ETSU conjure "A Houdini Experience"

The East Tennessee State University Department of Communication and Performance presents Mystery, Mirth, & Magic: A True Houdini Experience at their Bud Frank campus theatre, April 30-May 3. Shows begin at 7pm nightly and at 2pm for the Sunday matinee.

Brandon Bragg (Brando the Great) performs as Houdini in the production described as "an intimate story of Houdini himself. A monologue with magic, music, and death defying escapes. Jalopy Junction, a vaudeville theatre troupe, will be performing alongside the Wild-Man with some wild tricks of their own."

Admission is $10 for the general public and $5 for students. Additional information can be found at The Loafer Online.

The color of Houdini's bathing suit?

Here is a colorized image of Houdini created by Dana R. Keller (danarkeller.com). Dana previously colorized another image of this same escape -- Houdini's 1914 overboard packing case escape off Battery Park -- but this time the artist has made an interesting new choice in regards to the color of Houdini's bathing suit.

As you can see, Houdini is wearing red bathing trunks here. In Dana's earlier image it was gray and black. While we know Houdini wore an all-white bathing suit during his 1912 NY overboard box escape, the color of the 1914 suit was never recorded (as far as I know.) But in a description of a 1908 bridge jump in Philadelphia, a newspaper described Houdini as wearing "a bright red swimming suit," so red is a possibility here. It also makes sense that Houdini would wear a color that would make him visible among the crowd and in the water.

The color of the bathing suit Houdini wore onstage during his Water Torture Cell is recorded as having been a light blue.

You can buy a print of the above image at Dana Keller's Redbubble page.

UPDATE: We now know Houdini wore a "cerise-colored" bathing suit during his famous jump from the Harvard Bridge in 1908.

Related posts:

• Houdini in color
• Bess Houdini in color
• The untold story of Houdini's 1914 Battery Park escape

New Houdini play gets reading in May

The Westchester Collaborative Theater will present a reading of their new play, Rosabelle, Believe, on May 22 and 23 at the Ossining Library in Ossining, NY. The play is written by Joseph Lauinger and directed by Alan Lutwin. The reading on the 23rd will be followed by a Q&A with the playwright, director and cast. Tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets.

Rosabelle, Believe is about the fractious friendship between Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (a popular subject these days). The official website describes it as "a delightful meditation on cross cultures, sexual gamesmanship and the afterlife." The cast features Deacon Hoy as Houdini; Michelle Concha as Bess; Ward Riley as Conan Doyle; Sharon Rowe as Lady Doyle; and Jim Brownold as "Eddy" Saint.

For more information visit the Westchester Collaborative Theater website.

Greatest Magicians coin series kicks off with you-know-who

Gray Water Ops, a specialist in commemorative coins for fundraising, has launched a new "Greatest Magicians Series" with a Houdini Coin. The company says that $10 from every coin sale will be donated to the S.A.M. Houdini grave site restoration fund.

This is the first in a 20 coin series featuring great magicians through time. Every coin will have a different charity selected to receive the funds. In the image above you can see the list of all 20 magicians. Great to see Doug Henning on the list. But I wonder what image will be used on that Erdnase coin?

For more information and to pre-order the Houdini Coin, visit Gray Water Ops.

Thanks to Keith Hanshaw.

Related posts:

• Houdini grave restoration details revealed

Houdini portrait in leather

Here's something unique. This is a portrait of Houdini hand tooled in leather by Kyle Landas. It's a one of a kind piece being offered at the Sandman Collection.

One of a kind portrait of the legendary magician/escape artist Harry Houdini. Created out of hand tooled leather! Yes, leather! After carving the image into the leather, it was hand painted using acrylics and metallic paints. Set in a bold, metallic accented custom frame. Very stunning, classic piece of fine art in leather. Size: 18" x 15" Signed and dated on the leather dustcover on the reverse side.

Thanks to Carrie Johnson-Smith for the alert.

What's next, Hollywood?

