The Albany accident

On October 11, 1926, Houdini broke his ankle while performing the Chinese Water Torture Cell at the Capitol Theater in Albany, New York. This is generally considered the start of a chain of events that would lead to his death 20 days later. This ankle breaking incident was dramatized for the first time in the recent Houdini miniseries with Adrien Brody.

To mark the occasion, here's a sensational letter from the collection of our friend Thomas Ewing of Haversat & Ewing Galleries. This is Houdini's own account of the accident in a letter to magician James S. Harto written 88 years ago today.

Click to enlarge.

I met with an accident with the Water Torture Cell last night. The cover snapped as we were drawing it up, and I have some sort of a fracture on the left leg. The left side of my body is somewhat weaker than the right, or perhaps it just struck a glancing blow. Anyway, it hit with enough force to smash the cover which is of heavy nickel-plated steel. If the blow had not broken the cover, I was informed by a doctor who was in the audience that it would have cut off my left ankle. I cannot believe that, hardly, but I guess it is so.

Tom points out the intriguing mention of Houdini's body being weaker on the left side than the right. Evidence of some early stage of illness? The final paragraph is utterly chilling as he maps out exactly what will be his final days on stage.

Thanks to Joe Notaro for reminding me of this anniversary. Joe also has some info on the Albany accident today on his blog Harry Houdini Circumstantial Evidence.

Thanks to Tom Ewing for allowing me to share this remarkable letter on WILD ABOUT HARRY.

UPDATE: Here's an interesting addendum to this story. This is a newspaper notice from the Van Curler Theater in Schenectady, Houdini's next stop in his tour, downplaying the accident and assuring audiences that he would perform as planned.

Related:

• 85 years ago: Houdini's Water Torture Cell accident
• Harry Houdini hurt during act in theater (HHCE)
• Houdini on his 1926 Buried Alive: "I like it very much."

Photos from new German Houdini documentary

Here are a selection of photos from the new German Houdini documentary, Spiel mit dem Tod – Harry Houdini der Meistermagier, courtesy of producer ifage filmproduktion. I had the pleasure of helping out this production with some research.

Directed by Jens Monath, the documentary features actors in the roles of Houdini and Bess in reenactments. The adult Houdini is played Paul Cimpoieru. Houdini as a boy is played by Adrian Nour. Delia Nartea and Ioana Zaharia play the young and older Bess Houdini.

The documentary also features Houdini escape reenactments by German magician Jan Rouven.

Spiel mit dem Tod – Harry Houdini der Meistermagier will air on German station ZDF October 19 at 19.30.

Thanks to Jessica Demirkaya.

Houdini grave restoration details revealed

S.A.M. present-elect David Bowers and current president "Ice" McDonald.

Last month we learned that the Society of American Magicians planned to undertake a restoration of Houdini's grave in Queens, NY. Now Christopher Barca in the Queens Chronicle has revealed details of exactly what this restoration will entail.

The project will be done in two phases and may take a total of two years to complete, according to S.A.M. president Kenrick "Ice" McDonald and president-elect David Bowers, who visited the plot last week.

In the first phase, the glass S.A.M. mosaic, which is caked in dirt and missing several tiles, will be repaired. The entire exedra will then be power-washed in order to restore its original gray color.

The second phase will be to replace the missing headstones of Leopold and Gladys Weiss, which have been absent from the plot since 1993. This is especially good news. Let's hope that the plan is to restore or match the originals.

The total cost of the project is still undetermined as the society is waiting on a price estimate for the mosaic's repair. Bowers said it is a foregone conclusion that the S.A.M. will approve the funding request.

"Houdini is responsible for the Society of American Magicians being what it is today," said Bowers. "We feel like we owe a debt of gratitude to him."

While the plot remains under the control of Machpelah Cemetery management, the S.A.M, along with Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz of the Houdini Museum in Scranton, will be in charge of the restoration.

