Link: John Cox reviews Masters of Mystery

Inside Magic, a wonderful website for magic news "Updated Daily for the Professional Magician" has reprinted my review of Christopher Sandford's Masters of Mystery: The Strange Friendship of Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini. They've also added a few kinds words about WILD ABOUT HARRY. I'm honored! Click the headline to check out the review and to have a browse around Inside Magic. You'll find great stuff there.

The Story of Harry Houdini

Amazon.com has just made available for the Kindle The Story of Harry Houdini by James C. Young. No, it's not a new book per se. The product description below explains what this is exactly:

Originally published in 'The New York Times', This Kindle edition, equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 20 pages, consists of three parts. Part I, a brief overview of the life and career of the master magician and escape artist, was originally published January 13, 1918. Part II, which focuses on Houdini as both a medium and a debunker of mediums, was originally published May 7, 1922. Part III, which concerns one of Houdini’s greatest escapes, was originally published July 8, 1912.

Interesting. And it's only .99¢. Still, I wish there was a way to get this in a printed edition.

Christopher Sandford signing tonight in Berkeley, CA

Just a reminder that Christopher Sandford will be signing copies of his new book, Masters of Mystery: The Strange Friendship of Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini, tonight at 7:00pm at Books Inc. in Berkeley, California.

Masters of Mystery: The Strange Friendship of Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini was released by Palgrave Macmillan last month. The book was first released in the UK lin October under the title, Houdini and Conan Doyle. You can read my review HERE.

For more information on tonight's signing, visit the Books Inc. website.

Watch Houdini's overboard box escape

Having discovered a way to combine Quicktime movies for my 13 second Grim Game assemblage, I've now gathered together several trims of what is Houdini's only filmed overboard box escape (to my knowledge) to give us the full event in 01:37. These clips come from The Learning Channel's 1999 documentary, The Greatest, the 1971 BBC documentary, The Truth About Houdini, and The Houdini Code (2008).

Kellar?

Unfortunately, I don't know where or when this escape was filmed. But I love then tension you can feel as the crate is lowered into the water and the agonizing beat as it is completely submerged up to the lid...and then plunges lower. Also, is that Harry Kellar who shakes Houdini's hand at 20 seconds and then looks at the camera at 31 seconds as the box is lifted away? Check out the screen capture on the right. I think it is.

Enjoy the show.

UPDATE: This is confirmed to be Harry Kellar. The man standing next to Kellar, who also shakes Houdini's hand, is magician Nate Leipzig.

UPDATE 2: You can now watch a more complete and clearer version of this footage HERE.

UPDATE 3: I've finally discovered exactly when and where this footage was shot. Check out: Houdini's overboard box footage identified at last!

Related:

• The Overboard Box
• Houdini goes overboard in San Fransisco
• The untold story of Houdini's 1914 Battery Park escape

Watch 13 seconds of The Grim Game

After posting the Mysteries & Scandals Knickerbocker Hotel episode yesterday, I was inspired to break out my old VHS copy of the episode they did on Houdini himself. I don't think I've watched it since it first aired on October 26, 1998. It's a decent little doc containing interviews with all the usual suspects (Dorothy Young, Ken Silverman, Penn & Teller), but what made me sit up was that it contained a pretty substantial clip of the jail cell sequence from Houdini's lost film, The Grim Game.

I've combined the clip with the eye-blink fragment I posted back in December of last year to now give us 13 glorious seconds of Houdini struggling with his shackles in The Grim Game! Enjoy.

For more on what is said to be Houdini's best film, check out: I've seen The Grim Game.

Houdini never around when we need him, claims wife!

Check out this sensational letter written by Bess Houdini that was recently offered up on eBay. Here Bess is writing to the famous Klein's Restaurant in Pittsburgh, PA, thanking them for their sandwiches. It's a wonderful slice of life from the Houdini roadshow circa 1925, and it's very uncommon to see a letter written by Bess during Houdini's lifetime. But I'm especially crazy about her P.S.:

"Please pardon the signature in pencil, but Houdini is the only one who has a fountain pen, and of course he isn't around when we need him."

Unfortunately the starting price of $900 appears to have been a little too steep to attract a buyer and the letter cycled off today unsold.

Click to enlarge

P.S. Noticed the auction used a quote about Bessie's dueling birth dates from my birthday tribute last January.

Mysteries & Scandals checks into the Knickerbocker Hotel

UPDATE: Unfortunately, this video has been removed.

Here is the full 30 minute episode of E! Channel's Mystery's & Scandals about the famous Hollywood Knickerbocker Hotel. Of course, the Knickerbocker was the site of the Final Houdini Seance in 1936, and that is featured right up front starting at 5:34. The segment includes sound footage of Bess from Religious Racketeers, and also a photo of her holding a crystal ball that I've never seen (hey, could that be this ball?).

Bessie's crystal ball?

Mysteries & Scandals also did a full episode on Houdini himself, which aired on October 26, 1998.

Thanks to the Vintage Los Angeles on Facebook for the link alert.

Houdini the humorist

Here's a terrific twice-signed photo of Houdini currently on eBay. Not only is this an uncommon shot of HH, but I really love what he's written on the back: "It is a foolish thing for any one to sign an empty piece of paper. Houdini, Feb 2 – 1920."

For how often Houdini is depicted as being deadly serious, intense, and even morose (Death Defying Acts anyone), there is ample evidence, like this card, that he was actually pretty mischievous and witty. Just look at any of the existing film of Houdini and you'll see him always smiling and even playful before the camera. Anyway, I love that this card captures Houdini the humorist.

