Here's an ad for Steve Baker's Houdini Tribute show in Eugene, Oregon, on Halloween 1974. I especially like the juxtaposed images of Steve and Houdini. Steve Baker once said in an interview that he was inspired to become an escape artist after reading Walter Gibson's Houdini on Magic at age 8.
The Register Guard, Oct 31, 1974.
The Register Guard, Oct 25, 1974.
While Steve would sometimes boast that he was "better than Houdini" (a very Houdini thing to do), he frequently honored Houdini by recreating his escapes. Below is Steve doing a suspended straitjacket on Hollywood Blvd. in 1976.
Press Telegram, June 12, 1976.
On Halloween 1976, the 50th Anniversary of Houdini's death, Steve did the Water Torture Cell at the Mayfair Music Hall in Los Angeles. Below is a flyer I picked up at a magic shop in Tarzana, where Steve and his wife, Julie, lived. Did you know the Water Torture Cell was "the escape that brought about Houdini's death"? Now you do!
I wish I had gone and seen this. What a way to spend the 50th. But I was only 11, and Halloween was all about trick-or-treating back then. By the way, the Mayfair Music Hall was converted into a variety theater by none other than Milt Larsen.
You can dive a bit deeper into Steve Baker via the links below.
Had to jump back in to note the 50th anniversary of a magic milestone and a personal one as well. It was 50 years ago tonight that Doug Henning's first "World of Magic" television special aired LIVE on NBC. Doug's magic and his climactic performance of Houdini's Water Torture Cell was a ratings hit, and this special has been attributed to launching Magic's second Golden Age. Having just seenHoudini (1953) the previous month, this special only cemented my newfound Houdini mania.
San Francisco Chronicle, Dec 25, 1975.
Did you see this special live? If so, share your memories in the comments below.
CONCLUDING my scene-by-scene dissection of Houdini (1953) on this, the 99th anniversary of Houdini's death. Last time, Harry agreed to cut his Pagoda Torture Cell from his Halloween show. But can he resist giving the audience "more?"
Chapter 24: The End
It's Halloween!
Houdini has returned to the stage and is giving the audience thrills that made him famous. We drop into the full evening show as Houdini escapes from a barrel. Applause greets Harry's appearance from the cabinet. By the way, the Halloween imagery we see on the stage is accurate. Houdini used Halloween-like iconography during his final tours (see this poster).
We then move quickly to the next escape as Otto announces, "Houdini has been challenged to escape from a steel straitjacket." For some reason, Otto is the one who does all the talking onstage. This is certainly not accurate, but I like how it harkens back to the buzzsaw scene at Coney Island.
Two men in the audience come forward with the steel jacket. (If anyone knows the names of these actors, I'd love to hear it.) This scene is a favorite as the steel straitjacket has become iconic in its own right. Dunninger provided the prop and claimed it was used by Houdini himself. But I've found no evidence of this. By the way, "Here goes the coat again," is something the real Houdini would sometimes say onstage.
As always, the magic is performed for real in a single shot. Under the cover of his cape, Houdini/Tony Curtis is free in less than a minute. "Better luck next time," he says to the stunned men. It's great stuff, but I don't love the decision to lay in sound effects during his escape. Also, if you have a keen eye, you will see that part of the gaff is exposed as Houdini hands the jacket back to the men.
Houdini is then brought his traditional magician's cape and top hat, two things the real Houdini never wore onstage, but it neatly evokes his stature as THE Master Magician. He then gives his farewell address:
"You're really a wonderful audience, and I do want to thank you for this heartwarming welcome you've given me on my return to the stage. I do hope I pleased you, and that you'll be coming back to see me again and again. And each time you do come back, I promise you bigger and better thrills. Good night, and thank you very much."
As Houdini leaves the stage, the audience begins to shout for "more." Mixed into the applause are some shouts, "What about the Torture Cell? Why don't you do what you promised?" Houdini hears this as he heads into the wings. "Don't listen to them, they are never satisfied," says Otto. Houdini then steps into a nice close-up and says, "I can't." He tells Otto to, "Get the Torture Cell ready."
Houdini dashes into his dressing room and quickly prepares for the encore. He turns sharply and collides with the blunt handle of a prop sword. Right in the appendix! He collapses in pain. This is our substitute for the famous punch from J. Gordon Whitehead, who was still alive when this movie was made. I've heard it said that this is why the filmmakers decided not to dramatize the punch incident itself.
