@cosminacreates Catch me or I go Houdini 😂👀 #houdini #historytopresent #magnificai ♬ sunet original - CosminaCreates
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Showing posts with label Social media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Social media. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Bringing Houdini to 2026
I thought I could avoid TikTok for the rest of my life, but this is just too much fun. Welcome to the future, Harry.
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Sunday, April 5, 2026
Houdini 100 statue concept
David Merlini has shared a concept for the statue and fountain to be erected in Budapest as part of the Houdini 100 celebrations. I love it!
Friday, March 6, 2026
David Copperfield ending his MGM show on April 30
Big news in the magic world. David Copperfield has announced that he will be closing his MGM show on April 30, 2026. Below is the announcement on David's Instagram.
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If you've never seen David Copperfield live or have not seen his show recently, this is the time to get out to Las Vegas and see him at the MGM. Eight weeks. We're living a moment of magic history here!
I can't wait to see what's next for David. "The largest project I've ever tackled." Is he talking about his Moon illusion, or a Houdini book?
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Monday, February 9, 2026
David Copperfield's Shark Tank shoot
History By Mail recently returned to the television show Shark Tank, and part of that episode featured a tour of David Copperfield's International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts. Below is a terrific behind-the-scenes clip from the History By Mail Instagram.
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Houdini in new Ryman Auditorium exhibit
The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville has a new exhibit, "Unexpected Company," showcasing famous names who have appeared at the historic venue. Houdini appeared at the Ryman with his spiritualism lecture on March 11, 1924, and a pair of handcuffs he is said to have used are part of the display.
“Unexpected Company” is now open as part of the Ryman’s daytime tour experience. Tickets and tour information are available at Ryman.com/Tours.
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Jessica Jane has a book to share
Still on a bit of a break, but I had to drop this in here now because one doesn't get an endorsement like this every day. Thank you, Jessica!
You can purchase Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini 1897-1899 at Mike Caveney's Magic Words. The Deluxe Edition that Jessica shows here is sold out, but there are still plenty of Regular Editions.
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Alex Robinson conjures "The Mama Message"
I'm wild for the mock-up comic book cover created and posted to Bluesky by artist Alex Robinson.
To be clear, this isn't a real comic book, just an imaginary what-if. However, there was a 1979 issue of Ripley's Believe It or Not! (#89) that is similar to this. You can see that and read the real story of "The Mama Message" via the related links below.
#OnThisDay in 1922, #SirArthurConanDoyle hosted a #seance in an attempt to convince skeptic #HarryHoudini. It didn’t go so well. #History #comics #historyComics
— Alex Robinson (@alexrobinson.bsky.social) June 18, 2025 at 8:57 AM
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Sunday, June 15, 2025
Breaking news!
Word is Robin Fox beat my challenge to recreate the infamous Houdini-Hodgson challenge at yesterday's UKEA convention at Shrewsbury Prison. DRAT! I am making inquiries. I hear his brother might have helped him. And what was with that glass of water being given to him during the challenge? Did anyone check those shackles for file marks!!??
Seriously, a massive congratulations to Robin and the UKEA for successfully re-staging this historic escape. I'm dying to hear what it felt like to be in Houdini's shoes and if Robin had any fresh insights about the original challenge.
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Wednesday, April 30, 2025
"Guess who's back?"
This post from the Winchester Mystery House Instagram speaks for itself. That happens to be an original Houdini poster!
This beautiful lithograph was displayed at the Winchester Mystery House's museum in the 1950s-60's. It was their way of honoring Houdini's famous 1924 visit and the fact that Houdini himself suggested the name "Mystery House." But at some point, it slipped into storage and was forgotten. It was rediscovered several years ago and put back on display in their cafe. But Covid closed the cafe, and the poster was once again out of public view. But now he's back! Worth the price of admission alone.
An annotated newspaper clipping that Houdini mailed to the House after his visit is currently not on display. That is kept in their archives.
I got a nice look at both these rarities when I visited the Winchester House to shoot my Ghost Adventures interview last year. I've shared photos on my Patreon below.
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Now this is how you do a Houdini Seance!
Okay, this looks like a blast. You can catch me, George Hardeen, and maybe Houdini himself on Ghost Adventures: The Houdini Seance, airing tonight and tomorrow on Discovery. Episodes are also available on Amazon.com.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Houdini and Edwin Booth's hair
Our friend Eric Colleary, who is currently organizing an exhibit and penning a book devoted to Houdini's Library, alerted me to this post by The Player's Foundation on Facebook. I never knew about this! Eric pointed out that the Harry Ransom Center has the receipt for this donation, an image of which is shared in the comments. The only mistake here is the year is 1917, not 1911.
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Collecting someone's hair? What a weirdo. Oh, wait...
Thank you, Eric!
UPDATE: Chuck Romano of My Magic Uncle sent over a clipping from the March 1920 issue of Photoplay with the following quote from Houdini:
"I would not think of carrying a lock of hair," he said. "To me that is the true sign of the hardest of hard luck. Once I bought a collection. In it was a letter written by the Duke of Wellington to an artist who had painted his portrait. In the letter was a lock of the Duke's here. All the time I had it hard luck pursued me.Finally I tossed the thing into the fire. The very next day bad luck and Houdini parted company.I once had a lock of Edwin Booth's hair that I bought in another collection. Hard luck seems to creep upon me again. I gave that away–and once more, hard luck left me."
