Houdini sells out in Sierra Madre

He's been dead 92 years, but that doesn't mean Houdini can't still pack a house! Friday's screening of The Grim Game at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in Sierra Madre, California, was sold out and a big success.

The Playhouse, which opened in 1923 as a silent movie theater called the "Wistaria Theater", was nicely decked out with Houdini posters. I arrived early for a run-through and had great fun "helping" (meaning I stood and watched) the Playhouse's technical director, Todd McCraw, put up the theater marquee. The instructions said to just put up the name of the movie, but Todd and I agreed that "HOUDINI" had to be up there as well!

Every seat was filled and the evening kicked off at 8pm emceed by Playhouse president David Gordon. I came up first to introduce the movie and tell the story of its rediscovery and restoration. Kevin Liebson of the Catalina Island Museum, who co-sponsored the event, spoke about the museum's upcoming Silent Movie Benefit. Playhouse artistic director Christian Lebano then revealed plans to launch a series of classic film events at the Sierra Madre Playhouse.

Then came the movie with live accompaniment on the piano by the gifted Michael Mortilla. You may recall Michael provided music for last year's Silent Movie Benefit screening of Terror Island. He also provided the score for the original Bill McIlhany VHS release of The Master Mystery (which makes that version a must have). Michael's music was once again masterful. After the screening there was a Q&A panel with some great questions from the audience. The Houdini lobby posters were then raffled off.

I was thrilled by how many audience members commented on just how much they enjoyed the movie as a movie (not just a novelty). Many marveled at how surprisingly well made it was. There were even compliments on Houdini's acting! (I also spotted something new in the movie, which I plan to share in an upcoming post.)

It's a shame The Grim Game remains commercially unavailable because it really is the best representation of Houdini's film work. But that's what makes screenings like this one at the Sierra Madre Playhouse so special. What a treat it was to be part of this. My thanks to all.

Below are a few more pics for the evening.

Composer Michael Mortilla and attendee Joe Notaro (HHCE).

Ready to open the doors.

The big screen.

Who?

I'll do any job for Houdini.

The Grim Game will screen again at the Catalina Island Museum on Friday, May 17th. I will once again introduce the film (same jokes folks) and it will again be accompanied by Michael Mortilla. Click for details and tickets.

Related:

• Get ready for a Grim (Game) May
• The Grim Game screening at the Sierra Madre Playhouse, May 3
• Rick Schmidlin: Finding The Grim Game | Saving The Grim Game

Houdini's 278 is coming back to life

It was one year ago today that news broke of the sale of Houdini's New York home ("278"). At the time, the new owners assured the Houdini community that they planned to preserve Houdini history. Today I'm excited to share the first image of the restoration in progress.

This photo was taken from the parlor level entryway and shows a now restored doorway into what was Houdini's library. The doorway had been walled off by the previous owner. But now we see exactly what it was like to step inside 278 and find Houdini himself in his favorite space.

QUESTION: What is your idea of comfort?

HOUDINI: Seated in a large arm chair in library and hearing Mrs. Houdini call up: "Young man your lunch is ready."

Thanks to the new owners of 278 for allowing me to share this pic.

Related:

• New 278 owners committed to preserving Houdini history
• Houdini's office inside 278 is finally FOUND!
• Wood lath from Houdini's 278 for sale

Houdini now a permanent resident of Catalina Island

The Catalina Island Museum has shared a first look at a new display devoted to Houdini's Terror Island which is now part of their permanent exhibition on Catalina history. Houdini filmed a large part of the movie on the island in late 1919.

View this post on Instagram

We are updating multiple sections of our permanent history galleries. “Houdini in Terror Island” has been added and the “Charlie Chaplin” & “Before She Was Marilyn” exhibitions have been updated & condensed. More changes are in the works. So visit today & often!! #catalinaisland

A post shared by Catalina Island Museum (@catalinamuseum) on May 1, 2019 at 4:12pm PDT

You'll note the display features a video screen which plays the overboard box escape from the film. This footage is missing from the existing movie. It was uncovered last year by our friend Joe Notaro and it not available to view anywhere else. So Houdini fans who visit the island get a rare treat!

On May 17, the Catalina Island Museum will host a special 100th Anniversary screening Houdini's The Grim Game in their outdoor amphitheater with live musical accompaniment by Michael Mortilla. Click for details.

Related:

• Discovering Terror Island
• Houdini is back on 'Terror Island' starting TODAY
• Terror Island overboard box escape footage FOUND!

LINK: Harry Houdini’s long-lost film ‘The Grim Game’ screens Friday at Sierra Madre Playhouse

Here's a link to an article in Pasadena Weekly by Carl Kozlowski about tomorrow's now SOLD OUT screening of The Grim Game at the Sierra Madre Playhouse. The reporter interviewed me and gave my blog a nice shoutout, so I thought I'd return the favor!

