"Dearest Vincent" - Lost Bessie letter comes home

A few weeks ago a truly incredible letter from Bess Houdini to her nephew Vincent sold on eBay for $434. Vincent Ehrich Hinson was the son of Bessie's closest sister, Marie, and the father of our friend and benefactor, John C. Hinson. I didn't blog about this at the time because there's a story behind this letter and this auction that I couldn't really share until now.

This letter was a cherished part of the Hinson family collection. It was the only letter from Bess that Vincent had saved. But it was recently lost in storage. In fact, John Hinson discovered the loss when he went to make a copy of the letter for me as part of our Hinson Endowment. Then the letter showed up on eBay via a seller that the family did not know.

The good news is the letter is home! The letter was purchased by Houdini collector and close family friend, Jon Oliver (the man who sleeps in Houdini's bed), who returned it to the Hinson family yesterday. I'll let Jon tell the story himself:

A couple of weeks ago, while coming back from New York, I was talking to a friend named David Sigafus on the phone. David is a magician, and he and I were the adopted sons to another magician named Rev. Robert Olson. Rev. Bob was an world expert on Howard Thurston, as well as many others. David and I are both history nuts to ALL things magic, and talk often about things we see or acquire.

David knowing of my fondness for Houdini told me about a letter from Bessie for sale on Ebay. As he described it, he turned on the computer and brought up the link. The letter was addressed to Vincent Hinson, and written in 1935. It was also being offered by a dealer in Mass., near where John Hinson lives.

I was a little shocked because any letters from the Houdinis to any of Marie Hinson's family in that area of the country would be in John Hinson's ownership. Telling David this, I called John and confirmed what my thoughts were, and when after unpacking, I wrote this seller asking him to call me. The next day when he called I tried to explain how the letter belong to John's father and that either a family member took it, or it was stolen at a show.

Becoming a little gruff, he told me he hears that story all the time, and how could he believe me. He was told how Vincent Hinson was John's father, and Bess was his aunt. If he didn't believe me he could check it out himself, and he was given John's number. I also gave him the name of Ray Goullets magic shop in Watertown, and told him Ray will confirm John's honesty.

20 minutes later he called me back and told me he had confirmed my story, but wouldn’t pull the auction.

John called me, and said the guy told him there is really no way John could prove it, but said if John really wanted it back, to put a really high bid on it. Like $5000.00 and if it went over that amount he would eat the difference. My wife Melissa and I talked about this, and agreed the fellow was trying to shill bid it up much over what it was worth.

On the last day of the auction, I placed a $500.00 bid 3 minutes before it was to end. It was enough for it was won for just $400.00

In the listing on Ebay it said there was a Houdini photo with it, that the seller claimed was a copy, and it would go with the letter. Turns out it is an original 11x14 photo of Houdini.

-Jon Oliver

As I said, Jon returned the letter yesterday, but he was able to keep the original Houdini photo, which alone is worth the price of the auction. It's a bit of poetic justice that the seller didn't realize what he had there.

This amazing letter (transcribed below) was written on January 19, 1935 while Bess was living in her Laurel Canyon house in Hollywood ("right here in the mountains it is so beautiful"). Twice she evokes "Gods Will", showing that she was more outwardly religious than her husband. It also shows that she was, ironically, the more literate of the Houdinis. Her letter is not filled with the misspellings and what Ken Silverman calls the "tortured grammar" of her husband's letters. I'm not sure what accounts for the difference as it's unclear if Bess had any more education than Houdini, and she was also raised with German speaking parents.

Bess also makes mention of their "sad memories of Harry's tragedy." This is not a reference to her late husband, but to the premature death of Harry Houdini Hinson. This is an untold story that I will be sharing soon here on WILD ABOUT HARRY.

Below is a wonderful unpublished photo of Vincent Hinson, courtesy of John Hinson. It shows him with the famous Houdini bust and Mirror handcuffs. He is holding a Houdini magic wand. Happily, this photo has remained safe in the family collection. Now his letter is home as well!

Vincent Ehrich Hinson with treasures from his Uncle Harry.

