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| The Knickerbocker in 1938. |
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"It's a masterpiece." -David Copperfield
Friday, June 19, 2015
LINK: The Knickerbocker Hotel's Haunted History
I guess it's link day today, so here's a link to a terrific article at KCET.org about the Hollywood Knickerbocker Hotel. Of course, the Knickerbocker was site of the Final Houdini Seance in 1936, and the article touches on this with a first hand recollection of the "dismal, drizzly night" by L.A. Times reporter Gene Sherman. Click the headline and have a read at KCET.
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LINK: Houdini fans don't want you to see this!!!
"In the long run, anything that promotes discussion about Houdini and interest in magic is great in our books, but just for the sake of clarity, we recommend you use this FACT CHECKING GUIDE while you watch Episode #1 on Tuesday night."
Thanks to the Melbourne Magic Festival for the nice shout-out. I'm very flattered to see how far and wide my little Facts Checks have spread.
The Melbourne Magic Festival was created in 2008 by The Australian Institute of Magic with the two-fold aim of giving Melbournians the opportunity to see world class performances of magic in a theatrical environment, and the chance for performers to create shows that express themselves as artists. You can get more information and register at the official website: melbournemagicfestival.com.
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Wednesday, June 17, 2015
How Houdini almost went 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
One of the earliest and most intriguing of these near misses occurred in 1915 when Houdini was approached by the still young Universal Film Company to star in an adaptation of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Presumably, Houdini was being considered for the lead role of Captain Nemo.
This clipping from Variety was uncovered by our friends Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz at the Houdini Museum in Scranton. It suggests why the project never went forward...at least not with Houdini in the lead.
VARIETY
February 20, 1915
HOUDINI WANTS $40,000
Harry Houdini was approached by the Universal this week to appear in its production of "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea." When it came to the money talk Houdini took the film men off their feet upon demanding $40,000.
In explaining why he asked the big money Houdini explained his vaudeville prestige would be damaged by appearing on the screen. Houdini offered to be handcuffed and then placed in a coffin and buried underneath the sea by divers, all in full view of the camera.
The offer made Houdini, the film men stated, was the same as Annette Kellerman's salary, which they said was $400 weekly with a small percentage of the profits.
In today's money, $40,000 was almost a million dollars in 1915 ($929,948 according to DollarTimes). Even Houdini admitted, "I'm afraid I want too much money."
It's interesting to see that at the start of 1915 -- a year in which Houdini embarked on a nationwide Vaudeville tour -- he considered filmmaking a career liability. But by year's end, he was visiting stars and movies studios in California, and would soon plunge into the movie business with his own Film Developing Corporation.
Universal's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea would be made in 1916 with Allen Holubar as Captain Nemo. For the role, Holubar wore a long white bear and wig. One wonders if Houdini would have gotten the same treatment? The final film was a combination of the book and another one of Verne's adventure novels, Mysterious Island. The film was produced by the "Williamson Brothers Submarine Film Corporation" and much was made of the underwater photography, a real novelty in these early days of cinema.
Even though Houdini wouldn't take the plunge in 20,000 Leagues, in 1917 he made a deal with the Williamson Brothers to star in another underwater spectacular tentatively titled "Houdini's Sub-Sea Miracle." This time they met his salary demands, which was said to be "the largest sum of money ever paid to any one performer for a single motion picture." Thriller writer Arthur Somers Roche wrote a script, but for reasons unknown, the project never went before the cameras.
But the idea of Houdini in underwater action proved irresistible, and when it came time to make his second feature for Famous Players-Lasky, Houdini turned to Williamson Brothers technology and featured several underwater scenes in Terror Island. In fact, Terror Island bears a striking resemblance to Universal's 20,000 Leagues in that it features an inventor with an experimental submarine who sets out a rescue an abducted girl from a "mysterious island."