In the auditorium, the curtains re-opens on the bubbling Pagoda Torture Cell as the orchestra plays an ominous waltz. Bess dashes from her box as Houdini appears on stage in his bathing suit. The men who just challenged Houdini are invited back on stage to assist, but this time there is no levity. The mood is as somber as a funeral.
As Houdini is secured in the stocks and raised above the cell, we intercut with Bess, trying to get to the stage, but the doors are locked. She bangs on the glass, but cannot be heard. Back on stage, Houdini takes several deep breaths, then he goes down into the cell as the clock and Otto begin to count off the seconds.
We have some nice Houdini POV shots of the audience through glass. But how I wish these shots were upside down! (See below). Interestingly, the curtain does not conceal the cell entirely; it only conceals the top. There is some evidence that Houdini did perform a version of the Water Torture Cell that was partially visible to the audience.
Having given up on the stage door, Bess now runs around to the front of the theater and enters through the main doors. Meanwhile, things on the stage are not going as planned. Houdini seems unable to maneuver in the confined space. He grits his teeth and appears to grow frantic. That's when Bess appears in the back of the house, just in time to see her husband fall limp with a stream of bubbles flowing from his mouth. Bess screams.
Otto then uses a fire axe to smash the cell glass in a spectacular shot. It appears actor Torin Thatcher is doing this himself, which seems pretty risky. Houdini's limp body is dragged from the cell as pandemonium erupts and the curtains close.
As Houdini is lying on the stage, Bess appears at his side. Houdini coughs and says weakly, "I'll come back, Bess. If there's a way, I'll come back. I'll come back."
Wait a minute!
Time out. The number one criticism of Houdini (1953) is that it depicts Houdini dying in his Pagoda Torture Cell. But that's not what happens here. If Houdini can talk, he's not drowned. He's alive and, presumably, he will now go to the hospital, where it will be discovered that his appendix has ruptured. So he will die in the hospital due to the results of a ruptured appendix, just as he did in real life. All we saw here was an accident, which is not entirely fictional. Houdini did have an accident in the Water Torture Cell during his last days, although not as dramatic as the one depicted here.
The entire premise of this series is that when you put each scene of this movie under the microscope, it is actually far more accurate than it is given credit for. This biggest "inaccuracy" and is actually the best example of this. And it is the last.
Okay, back to the movie.
"I'll come back, Bess. I'll come back."
Of course, this is a reference to the pact Houdini and Bess made that if it were possible to come back from the dead, he would try to do so. As Houdini repeats his promise, the camera moves away, traveling like a ghost past onlookers who seem frozen in place -- frozen in time. The camera drifts into the backstage area and settles on an old but familiar poster of the young Houdini from "Schultz's Dime Museum," and we understand just how far he has come and how high he has risen in this mysterious world of magic. Over this image appears: "The End."
There are no credits; just a repeat of the Paramount logo. Then fade to black.
Here's a standing ovation for the greatest Houdini biopic of them all. Houdini (1953). May it live forever!
We are all familiar with the famous photos of Houdini doing his Water Torture Cell. When and where these photos were taken has, to my knowledge, never been identified. But I think I may have finally found the answer.
I'm sharing this one on my Patreon as a History Exclusive. Click the image below to view it and 43 other similar discoveries. Lucky patrons!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TONY CURTIS! Let's celebrate what would have been Tony's 100th by continuing our scene-by-scene dissection of Houdini (1953). Last time we went to a seance. Now Houdini gets back to business...
Chapter 22: Pagoda Torture Cell
We now enter the final act of Houdini (1953). It starts with Bess arriving at a theater advertising Houdini's return. Much to her alarm, she sees a large poster for the "Pagoda Torture Cell." Beside it is a sign reading, "Opening Tomorrow Night, Halloween." Fate is screaming out at Bess (and us) from the theater front.
It's a shame we don't see the theater name. But we know this is New York, not Detroit, and based on the Variety headline we saw in the preceding montage, this is Halloween 1925, not 1926. So the movie is taking liberties in the buildup to the big climax.
As Bess dashes into the lobby, a janitor tells her Houdini is not at the theater; he's at "Sherman Ironworks on 14th Street." Notice there is a Houdini handcuff case on display in the lobby with a man looking at it. Before high-resolution, I wondered if this could be a cameo by Joseph Dunninger. It resembles him, and what is a great idea, especially as Dunninger knew Houdini in these final years. But I can now see it's just an extra, dang-it.
