When dreams come true

This week I received my copy of A Strenuous Career: The Personal Challenge and Advertisment Scrapbook of Harry Houdini by Dr. Bruce J. Averbook and David Haversat. It's a beauty. In fact, I hated to take it out of the plastic!

Not to play favorites, but this is the 2026 book that I was most excited to receive. That's because I knew this important scrapbook existed, but I had never seen it. It was owned by Sid Radner for many years. When Sid's son Bill inherited it, I heard talk that he was considering turning it into a book. This might have even been his father's idea that he wanted to carry forward. But it never happened. When Bruce Averbook acquired it, I got a quick peek at it at his museum. I was very excited when he said he now planned to turn it into a book (along with a certain diary).

This time it happened! Dreams do come true.

The book is a slipcased hardcover printed on very high-quality, full-color paper. Bruce provides an introductory overview of Houdini's career challenges, along with some rare photos from his collection. Apart from that, the scrapbook speaks for itself. Every page of the scrapbook is reproduced, and every challenge tells a story. It's also fascinating to see how meticulously Houdini chronicled his career. The front of the scrapbook contains an index of all the challenges handwritten by Houdini himself. The challenges span Houdini's entire career, so this isn't A challenge scrapbook; it's THE challenge scrapbook, which is one of the reasons it's so perfect to publish as a standalone book.

I've already spotted some rare gems, including what I believe is Houdini's first full-view straight jacket escape. The challenge doesn't actually say this, but given the timeline, I think I can see exactly what Houdini has in mind. I'm also very excited to finally see the Scottish Gibbet challenge!

The book is published and sold exclusively by David Haversat's 1878 Press, with a print run of only 300 copies. That's a pretty small, and I have a feeling this will sell out by Halloween, if not sooner. So if you are interested in owning Houdini's Challenge scrapbook, I wouldn't delay.

Thank you, David and Bruce!

Related:

• A Strenuous Career' available now from 1878 Press
• The 2026 Houdini Centennial Bookshelf
• YOU CAN NOW OWN HOUDINI'S FIRST DIARY

The Official Houdini Séance mystery envelope

Here's a clip from the 1987 Official Houdini Séance, which was held live on television that year. Here we see Sidney Radner showing the seance handcuffs, which still play a role in Official Séances and will be on the table tonight in Appleton. But then Sid shows a sealed envelope that he says contains "a very interesting document from the date of February 27, 1897."

Unfortunately, Houdini did not come back to tell us what was inside that envelope, and as far as I know, it never reappeared at another Official Séance.

What was in the envelope? I have an educated guess, but let's give Harry another chance. If he fails to manifest at any of today's seances, I will share my guess tomorrow.

Remembering

HARRY HOUDINI

on the

98th ANNIVERSARY

OF HIS DEATH

October 31, 1926

The reveal:

So I was all ready to share what I believed was inside the mystery envelope. Then, in a spooky Halloween coincidence, at the start of the Houdini Museum's Annual Houdini Seance online, Dorothy Dietrich showed this from their collection.

As it turns out, THIS is exactly what I think was inside the envelope. This is a reproduction of an advert in an early Houdini scrapbook that was owned by Sidney Radner. It advertises a spiritualist entertainment that Harry and Bess gave at the A.O.U.W. Lodge in St. Joseph, Missouri, on February 27 (the date "1897" is written on the ad, likely by Houdini himself). Dorothy wasn't aware of my post. It was pure coincidence that she decided to show this at the start of their seance.

Should we consider this a message from Houdini? I said that we would give him one more chance. Did he step in and reveal the contents of the mystery envelope via Dorothy? Believe.

However, there is a trick in this treat. The date on this is wrong. Houdini and Bess gave this show on February 27, but the year was actually 1898. Sid Radner didn't know this at the time. It's no wonder it took Houdini 37 years to figure this out!

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween.

Geno Munari Houdini collection lost in fire

The $750,000 Houdini collection that Geno Munari donated to Vanishing Inc.'s ShareMagic in 2023 appears to have been lost in a catastrophic warehouse fire. The collection included personal letters, props, scrapbooks, posters, and one-of-a-kind memorabilia. Many of the items had once been part of the Sidney Radner collection.

Vanishing Inc. co-founder Joshua Jay tells me they have not yet been able to access the section of the warehouse that held the collection, so there's still a chance some items could be recovered. But I have also heard it is a total loss. The fire occurred on June 6, 2024, at their Sacramento warehouse, which had been the company’s retail headquarters for over a decade. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

The company's computers were also casualties of the fire, so it's unclear if even an inventory of the collection survived. However, the good news is Geno professionally photographed and documented every item, so there is a complete record of what went to Vanishing Inc. This means the vital history contained in the collection is retrievable, even if the artifacts themselves are now lost.

