The Midwest Magic History Weekend

David Charvet has announced that he will be hosting The Midwest Magic History Weekend on May 28-30, 2015 in Marshall Michigan. The event will be held in cooperation with the American Museum of Magic which will offer attendees a special behind-the-scenes tour of rare museum artifacts and their incredible research library that is not open to the public.

In addition, the 3 days will be filled with speakers on a variety of historical magic subjects; a private day tour to Colon, Michigan, "The Magic Capital of the World" and home to Abbott's Magic Company. The day in Colon also includes a visit to "Blackstone Island," home to the famed illusionist.

Full program details and speakers have not yet been announced, but I have a feeling this will be a convention Houdini fans will enjoy (recall that the American Museum of Magic owns a Houdini-Hardeen Mik Can).

You can find more details and register at the official website: MagicHistoryWeekend.com. There is also a dedicated Facebook page.

Haversat & Ewing auction goes live on Saturday

The next big magic auction from Haversat & Ewing Galleries goes live this Saturday, November 15. There are over 15 lots related to Houdini this time, including one of Houdini's trick Bibles (Lot #150).

Manufactured to Houdini's specifications, the Bible is handed to a spectator who is asked to turn to any page and silently read a selection of their choice. Houdini would then automatically know what words the spectator was reading. Approximately four of these trick bibles were made.

The auction estimate is $7,000-$10,000. But the last time one of these Bibles came up for auction, it sold for $24,000, so this will be one to watch.

CLICK HERE to view all the auction lots and to register to bid. Active bidding begins at 11:00 AM EST on Saturday, November 15, 2014. The first lot closes at 3:00 PM EST.

Related:

• Houdini Bible brings in a sinful $24k
• Houdini's Bibles

Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini #2

Today sees the release of Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini issue #2 written by Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery with artwork by Carlos Furuzono. As with issue #1, Dynamite has released the graphic novel with different covers (below).

After Harry Houdini's opening night performance is undone by a grotesque murder, he clashes with Sherlock Holmes when Holmes refuses to allow the legendary magician to help bring the perpetrator to justice. But the proud Houdini won't take 'no' for an answer, leading to an epic game of cat-and-mouse in London's dangerous streets.

Purchase& Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini #2 at the Dynamite website or Amazon.com. Issue #3 will be released on December 10.

Related:

• It's Holmes vs. Houdini in October
• Preview Sherlock Holmes vs. Houdini
• Sherlock's big day (Issue #1)

Flappers adopt Houdini

Here's a great little news item from the Washington Times dated August 20, 1922. I'm not sure I understand exactly how "Houdini" equates with being "on time for a date", but that's the young generation for you. Twenty-three skidoo!

Click to enlarge.

Of course, Houdini knew his way around a Flapper. Oh you kid.

Flapper Bess.

UPDATE: It appears Houdini himself was a fan of the flapper. This is from the June 20, 1922, Atlantic City Gazette Review.

The Houdinis by Ludwig Reiter

Here's a unique "period" photo of Adrien Brody and Kristen Connolly as Harry and Bess Houdini that was not part of the regular Houdini publicity stills. This appears to have been taken either before or after filming of the miniseries as the actors are sporting different costumes and hairstyles. This comes from the website of Viennese shoemaker Ludwig Reiter (the caption points out that Brody is wearing Ludwig Reiter "Chelsea Boots"), so it appears to have been shot specifically for advertising purposes.

The Houdini miniseries was released last month on DVD and Blu-ray and can be purchased at Amazon.com.

Related:

• REVIEW: History gets a C- in Houdini
• Fact checking HISTORY's Houdini - Night One
• Fact checking HISTORY's Houdini - Night Two

Rare Houdini pitchbook sells on eBay

An uncommon edition of Houdini's standard pitchbook sold today on eBay for $801.68 (condition might have held this back from making even more). The auction says this was printed by The Caxton Press, Furnival Street, London, E.C. No date is given.

Houdini's pitchbooks were issued with several different covers and contain wide varieties of subtle variations. The inside of this edition states: "Three Million of these Books in circulation since 1900, in various forms, Editions and Languages."

Collector John Bushey has undertaken the task of collecting and/or documenting all of Houdini's pitchbooks (as well as those of his imitators) as part of his massive "pitchbook project." You can see many of those pitchbooks at John's site HERE.

In 2012, a pitchbook with a Weed Chain cover sold in auction for $1,230. Houdini's very first pitchbook, Magic Made Easy, sold on eBay back in 2007 for $4,457.

Related:

• The pitchbook project
• Pitchable pitchbooks
• Houdini pitchbook with Weed Chain cover nabs $1,230

Houdini and Randi

Here's a clip from the documentary An Honest Liar about how Houdini influenced the life and art of James The Amazing Randi.