Now that we've had the Houdini miniseries, is Hollywood done with Harry? If the current list of Houdini projects set up around town is any indication, they are just getting started. But are any of these ever going to get made? Here's a rundown of some of the Houdini projects Hollywood currently has in development:

Houdini and Doyle - FOX (series)
Just last month it was reported that Sony Pictures Television had sold a 10-episode TV series called Houdini And Doyle to Fox, ITV, and Shaw Media. The series would be produced by David Titcher, David Shore and David Hoselton, and would feature Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle solving mysteries with a paranormal twist.

Are we Wild? This same concept has come up again and again (as you will see below), but I'm excited about a TV series and this doesn't sound as silly as some of the other Houdini TV projects in development. And it has some serious talent behind it. Could be good.

UPDATE: It's on! Michael Weston and Stephen Mangan are ‘Houdini & Doyle’

The Secret Life of Houdini - Lionsgate/Summit (feature)
Houdini as a spy! (*sigh*) That's the "hook" of The Secret Life of Houdini, which has been percolating at Summit-Lionsgate since they picked up the rights to the Kalush/Slomon biography of the same name back in 2009. The project has since gone through a turbulent development. Jeff Nathanson, Gary Ross, Joe Wright, and Dean Parisot have all come and gone as potential directors. Johnny Depp is said to be interested in starring, but his commitment may have been overstated. Ryan Gosling has also been rumored.

Are we Wild? After the Houdini miniseries, I really don't want to see Houdini as 007, with or without Johnny Depp. But I think Lionsgate might also be over it as well. The studio were co-producers on the Houdini miniseries, which might explain why it tipped so heavily toward the spy angle.

Houdini - Sony/Columbia (feature)

Can you believe this project has been in development for 40+ years? [Read: The saga of Ray Stark and Houdini.] It looked like this was finally coming together with Francis Lawrence attached to direct and a fresh new concept involving Houdini and Chung Ling Soo. But then in 2014 Max Landis was signed to write yet another new screenplay. Since then, all has gone quite.

Are we Wild? I don't really know what Landis and Sony now have in mind, so I'm ambivalent about this one. Also, news of yet another new script and writer is not progress. This one feels like a full time resident of Development Hell.

Modern-Day Houdini - ABC (series)
The Hollywood Reporter has been in the habit of breaking Houdini "exclusives" that go nowhere. That appears to be the case with ABC's "Modern-Day Houdini" TV series. In 2013 THR reported that David Hoberman's ABC-based production company, Mandeville was developing the project with writers Jeff Addis and Will Matthews. The plot involves the ghost of Houdini partnering with "an unusually gifted female detective to solve the cases that baffle the LAPD." Yep.

Are we Wild? As silly as this concept sounds, I like the idea of a weekly Houdini TV series enough that I could live with this for a season or two. But as we've heard nothing in over a year, I suspect Harry's ghost is D.O.A.

Among The Spirits - Syfy (series)
In February 2011 Syfy announced plans to make Among the Spirits, a dramatic "steampunk" television series featuring Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle solving mysteries in the 1920s. The series would be written and produced by Steve Valentine and Paul Chart, and is reportedly based on a graphic novel of the same name (although I've never been able to track down a copy). Last I heard the series had moved to NBC.

Are we Wild? I think this has potential and, again, I'd love a weekly Houdini TV series to blog about. Certainly seems more palatable than the ABC idea. But news of the FOX series may have knocked this out for good.

Voices from the Dead - DreamWorks (feature)
In 2011 DreamWorks purchased the original screenplay Voices from the Dead from screenwriter J. Michael Straczynski. The script finds Harry Houdini and, you guessed it, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle teaming up with a psychic to solve a set of murders in 1920's New York. Since the purchase, there has been no news.

Are we Wild? While I want a Houdini feature film, a Houdini-Doyle detective mash-up isn't really the movie I want to see. But I'd still be there opening day.

The Houdini Box - 20th Century Fox (feature)
In 2012, 20th Century Fox-based Chernin Entertainment purchased the film rights to Brian Selznick's illustrated children's book The Houdini Box. The book tells the story of a young boy who receives a box from Houdini just before the magician's death. In 2013 Chernin announced that Irish filmmaker Kealan O'Rourke would write and direct the project. O'Rourke is a veteran of short films and animation, The Houdini Box would mark his feature film debut. There's been no word since.

Are we Wild? Ambivalent.