ShareMagic, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, had planned to use the collection to create "an unparalleled exhibition that will bring Houdini's legacy to life for generations to come." Instead, this may turn out to be the single largest loss of Houdini history ever.

You can read Vanishing Inc.'s account of the fire on their blog and find additional details at One Ahead.

UPDATE: Vanishing Inc. has provided a 2024 overview, which you can read HERE. Nothing about the Houdini collection, but it's clear they've been able to get back into the warehouse. I think we can assume the collection is a total loss.

Related:

• Geno Munari donates Houdini collection to Vanishing Inc. charity fund
• Sidney Radner collection to be auctioned in Las Vegas
• Burglar destroys Houdini collection in arson fire

1971: Year of the Torture Cell(s)

Houdini's Water Torture Cell made its last public appearance on the night of October 11, 1926, in Albany, New York. This was the night Houdini broke his ankle. Despite plans to resume the cell in Detroit, Houdini died before that happened. After that, the famed prop remained out of sight for the next 45 years. Then, in 1971, two Water Torture Cells, both claiming to be the original, returned to public view.

In May 1971, the Water Torture Cell that Sidney Radner acquired from Hardeen in 1942 was put on permanent display at the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls, Canada. Some assume the cell was in the museum from the start (the museum opened in 1968), but it was actually a later addition, as we can see below.

The Holyoke Daily Transcript and Telegram, May 29, 1971.

Later that same year, magician Abb Dickson announced that he had acquired Houdini's original Water Torture Cell and was making plans to display it. Abb claimed he found the cell in England and had even solved its secrets by having it x-rayed.

The Atlanta Journal, Sept. 6, 1971.

In October, Abb's cell was revealed alongside a collection of other alleged Houdini ratites at the Dutch Square Mall in Columbia, South Carolina.

The Columbia Record, Oct. 25, 1971.

Of course, Abb's cell was pure hokum—it was made of sheet metal with a shower drain at the bottom. One wonders if the arrival of the real cell in Canada had inspired Abb in this endeavor? Abb would tour his Houdini exhibit and cell for several years. The cell was also used in the 1976 television biopic, The Great Houdinis.

The real Water Torture Cell remained on display at the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame until a fire destroyed much of the cell in 1995. Today, the restored cell is back on display at David Copperfield's International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts in Las Vegas.

Abb Dickson's cell also survives today in the collection of Troy Milligan. On occasion, it has been offered for sale on eBay, but I'm not sure of its current status.

Want more? I've uploaded to my Patreon a collection of photos of the original Water Torture Cell on display at the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame throughout the years and what remained of it after the fire.

Related:

• The 100 year history of the Water Torture Cell
• The wild story of Abb Dickson's Water Torture Cell
• A Water Torture Cell has been discovered in Canada

Houdini '53 at 70: Peer promotion

Continuing our 70th Anniversary celebration of Paramount's classic Houdini starring Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh.

For the release of Houdini in June 1953, the Paramount marketing department aligned with magic clubs and magicians to boost the movie with various tie-in publicity stunts and screenings. Below is a page from the Motion Picture Herald showing some of those Houdini happenings around the country.

Click to enlarge.

Here's another promotional item about a special screening of Houdini at the IBM's Silver Anniversary convention in Philadelphia.

Even Genii The Conjuror's Magazine featured the movie on its June 1953 cover. 

However, Houdini did come in for some criticism from members of the magic community for its inaccuracies. Milbourne Christopher led the charge with this item in Variety.

Click to enlarge.

I think it's clear today that Houdini was a legit boost to magic by inspiring a new generation of magicians and magic enthusiasts. As far as its inaccuracies... If only they knew what was to come!

Related:

• Genii & Houdini: June 1953
• Houdini (1953) makes list of 10 most inaccurate biopics
• Hollywood kills Houdini

Houdini's curious cross escape

One of the more unusual pieces of surviving Houdini apparatus is his "Cross Escape." There are actually two crosses. One is gaffed for quick release and was acquired by Sidney Radner from Hardeen. Today it is owned by Teller. The other was acquired by Henry Muller from Dunninger and was displayed for many years at the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame. The photo in the right shows this latter cross as it appeared in the museum. (Fun fact: I now own that mannequin head.)

I admit this particular escape has always perplexed me. The Houdini Magical Hall of Fame described it as "a famous Houdini challenge escape," yet I've never been able to find any account of Houdini ever performing it. The quick release gaff seems more like a spiritualism or magic effect than a Houdini escape, and the overt religiousness doesn't seem to be Houdini's style. Recall how he took offense to Carl Mysto's use of a coffin onstage.

But David Muller recently sent me extraordinary audio of Joseph Dunninger going through the collection he sold to David's father in 1967, describing each piece of apparatus and its history. Here's what he says about the cross:

Dunninger: "The Houdini cross escape, used in Houdini's earlier performances. Made in his museum days. He would be tied to the cross, a screen would be placed in front of it and in a few moments he would liberate himself. It needs some repair as is obvious, but it's of very great historical value as it belonged to Houdini and was one of his first sensational escapes."

