Houdini helps launch Warehouse 13

Houdini got a nice name check last night in the premier episode of Warehouse 13, a new series on SyFy (formally SciFi Channel) that is sort of X-Files meets the last shot of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

In the pilot episode Houdini’s wallet -- one of the many mysterious objects housed in a Top Secret government warehouse in North Dakota -- effects an escape and...well...it doesn’t do much of anything. But according to its Warehouse 13 index card, it is capable of “Charonic Transfer” (whatever that means).

Maybe the wallet will make a return appearance in a future episode?

Meet Johnathon Schaech

Actor Johnathon Schaech, who played Houdini in the 1998 TNT original film, Houdini, will be appearing at the Hollywood Collector’s Show on July 18 and 19. This will be Mr. Schaech’s first appearance at the show.

The Hollywood Collector’s Show is held three times a year at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, 2500 North Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA. For more information visit the official website.

Listen to Houdini's ‘Imprisoned with the Pharaohs’

UPDATE: Unfortunately, it appears this is no longer available.

The Classic Tales Podcast has posted an audio reading of the classic Houdini short story, Imprisoned with the Pharaohs (aka Under the Pyramids). The story is read by character actor B.J. Harrison.

First published in the May-June-July 1924 issue of Weird Tales, the story tells of Houdini’s adventures trapped in a Egyptian tomb. While it appeared under Houdini’s byline, the story was actually ghost written by the great H.P. Lovecraft.

According to Wikipedia "J.C. Henneberger, owner of Weird Tales, wished Lovecraft to write up an account Houdini had told him: on a trip to Egypt, he had been bound by Arabs and left in some deep chamber of Campbell's Tomb in the valley of the pyramids. Houdini was attempting to pass off this adventure as a true occurrence, but Lovecraft's subsequent research established that the story was largely fictitious. As such, Lovecraft allowed his imagination free rein, transferring to the temple of the Sphinx but otherwise retaining many of the details of the narrative as related by Houdini."

Imprisoned with the Pharaohs - Part 1
Imprisoned with the Pharaohs - Part 2

Million Dollar Theater celebrates The Magic of Tony Curtis

A very special screening of the 1953 classic HOUDINI was held at the historic Million Dollar Theater in downtown Los Angeles yesterday. Mr. Curtis was on hand for the day-long celebration, THE MAGIC OF TONY CURTIS, a part of the L.A. Historic Theatre Foundation’s Jules Verne Festival.

Before the screening escape artist Curtis Lovell performed a water cube escape for the packed crowd. Having escaped, Lovell was congratulated by Mr. Curtis himself, who came on stage to a standing ovation.

HOUDINI was a treat to watch with a live audience (including many children) who laughed at the humor and applauded each feat of magic.

For more on the post-HOUDINI screening activates, including pictures, visit Dear Old Hollywood, one of my very favorite destinations on the web.

New Houdini graphic novel by C.E.L. Welsh

Campfire has released a superb new biographical graphic novel Harry Houdini by C.E.L. Welsh with illustrations by Lalit Kumar Singh.

Keshav Thirani, who set up Campfire in India two years ago to produce graphic novels for 7-15 year olds, says that figures like Houdini are generally excluded from the syllabus of children, “Yet, they had magical lives.”

Campfire also caters to fiction with graphic novel adaptions of Tom Sawyer and Sherlock Holmes.

C.E.L. Welsh's Harry Houdini can be ordered with free shipping from www.campfire.co.in or Amazon.com.

Nathanson will unlock The Secret Life of Houdini

IGN.com is reporting that screenwriter Jeff Nathanson has signed on to write and direct The Secret Life of Houdini for Summit Entertainment.

Summit hopes to launch a fictional action franchise in the vein of Indiana Jones and Sherlock Holmes featuring Houdini’s supposed adventures as a spy for the British government.

Nathanson shared credit on the latest Indiana Jones film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and has worked with Steven Spielberg on numerous projects. He also has the dubious distinction of writing Speed 2: Cruise Control.

Death Defying Acts released on DVD in the UK

Death Defying Acts is released today on DVD in the UK by Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Priced at £15.99, the region 2 DVD features an anamorphic widescreen (1.78.1) transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 audio and cast interviews.

Death Defying Acts stars Guy Pearce as Houdini and Catherine Zeta-Jones as a Scottish psychic. While it is an entirely fictionalized episode in Houdini’s life, it’s a decent movie with excellent production design and performances.

Death Defying Acts can be purchased now at Amazon.co.uk.

UPDATE: The DVD is now on sale for only £3.99!

Two ultra rare Houdini props hit eBay

Two one-of-a-kind Houdini props from the storied collection of Arthur Moses have been put up for sale on eBay.