Universal's 1916 version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea survives and is available on DVD and via Amazon Instant Video. It's fun to watch and imagine what this film could have been with Houdini in the lead.
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Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Take a walking tour of "Houdini's Magical Appleton"
Appleton's History Museum at the Castle will be conducting walking tours of "Houdini's Magical Appleton" tomorrow, June 17, and next Wednesday, June 24, at 6:00pm. The tours will be led by curators Emily Rock and Nick Hoffman. Here are the details.
Check out more about this and other 2015 Summer events at the museum website.
Houdini's Magical Appleton
$5.00 per person / $2.50 for Museum Members
Wed., June 17, 2015 for walkers at 6:00pm
Wed., June 24, 2015 for advanced walkers at 6:00pm
Location: History Museum at the Castle
Join a guided walking tour of the sites associated with the myths and reality of Houdini’s life in Appleton. Houdini claimed the city to be his birthplace, but he was actually born in 1874 in Budapest, Hungary. We will explore his brief life in Appleton by visiting where his childhood home once stood, sites of fictional magical feats, and his father’s synagogue. Explore the city that Houdini called home. Fees will be collected the night of the event.
Check out more about this and other 2015 Summer events at the museum website.
Gray Water Ops Houdini Coin is here
Gray Water Ops has released their limited edition Houdini Coin. As you can see from the photo, it's a beauty! The first 1,000 coins will come numbered on the thin edge of the coin. Ten dollars from the sale of every coin will be donated to the S.A.M. Houdini grave restoration fund.
This is the first in Gray Water's 20 coin "Greatest Magicians Series." Every coin will feature a different magician and have a different charity selected to receive the funds.
Gray Water Ops is a veteran owned company that mints custom challenge coins for military units deployed worldwide. You can purchase the Houdini Coin at the Gray Water website.
Thanks to Keith Hanshaw.
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This is the first in Gray Water's 20 coin "Greatest Magicians Series." Every coin will feature a different magician and have a different charity selected to receive the funds.
Gray Water Ops is a veteran owned company that mints custom challenge coins for military units deployed worldwide. You can purchase the Houdini Coin at the Gray Water website.
Thanks to Keith Hanshaw.
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Class of 2015 learns from Houdini
Principal Jeffrey Roadcap reflected on key moments in history occurring on June 12 and tied each one to a lesson. In recalling Harry Houdini's act of freeing himself from a straitjacket while suspended from 40 feet upside down in New York City on June 12, 1923, Roadcap pointed to the importance of perseverance to get out of sticky situations.
"You need determination to be successful in life," he said.
A second Houdini connection would be if the students marched out to the traditional Pomp & Circumstance. This was Houdini's opening music for his 3 Shows in One.
Houdini Lives indeed.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Another 'Houdini & Doyle' audition on Vimeo
Another audition tape for the new TV series Houdini & Doyle has shown up on Vimeo. This time it's actress Natasha Wilson reading for the role of Adelaide. Click to watch it quickly before it gets pulled or put behind a pay wall like the last one.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ON VIMEO
The two scenes read here, which are the same scenes read by actress Maddie Phillips in the last tape, don't give us much information about the series, although Houdini does get a mention. It appears the scenes are between Adelaide and Sir Arthur.
Houdini & Doyle will be a fictional series featuring Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle solving paranormal mysteries. It will air on FOX in the U.S., ITV in the UK, and Shaw Media in Canada. While no air-dates have been announced, co-producer Shaftesbury says "the series will be filmed in London and Canada Summer 2015 for broadcast in 2016."
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'Houdini' arrives down under, June 23
The Houdini miniseries is set to air in Australia on Tuesday, June 23 at 8:40pm on Seven. Part Two airs June 30 at 9:15pm. Evan Jones, who played Jim Collins in the miniseries, has been handling press for this airing. In an interview with The West Australian, Jones says:
"I didn’t really know that much about Houdini beforehand so when I got the role I went to The Magic Castle in Los Angeles and did a lot of research and it was crazy to find out what a big deal he is, like, literally the big deal of magic."