Hearing Dunninger call this an effect from Houdini's "museum days" is informative. Maybe this explains why I've not been able to find an account of it? And its similarity to a spiritualism or magic effect fits with the evolution of the escape act.

Teller also describes it as a "carnival item." In an interview Two Magicians One Mic Podcast, in which we get a glimpse of his cross in his "Houdini alcove", Teller says:

Teller: "It's a carnival item. It would be erected on stage and the person who's doing the spiel on the bally would take, usually, a runaway 13 or 14-year-old drug addicted girl, who happens to be with the carnival, and tie her neck and wrists to this cross. And then at the moment when they were trying to turn the tip and bring the whole group into the tent, all of a sudden she would just walk away from it. The ties would be gone."

The cross escape coming from dime museums or carnivals does makes sense. It's even possible Houdini didn't build the effect himself, but acquired it as he did his electric chair. But I'll keep on searching for some account of Houdini doing the escape himself.

In the 1970 BBC documentary The Truth About Houdini, Sidney Radner demonstrated his gaffed cross. This scene was cut scene from the documentary––possibly because The Magic Circle objected to the exposure––and it does not appear in any version of the doc today. But you can watch the full clip as a member of my Patreon below.

Thanks to David Muller for the Dunninger audio and Dan Bowen for the Teller interview alert.

Related:

• The Truth About Houdini's mysterious missing scene
• Purchase David Muller's 'Growing Up With Houdini'
• Houdini's head

The Truth About Houdini's mysterious missing scene

I'm happy to see how many people enjoyed re-watching (or watching for the first time) the great 1970 BBC documentary The Truth About Houdini, which I've uploaded to my WILD ABOUT HARRY YouTube Channel.

One thing that came up in the comments was the cut scene of Sidney Radner demonstrating a wooden cross escape. The scene was originally in the film at 00:13:06, right before James Randi talks about the safe escape. But it is no longer in any existing print that I've ever seen.

The scene runs just over a minute and a half and after Sid escapes he exposes the method. Could this be why it was cut? I have read that The Magic Circle was upset by exposures in this doc, so perhaps it was cut after the initial UK airing? Or maybe it was cut from the U.S. version for fear that the quasi-religious imagery might offend in some markets?

If anyone knows the story of this missing scene, I'd love to hear it!

By the way, I've yet to find any account of Houdini actually doing a cross escape during his career. So there's that mystery as well!

UPDATE: You can now watch this clip as a member of my Patreon by clicking the image below.

Related:

• Watch 'The Truth About Houdini' on its anniversary
• Houdini's head
• What Sid told me

Watch 'The Truth About Houdini' on its anniversary

It was 46 years ago today that The Truth About Houdini first aired on American television. The documentary was co-produced by the BBC and Patria Pictures in 1970 and is highlighted by rare film footage of Houdini in action and interviews with the leading Houdini experts of the day. It's narrated by Don Davis.

When I saw this broadcast on May 15, 1976, it blew my mind every bit as much as the Tony Curtis movie had exactly six months earlier. When it repeated in 1978 I was able to record it (on Beta -- I still have my tape) and watched it continuously. It remains my favorite Houdini documentary and watching it always brings me back to those early days of my Houdini mania. And now seeing the likes of Milbourne Christopher, Walter B. Gibson, James Randi and Sidney Radner talking about Houdini in their prime feels as special as seeing the footage Houdini himself.

The Truth About Houdini was never released commercially. (Bill McIlhany sold a VHS through the Houdini Historical Center in the 1990s.) So on this anniversary, I've decided to upload a full HD version to my WILD ABOUT HARRY YouTube channel. I'm not sure about copyright so I might have to take this down. But for the moment, here is the first great Houdini documentary for all to enjoy.

For fun, here's the Los Angeles Times review of the documentary from May 15, 1976 and my original Beta tape.

Thanks to Brad Hansen of Retro Cars Forever for his help converting this to HD and improving the video quality.

Related links:

• The first great Houdini documentary
• The truth about The Magic of Houdini
• A Houdini doc you've never seen

Purchase David Muller's 'Growing Up With Houdini'

The book Growing Up With Houdini, David Muller's wonderful remembrance of his family and the creation of the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, can now be purchased directly from the official website growingupwithhoudini.com. There you can also see some incredible pics, such as the below photo of Sidney Radner and Walter B. Gibson with a familiar Houdini prop.

Growing Up With Houdini tells the story of how the Muller family fled the Nazis and their native Slovakia to settle in Niagara Falls, Canada. There Henry Muller created the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame in 1968. The book contains many rare photographs and documents that have never been shared before. David also reveals a wild early connection between the museum and Doug Henning.