Hollywood Calif Jan. 19 - 35

Dearest Vincent 

        Your letter was a pleasant surprise - you know Vincent it was the most manly letter you had ever written - and you have no idea how pleased I was - it proved to me that no matter what you or any one may say about your fondness for play - you are growing into a fine young serious minded nam - and I am sure you will never fail your parents. I was sorry to hear of your friends death - it was Gods Will - however it is also Gods Will that children should not disobey their parents commands - and it makes me very happy to know that when your parents asked you not to go sleighing - that you obeyed them. You know their sad memories of Harry's tragedy is still very deep - and you must help them never to have cause for any more. It is really very little to give up isn't it? Some day when you become rich you must come to California - and right here in the mountains it is so beautiful - I wish I could have you during your Summer Vacation - but alas it costs too much - but and this is a big but - you will have the entire vacation in Rye - that isn't so bad either is it? And I'm going to whisper a secret to you - keep it to yourself for awhile - maybe if all turns out as we hope it will - we may take a trip to N.Y. this coming July - I did not say anything to your mother or Marie - because I am not yet quite sure that I can take the trip - but as you are one of the men of the house - I can tell you the secret - and you can tell your Dad - but not the women folks - they would take to worrying - and I do not wish to have them worry - but won't it be grand to be together again? I'm all excited about seeing you all again - and I'll bring Satan along - you will love him. 

        Well Dear Vincent - I want to thank you also for your congratulations on my birthday - and write soon - Edward sends his best to you. 

Lots of love from your Aunt Bess

(Mrs. Harry Houdini)

Thanks to John Hinson and Jon Oliver for sharing this remarkable letter and the story behind it.

UPDATE: In case you're wondering who "Satan" was; Jon Oliver tells me it was Bessie's pet marmoset monkey, which was vicious, hence the name.

Remembering Harry Houdini Hinson

Here's a rare photo of Bess with her nephew Harry Houdini Hinson. Harry was the oldest child of Bess's sister Marie Hinson. He was the brother of Vincent, Ruth, and Marie (Blood). Harry was following the footsteps of his famous uncle and namesake by practicing magic. By all accounts he was quite good. Tragically, Harry was killed at age 20 in a sleighing accident 85 years ago today on February 15, 1934.

This photo, which is the only photo I've ever seen of Harry, comes from the collection of John Hinson, who you'll remember shared many wonderful rare unpublished photos with us back in 2013. So on this sad day, here's remembering the brief life of the other Harry Houdini.

Thanks to John Hinson and Jon Oliver.

Related:

• Meet the Rahners
• Marie Hinson remembers the generosity of Houdini
• "Dearest Vincent" - Lost Bessie letter comes home

Bessie conjures Satan

Our good friend John C. Hinson has sent over several newspaper clippings from the 1930s that were collected by Bess Houdini and Edward Saint. They provide a nice look at some lesser-known aspects of Bessie's post Harry life. First and foremost, her love of Satan!

Mrs. Houdini revealed all this when she arrived at the St. Mark Hotel, where last night she was honor guest at a joint meeting of the Oakland Magic Circle and the Society of American Magicians, San Francisco. She arrived by auto from Seattle, where she was feted at a convention of magicians, with Edward Saint, her manager and her husband's biographer, and Satan, a 10-year-old silver hued marmoset who weighs seven ounces and chirps like a canary with a cold when he is irritated.

This article appeared in the Oakland Tribune on Sunday, July 19, 1936, and in it Bess announced her intention to hold "one last" Houdini seance that Halloween "in the open air so as many people as possible can be present." That idea grew into the famous Final Houdini Seance on the roof of the Hollywood Knickerbocker Hotel.

The Oakland Post-Enquirer also picked up the story of Bessie's visit and seance plans, and once again Satan stole the show.

The Post-Enquirer story contains an additional intriguing tidbit. Bess says she plans to hold the final Houdini seance in California, not only because it is now her home, but because "Houdini expressed a last wish on his death-bed in Detroit to come to California to live."