Related posts:

• S.A.M. planning "huge restoration" of Houdini's grave
• Here are the missing headstones for Gladys and Leopold Weiss
• S.A.M. to resume upkeep of Houdini's grave

"Metamorphosis" seeks a new home

In 2010, Appleton's "Metamorphosis" sculpture, which had stood in the center of Houdini Plaza since 1985, was removed and put into storage while the plaza underwent a massive renovation.

The new Houdini Plaza now has a beautiful fountain centerpiece, and WHBY reports that Alex Schultz, president of Sculpture Valley, is trying to find Metamorphosis a new home.

Schultz says one possible location is a roundabout on the east end of the College Avenue bridge. A second location would be along Lawe Street. Schultz points out that there's already a marker at the place where Houdini almost drowned as a child.

Metamorphosis sits atop a red-brick platform that resembles a stage. The abstract metal box is balanced on the point of one of its corners and draped with a padlocked chain. The sculpture was created by Richard C. Wolter and was donated to the city by Boldt Development Corp. (yes, as in Tom Boldt).

Metamorphosis is currently in storage at the city's facility and grounds building in Memorial Park.

Related posts:

• Appleton Houdini sculpture to disappear
• New Houdini Plaza opens in Appleton
• Plans unveiled for new Houdini Plaza

Sherlock Holmes and the King of Clubs

I missed this one when it was release back in April. Sherlock Holmes and the King of Clubs by Steve Hayes and David Whitehead is yet another Houdini-Holmes adventure. Here's a synopsis:

A brazen daylight robbery at Christie's becomes the talk of London, but Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are no longer in the business of solving crime. Holmes has retired to Sussex, to keep bees, and Watson, recently widowed, has returned to general practice. But when Watson, desperate for distraction, agrees to accompany his old friend to Vienna, to visit eminent neurologist, Sigmund Freud, it is not long before the pair are pulled back into the murky world of ruthless criminals bent on abduction, intimidation and murder. A shadowy terrorist group, The Black Hand, is plaguing the city, and when the tentacles of a crime committed in England reach across to Vienna to cil around Harry Houdini, the famous American escapologist, the Great Detective and his Boswell relish the chance of solving yet another puzzle.

Sherlock Holmes and the King of Clubs is available in hardcover and for Kindle from Amazon.

The star of the show

I'm happy to report that last night's "Houdini in Hollywood" event at Hollywood Heritage Museum was a resounding success! We had a standing room only crowd, and I really think everyone enjoyed all aspects of the evening; from my talk, to Jim Steinmeyer's appearance, to the raffle and screening of Terror Island. I'll have a full report with pics up in a few days, but I didn't want to leave you all in suspense about our mystery display item -- the real star of the show -- so here it is:

Original lobby stand for Houdini’s silent feature The Man From Beyond (1922). The film was the first made for the Houdini Picture Corporation and featured Houdini as a man frozen in ice for 100 years.

This lobby stand has a unique hand painted image and originally came from Houdini’s personal collection. It is displayed here for the first time since 1922.

From the Collection of Mark Willoughby

Thanks to everyone who showed up last night. It was indeed a glorious return to Hollywood for Harry.

UPDATE: When Houdini returned to Hollywood.

Houdini is ready for his closeup

Tonight is my big Houdini in Hollywood event at the Hollywood Heritage Museum. To mark the occasion, our good friend John C. Hinson, the great nephew of Harry and Bess Houdini, has sent over this fantastic image of silent screen superstar Gloria Swanson who has playfully inscribed this photo to Houdini himself.

I hope to see some of you at tonight's event. For those who can't make it, I will do my best to get pics up within the next few days.

The Hollywood Heritage Museum is located at 2100 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90068, directly across from the Hollywood Bowl (enter on Odin St.). Parking is plentiful and free. Phone is (323) 874-2276. For more visit hollywoodheritage.org.

UPDATE: When Houdini returned to Hollywood.