Purchase Growing Up With Houdini at growingupwithhoudini.com.

Related:

• Adventures in investing in Houdini
• Return to the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame
• Growing Up With Houdini by David J. Muller

Houdini's "near perfect mystery"

This piece of surviving Houdini apparatus has always baffled and intrigued me. I've heard it said Houdini called it a "near perfect mystery." Sidney Radner, who acquired it from Hardeen, told me Houdini planned to make this the featured escape in his "3 Shows in One" replacing his Water Torture Cell. But what the heck is it?

For what I understand, this idea here is Houdini would be encased within these four nested wooden boxes. Iron rods were then placed down the length of the four corners, locking the boxes in place. He may have also been restrained in ropes or chains strung though the holes on either side of the boxes.

Recently I uncovered a review of Houdini's act at the New York Hippodrome during the week of February 16, 1925 (this is before the "3 Shows on One"). What's described here is almost certainly this escape and it's the only record of it that I've ever encountered.

Houdini closed the show, offering a test which he claims to be the nearest approach to actual materialization and dematerialization on record. By this, for those who wish enlightenment, he means that he is encased in a stout wooden box, all sides of which are pierced by iron rods and welded so as to make escape ostensibly an impossible thing, but from which after several long minutes he liberates himself.

The "near perfect mystery" was sold in "The Great Houdini Auction" of 2004 and resided in the collection of Arthur Moses for several years (where the above photo was taken). Today it is in another private collection.

If you're interested in learning about more surviving Houdini apparatus, please join me this Wednesday, October 20, for an online ZOOM lecture, "Houdini Lost and Found," part of the 2021 American Museum of Magic Speaker Series. I'll have some exciting and unusual things to share and hope to see you there. Click here for details and tickets.

Related:

• Two ultra rare Houdini props hit eBay
• What Sid told me
• Houdini Lost and Found, October 20

Andrew Basso now owns Houdini's tuxedo collar

World Champion Escape Artist Andrew Basso from The illusionists is now the owner of a true Houdini holy relic. It's a tuxedo shirt collar worn by Houdini himself (and maybe even the collar he wore during his final show). The collar has a sweat stain and is marked with Houdini's name. This is not a signature, but appears to have been written on the collar as an identifier, possibly for laundry. They collar is stamped: "Irish Linen Company Shirts, Collar Manufacturers" and shows a size of 16 1/2.

The shirt collar belonged to Sidney Radner who presumably aquired it from Hardeen. Recall that Hardeen preserved the pocket from the pajamas his brother wore during his final illness. That leads me to think this might have been the collar Houdini wore during his final show as it explains why Hardeen would have kept it among his mementos. But that's just speculation. Final show or no, it's still Houdini's collar, and that makes it magical!

For several years the collar was displayed at the Houdini Historical Center in Appleton, Wisconsin. Then in 2004, Sidney Radner put the collar up for auction along with the rest of his collection. The buyer was Geno Munari, owner of the Houdini's Magic Shop chain. Geno in turn sold it to magician Troy Milligan. At one point Troy had his close friend, Dorothy Young, Houdini's former assistant, sign the collar. Last year Troy felt it was time to pass the collar to a new owner, and Andrew answered the call! 

Andrew broke the news in an interview with Estrada ("The sexiest magician has the DNA of Houdini"). He says he currently has the collar hanging in his bedroom, but he has plans to send it to Washington D.C. to see if they can extract Houdini's DNA. (I've talked to Andrew and he's serious about this!) He will then have a special case made for it, and is also open to having it displayed in a public museum.

I first became aware of this collar when I saw it on display in Appleton. But once it sold at auction, it seemed to vanish. It's exciting to see it reemerge, and I'm very happy to see it land in the hands of Andrew Basso.

Related:

• New York Times: Sidney Radner collection to be auctioned in Las Vegas
• Dorothy Young remembers her days with Houdini
• Randy Pitchford now owns Bess Houdini's brooch

Mystifier, Fall 2003 (final issue)

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

It seems fitting that the final issue of the Mystifier consists of a single article about Houdini's Last Will and Testament by Curator Kimberly Louagie. As with all of Louagie's work, it's well researched and thorough.

Sidney Radner did not provide his regular "Backstage" column this time. Instead, the back page contains a letter from Executive Director Terry Bergen explaining the current situation and future of the HHC.

I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the changes at the Houdini Historical Center. It has been a most interesting and enlightening year! 

For fifteen years, we have been fortunate to be able to lease the Radner collection of Houdini artifacts. This opportunity has allowed the Outagamie Country Historical Society to develop the Houdini exhibit, as well as temporary exhibits, and the Houdini Historical Center. The original contract expires at the end of this year, and the economy has conspired to prevent us from extending the lease. Our county appropriation was cut 25% in 2003 and another 25% will be cut in 2004. The county funding is what has paid for the Houdini lease for the past 15 years.

