Montreal, 1926...

It looks like Houdini appears in the "rye-soaked neo-noir" debute novel by Fraser Nixon, The Man Who Killed.

Montreal, 1926. Mick is down on his luck until an old pal offers him a loaded revolver and a job: riding shotgun in a truck running booze across the border. Stateside Prohibition has opened up a market for certain amusements, vicious or otherwise. Mick takes the job—and his problems begin.

Through his old friend Jack, Mick falls deeper into the life of the small-time tough. From whorehouse to gentlemen’s club, through back alleys and deluxe hotels, jazz joints, opium dens, baseball diamonds, cheap diners and anywhere trouble is to be found, Mick burns his way through the City of Two Solitudes. Other people are in town for their own reasons. Babe Ruth’s here; Harry Houdini, too.

Of course, it was during Houdini's 1926 engagement at the Princess Theater in Montreal that he sustained the blows to his stomach that led to his eventual death. According to a positive review of the book in the Vancouver Sun, real-life eye-witnesses to the incident Jacques Price and Sam Smilovitz play minor roles in the book, and the author offers up an alternate theory for what killed Houdini. The novel also draws a connection between Houdini and Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King’s obsession with spiritualism.

The Man Who Killed appears to have been released in Canada last month. Despite showing a U.S. release date of April 30, Amazon still shows the book as not yet available (but it's currently discounted 32%).

UPDATE: Amazon now shows a release date of January 16, 2012.

Houdini and Ragtime screening at the Skirball Center in May

As part of their special programing for Houdini Art and Magic and Masters of Illusion exhibitions, the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles will present free screenings of HOUDINI (1953) on Tuesday, May 3 at 1:30 p.m., and Ragtime (1981) on Tuesday, May 10 at 1:30 p.m. HOUDINI will be screened from a DVD. Ragtime will be screened from a 35mm print.

For more information on the exhibitions and upcoming programs, visit the Skirball Cultural Center's official website.

Interview with Skirball Center curator Erin Clancey

Madeleine Brand interviews Erin Clancey, curator of the Skirball Cultural Center, about their new exhibit, Houdini Art and Magic, running now through September 4. This interview first aired on Southern California Public Radio on April 29, 2011. CLICK TO LISTEN.

Houdini & Holmes #1 available NOW

Talented young artist and animator Polly Guo has reprinted the first issue of her independent graphic novel, Houdini & Holmes.

The 25 page book finds Holmes and Watson setting out to prove Houdini's innocence after the magician is accused of murder. While there have been Houdini-Conan Doyle mash-ups, this is the first graphic novel (that I'm aware of) that teams Houdini and Sherlock himself.

Polly's first print run was only 50 copies, which she sold online and at last year's San Diego Comic Con. This time she's making available 400 copies. You can also reseve a copy of Houdini & Holmes 2, which Polly says should be ready this summer.

Click here for instructions on how to order Houdini & Holmes.

Mary-Louise Houdini

Is it just me, or has Houdini suddenly exploded into popular culture lately? This year we've already had news of four film/TV projects, Google celebrated Houdini's birthday with a doodle, papers seem a little extra full of Houdini stories (thanks to the Houdini Art and Magic exhibition), a reader tells me Houdini in name checked in the new movie, Fast Five, and now an ad for the new season of Showtime's WEEDS features this Houdiniesque image of actress Mary-Louise Parker.

For those who have never watched the show, know that it has nothing to do with magic. Last season Parker, who plays suburban pot dealer Nancy Botwin, was arrested by the FBI and led away in handcuffs. She's in a predicament, but like Houdini, she will probably perform a miraculous escape.

WEEDS season 7 premieres on Showtime on June 27.

Thanks to Athena Stamos Girl From LA Photography.

HOUDINI IS HERE!

The traveling exhibition, Houdini Art and Magic opens today at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. The Skirball is also featuring an additional retrospective of Jewish magicians, Masters of Illusion: Jewish Magicians of the Golden Age. Having had the honor or attending the previews, I can assure you, this is one you don't want to miss!

Keep watching Wild About Harry for news of upcoming events and special programing starting in May.

Houdini Art and Magic preview at the Skirball Cultural Center

Last night I had the extreme honor of attending a special preview dinner and reception for the Houdini Art and Magic and Masters of Illusion exhibitions at Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. The event was a veritable who's who of Houdini and magic history heavyweights, including; Sidney Radner, Milt Larsen, John Gaughan, Arthur Moses, Patrick Culliton, William Kalush, Mike Caveney, Richard Hatch, Max Maven, Roger Dreyer, and many more familiar names and faces.