Houdini in Hollywood and Beyond

Tomorrow, October 8, I will be giving a special Houdini in Hollywood talk at the Hollywood Heritage Museum. All this week the museum has on display rare Houdini memorabilia from my own collection as well handcuffs from the collection of Joe Fox.

But tomorrow we will have on display a very special item from the collection of our good friend, Mark Willoughby. Mark has never shown this item before, and it's a jaw dropper! I'm not going to tell you what it is -- at least not until after the event -- and it will ONLY appear for this one night before it goes back to the great Beyond.

So if you want to see a rare artifact from Houdini's film career, get a ticket to "Houdini in Hollywood" via brownpapertickets. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.

The Hollywood Heritage Museum is located at 2100 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90068, directly across from the Hollywood Bowl (enter on Odin St.). Parking is plentiful and free. Phone is (323)-874-2276. For more visit hollywoodheritage.org.

UPDATE: When Houdini returned to Hollywood.

Double down on Houdini TODAY

Today sees two major Houdini releases hitting the store shelves (and Amazon) here in the U.S.

First up is the DVD and Blu-ray release of the Houdini miniseries starring Adrien Brody and Kristen Connolly. The 2-disc set includes the extended international version (or what screenwriter Nicholas Meyer calls the "Lionsgate version") as well as the cut down version that aired on HISTORY last month. It also includes four behind-the-scenes featurettes.

Having now seen the extended edition, I can say it is far superior to what was shown on HISTORY. I'd even go as far as to say that the network did a great disservice to viewers and the filmmakers by showing us something that I would call unfinished. In fact, I will be doing a full re-review if the extended version in the coming weeks.

Purchase HOUDINI on DVD at Amazon

Purchase HOUDINI on Blu-ray at Amazon
Purchase HOUDINI (UK) at Amazon.co.uk

Next is the U.S. release of the first book in Simon Nicholson's new Young Houdini series, The Magician's Fire. The book is released by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and is aimed at readers 10-13. The series features the fictional adventures of a young Houdini in 1886 New York.

Purchase Young Houdini: The Magician's Fire on Amazon

You can see cover art and read a synopsis for Nicholson's second Young Houdini book, The Demon Curse, HERE. You can also read and interview with the author today at Second Bookshelf on the Right.

This week Hollywood Heritage is a Houdini Museum

This Wednesday, October 8, I will be hosting a special Houdini in Hollywood night at the Hollywood Heritage Museum in, you guessed it, Hollywood! To get ready for the big event, Joe Fox and I have set up three full display cases filled with Houdini memorabilia from our personal collections, turning Hollywood Heritage into a temporary Houdini museum!

Even you can't make it to the Wednesday event, you can still go have a look at the Houdini displays for the next week during regular museum hours. And, remember, Hollywood Heritage is housed in the historic Lasky-DeMille Barn, which was the cornerstone of the Famous Players-Lasky studios where Houdini made The Grim Game and Terror Island. So Houdini was here! For that reason alone the museum is a must visit, and what better week to do so.

Tickets are still available for "Houdini in Hollywood" via brownpapertickets. They tell me the event is now half sold out, which typically means it will sell out at the door on the night of the event. So if you want to make sure you get in, you might want to grab an advance ticket, or come early and enjoy the Houdini museum. (We will have an additional ultra-rare item on display that night only.) And, remember, Magic Castle members get a special 20% discount.

Click to enlarge.

The Hollywood Heritage Museum is located at 2100 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90068, directly across from the Hollywood Bowl (enter on Odin St.). Parking is plentiful and free. Phone is (323)-874-2276. For more visit hollywoodheritage.org.

UPDATE: The Houdini display has now been extend to October 18.