Mr. Radner and other generous donors have provided the museum with a number of artifacts which will allow us to create a new exhibit about Houdini called "a.k.a. Houdini". The new exhibit will open in June 2004, and will be double the size of the current Houdini! exhibit. The Society plans an exhibit that will be a dynamic and exciting as the man Harry Houdini. The new exhibit will display fewer artifacts that the one which has featured Mr. Radner's extensive collection, but it will tell the story of Houdini's life images, interactives and artifacts.

Many of our HHC members have asked about the future of the Houdini Historical Center, now that the Radner Collection will be leaving the museum in Appleton. The Houdini Historical Center will continue, however, due to loss of staff caused by budget cuts, the Mystifier will be discontinued for 2004.

Bergen goes on to say that a new HHC website with a special "Members Only" section will be created. If this happened, it was only temporary. With the end of the Mystifier came the end of the Houdini Historical Center and the museum was renamed The History Museum at the Castle. And when the much touted new Houdini exhibit opened in 2004, magicians were shocked to see it exposed Houdini's Metamorphosis.

Despite criticism from magicians such as David Copperfield, the museum refused to change the exhibit, and any hope of the Radner collection ever returning to Appleton was dashed. (Sid said he was planning to bequeath his collection to the HHC.) Sid singled out Bergen for the turn of events, telling the New York Times, "She doesn't know Houdini from Liberace. She just knows dollars."

Sid's collection was auctioned in 2004. Terry Bergen remained director of The History Museum at the Castle until 2013. The a.k.a. Houdini exhibit can still be visited today.

I hope you enjoyed my look back at all 48 issues of the Mystifier. You can start all over or select an issue of your choice via the links below.

PREVIOUS ISSUE | INDEX | FIRST ISSUE

Related:

• Sidney Radner collection leaving Appleton
• BBC: Houdini exhibit enrages magicians
• New York Times: Sidney Radner collection to be auctioned in Las Vegas

Mystifier, Fall 2002

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

The Fall 2002 Mystifier celebrates the coming of the U.S. Postal Service's First Class Houdini stamp. This was a personal triumph for the HHC and Sidney Radner who had lobbied long and hard for this recognition. The newsletter contains photos and a report from the HHCs own dedication ceremony on July 5. For the occasion, Wisconsin-based escape artist Mike Schroeder performed a suspended straitjacket escape.

The newsletter continues with news of a second big event; the unveiling of John Gaughan's restored Water Torture Cell. The cell was displayed at the Center for Jewish History in New York from July 3 to August 5. The newsletter includes a photo of John with the USD, which for many was probably their first look at the restoration. It also has a Q&A with John. Below is a sampling:

Mystifier: Did you understand the mechanism in the Water Torture Cell before you began?

JG: I had reworked the Water Torture Cell in 1991. If I had not had that opportunity, it would have been impossible to restore the Water Torture Cell at all. I needed to be familiar with the whole piece since it was so totally destroyed in the fire. There were only fragments remaining of the original piece. 

Mystifier: What was the most difficult part of the project? 

JG: To be faithful to the original design. Not to cut corners but to use exact materials and methods of the original. The restoration used rare Honduras mahogany with a ribbon pattern, just as in the original. I used lap joints in the construction, as in the original to allow for the expansion and contraction that would occur when it was filled with water.

The newsletter continues with the sad news of the death of Ronald J. Hilgert, HHC member and author of Houdini Comes to America (1996). The museum shop announces new items related to the Houdini stamp, such a first day covers and pins. Recent donors are listed along with the staff of the HHC, which we now see is headed by Executive Director Terry Bergen who will prove controversial.

In his regular "Backstage" column, Sid (sporting a new column photo) talks about the HHC stamp event and the restored Water Torture Cell. He expresses disappointment that he was not invited to the official unveiling of the stamp in New York City. That ceremony featured David Copperfield (in a suit matching the one we see Houdini wearing in the stamp image) and Marie Blood. But Sid deems the Appleton ceremony as being the "much more impressive stamp dedication" and points out that it was covered by four TV stations.

Finally, it's worth pointing out that this issue introduces a few stylistic changes. No longer are the Contents listed on the cover. The font size is also increased (actually, the font sizes and styles are wildly inconsistent). This would also prove to be the last Mystifier printed in two colors.