Read this excellent profile of Randi, The Unbelievable Skepticism of the Amazing Randi, at the New York Times Magazine website.

Related:

• James Randi documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival
• The Amazing Randi spellbinds at The Magic Castle
• Randi reappears at The Magic Castle

Houdini at Yankee Gathering XV

Yankee Gathering XV, the biennial convention of the New England Magic Collectors Association (NEMCA), concludes today in Westboro, MA. John Hinson is attending and has sent over these pics of three table displays filled with his original Houdini photos and memorabilia (some of these can be seen seen in our Unpublished Houdini series from last year). Nice to see the recently rediscovered "Dearest Vincent" Bessie letter back among John's collectibles. Click each photo to enlarge.

Here are Houdini items on display from the collection of our good friend Jon Oliver.

NEMCA has also released The Yankee Magic Collector #16. This latest issue includes Houdini articles by Arthur Moses (Houdini's "The Unmasking Of..."), Ron Cartlidge (The Harry Houdini Collection: Boxes 7-9 & 19), and William V. Rauscher (Houdini and the Hippodrome).

For more information visit the New England Magic Collectors Association website.

The Houdini-Eisner connection

Here's an item from the April 17, 1976 issue of The High Point Enterprise announcing the signing of Paul Michael Glaser as Houdini in the ABC biopic, The Great Houdinis. Why is this interesting? Because look who made the announcement: Michael D. Eisner.

Click to enlarge.

As Vice President, Program Planning and Development for ABC, Eisner would have been one of the key decision makers responsible for making The Great Houdinis happen. Until I found this clipping, I had no idea he was involved.

Of course, Eisner went on to run the Walt Disney Company from 1984 to 2005 and became one of the most powerful men in show business. Interestingly, it was during Eisner's tenure that Disney produced Young Harry Houdini with Wil Wheaton. Eisner even personally introduced the movie on March 15, 1987 (view clip here).

It appears the mighty Mr. Eisner understood the appeal and power of Houdini throughout his career.

Related:

• Superlove Starsky is Houdini
• MAKING 'THE GREAT HOUDINIS'
• Why today is October 8, 1976

DER GROSSE HOUDINI in Germany

It's been a big year for Houdini in Germany. Not only did we see a major new documentary, but a new Houdini stage musical, DER GROSSE HOUDINI (The Great Houdini), premiered on October 24, 2014 at the Theater Hof in Hof, Germany.

Houdini is played by Chris Murray (right). Bess is played by Cornelia Löhr. Christian Venzke plays Hardeen; Janelle Groos is Cecilia Weiss; Christian Venzke is Daisy White; and Andreas Bühring is Leopold Weiss. Book, music and lyrics are by Paul Graham Brown. Stage direction is by James Edward Lyons with musical direction by Kenneth Duryea.

You can find more information (in German) at the Theatre Hof website. Below are pics from the production from the Theatre Hof Facebook page and video from YouTube.

Houdini le magicien

La Cabane Magique, Tome 45: Houdini le magicien by Mary Pope Osborne is a new French translation of Hurry Up, Houdini released by Bayard jeunesse.

The book tells the adventures of Tom and Leah who set out to discover the secret of Houdini's greatness. To help them, their guide Merlin gives them a brochure on Luna Park, a magic ring and a vial containing mist of Avalon. Will they meet their hero? You'll need to read French to find out.

La Cabane Magique, Tome 45: Houdini le magicien can be purchased at the French Amazon.fr and well as Amazon.co.uk.

A fresh new Mirror Handcuff mystery

There is currently a fresh new mystery surrounding Houdini famous Mirror Handcuff challenge of 1904 that has some of the best minds scratching their heads. It started with this article from a March 1904 issue of The Tatler that surfaced on eBay recently. The article not only shows a different Mirror Handcuff key, but on closer examination, it appears to be a different Mirror Handcuff entirely!

If this is indeed a second working Mirror Handcuff, and the cuff that Houdini escaped from at the London Hippodrome in 1904, then it opens a fresh can of worms and raises a while host of new questions about the famous challenge.

This article was uncovered by Ron Spitz and posted to the Handcuffs.Org forum where it's currently being hotly discussed. So if you want to weigh-in on this one, I would advise heading over there. (Be sure and check out the post by "Riley" on November 2 at 5:17 PM for a wild alternate theory of how Houdini pulled off the Mirror escape using these mystery cuffs.)

Hopefully our good friend Mick Hanzlik, the man I turn to for all things Mirror related, will write a new Guest Blog for us with his own conclusions regarding what is now being called the "Tatler cuff." But even the mighty Mick seems somewhat perplexed at the moment by this new wrinkle in the Mirror story.