Bess arrives at Sherman Ironworks, which is not rooted in any real Houdini history. Houdini's workshop was in New Jersey. There, Bess finds Harry and Otto working on the large glass Pagoda Torture Cell. Bess folds her arms and says. "So this is why you kept me in the country all week." Bess spending time in the country while Harry worked in New York is rooted in Houdini history. In fact, I'm pretty sure Bess was in the country when Houdini performed his famous Shelton Pool Test.
Houdini says they just wanted to see if it was "workable." Bess calls him out on this, saying she has been to the theater and it's "plastered all over the front." Houdini shrugs and says he's done water escapes before; this is nothing different.
"Nothing different?" says Bess, "It's an exact copy of Von Schweger's man in the bottle. It's what killed him. Don't you understand, Harry? It's what killed him."
Wait a minute. While this is a copy of the model Harry received as a gift from the late Von Schweger (see Chapter 15), Otto said nothing about it having anything to do with Von Schweger's death. I can only assume that Bess means Von Schweger's obsession with his "man in the bottle" trick isolated him and led to a collapse in health, hence "killing" him?
Notice that Bess does not mention the fact that Harry is planning this for Halloween. Remember her warning before the ice escape in Detroit: "That's not your day." But this would have been redundant, and there is something smart about letting the audience see this red flag without having to articulate it once again.
Harry says he's not worked before an audience in two years (further muddying the timeline as established in the montage), and he has to give them something new. "People aren't going to stand in line to watch me pull rabbits out of a hat," he says. This line reminds us of the poster that stood on Harry's platform at Schultz's Dime Museum. A rabbit from a hat was enough for audiences back then. But now Houdini and the world have lost their innocence. Both have hardened like the iron we see and hear being forged all around them.
Harry and Bess then address the key underlying issue, and we have this excellent exchange:
BESS
Why? Why must every act you do be flirting with death?
HARRY
Because it's the only act that'll hold an audience spellbound. People fall asleep at the opera, but they stay wide awake at the bullfights. Because there's one man defying death down in that arena. You take this out of my act and I'm nothing.
BESS
You keep it in and we're both nothing.
It's a standoff. Notice the X on the glass of the cell between them during this confrontation. A clever visual that separates them and marks the cell as the ultimate object of their core conflict.
Harry chooses death. He tells Otto, "Have this sent to the theater. We'll test it for tomorrow's performance." Even Otto, the enabler, seems upset by this decision. Houdini snaps at him, "Well, what are you standing there for?" Bess turns and leaves. Everyone is at odds as we head into the final show.
By the way, I've always thought Otto looked more like Houdini in his famous workshop photos than Tony Curtis, amiright?
Houdini (1953) presents the "Pagoda Torture Cell" as Houdini's final creation at the end of his career. That is far from the truth. Houdini debuted his Water Torture Cell, later known as The Chinese Water Torture Cell, in 1912, midway through his career, and he performed it hundreds of times. But it was still Houdini's penultimate stage escape, just as it is here.
Contrast this with the Houdini Miniseries of 2014, in which the Water Torture Cell is presented as Houdini's first major stage escape. That movie has nowhere to go (and it doesn't). So, as far as old-fashioned drama is concerned, making the Torture Cell Houdini's final escape is a great way to build up its importance...and menace.
Here's more high-end Houdini-inspired merchandise for people with more money than...well, for people with money. I do think this is pretty cool, but at 5K, I'll have to stick with my Sharpie.
Step into the world of magic and illusion with the Montegrappa Icons Harry Houdini Limited Edition Rollerball Pen. Part of Montegrappa’s acclaimed Icons series, this enchanting limited edition celebrates the legendary illusionist and escape artist, Harry Houdini, known for his incredible feats of escapology. With only 150 pieces of this remarkable rollerball pen being produced, this is an exclusive opportunity to own a piece of history, ready to break free from the ordinary.
You can get more info and see more pics at Appelboom. Buy one for each day of the week!
Spectres has produced a 1 oz silver coin celebrating Houdini's Water Torture Cell. The coin is legal tender with a face value of 1000 Francs CFA. Details below.