Mystifier

Volume 12, Number 3

Fall 2002

6 pages

Contents:

U.S, Postal Service Recognizes Houdini!
The Water Torture Cell is Reborn!
R.I.P. Ronald J. Hilgert
Museum Shop News

Backstage with Sid Radner

PREVIOUS ISSUE | INDEX | NEXT ISSUE

Related:

• Houdini honored with U.S. postage stamp
• Eric Olsen on restoring the Water Torture Cell
• A magical visit to the workshop of John Gaughan

Listen to The New School's 1977 Houdini Seance

In 1977 The New School in New York City offered a 10-week course called "The Incredible Houdini: The Man...The Myth...The Magic". It was taught by Gabriel Grayson and included a mouthwatering lineup of guest speakers. Last weekend Joe Notaro shared a flyer from the course showing that lineup of a-listers (click to view).

While doing a little more research I discovered something pretty wild. The New School Archives has a 2+ hour recording of a Houdini Seance held in their auditorium at 66 West 12th Street on Halloween 1977. While not part of the official curriculum, it was related to the course and open to the public. At the table was Milbourne Christopher, Bernard C. Meyer, Billie Dunninger, Morris N. Young, Louis Rachow, Henry Muller, and Sidney Radner. (Walter Gibson was ill and unable to attend.) The moderator was Gabriel Grayson.

It's not your typical Houdini seance in that the medium, Ethel Meyers (who played a role in the Amityville Horror hoax), quickly makes contact and "Houdini" speaks to the gathering in the first person. This means the experts at the table can ask questions of Houdini directly.

Did she/he pass scrutiny? If you want to hear for yourself, you can access both parts via the link below.

HOUDINI SEANCE AT THE NEW SCHOOL

If you don't want to go to the trouble of listening, I can tell you that Meyers, after getting off to a good spooky start, bombs spectacularly when the questions begin. She...I mean, Houdini...cannot or will not answer even the most basic question. The knockout blow occurs when Sidney Radner asks, "What do the letters USD mean to you?" Her answer: "United States Detention Home."

One thing that has me intrigued is when Christopher asks details of a seance Houdini attended in January 1926. It's clear Christopher has Houdini's notes on this seance, but it's one I've never heard of. If anyone is aware of these notes or has the details, please give me a shout.

I'm also wondering if The New School recorded the course and guest speakers. To hear the remembrances of Houdini by Walter B. Gibson would be phenomenal. Also, Louis Rachow played the Houdini voice recording during his class on November 15. This marked the first time the recording was played publicly. How much of it did he play?

If anyone attended this course, please share your memories in the Comments below.

Related:

• The Grim Game screened in 1974
• The Houdini seance inside Room 401
• The haunting of Houdini's 278

Was there a ghostly occurrence during the live 1987 Houdini seance?

Continuing my special Halloween week of resurrected GHOST POSTS, here's a post from November 16, 2012 that explores a strange claim that Houdini at least tried to come back from the grave in 1987, and on live television.

In 1987 The Official Houdini Seance was incorporated into a live television special hosted by William Shatner called, The Search for Houdini. Essentially, it was a magic variety show featuring performers like The Pendragons and Penn & Teller, with the conclusion of the show being that year's Official Seance held by Sidney Radner. As always, Houdini failed to appear.

Or did he?

Mark Alberto Holt, who worked behind the scenes doing lighting effects, has come forward with a remarkable story. Mark posted the following comment on my blog about the Seance back in February and has allowed me to repost it here. Here's Mark's story:

"I was there doing the special lighting effects. One such effect was lighting inlaid into the seance table with plexi glass over the top for dramatic effect on each person around the table. During rehearsals it was determined to bring the levels of the lights down from 70% full to 25%. Just perfect for that glow effect up the faces. So starts the seance. I was told that the people around the table were relatives of Houdini and seance experts. This part of the show was not scripted. (I still have Shatner's script). Towards the end of the seance, one end of the plexi glass started to warp, Live on TV. This must have raised 6 inches above the table. It could not have been from the heat of the lights under. They were barely on. Producers screamed to go to commercial. The people at the table wanted to continue do to the fact there was a sign. Mr. Shatner had no choice other than to listen to the producers and go to commercial. I left the lighting board that was in the audience and dashed on stage. There was shear Chaos on the stage. The plexi was cool but it was lifted. The crew started clearing the stage and the screams from Houdini's family rang through the theater to continue the seance. That was the last anyone spoke of this. I was there and so was Harry."

I recorded the seance and still have the VHS in my collection. Below is the moment during the seance when they abruptly went to commercial. While I can't see any phenomena myself, you can see that Sidney Radner starts to look to the left end of the table as they cut to Shatner at 0:44.

When the show returned from commercial, the seance had wrapped up with each Inner Circle member expressing their doubt that Houdini would or could return.

The inner circle that year was made up of: Sidney Radner, Marie Blood, James Randi, John Gaughan, Henry Mueller, Todd Everett (L.A. Herald Examiner reporter), and William Shatner. The medium was Bob Steiner.

Maybe someone can come forward and corroborate Mark's strange tale?