Houdini stars Adrien Brody and Kristen Connolly. The miniseries first aired on HISTORY in September 2014.
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Sunday, June 14, 2015
Houdini photos test auction records
Haversat & Ewing Galleries auction this weekend of The Ed Hill Collection may have set new records for the sale of unsigned Houdini photographs. First and foremost is this terrific 3.5" x 2.5" shot of Houdini being put into a straitjacket. The auction estimate was $250-300. The final sale price was a whopping $3,890 (including 17% premium).
The only photo I can think of to rival this one recently was the group shot at Bessie's 35th birthday party, which sold for $4000 in last year's big Potter & Potter Houdini auction. But that photo had what appeared it be Bessie's handwriting on the back and was larger.
A production still from The Grim Game (this year's hot topic to be sure) blew past its 250-$300 estimate to land at $1,228. I'm thinking this could be a new record for a Grim Game still.
Other big ticket Houdini items were an original portrait postcard (Lot #99) which went for $1,630. A Grim Game advertising postcard (Lot #111) fetched $1,433.
Congrats to Haversat & Ewing Galleries for another successful auction, and thank you for being supporters of WILD ABOUT HARRY.
The only photo I can think of to rival this one recently was the group shot at Bessie's 35th birthday party, which sold for $4000 in last year's big Potter & Potter Houdini auction. But that photo had what appeared it be Bessie's handwriting on the back and was larger.
A production still from The Grim Game (this year's hot topic to be sure) blew past its 250-$300 estimate to land at $1,228. I'm thinking this could be a new record for a Grim Game still.
Other big ticket Houdini items were an original portrait postcard (Lot #99) which went for $1,630. A Grim Game advertising postcard (Lot #111) fetched $1,433.
Congrats to Haversat & Ewing Galleries for another successful auction, and thank you for being supporters of WILD ABOUT HARRY.
The Grim Game hits Scranton
Here's a report by Clay Lepard at WNEP on last night's screening of The Grim Game at the Houdini Museum in Scranton.
It looks like a great time was had by all. Our friend Joe Notaro of Harry Houdini Circumstantial Evidence was in attendance and I will link to his full report when available.
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(If you are having trouble viewing this video, watch at WNEP.)
It looks like a great time was had by all. Our friend Joe Notaro of Harry Houdini Circumstantial Evidence was in attendance and I will link to his full report when available.
Related:
Friday, June 12, 2015
The photo Houdini didn't want you to see
While I was at the American Museum of Magic in Marshall, Michigan last month, I was able to look through some archival Houdini material in their excellent Research Center. While going through a folder on his Aviation career, I came across a remarkable photo and knew I had found something special. Here's the story.
When Houdini became fascinated with aviation in 1909, he bought a French Voisin biplane in Germany. But he needed a place to fly it. So Houdini made a deal with the commander of German army troops stationed at Wandsbek near Hamburg. In exchange for using the Hufaren parade grounds as his airfield, Houdini would give aviation lessons to the German soldiers. Proudly, Houdini had photos taken of himself and his "students" on the day of his first flight, November 26, 1909.
When World War I broke out several years later, Houdini became swept up in the patriotic fervor of the day, selling war bonds and even enlisting for service himself. But, privately, he fretted about the flying lessons he had given to the German soldiers at Wandsbek, fearing that he was responsible for teaching them skills now being used against U.S. and allied troops. So he destroyed all photos of himself with the German soldiers, and relocated the stories of his early aviation triumphs to Australia.
But this photo reprint seems to have slipped through and found its way to Marshall – which is where I found it and bring it to you today. It's the photo Houdini didn't want you to see. (If you need help finding Harry, click here.)