Carter Beats the Devil - Warner Bros (feature)
Based on the superb 2001 novel, Carter Beats The Devil by Glen David Gold -- which features Houdini in a small but significant role -- this project has long been in development. Paramount originally optioned the book in 2002 for Tom Cruise to star and produce. Once that deal lapsed, AMC took a stab at turning it into a TV series. That also didn't work out. Then in 2010 the project got back on track when Michael Gilio was tapped to write the screenplay with Jon Shestack producing for Warner Bros. In 2012 it was reported that 21 Jump Street directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were in talks to direct. There's been no news since.

Are we Wild? Yes, it's a brilliant book.

The Arcanum - Gold Circle (feature)
Based on Thomas Wheeler's fantasy-adventure novel, The Arcanum finds Houdini, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, H.P. Lovecraft and Marie Laveau teaming up to fight demons in 1919 New York. Wheeler penned the screenplay which was first purchased by Miramax in 1999. Gold Circle acquired the property in 2004. In 2007 it was reported that writer/director Randall Wallace had signed aboard to direct. No word since then. But Gold Circle is still in business, so presumably this one is still on the books.

Are we Wild? These multi-historical character action mash-ups never seem to work. But I'd still see it!

Houdini - Canal Street/Circus Road (feature)
The family film directed by William Dear from a script by Marty Colasuonno and Julian Ericsonn centers on "a young magician trying to save his family's animal rescue shelter with the help of a famous escape artist dog on the run from kidnappers." In 2014 Screen Daily reported that the Circus Road/Canal Street Films production would begin filming in Los Angeles in September. It now appears production will most likely happen in Canada in 2015.

Are we Wild? Sounds cute, but I hope they change that title. Calling it Houdini will cause confusion.

Young Houdini - Unknown
The film rights to Simon Nicholson's series of Young Houdini books have been sold, but to whom I have no idea. But there's a producer out there who believes the adventures of Young Houdini would make a good movie.

Are we Wild? Sure, I think Young Houdini could be fun. My hope is this was picked up by a UK production company for British television.

The Houdini Inheritance - Walden Media (feature)
In July 2012 The Hollywood Reporter broke the "exclusive" (again) that Chuck co-creator Chris Fedak had been hired to write an untitled Houdini project for Walden Media. According to the report, the story centers on "an unsuspecting high schooler who finds himself in grave danger when he discovers a family secret leading back to the legendary illusionist." Walden's is now out of business, but director Mark Waters said in 2014 that he was shopping the project to other studios.

Are we Wild? Mark Waters has said Houdini is in this movie in flashbacks, so that makes me excited to see it made. I hope he can set it back up at a new studio.

If you have news of another major Houdini project set-up with a studio or producer, or have fresh updates on any of the projects I've listed above, please contact me.

"Harrywood" sign image by Tom Interval of Houdini Museum.

'Resurrecting Harry' new edition

Constance Phillips' 2013 romance novel Resurrecting Harry has been re-released in a new paperback with beautiful new cover art by Kim Jacobs of Calliope-designs. This 2nd edition also includes an excerpt from the upcoming sequel, Liz's Legacy, due in early 2016.

Resurrecting Harry is a paranormal romance novel that tells the story of Houdini returning from the dead in the guise of a younger man, Erich Welch, to help Bess get over her loss. The author says, "As someone who loves and writes romance, I wanted to tackle what is (in my mind) one of the Great Romances of our time."

The new edition of Resurrecting Harry can be purchased at Amazon.com. You can learn more about the author and check out her other work at constancephillips.com.

Related:

• Constance Phillips resurrects Harry
• Constance Phillips resurrects Harry TODAY

LINK: Houdini’s bronze of Bernhardt

In 1917 Houdini came to the rescue of actress Sarah Bernhardt. The famous French theater star had been presented with a bronze cast of herself on behalf of the "Actors of America," but then later billed for it. Unable to pay the bill, the actress had to return the gift with great embarrassment. Houdini swept in and paid the bill on her behalf, and his generosity paid him back in publicity.

It's a story that always gets a mention in major Houdini biographies, but the bronze itself has remained somewhat of a mystery. What ever happened to it? That mystery is now solved in a nice post at the Houghton Library Blog. They not only tell the story of the bronze, but also have a photo of it from the Harvard Theatre Collection. So click the headline above and read all about "Houdini’s bronze of Bernhardt."