Related posts:

• When Houdini went LIVE
• Official Houdini Seance to be held in Niagara Falls
• Dean Gunnarson recreates Houdini's L.A. escape in 1987

Eric Olsen on restoring the Water Torture Cell

Here's an interview with Eric Olsen who worked with John Gaughan on the two restorations of Houdini's Water Torture Cell. The first was in 1991 to refurbish it. The second was to rebuild it after the catastrophic Houdini Magical Hall of Fame fire in 1995. His first hand recollections are pretty interesting. This also touches on some of the controversy surrounding that work.

The video ends with "To Be Continued", but I cannot find Part 2. Does anyone know if it exists?

The Houdini Picture Corporation (the name of Houdini's former company) was reincorporated in 1996 by Geno Munari, owner of Houdini's Magic Shops. This is the only thing I've seen credited with the company name.

Thanks to James Criswell.

Related:

• The mystery of the two Torture Cells
• The Water Torture Cell in the 1980s
• Glass from Houdini's original Water Torture Cell

Make a long distance call on Houdini

In 1997 the Houdini Historical Center in Appleton released a limited edition series of Houdini phone cards. They came in four sets of three cards and featured Houdini images from the HHC (which at the time housed the Sidney Radner collection). Below is Set #1.

I'm not entirely sure all four sets were produced. I've only ever seen the first set for sale online. My set #1 has a sticker on the front that reads: "These phone cards are for collectors only - no phone time is included." This appears to have been placed over another sticker showing the cards were good until 1998.

I've also never seen the "special lenticular motion card" that was sent by mail to those who collected all four sets. Is that the Mama/Harry/Bess card show above I wonder?

Would love to hear from anyone who collected all the cards. Leave a comment below. Don't call!

Related:

• Calling Houdini...
• Mystifier, Second Quarter 1997
• Houdini was a "wireless telephone" pioneer

Mystifier, Second Quarter 1995

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 1995 Mystifier opens with the news that a collection of photographs, clippings, and letters related to Houdini's first performing partner Jacob Hyman was donated to the HHC by Joy U. Reynolds, Hyman's great-niece. (As this was not part of the Radner collection, presumably the material is still held in Appleton.) That's the good news.

The bad news is a report on the catastrophic fire at the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls on May 1, 1995. The newsletter gives a good accounting (better than press reports at the time) of what was destroyed:

According to fire inspectors' reports, the blaze began when rubbish containing cigarette butts smoldered and eventually caught fire. As of this printing, the damages have not been fully assessed. According to Hall of Fame owner and HHC Board Member Henry Muller, "It's hard to estimate the total losses. About two-thirds of the museum is still standing, but it's a question of relative value, since the Chinese Water Torture Cell and the secret message burned." [...] Another irreplaceable item lost was a one-of-kind leather straitjacket, which was made especially for Houdini and used in Scotland. Fortunately, many items such as picks, keys, handcuffs, packing cases, and several Blackstone and Thurston illusions survived the fire unscathed.

Dr. Morris N. Young then writes about meeting Dorothy Young, and how, on his suggestion, she painted a portrait of Houdini "as she has seen him in 1926." Dr. Young says the painting was donated to the HHC for display. I don't believe I've ever seen this, but would love to!

The newsletter also includes a report on rising attendance, and that David Copperfield has joined the HHC Board. Among the "New Members" listed is one John Cox. (What took me so long?)

Sid Radner devotes the first part of his "Backstage" column to the Hall of Fame fire. He says that a planned auction of several of the illusions housed at the museum will no longer go forward. He also writes that "the loss of the Water Torture Cell could present a fresh opportunity to lobby for  Houdini postage stamp featuring the cell."

Sid then notes that James Bond author John Gardner is a member of the HHC. He reports that the HHC was recently mentioned on Jeopardy!, and that Houdini's connection to Appleton was included in the April 4, 1995 New York Times crossword. He also announces the upcoming publication of "a very important limited edition book explaining how Houdini came to America", and that there will be a new restaurant chain similar to the Hard Rock Cafe with a Houdini/magic theme.

The book, Houdini Comes To America by Ronald J. Hilgert, appeared the following year. The restaurant never materialized.

Mystifier

Volume 5, Number 2

Second Quarter, 1995

6 pages

Contents:

Recent HHC Donations

Fire: Loss of Magic History

Center Attendance Up

Museum Shop
Copperfield on HHC Board

Backstage with Sid Radner

PREVIOUS ISSUE | INDEX | NEXT ISSUE

Related:

• Jacob Hyman aka J.H. Houdini
• Houdini Magical Hall of Fame site today
• Dorothy Young remembers her days with Houdini

Mystifier, Fourth Quarter 1994

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

New HHC curator Benjamin Filene kicks off the Fourth Quarter 1994 Mystifier with a review of The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini by Ruth Brandon. It's a well-researched and considered assessment of what would prove a controversial biography. Filene does give the author credit for "considering the psychology behind his stunts," but says her "analysis becomes more erratic" when she shifts to "the psychology of the man himself." In the end, Filene concludes:

The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini does offer a creative and, for the most part, well-argued look at a figure in need of a fresh interpretation. In the tradition of Houdini himself, Brandon should be commended for not being afraid to take a chance and for executing her maneuvers with style. She could, though, stand to learn more from the master about which challenges to accept and which to graciously let pass.