Official Houdini Seance 2014 to be held in Danvers, MA

Details for the 2014 Official Houdini Seance have just been released. The seance will be held this year in at Glen Magna Farms in Danvers, MA, the country estate owned by the Danvers Historical Society. Danvers is about 20 miles north of Boston and adjacent to Salem. Danvers was originally known as Salem Village. Here is the full press release from our friend and seance organizer William Radner:

To Mark Halloween Death of World’s Greatest 

Illusionist

Public invited to join in 88th anniversary bid to reach 

Harry Houdini

DANVERS, MA (Oct. 6, 2014) – The world’s leading Houdini enthusiasts will gather on Halloween Oct. 31 north of Boston at the original Salem Village for The Official Houdini Séance – a public event to contact Houdini, the world’s greatest illusionist, escape artist and magician, who died Oct. 31, 1926.

Members of the Houdini Inner Circle from throughout the world will be joined by Anastasia Zimeris, an Aboriginal medium trained in the Australian Outback. Also participating will be a descendant of Anna Eva Fay of Melrose, MA. Ms. Fay was a world famous medium and stage mentalist who performed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and who entertained Houdini at her Melrose home.

The Official Houdini Séance is considered the only genuine Houdini séance. It was founded in 1948 by Sidney Radner of Holyoke, MA, a protege of Harry Houdini's brother Hardeen. The Official Houdini Séance has been conducted annually at locations inside and outside the United States, including London, UK; Niagara Falls, Canada; Los Angeles; and in Houdini’s former home in Harlem, New York City.

This year, The Official Houdini Seance will be Oct. 31, 7 p.m. at Glen Magna Farms in Danvers, the country estate owned by the Danvers Historical Society. Danvers is about 20 miles north of Boston and adjacent to Salem, MA. Danvers was originally known as Salem Village and was home to the 1692 Salem witch trials.

Admission to the séance is by ticket only. Tickets are $40 each and include a cocktail party with roving magicians. The event will include magic from Evan Northrup, escapes by Eric Robitaille, and a grand finale by Dr. Gene Yee and his wife, Jennifer. Jennifer Yee is the great-grandneice of Anna Eva Fay.

Vince DeAngelis of Diamond’s Magic in Peabody, MA has provided local oversight for the Danvers setting for the séance. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Diamond’s Magic Inc., 515 Lowell St., Suite 4, Peabody, MA 01960, T: 978-535-8950.

Tom Boldt of Appletown, WI, co-organizer/director of the event, said it promises a unique experience. “For many years, Sid Radner brought his admiration and respect for Houdini to The Official Houdini Séance, which has thrilled audiences and those who shared our love of magic, escape artists and the mastery of illusion. We hope to make this Halloween’s the best séance ever.”

Bill Radner of West Springfield, MA, also co-organizer/director, said, “Since my father passed away in 2010, Tom and I have continued to bring The Official Houdini Séance into the lives of people from all over who share our admiration for Houdini. Houdini is truly the most important icon in the worlds of magic and escape and illusion. We promise, as always, to honor that with an entertaining and thrilling Halloween evening to likely never be forgotten.”

Great to see the tradition of the Official Houdini Seance continues. The most recent seances have been held in Fort Worth and Halifax. I'm sure this year's seance will be just as spectacular as those events. And, who knows, maybe this will be the year Houdini joins the show...

Believe.

Calling all Houdini followers

Here is a magnificent, unpublished photo of Houdini from the collection of our good friend Mark Willoughby. This shot shows Houdini inside his New York brownstone speaking through his spirit trumpet.

What I love about this pic is that it gives us a new perspective on the inside of 278. This appears to be Houdini's office or library, but this shot shows us the reverse angle of more well-known photos (like this). It also gives us a look at the hallway and what appears to be at the stairway railing. With this, we could potentially pinpoint the exact location of this pic and Houdini's office in the surviving house, if we could just get inside the darn place!

Perhaps Houdini is calling out to the current owner of 278 to let us have look?

Thanks to Mark for sharing this fantastic photo.

Related:

• The man who lives in Houdini's house
• Discovering 278: the home of Houdini
• Houdini's house then and now