First is Houdini's Original Spirit Cabinet Illusion. According to listing, this escape effect was built in 1924 and intended it to replace his famous Water Torture Cell. Houdini would be encased within four wooden boxes. Iron rods were then placed down the length of the four corners, locking the boxes in place. He may have also been restrained in ropes or chains strung though the holes on either side of the cabinet. The cabinet would then be concealed behind a small drape, from where Houdini would quickly emerge free - yet the cabinet, when shown and inspected, was still tightly secured. The New York Hippodrome program referred to it as "an almost perfect mystery." Opening bid: $18,000.

Next is an Original Houdini packing crate from his home in New York City. The crate contains old shipping labels stating that the trunk belongs to Bess and Harry Houdini. Each end of the crate contains Houdini's theatrical labels in large black letters proclaiming HOUDINI. The crate has Houdini handwriting on one side. In pencil, he wrote "ALL STRAIT JACKETS, OCT 1920." Milbourne Christopher's biography on Houdini clearly states that this was during the time that Houdini formed his movie company and placed his props in the basement to concentrate on making motion pictures. Starting bid: $30,000.

Rush Limbaugh co-opts Houdini poster for attack

Conservative gas-bag Rush Limbaugh has helped himself to Houdini’s classic King of Cards poster to help illustrate his latest attack on President Obama.

Says Limbaugh, "Is Obama the new Houdini? You know, it's Barack H. Obama. Does the "H" now stand for Houdini? Is he trying to escape all responsibility, that he has no responsibility for his own votes for TARP?”

Whatever.

Hugh Jackman confirms he’s Houdini

Hugh Jackman has confirmed to Sydney's Daily Telegraph that he is indeed playing Harry Houdini in an original Broadway musical due to open in 2010.

"We've been working on that for about a year and we'll probably go to Broadway when we're finished. But it'll be at least a year away," says the actor.

Jackman described his fascination with Houdini, stating, "He was a showman basically. He was probably the first rock star. A master manipulator of the media and a showman through and through."

As to playing a singing and dancing Houdini...

“Come on. Why not?” Jackman says with a laugh. “If [Houdini] could sing and dance he would have done it.”

Scott Sanders and David Rockwell will produce Houdini, which features a book by best-selling author Kurt Andersen and music by Danny Elfman. Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien is attached to direct.

Political cartoonists still love Houdini

In his own time Houdini was often used in political cartoons, such as the Chicago Herald in 1922 depicting “Houdini Sam” suspended in a “Pacific Alliance straight jacket” or the Brooklyn Eagle showing “Congress” boxed in a Houdini-like packing crate marked “Bonus Dilemma” (these can be seen in The Original Houdini Scrapbook by Walter B. Gibson).

Well, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Check out this modern political “cartoon” that accompanied an article in the Mail Online about British Prime minister Gordon Brown’s perceived political constraints. Headline: Even Houdini couldn't get out of this.

'God Goliath' with Houdini and Leo Weiss

Here’s one of the most unique takes on a Houdini story I’ve ever heard. The Wingspan Theatre Company, in cooperation with The Bath House Cultural Center, will present a staged reading of a new play entitled God Goliath by Dallas playwright Angela Wilson.

God Goliath takes place in 1915 and finds Houdini’s brother, Dr. Leopold Weiss, experimenting with “the healing properties” of the x-ray machine. All he needs is a dying patient and a great deal of funding. When Houdini and Dr. Weiss team up, the competition is on between science and magic. When one of Weiss’ patients discovers that her own cancer has spread, she becomes the patient of an unlikely trio of “physicians” that includes Houdini, Leo Weiss, and the household cook, who has her own ideas for a cancer cure.

This staged reading of God Goliath will be directed by Beth Bontley. The cast includes T.A. Taylor, Ashley Wood, Pam Dougherty, Carrie Slaughter and Cindy Beall. The staged reading dates are: Thursday, April 9th and Friday, April 10th, both at 7:30 p.m. Admission is pay-what-you-can. Call 214-675-6573 for tickets or by emailing wingspan@wingspantheatre.com.

Photo of Houdini and Leopold Weiss from Houdini!!! The Career of Ehrich Weiss from the Arthur Moses collection.

Houdini’s Paper Magic reprint

The books Houdini wrote during his life have all fallen into the public domain and are therefore reprinted again and again in varying quality. I don’t even try to keep up, and let most of these reprints pass me by.

But every once and a while there’s a standout, and that applies to Barnes & Noble’s 2007 reprint of Houdini’s Paper Magic. It’s a small quality hardcover with a very nice dust jacket by Jo Obarowski. The text is a facsimile of the original 1922 edition by Dutton.

If you don’t have Paper Magic and don’t want to shop (and pay) for a first edition, this might be the one to add to your Houdini library.

Houdini’s Paper Magic can be purchased at Amazon.com.