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When Houdini became fascinated with aviation in 1909, he bought a French Voisin biplane in Germany. But he needed a place to fly it. So Houdini made a deal with the commander of German army troops stationed at Wandsbek near Hamburg. In exchange for using the Hufaren parade grounds as his airfield, Houdini would give aviation lessons to the German soldiers. Proudly, Houdini had photos taken of himself and his "students" on the day of his first flight, November 26, 1909.
When World War I broke out several years later, Houdini became swept up in the patriotic fervor of the day, selling war bonds and even enlisting for service himself. But, privately, he fretted about the flying lessons he had given to the German soldiers at Wandsbek, fearing that he was responsible for teaching them skills now being used against U.S. and allied troops. So he destroyed all photos of himself with the German soldiers, and relocated the stories of his early aviation triumphs to Australia.
But this photo reprint seems to have slipped through and found its way to Marshall – which is where I found it and bring it to you today. It's the photo Houdini didn't want you to see. (If you need help finding Harry, click here.)
Click to enlarge.
Thanks to Alex and Keli Hindenach of the American Museum of Magic for making me a copy of this photo and allowing me to share it here. The American Museum of Magic's Research Center is available to researchers by appointment.
Information on the Wandsbek parade grounds deal is found in The Secret Life of Houdini by William Kalush and Larry Slomon, which contains the best chapters on Houdini's aviation exploits.
Stay tuned for more from the archives of the American Museum of Magic.
Houdini daze - June 12-13
Just a couple reminders today before I bring you "The photo Houdini didn't want you to see." First up, Haversat & Ewing Galleries auction of The Ed Hill Collection is now live. Some nice Houdiniana in this auction, so click here to view and bid.
Tomorrow, Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz will screen TCM's restoration of The Grim Game at The Houdini Museum in Scranton, PA. In attendance will be Houdini family members Jeff and Debbie Blood. Tickets are still available, so click here for all the details.
Finally, today is the birthday of Lisa Cousins of the Magic Castle's William Larsen Sr. Memorial Library. Lisa does a wonderful job watching over the AMA's Houdini treasures. Happy birthday, Lisa! Click to revisit Lisa's talk on Houdini and Valentino.
Tomorrow, Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz will screen TCM's restoration of The Grim Game at The Houdini Museum in Scranton, PA. In attendance will be Houdini family members Jeff and Debbie Blood. Tickets are still available, so click here for all the details.
Finally, today is the birthday of Lisa Cousins of the Magic Castle's William Larsen Sr. Memorial Library. Lisa does a wonderful job watching over the AMA's Houdini treasures. Happy birthday, Lisa! Click to revisit Lisa's talk on Houdini and Valentino.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
'Impossible' poster art and websites
Here is the impressive poster artwork for the new play Impossible starring Alan Cox as Houdini and Phill Jupitus as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The play will be performed exclusively at the Edinburgh Fringe 2015 at the Pleasance Dome, August 5-31. It is is one of several Houdini-themed events at the festival.
You can follow the play on Facebook and Twitter @Impossibleplay. The official website is www.impossibleplay.co.uk. Tickets can be booked via the Pleasance Theater Trust.
Press shots by Idil Sukan/Draw HQ.
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In 1920, Hungarian-American magician and escape artist Harry Houdini met celebrated British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for the first time. The two men quickly became close associates, however Houdini was troubled by his new friend's passion for mediumship and his fervent belief in life after death. When shown the mediums' miraculous feats, all Houdini could see were the kind of conjuring tricks with which he was all too familiar.
Directed by Hannah Eidinow and starring Phill Jupitus as Conan Doyle and Alan Cox as Houdini, Impossible, the new play by Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky (writers of 2012's Coalition and 2014's Kingmaker), tells the unlikely, extraordinary and true story of what happened next - a story of spiritualism and seances, friendship and feud, death and regret.
You can follow the play on Facebook and Twitter @Impossibleplay. The official website is www.impossibleplay.co.uk. Tickets can be booked via the Pleasance Theater Trust.
Press shots by Idil Sukan/Draw HQ.
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