The dinner was wonderful, the remarks moving, and the exhibitions are JAW DROPPING! I hope to find time this weekend to write up my full thoughts on these amazing displays of Houdini and magic memorabilia, but know that it exceeds all expectations. This Skirball stop is a MUST for any magic enthusiast or, heck, anyone who wants to take a walk through a colorful and glorious turn-of-the-century art form in a beautiful space (this was the first time I've been to the Skirball). A bonus is that LA is currently festooned with banner ads for the exhibitions (right).

The Skirball is open today from 12-8pm for a special Members Preview. The exhibitions open tomorrow, April 28, to the general public. Also watch for the May issue of Los Angeles magazine, which features a terrific illustration by Mark Summers of Houdini escaping from a straight-jacket while hanging above the Skirball (complimentary copies were handed out last night).

There was a professional photographer on hand last night taking photos during the dinner, reception, and in the exhibit halls. When I find the link to the photos, I'll post it here.

Thanks to the Skirball Cultural Center and Arthur Moses for allowing me to share in this amazing evening.

Cover art for U.S. edition of new Houdini and Conan Doyle book

Cover art for the U.S. edition of Masters of Mystery: The Strange Friendship of Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini by Christopher Sandford has been revealed on Amazon.

Gotta say, I think like the bold cover art for the UK edition from Duckworth better. I also like that the UK edition will be released a month before this U.S. edition from Palgrave Macmillan, which is set for release on November 22, 2011.

Of course, I will be getting them both. :)

Slowing things down a bit

Just a heads-up that I've landed some real-world work for the summer, so I can't promise I'll be able to keep up the same level of (almost) daily updates that I've managed since launching Wild About Harry last November. But, don't worry, I won't let anything major slip past. Thanks for understanding.

Recording of the Final Houdini Seance

Here is a recording of the famous Final Houdini Seance held atop the roof of the Hollywood Knickerbocker Hotel on October 31, 1936. It is narrated by George Boston and features the voices of Edward Saint and Bess Houdini. This recording was released by Hudson Records in 1959 and reissued by Mark56 in 1975.

The 1959 and 1975 LP recordings of the Final Houdini Seance.

Happy Easter.

Ghost Hunters hunt Houdini

I didn't see it, but it appears the Ghost Hunters recently went in search of Houdini in an episode titled, "A Soldier's Story". The site of the potential haunting was the Sterling Opera House in Derby, Connecticut (right). The Ghost Hunters specialty is capturing EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) and, according to a wrap-up of the episode at 411mania, they did record something while trying to contact Harry on the stage of the historic theater.

I don't know. The show sounds pretty sketchy, but these are always fun. Maybe I'll try and catch a repeat.

Boo!

UPDATE: Having now seen this, Houdini only gets a mention as having performed at the theater. No ghost action.

The real deal

Check out this photo of Mike England holding an authentic Houdini lock at the 30th annual Crossroads of America Antique Padlock Show held in Indianapolis last weekend. But this isn't just any Houdini lock. Says Michael:

"The screw lock I am holding [...] is an original Houdini owned Siberian Cell Padlock. The gentlemen that is holding the Houdini lock in another photo is the owner, Jeff Strumberger and yes, he has documentation on this lock -- far more documentation than I have ever seen to support the fact that Houdini owned this lock...it is quite possible that this lock was one of the locks in the famous Houdini "shackled head to toe" photo" [either at Houdini's knees or at the ankles].

You can check out many more photos of the handcuffs, locks, and straightjackets that were on view at Handcuffs.org.

Thanks to Mike for letting me share his pic.

LINK: Harry Houdini exhibit to appear at Skirball Cultural Center

Publicity about Thursday's opening of Houdini Art and Magic at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles is kicking into gear, starting with this article in the L.A. Times.

Look for a nice printed version in tomorrow's Sunday paper.

Houdini challenges Christianity?

Escape artist Norman Bigelow has a history of writing controversial works about Houdini, most famously his 1983 self-published booklet, Death Blow, which came down strongly in favor of the idea that Houdini was murdered.

Now, via his new blog, ESCAPE ARTIST SPEAKS OUT, Norm has posted his first Houdini entry: Houdini Challenges Christianity. Not sure I completely understand it -- and I'm taking no position myself -- but it's something I've never read before and I'm happy to see Mr. Bigelow is still in the game and stirring the pot (on this Good Friday).

Have a read for yourself at Norman Bigelow's ESCAPE ARTIST SPEAKS OUT, and feel free to comment below.

UPDATE: Not surprisingly, this has generated a little controversy on The Magic Cafe forums.