Thanks to ​Dale Stinchcomb.

Rick Schmidlin (Bonus): Where did Larry Weeks get The Grim Game?

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Rick Schmidlin who produced the TCM restoration of Houdini's The Grim Game. I posted my Q&A with Rick in two installments: Finding The Grim Game and Saving The Grim Game.

Today I have a BONUS excerpt in which Rick and I discuss the mystery of the original 35mm nitrate print. This was said to be the last surviving print of The Grim Game, and it was disposed of in 1959 when Larry had the film transferred to 16mm safety film. But where did he get it?

WAH: Did Larry tell you how he got the original nitrate print?

RICK: He said he got it from Bess. I don't... Where would Bess have been in 1943?

WAH: Dead. Well, she died in early 1943, she was in Hollywood before that.

RICK: Exactly. So I don't think he got anything from Bess. He kept on saying that he got it from Bess. But Larry was just a kid, he wasn't even in the army in 1943. He definitely wasn't in Hollywood and he definitely didn't go to Hollywood to get this stuff.

WAH: Right.

RICK: Now, my guess is this. And this is just educated. Houdini had the lab in New Jersey. And when The Grim Game and his other film projects came they went to the lab. Basically it was like, "I've done the projects, and, by the way, guys, can you give me a print, I want to keep it for myself." Because he was an archivist, he saved his books, he saved his scrapbooks, he's gonna save his films. He was interested in films and he had the facility to keep it. Now when the lab closed...what year was that?

WAH: It's unclear when he closed to lab, but it was by mid '20s.

RICK: 1922, wasn't it?

WAH: Well, Haldane of the Secret Service was released in 1923, so I've always thought the lab closed down around that time. It took a while for Houdini to unravel his movie businesses.

RICK: Right, so the lab closes down, and the film elements of his negatives go to...probably Hardeen's Estate?

WAH: Hardeen ran the film lab, so, yes, he might have taken possession of a lot of that stuff.

RICK: That's what I'm thinking. So he took the films. Now if you look at what was said on the Kino, and you look at the history of the film, which makes perfect sense, around 1947 all this nitrate film is sitting in New York, and they have their house inspected. And they have a young Larry Weeks who's been in This Is The Army trying to buy everything he can. He may have bought a bookshelf [Larry had a Houdini bookshelf in his apartment], he may have gotten a scrapbook, he had a little money. Remember, he had been in an Irvin Berlin play on Broadway.

WAH: Now when you say this, you mean he's at Hardeen's home, correct?

RICK: Yes, that's what happened.

WAH: And Hardeen died in 1945, so Elsie Hardeen was unloading stuff.

RICK: Right. Again, this is where the detective works comes in, and where we think logical.

Film reels showing nitrate decomposition.

So the film is sitting in New York, and the insurance man comes in to inspect the house, knowing nitrate in this day...people are watching it. I know many people who in the 1940s had to throw away many great nitrate films because, you know, they could explode an entire city block. So they have to get rid of them. And they were probably told they had to bring them somewhere that would have cost them money. So they call this kid who been pestering them for anything he can get on Houdini, and ask if he wants them. And he was up there like a flash. So Larry in 1947 obtains the films. That's my hypothesis. But if you think about it -- lab, Hardeen, the location...that's why I say "Houdini heirs" in the beginning. Does that make sense to you?

WAH: It makes sense to me. When Bessie sold 278, much of her stuff went with her to her sister's house -- the Hinsons. A lot of it remained with them when she went to Hollywood. The Hinsons did have a great many Houdini movies, and they were visited by the insurance man. That's where that story comes from. Marie Blood tells it. So when Larry said he got his stuff from "Bess", I always felt what he was saying was that he got it from the Hinsons. But the Hinsons say they threw out all their films after the visit from the insurance man and that Larry did not get The Grim Game from them. They are clear on that to this day. So, like you, I think Larry could only have gotten it from Elsie Hardeen, especially at that time. I heard that's what happened. And then he later acquired some things from the Hinsons because I do know that he visited them in 1956. And eventually it just all sort of melded together. That's why there's a confusion of when and where he got what. It all just became one collection of artifacts from the "Houdini family."