The newsletter only runs four pages this time. Filling out page 2 is is an update on the Gravesite Repair Funds, noting that $7000 has been raised. But it also says "repairs to the family grave are on hold for the immediate future, according to George Schindler, a trustee of the S.A.M. Parent Assembly #1." This, we now know, was the start of friction between the cemetery and the S.A.M. which, thankfully, is now in the past.

A report on a live Halloween radio broadcast from the HHC by Rick McNeal and Len Nelson of WAPL in Appleton follows. It says the DJs received their own "message from beyond" about the Green Bay Packers. The museum shop reports that it has in stock the graphic novel Batman/Houdini: The Devils Workshop and Harry Houdini: Legend and Legacy by Roger Wood and Brian Lead. Familiar names listed among the "New Members" are Lee Jacobs and Geno Munari.

Sid Radner devotes his "Backstage" column to that year's Official Houdini Seance, held at the Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club in New York City. Attendees included Stanley Palm, Maureen Christopher and Kenneth Silverman. Co-organizer Tom Boldt could not attend that year, but his wife Renee and her mother, Suzanne Goral, attended in his place. Houdini, as usual, was a no show.

Sid then reproduces in full an article about the seance by Barbara C. Bernard from the November 28, 1994 issue of the Union-News in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Mystifier

Volume 4, Number 4

Fourth Quarter, 1994

4 pages

Contents:

Book Review: The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini

Gravesite Repair Fund Grows

Houdini's Spirit Comes Alive

Museum Shop

Backstage with Sid Radner

PREVIOUS ISSUE | INDEX | NEXT ISSUE

Related:

• The Brandon book
• When Houdini met Batman
• 1996: Houdini's grave plot thickens

Mystifier, First Quarter 1994

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

The First Quarter 1994 Mystifier kicks off with a favorite topic: Was the Mirror Handcuff Challenge Real or Arranged? The article by Bill Liles and Janet Merrill is very well-researched and nicely annotated. Their conclusion? (Spoilers ahead!):

We believed Houdini used his extensive knowledge of locks and lock picking and his specific familiarity with the Bramah lock to design the handcuffs used on him in the Daily Illustrated Mirror challenge. The most challenging part of Houdini's 70-minute escape was probably maintaining audience attention while he pretended to be initially overwhelmed by the intricate locking mechanism, before simply using a duplicate key to escape from it.

The issue continues with a report on David Copperfield's performance at the Pickard Auditorium in Neehah, Wisconsin. David, who first visited the HHC in 1993, donated a portion of his ticket sales to the museum and attended a special members only gathering after the show. Sid Radner presented him with a gift basket containing assorted Houdini HHC souvenirs and "a half-pound of Houdini blend coffee from The Daily Grind, an Appleton gourmet coffee shop." (There was Houdini coffee?) The newsletter contains a nice photo of David receiving his gift.

New HHC members are listed on page 4. Among the familiar names is our friend Joseph Fox, Wayne Allan, Richard (Dixie) Dooley, Mick Hanzlik, and also John Gardner. Gardner was a British novelist who at that time was writing the James Bond books. Being a big Bond fan, I've read all of Gardner's Bond novels, and in several he name-checks Houdini. So it looks like he was a genuine fan!

Page 5 reproduces a 1913 article from The Sphinx on "A new and original break for locating the Chosen Card." It also announces that HHC curator Moira Thomas is leaving and that a national search for a new curator is underway.

In his "Backstage" column, Sid Radner discusses at length the Mirror article. He also teases that he has uncovered a new forgotten member of Houdini's company -- "a woman who worked for Houdini as an investigator of psychics in the Chicago area in 1925." He says an interview with her will appear in a future Mystifier.

Sid also writes about the recent BBC documentary, Omnibus: Houdini, and that Ruth Brandon's Houdini biography, The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini, should be out soon in the United States (it was first released in the UK in 1993).

Mystifier
Volume 4, Number 1
First Quarter, 1994
6 pages

Contents:
The Mirror Handcuff Challenge: Real or Arranged
Copperfield Appears for HHC
New Members
New T-Shirts at the Museum Shop
Backstage with Sid Radner

Thanks to Gary Hunt of Handcuff Queens for supplying me with this issue.

PREVIOUS ISSUE | INDEX | NEXT ISSUE

Related:

• Guest blog: Houdini Reflected, Part I
• The Brandon book
• Mrs. Houdini on making coffee