Click here for more details on the screening. Hope to see you there.

Related:

• The Grim Game screening at the Sierra Madre Playhouse, May 3
• The Grim Game 100th Anniversary Screening on Catalina Island
• Finding The Grim Game | Saving The Grim Game

April 2019 in review

Here's a rundown of posts by category that appeared on WILD ABOUT HARRY last month.

Most Viewed Post

Wood lath from Houdini's 278 for sale

Houdini History
Houdini's lost breakfront has been found!
A gift for Houdini's preferred birthday
Houdini's Liberty Island "mystification"
Happy Easter from Bess Houdini
Hardeen in New York
Houdini in 1905
The spirit voice of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?
Lost Foote Photos - Houdini in Winnipeg

Books
Two new Houdini books released in the UK
Houdini adult coloring book
Houdini fiction in 'Today Tomorrow Always'

Auctions
Poster for Houdini's Water Torture Cell play to be auctioned
Houdini "Challenged" poster sells for $18,000

Museums & Exhibitions
'Inescapable' opening day event at The Breman

Houdini and Margery rarities at the Wellcome Collection
David Copperfield conjures Houdini's library in Las Vegas
Houdini arrives in Atlanta today

Screenings
The Grim Game screening at the Sierra Madre Playhouse, May 3
Get ready for a Grim (Game) May

Plays
ETHER: The Strange Afterlife of Harry Houdini & Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Houdini play in Valencia, Spain

Media
The Magic of Houdini with Alan Davies on Amazon
Paul Zenon's Linking Rings available on DVD
Talking Houdini on Dark Sun Rising

Mystifier File
Mystifier, Second Quarter 1997

Links
LINK: Where was the Checker Flag Photo taken?
LINK: The Hopewell professor and Houdini’s mysterious death

Other
A horrible day
March 2019 in review

Get ready for a Grim (Game) May

May marks the 100th anniversary of Houdini filming The Grim Game in Los Angeles in 1919. In celebration, the month will see two special screenings of the movie. The first will be this Friday, May 3, at the Sierra Madre Playhouse. The second will be May 17 at the Catalina Island Museum. Both screenings will have musical accompaniment by Michael Mortilla. I'll also be on hand to introduce the film and talk about its rediscovery and restoration.

If you make it to the Catalina screening, you might want to stay an extra day for a special Silent Film Benefit special screening of Colleen Moore's Why Be Good? at the famous Avalon Casino. No direct Houdini connection, apart form the fact that flappers were wild about Harry.

The Grim Game is the only Houdini movie never made available on any home format, so a screening of the movie is currently the only way to see what is Houdini's best film. Hope to see you at one or both screenings!

Related:

• Houdini in 1919
• Houdini arrives in Los Angeles
• Houdini conquers Hollywood (at last) in The Grim Game

Lost Foote Photos - Houdini in Winnipeg

The website Lost Foote Photos has a terrific press photo of Houdini's suspended straitjacket escape in Winnipeg, Canada, on February 21, 1923. I've never seen this shot. Notice that snow can be seen on the rooftops and streets. I can't recall another image of Houdini doing an outdoor stunt in the snow.

Click here to see the full photo at Lost Foote Photos.

Related:

• Houdini's Suspended Straitjacket escapes
• Houdini hangs in Vancouver
• Houdini's hurt feelings

The spirit voice of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?

Here's an interesting tweet and link from the Baker Street Journal. This is the purported spirit voice of Sir Arthur Conan Coyle recored on this day in 1934. Curiously, he appears to have lost his thick Scottish burr in the afterword. Enjoy!

Hear the spirit voice of ACD from séance held by Noah Zerdin at the Aeolian Hall #OTD 1934 https://t.co/jRaS4yl2rz pic.twitter.com/bOruxWqDMV

— Baker Street Journal (@BakerStJournal) April 28, 2019

Speaking of spirits, our good friend Misty Lee will be talking about Spiritualism and séances today at the Homestead Museum's Victorian Fair at 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, and 4:30 p.m.

Related:

• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• The real story of Houdini & Doyle
• Adrian Conan Doyle on his father's belief in Spiritualism

Houdini "Challenged" poster sells for $18,000

An ultra rare poster for Houdini's 1911 playlet, "Challenged" or "Houdini Upside Down" sold today for $18,000 (including 20% buyers premium) at Potter & Potter's auction of "The Magic Collection of Ray Goulet. The auction estimate was $15,000 - $25,000.

This was a short play Houdini performed only one time for the purpose of licensing his yet-to-be-revealed Water Torture Cell. The poster is signed by Houdini to magician John Mulholland.