Check out the discussion at Handcuffs.Org

Related:

• Guest Blog: Silver Mirror cuffs made before the challenge? Not so fast...
• Guest Blog: The Replica Mirror Cuffs
• Unlocking the truth of the Mirror Handcuff challenge

Stephen Schwartz now off 'Houdini'

Just in case you needed more evidence that the Houdini Broadway musical is dead, composer Stephen Schwartz is now off the project, according to Broadway World:

When asked about "Houdini", the musical which was originally set to star Hugh Jackman in a Broadway run, Schwartz revealed his involvement with that project is over, "although others may pursue it."

Schwartz's departure follows that of writer Aaron Sorkin in early 2013 and star Hugh Jackman in December of that same year. The project was first announced in 2008. Below is the timeline of what has been a disappointing journey for Houdini fans.

Broadway Houdini Musical timeline:

• Houdini musical headed to Broadway in 2010 - April 17, 2008
• Hugh Jackman said to be rehearsing 'Harry Houdini' - March 27, 2009
  
• Hugh Jackman confirms he’s Houdini - April 22, 2009
• Elfman gives update on Houdini musical at Comic-Con - July 23, 2010
• Jackman says Houdini musical “off and running” - October 26, 2010
• Aaron Sorkin writing the Broadway Houdini musical - November 2, 2010
• Houdini Broadway musical announced for 2013-14 season - January 4, 2012
• Aaron Sorkin updates progress on Houdini musical - June 7, 2012
  
• Jackman "very excited" about Houdini musical - June 12, 2012
• Houdini Broadway musical update - October 12, 2012
• David Rockwell talks HOUDINI - November 24, 2012
• Aaron Sorkin drops out of Houdini - January 29, 2013
• Houdini musical now looking to 2014 - July 24, 2013
• Jackman's 'Houdini' might open first in Chicago - August 30, 2013
• Houdini Broadway musical delayed…again - December 3, 2013
• Hugh Jackman bows out of Houdini Broadway musical - December 23, 2013
• Schwartz confirms Houdini is on hold - April 1, 2014

The Official Houdini Seance 2014

This year The Official Houdini Seance was held at the Glen Magna Farms in Danvers, Massachusetts, the country estate owned by the Danvers Historical Society. Once again, it appears to have proven itself to be the Rolls Royce of Houdini seances, and another great success for co-directors William Radner and Thomas Boldt.

Pre-seance entertainment was provided by magicians Evan Northrup and Eric Robitaille, who both came via the recommendation of Vince DeAngelis, owner of Diamond's Magic, who also helped organize this year's event. Dr. Gene and Jennifer Yee closed the evening with Metamorphosis. "They were great," says Bill Radner. "The viewers were blown away and clapped with intensity seldom seen at this type of event."

The medium this year was Anastasia Zimeris from Salem who, according to Bill, "captivated the audience with emotion." The Inner Circle was made up of: Tom Boldt; William Radner; Vince DeAngelis; William Kalush; Evan Northrup; Fred Pittella; Eric Robitaille; Robert Somerdin; and Jennifer Yee.

While Houdini himself didn't attend, Bill felt this was a seance to remember: "Glen Magna is on a farm away from civilization and it created an intimacy that recreated the feeling that existed in the early 1900's. We had a cozy room occupied by a little over 30 people eager to indulge in the aura of Houdini. The regular Inner Circle members were not able to make contact with Houdini, but Tom Boldt and I along with Rob Somerdin, Fred Pittella, Jennifer Yee and Bill Kalush knew Houdini (and my father) would have been proud."

Here are some photos of the evening courtesy of Bill Radner and Robert Somerdin.

Psychic Medium Anastasia Zimeris.

Heavy hitters: Rory Feldman, Robert Somerdin, Fred Pittella, Bill Kalush.

Pre-seance magic by Evan Northrup.

Escape artistry by Eric Robitaille.

Will the seance cuffs finally open?

Are you here, Harry?

Gene and Jennifer Yee close the evening with Metamorphosis.

Ghost hunters channel lunch at Turner's Seafood in Salem.

"Eyes of Memory Never Sleep."

You can read a detailed account of the evening in The Salem News: Houdini's spirit summoned to Danvers. Also read this article in the Appleton Post Crescent about seance co-director and devoted Houdiniphile Tom Boldt: Boldt CEO spends Halloween in search of Houdini.

Official Houdini Seances past:

• Photos from The Official Houdini Seance in Halifax (2013)
• Report: The Official Houdini Seance in Fort Worth (2012)
• Official Houdini Seance draws Houdini notables...but not Harry (2011)
• Official Houdini Seance held in New York (2010)
• Official Houdini Seance held in home of Anna Eva Fay (2009)
• Official Houdini Seance held at the Dorothy Young Center (2008)
• Houdini is a no show at official seance (2006)
• When Houdini went LIVE (1986)