Thank you, Chuck!
UPDATE: This story keeps developing. Joe Notaro reminds me of a post he did last year on his blog about Houdini's Duke of Wellington hair lock. He even has a pic. Check that out HERE.
Thank you, Joe!
Monday, April 15, 2024
Houdini soars at new Diggers Rest Pavilion
A new Community Pavilion opened in Diggers Rest, Australia, last week. Inside, you can find this mural showing Houdni's Voisin biplane. Interestingly, this doesn't commemorate Houdini's famed 1910 flight but Ian Satur's model of the plane that flew during the 2010 centenary celebrations. Either way, it's good to see Houdini is still a star in Diggers Rest.
The Ian Satur model survives today and is still looking for a permanent home.
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Serenading Houdini with "Houdini"
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!
Sunday, February 25, 2024
Sunset Harry
Our friend Dean Carnegie recently shared this image on his Instagram. Yes, I know I just did a post about how A.I. can't get Houdini right. But in this case it did, and offers us a glimpse at what could have been. It's kinda moving, actually.
Monday, January 8, 2024
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...
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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.
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Thursday, January 4, 2024
Cave treasure
Here's a wild find that speaks for itself. This was shared on the Mammoth Cave National Park Facebook page over the holidays.
Our friend Thomas Ewing of Haversat & Ewing Galleries provides some insight into the cardholder:
The S.A.M. card found in the cave belonged to Robert D. Stayton of Casey Creek, KY who died August 23, 1985 at age 82. He carried I.B.M. No. 338 since 1950 having joined first in 1924. He had been a member of Ring 1 (St. Louis, MO). He was also the 1104th member to join the S.A.M. and did so in December 1923. He was a member of the Order of Merlin. At one time he was also a member of Chicago Assembly No. 3. Stayton was an engineer by profession and is credited with having designed the first coin operated vending machine. In his early days, he appeared with a magical act as "Professor Stayton."
Below are some more tales of amazing Houdini finds.
Thursday, November 30, 2023
The enduring mystery of David Blaine
I'll just share this here without much comment. It speaks for itself. I was perplexed when David said this back in 2018, and I remain perplexed that he's still saying it today.
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David is an admirer of Houdini, so he must know this isn't true, right? Or could the drama of the Tony Curtis movie somehow be stuck in his head? I guess David Blaine is just doing what David Blaine does best. Baffling us!
Thanks to Dave Thomen for this clip.
Related:
- Is David Blaine reviving a Houdini myth?
- David Blaine's Beautiful Struggle started with Houdini
- The biggest myth
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Barbara's Vaudeville Scrapbook
I recently stumbled upon a remarkable Facebook page called Barbara's Vaudeville Scrapbook where the relatives of George Channing Eggleston, an electrical engineer and stage lighting man from the vaudeville era, share photos from a scrapbook they inherited.
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In 1907, Eggleston traveled with the O Hana San & Co. and shared the bill with Houdini in San Francisco and Los Angeles. While there are no photos of Houdini himself, there are many photos of Franz Kukol and the Houdinis dog, Charlie (with a fresh haircut). I've never seen any of these images! Below is a sample shot of Franz and Charlie.
You can see more photos on the page itself. Unfortunately, it hasn't been updated since 2021. I reached out to page owners but haven't heard back. I've also shared all the Houdini-related images on my Patreon.
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Monday, November 13, 2023
Dua Lipa has to explain Houdini was a real person
"Houdini is an escape artist and I love the idea of using him as a metaphor for knowing your own worth, knowing when to stay in a situation, knowing what you deserve, and also when something doesn't go your way or something doesn't feel right, knowing when to leave or knowing when to go Houdini. And in this sense, I use Houdini as a verb as well."
Nice answer. But then the interview took a slightly embarrassing turn, which you can watch for yourself below:
Dua Lipa answers an RDS interviewer who mistakes the magician Houdini as a biblical character:
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) November 11, 2023
“Well, I mean, Houdini was a real, real person.”
pic.twitter.com/XFzv2p84xP
To be fair to the interviewer, English is not her first language, and I suspect she meant "epic." But thank you, Dua, for doing the Lord's work!
You can watch the full interview on UPROXX. Purchase "Houdini" on Amazon Music U.S. or Amazon Music UK. Watch the video on YouTube.
Monday, October 9, 2023
Kellar joins Houdini on Catalina Island
Our friends at the Catalina Museum recently refreshed their permanent Catalina history display. Happily, Houdini remains part of the story, and he's now joined by Harry Kellar who was a regular visitor to the island. I can't help but think Houdini would love sharing this space with the Dean of Magicians.
You'll also notice that the lost overboard box footage from Terror Island, discovered by Joe Notaro in 2018, is still a part of the exhibit and still the only place you can see it.
You'll also notice that the lost overboard box footage from Terror Island, discovered by Joe Notaro in 2018, is still a part of the exhibit and still the only place you can see it.
If you've never been to Catalina "Terror" Island, I highly recommend it. The two Harrys would agree. It's a magical place!
Thanks to Joe Notaro at HHCE for the alert.
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