RICK: Right.

***

As a postscript, in 1958 Larry Weeks formed the "Houdini Film Restoration Fund." Larry knew that his nitrate prints were in danger of decay (recall that Rick said The Grim Game probably only had six months left). Check out this item written by Larry himself in a 1960 issue of Abacradabra:

Reading this 55 years later, one thing becomes clear. A lot of people were involved in this effort to find and restore The Grim Game, and a lot of people deserve credit. But the person who truly saved The Grim Game, the person who is most responsible for us now being able to see and enjoy Houdini's best film, is the late Larry Weeks, "Houdini's Biggest Fan."

Related:

• Rick Schmidlin (Part I): Finding The Grim Game
• Rick Schmidlin (Part II): Saving The Grim Game
• Houdini conquers Hollywood (at last) in The Grim Game

In search of Houdini in Rochester

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle has a nice article by Justin Murphy about Houdini's jump from the Weighlock Bridge in Rochester on May 7, 1907 (Mystery surrounding Houdini in Rochester). This is reportedly the jump we see in the famous film footage on the Kino DVD set, which is currently the earliest known film footage of Houdini.

The article also reproduces the famous photo of Houdini kissing his mother in "Rochester 1908" and have asked their readers to offer ideas of where the photo might have been taken. So far theories have suggested: Fitzhugh Street between Broad and Main streets, by the old City Hall; on South Clinton Avenue near Main Street, in front of the Universalist Church and East Side Savings Bank; or farther down West Main Street, near the current site of Nick Tahoe's.

The site has layers of aggressive pop-up ads (so many I gave up on my first attempt), but if you can navigate through, it's well worth the read. CLICK HERE.

Houdini Milk Can returns to stage for one-time only performance

Today I have news of the next big Houdini event of 2015. Houdini's famous Milk Can escape will be performed by escapologist Joseph Patire (a.k.a. Hatari) at the upcoming Midwest Magic History Weekend in Marshall, Michigan. But here's the historic twist. Joseph will be using the original Houdini-Hardeen Milk Can from the collection the American Museum of Magic, and the escape will take place 70 years to the day that Hardeen last performed the escape in public.

This will be the first and absolutely last time the can will filled with water, and will be an incredible feat to witness (I will be among the onstage committee members). Here is the full press release:

FINAL PERFORMANCE OF HOUDINI’S MILK CAN IN MARSHALL – MAY 30th

The final performance of Houdini’s legendary Milk Can Escape – using the original apparatus – will be presented by escapologist Joseph Patire on Saturday evening, May 30th as a part of the Midwest Magic History Weekend, held in cooperation with the American Museum of Magic in Marshall, Michigan, the owners of the Milk Can.

“This is an unbelievable turn of events,” said David Charvet, Producer of the History Weekend. “I have been negotiating with the Museum board for months. They are rightfully very protective of the apparatus, which has not be filled with water in 70 years.”

Houdini debuted the escape at the Columbia Theater in St. Louis on January 27, 1908 after the manager of the theater told the Handcuff King that his manacle escapes were becoming old hat. The galvanized steel can, resembling an oversized milk can, was examined by a committee from the audience and filled with water. Houdini folded himself into the tight confines of the can and ducked his head below the water as the lid was quickly slammed in place and secured with six padlocks.

The can – with Houdini submerged inside – was surrounded by a cloth cabinet as the seconds ticked by. After three minutes a gasping, dripping Houdini appeared from the enclosure, revealing the can still securely locked with no indication of how he had made his escape.

The feat became the feature of Houdini’s act through 1911 when he developed his famous “Water Torture Cell” that he performed up until his death in 1926.

For years the Milk Can was stored in the basement of Houdini’s home in New York. Following his death, all of his props were willed to his brother, Theo Hardeen, who began performing the Milk Can in his vaudeville act because he was too large to fit inside of the Water Torture Cell.

For the next 18 years Hardeen presented the Milk Can as the closing feature of his show, actually performing it more times than Houdini. He had several close calls where he had to be released from the can before he made his escape.