Step back into the golden age of magic with Spectres' Houdini's Water Torture Cell coin. This 1 oz .999 pure silver coin pays homage to Harry Houdini, the illustrious Hungarian-American illusionist and stunt performer. Celebrating the centennial legacy of the Water Torture Cell, invented in 1912, this coin captures the essence of one of the most daring feats in escapology. A limited edition of just 1000 coins worldwide, each piece intricately shaped and proofed with color, the coin features a vintage illustration of Houdini in his self-named "Upside Down" escape act. This coin is not just a tribute to Houdini’s iconic 1912 invention but also a valuable piece for collectors and enthusiasts of American history.
You can buy the Houdini Silver Coin directly from Spectres. I've been told they have 8 left. I've also seen it available from sellers on eBay.
Below is a video that gives a good look at the coin. You can also watch an unboxing video HERE.
Here's an interesting illustration from the Sporting Life, February 28, 1913, when Houdini was performing the Water Torture Cell at the Finsbury Park Empire in London.
The artist is very likely drawing from what he saw firsthand. Check out the unusual configuration of the "band of steel" (as Houdini called them) on the cell. It appears that care is being taken to allow the audience to see Houdini's head when inside the cell; hence, the lower section is left open. First time I've seen this.
I also can't help but see a mustache on Houdini in this illustration, but I'm sure that's just a shadow. I've always thought it surprising that Houdini never even experimented with a mustache and remained clean-shaven his entire life. Mustaches were very fashionable at this time, as the historical footage below can attest.
Want more? You can see Houdini's original illustration and notes for the Water Torture cell from the collection of David Haversat as a member of my Patreon below.
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.
I've always loved wax museums, so this has me very excited. Madame Tussauds in Budapest, Hungary, has a breathtaking Houdini wax figure on display. The best I've ever seen. There's also a Water Torture Cell that you can go inside for a photo-op. The image below comes from the excellent website WAXIPEDIA.
Madame Tussauds Budapest opened in May 2023. According to Merlin Entertainment, over half of their 51 figures have Hungarian connections. As part of the planning phase, a large-scale survey asked the public who they would like to see included. Houdini made the cut along with Bela Lugosi (as Dracula). The majority of the figures were made "secretly" in Madame Tussauds workshop in London.
Okay, Madame Tussauds Hollywood, you're on deck! Let's get one of these gorgeous Houdini figures in LA. This was modeled from The Grim Game, so it fits into Hollywood movie history. It would also nicely complement Houdini's Walk of Fame Star just outside the museum and the Magic Castle up the street.
Here's a work of paper mache art by Vittorio Marino that recreates Houdini's 1916 Water Torture Cell poster. I really love that he includes the big blue monster holding Houdini inside the cell. That's a first, as far as I know.
Statue inspired by a poster of the famous American magician of Hungarian origins, Harry Houdini, by the Contemporary Primitive Artist Vittorio Marino. It is realized in Paper Mache and coloured with acrylics, paint marker and pastel.
The chest is in plywood with transparent plastic and polystyrene inserts.
In case you're not familiar with the original poster...
You can purchase Vittorio Marino's Houdini paper mache creation at ArtParks.
Remember that scene in the 2008 film Death Defying Acts that shows Houdini posed like a preening beach boy atop his Water Torture Cell at the conclusion of the escape? It's even in the trailer.
I've always seen this as an abomination of how the real Houdini would conclude the escape. By all accounts, when the tension was at its height, Houdini would come crashing through the front of the curtains out of breath as if he had just made his escape in the nick of time. That's how the real Houdini did things, Hollywood!
And then I found this illustration from Houdini's performance at the Cleveland Hippodrome in 1915 and now I need to shut up.
Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 30, 1915.
Okay, maybe this is just the illustrator placing Harry atop the cell as his own artistic interpretation. Or maybe this is what he saw. Which would mean Hollywood can occasionally get things (accidentally) right.
Our friend Dave Powell of Dave Powell Magic Company is offering a breathtaking 1/6 scale replica of Houdini’s original Water Torture Cell. As you can see from the photos, it's a stunner!
Dave spent over two years researching articles and hundreds of photographs to create this highly detailed replica. Each cell is handcrafted in solid mahogany, as was the original, with custom cast handles, drain plugs, hasp, and hinges plated in nickel. Each cell holds over 450 screws. Even the size and configuration of the planks on the sides and back match Houdini's original apparatus precisely.
This is an actual working replica, meaning it contains the secret of Houdini's escape. Shhhh.
These are being offered as a signed and numbered limited edition of only 25. Each cell comes with a booklet describing Dave's process of creating the replica with over 50 photographs.
It's not cheap, but if you have the means, you can ORDER HERE.
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