ken Trombly's collection that the famous photo below, frequently misidentified as being Houdini first theatrical photo (far from it), was taken around the time of the Houdinis tour with the Rogers' Orpheum Stars in 1897. In fact, this photo might have been taken expressly for this tour. So should we stop thinking of this image as being "Houdini" and instead consider it a rare pic of "Mysterious Harry"?

Below are more links related to The Houdinis early career.

Related:

• A week at Tony Pastor's
• "I don't drink, smoke or chew"
• How "The Houdinis" became "Houdini"