Hot Houdini

Here's one on eBay that I've never seen. This is an XL Hanes T-shirt featuring Houdini's name within the Hot Wheels logo. This shirt is actually a promotion for the band "The Melvins" who released an album called Houdini in 1993. The seller is not sure exactly how many were made, but notes that over the years the band, and this album, have gathered a cult following and this shirt has become quite rare.

Speaking of Houdini and Hot Wheels-type cars, check out this set of Oxford Diecast "Limited Edition" vehicles released in England in 2001 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Houdini's death. This set can also be found on eBay from time to time. Where was all this cool stuff when I was a kid?

UPDATE: SOLD for $75.00 with 10 bids. Not too shabby!

The Dream Machine want to resurrect 'Houdini'

In 1967 the band The Dream Machine -- who enjoyed success as the opening act for The Who -- released their single HOUDINI on Decca Records. Now the band is getting back together and want to record a new 10 track CD called, THE HOUDINI TRILOGY.

An original 1967 HOUDINI single

Go to The Dream Machine page at Kickstarter.com to find out more or to make a donation to THE HOUDINI TRILOGY project.

Haldane screening to open 'Magicians on Screen' retrospective in NY

The Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY will screen Houdini's Haldane of the Secret Service with live music by Donald Sosin on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. The screening is part of the opening day events for their new retrospective, Magicians on Screen.

This is a new 35mm preservation print of Haldane provided by George Eastman House, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. The screening will also feature a 7 minute short by video artist Terese Svoboda, The Talking Tea Kettle, which explores Houdini's and David P. Abbott’s battles against fraudulent mediums.

Preceding the screening will be a live magic show by Ben Robinson (4:30pm) and a presentation by Matthew Solomon on "Early Film and Magic" (3:00). Solomon is the author of the excellent Disappearing Tricks: Silent Film, Houdini, and the New Magic of the Twentieth Century.

Magicians on Screen runs through January 1, 2012. You can see the full line-up of screenings and lectures at the The Museum of the Moving Image website.

278 resident throws a Houdini party

A resident of Houdini's former home in Harlem is moving out after ten years and decided to throw a magic themed party on Sunday for friends and a few lucky Houdini aficionados.

Included at the gathering was magician Brian McGovern, who performed at the party, and Michael Cartellone, the drummer for rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and a major Houdini buff.

What a thrill it must have been for all who attended!

For more on Houdini's house, check out Discovering 278: the home of Houdini.

For the dogs

A few dog related items today. First, even though it was released back in May, I only now just discovered this biography of Sigmund Neuberger aka The Great Lafayette.

Lafayette, who was killed in a theater fire, was utterly obsessed with his dog, Beauty, a gift from Houdini in 1899. In fact, Lafayette was buried with Beauty in a lavish funeral filmed by Houdini.

This book appears to be self-published. At 100 pages, I can't vouch for the content, but at least the cover features Beauty. Lafayette would have approved! You can order The Death and Life of The Great Lafayette by Ian Robertson and Gordon Ruter at New Lands Press.

Also on the dog front today, Kevin Connolly has posted on his blog an unpublished photo of Houdini's dog Charlie with Joe Hayman, one of the original "Brothers Houdini." Charlie is the white Pomeranian said to have been a gift to Harry and Bess by the Grand Duke of Russia in 1903. Check out the pic of "Houdini's Pooch and Pal" at Houdini Himself.

And finally, there's THIS.

If that's still not enough canine action for you, can read more about Charlie, Bobby (dog #2) and Houdini's other pets HERE.

What happens in Vegas...

Actually, I don't know if this is Las Vegas. In fact, I don't really know anything about this photo of Bessie Houdini in a casino that I found among The Culliton Papers. Who are these men that are either rewarding Bess or taking her money? One thing I do like is in this pic is you can really see just how small Bessie was, even in heels!

Click to enlarge

But there's something more here. This photo actually debunks a major myth. Check out Edward Saint at the slot machine in the background. Not only is it cool to see him holding a cigarette, but look at that big smile on his face. Well, that shouldn't be!

According to The Secret Life of Houdini (page 555), Ed Saint suffered from "nerve paralysis of certain facial muscles" making it "impossible for him to smile." Saint actually took advantage of this condition and performed during his carney days as "The International Smileless Man", in which he would offer audience members $1000 if they could get him to crack a smile.

Well, either that isn't Saint back there (and it sure looks like him to me), or he's put one over on us all. But now he's busted.

By the way, Patrick Culliton can't recall where he got this photocopy, and several other candid shots of Bess and Saint around town (a second shows Saint smiling), so he warned me that it might not be okay to post this. If you are the owner of the original and want me to take this down, just shoot me an email and it will vanish like magic.

Or, better yet, let us know where this was taken and who these men might be. It's a pretty cool, revealing shot, and I think a great way to conclude The Culliton Papers.

UPDATE: Mystery solved. This photo is part of the Richards Studio Collection in the Tacoma Public Library and the caption reads in part: "Beatrice Houdini, widow of the famous magician Harry Houdini, tries her luck with the slot machines while attending a party at Ray Gamble's 'Elephant House' during a visit to Tacoma in July, 1941."

Also enjoy:

• Willard's side
• Houdini and the Transatlantic Flight
• Miracle Mongers the Movie
• Houdini's wristwatch
• Did Houdini have claustrophobia?