Hardeen’s final performance was on May 30th, 1945 at the RKO Madison Theater in Brooklyn. He featured the Milk Can in that last show. 13 days later, on June 12, 1945, Theo Hardeen died at age 69.

Following Hardeen’s passing the Milk Can was acquired from his estate by magician, Martin Sunshine. He revered Houdini and never performed the escape. The can was stored in a warehouse in Three Lakes, Wisconsin for thirty years until it was purchased by Robert Lund, founder of the American Museum of Magic, where it became the centerpiece of the museum from its opening in 1978.

The performance on May 30th marks the 70th anniversary – to the day – of Hardeen’s final show in 1945. The can has not been filled with water since that day. “Bob Lund allowed several people to attempt the escape over the years, but the can was never filled with water,” said Charvet. “There is a real element of danger presenting a water escape with equipment this old. The museum has assured me that they will never allow the Milk Can to be performed again after this show on May 30th.”

Chosen for the honor of the final performance is magician and escape artist, Joseph Patire. No stranger to water escapes, he has presented variations of the Milk Can in the past. “But to perform it with the original Houdini-Hardeen can – and knowing I will be the last person ever to do so - is a real honor,” Patire said.

The escape attempt will be the climax of the Magic History Weekend, a three-day gathering of magic historians and collectors from around the world. The show will be held at the Franke Center for the Arts, 214 E. Mansion Street in Marshall, Michigan on Saturday, May 30th at 7:30pm. Limited tickets are available to the public by contacting Susan Collins at the American Museum of Magic: 269-781-7570. Details about the Magic History Weekend are at: MagicHistoryWeekend.com.

This certainly promises to be a spectacular closing event! The weekend will also kick off with a Houdini event -- I will be giving my "Houdini in Hollywood" talk on Thursday, May 28 at 7:30pm. Hope to see you there!

Clarification: The Milk Can in the collection of the American Museum of Magic is one of several used by Hardeen and possibly Houdini. The can Hardeen used in his final performance on May 30, 1945 is currently housed in the collection of Dr. Timothy Moore.

UPDATE: REPORT: Houdini-Hardeen Milk Can reappears on stage.

Related:

• Houdini at the Midwest Magic History Weekend, May 28-30
• When failure meant a drowning death
• Hardeen's close call

Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini #5

Today sees the release of Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini #5, the final issue in this graphic novel series written by Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery with artwork by Carlos Furuzono. As with the previous issues, Dynamite has released #5 with variant covers (below).

The thrilling conclusion to the critically acclaimed series sees two become the sign of the one… Rasputin, the mad Russian monk, has forced either Holmes or Houdini to take their final bow, leading our remaining adventurer to rally his spirits to combat the man who cannot be killed.

You can purchase Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini #5 at the Dynamite website. A collected volume of all five issues will be released in September and can be pre-ordered now on Amazon.

Related:

• Sherlock's big day (Issue #1)
• Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini #2
• Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini #3
• Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini #4

The next big Houdini event of 2015...

With the return of The Grim Game, 2015 has certainly been a big year for Houdini. And it's about to get even bigger. Check out WILD ABOUT HARRY tomorrow at noon (EST) when I will unlock news of the next big Houdini event of 2015.

TOMORROW

Arthur Moses updates his Houdini Periodical Bibliography

Arthur Moses has released a new and updated edition of his essential Houdini Periodical Bibliography: References From 1898 - 2015. First released in 2006, this updated edition includes 935 new listings for a total of over 2500 entries from 46 countries. It also has new color images, great new cover art, and contains introductions by renown magic periodical bibliophile, Raymond Ricard, and yours truly.

Few legendary men, real or imagined, retain their celebrity nearly 100 years after their passing. However, Harry Houdini was one such man. Covering a time period from 1898 to 2015, this revised bibliography includes 935 individual title listings with over 2500 entries from 46 countries which chronicle all significant articles by or about Houdini in magazines, periodicals, journals, etc. A must for any collector, historian, and researcher of "Houdiniana". There is no greater Houdini literary reference bibliography than this extensive resource. 154 Pages Over 90 B/W and Full Color images.

You can purchase Arthur's updated Houdini Periodical Bibliography: References From 1898 - 2015 at Amazon.com (U.S.) and Amazon.co.uk (UK).