I admit I'm surprised this didn't go higher. It's of extreme historical significance, signed, and the only known copy (maybe the only one ever made). But maybe because it doesn't feature any kind of image is what kept the price in check.

Another rarity was a playbill for Houdini's appearance at the Melbourne Opera House during the week of February 26, 1910. Items from Houdini's one time tour of Australia are exceedingly scarce. It sold for $3,360 (including premium) on a $2,500 - $3,500 estimate.

Related:

• Poster for Houdini's Water Torture Cell play to be auctioned
• The Chinese Water Torture Cell at 100
• Harry Houdini Down Under (video)

Houdini in 1905

For Houdini, the year 1905 was split into two distinct halves. The first half saw him as an established superstar in Europe. But the second half found him back in America, where in some ways he had to prove himself all over again. It was a fascinating transitional year, and one of his most combative.

This post is now retired. But you will be able to enjoy the story of Houdini in 1905 in my upcoming book. 

Talking Houdini on Dark Sun Rising

In January I was a guest on the "Dark Sun Rising" podcast hosted by Erick Bee and Vicki Valencourt broadcast over Para X Radio. The subject was Houdini, of course! They had some great questions and we covered a lot of ground. Now the full podcast has been uploaded Podomatic where it can be downloaded or listened to below. Enjoy.


Related:

• Magic Detective Podcast promises lots of Houdini
• Podcast: Harry Houdini and the Golden Age of Magic
• The Magic Word is Wild About Harry

Hardeen in New York

Recently I discovered details of Hardeen's first appearance (at least as "Hardeen") in New York City. He played the New York Theater's "Christmas Vaudeville Festival" during the week of December 23, 1907. (You may recall it was at the New York that Bess became trapped in the Metamorphosis trunk.) Below is an ad for that week showing Dash billed as "Wizard of the Handcuffs."

Variety reviewed Hardeen's appearance in their December 28, 1907 issue. There's a lot to like here. I especially like the mention of his voice having "just a hint of the same uncertain and halting delivery" as his brother. Here's the review in full:

New York City was a tough town to win over, even for Houdini (watch for an upcoming post about that). I don't know how often Hardeen played Manhattan, but he seemed more at home in Brooklyn and New Jersey, which he played often. As far as I know, he never attempted any kind of outdoor stunt in the city.

Related:

• Hardeen hangs up his handcuffs
• Houdini vs. Hardeen in Oakland
• William Rauscher's Hardeen book released

Houdini fiction in 'Today Tomorrow Always'

Houdini and Bess appear in a new collection of ten short stories, Today Tomorrow Always from Margery de Brus LLC. The Houdini story is called "Aufmachen" and is written by Cheryl Wollner.

Today Tomorrow Always: Volume One is an eclectic, entertaining, and thought-provoking mix of short stories. Readers will meet a lone robot mourning the loss of her creators as she continues to tend their gardens; Harry and Bessie Houdini as they navigate pre-WWII Budapest; a 70-year-old Dr. Dre who reinvents performance art, and many more unique but genuine characters. In our first anthology, we bring you a literary-scifi-speculative fiction mashup at its finest. Images of war and robots, Catholic Cardinals and queer lovers, Nazi occupation and forced marches throughout history live side-by-side in this intriguing and page turning collection. You’ll put down the book and question everything you think is real, only to pick up the stories and read them again. Three reading group discussion questions follow each story.

Purchase Today Tomorrow Always at Amazon.com (U.S.) and Amazon.co.uk (UK). Below are links to a few more Houdini adventures in the sci-fi realm.

Related:

• Houdini in 2079
• Close Encounters of the Houdini Kind
• Houdini and Charmian London battle Martians in 'Metamorphosis'

Happy Easter from Bess Houdini

This needle point was made by Bess Houdini and today hangs in the home of her great-nephew, John C. Hinson. It depicts...well, you know who that is! (No, not him.)

Bess was raised in a strict Roman Catholic family. Her going into show business and marrying a Jewish magician estranged her from her mother who was convinced Houdini was the devil. But fame and wealth seemed to soothe Mrs. Rahner's religious objections, and she even came to live with the Houdinis in 278.

Bess maintained her religious beliefs and, like her mother, was highly superstitious (it's said she never wore yellow because it was bad luck and refused to enter a room if someone had whistled in it). Based on her letters, she appears to have re-embraced her Catholic faith later in life when this needle point was made. Although she was not so devout that she didn't find fun in naming her pet marmoset "Satan."

Happy Easter Sunday.

Related:

• Bessie conjures Satan
• Even I wouldn't go this far
• AUDIO: Marie Hinson remembers her sister Bess Houdini