One wonders if that is true, or if Bess was just playing to the home crowd. Although Houdini did once name Hollywood as his favorite "holiday destination," so...

Thank you John Hinson.

Related:

• Houdini's pets
• 'Mrs. Harry Houdini's Rendezvous'
• "Dearest Vincent" - Lost Bessie letter comes home (Satan mention)
• Marie Hinson on Edward Saint: "He was the man who said 'no'."
• Halloween 1936: The Final Houdini Seance

The owners and occupants of Houdini's 278

The big news of the last month is that Houdini's famous New York brownstone at 278 W 113th Street in New York City is on the market for the first time in 26 years. Having looked at the house inside and out, top to bottom, today I take a look at the history of the house and its various owners and occupants. Including a few ghosts!

At the time of its construction, "278" (as Houdini called it) was located in what the New York Times described as a "genteel enclave" of Harlem. Indeed, both Central Park and Morningside Park are within a few blocks, and it's said the area was populated with affluent German speakers. But exactly when 278 was built isn't entirely clear. Real estate websites such as Zillow show the date as 1890. But the earliest real estate listing for the house (and several others on the block) appears in the New York Herald on April 5, 1896. Interestingly, it reads "restricted."

New York Herald, April 5, 1896

The first occupants of 278 appear to have been Thomas K. Moore and his wife M.E. Moore. They are the ones selling in 1896 and may have been the original builders. The house is still on the market in May 1897. (You can see that listing here.) On May 2, 1899, the house was purchased my Moses Kahn, his wife Henrietta Kahn, and Theresa Goldsmith with a $10,000 mortgage from Seamens Bank.

The 1900 census shows David Lubin, a Polish inventor and agriculturalist, living at 278 with his wife, Flora, and their four children. It's likely the Lubins were renters. On January 28, 1902, a fire broke out on the second floor, resulting in $75 worth of damage to the building and $135 damage to the contents. The Lubins are still in the house as late as 1903.

278 in Houdini's day.

In 1904, Houdini bought the house for $25,000 cash (purchase price $20,000 plus $5000 still due on the mortgage). Houdini boasted it was "the finest private house that any magician has ever had the great fortune to possess." But he was really purchasing 278 as a new Weiss family home, and especially as a luxurious new home for his mother. It was a big step up from their previous dwelling at 305 East 69th Street. During these years, Harry and Bess were continually on tour, so 278 was open to any Weiss or Rahner in need of a room. Houdini even once referred to it as "my apartments."

278 also became the home and workplace of Houdini's brother Dr. Leopold Weiss (well before the brothers had their famous falling out). Leopold was New York's first radiologist, and he set up his practice in the house. In 1907, Leo survived an attack by an intruder wielding a razor. The papers reported on the incident and later the capture of the assailant, Frank Thomas. But none of the newspapers mentioned Harry Houdini as the owner of the house.

In July 1913 Houdini's mother died. Her death devastated him. Several months later, Harry and Bess moved in with the Hardeens in Flatbush and put 278 up for sale at a "sacrifice" price of $18,000. Below is the listing in the August 23, 1914 New York World.

New York World, Aug 23, 1914.

Why did Houdini want to sell? Most biographies say the house just contained too many memories of his mother. This sounds perfectly valid. But Houdini collector Jon Oliver (who owns furniture from 278, including Houdini's bed) says Harry Hardeen Jr. told him the real reason was that mama's body had remained in the parlor for a full week that it took Houdini to return from Europe, and the smell made the house uninhabitable. This might explain why the house never sold. Instead, he rented it out to student members of Sigma Alpha Mu, a Jewish fraternity at nearby Columbia University.

Either the house had a good airing out or Harry was finally able to shake his grief, because after four years with the Hardeens [read: The Flatbush years], Harry and Bess moved back into 278 in February of 1918. In July, Houdini transferred ownership of the house to Bess. Because of this, some newspapers mistakenly reported that Houdini "has just purchased a new home in Harlem."

Houdini then made 278 the home and "Houdini Central" that it had never really been before. At one point, Bess's mother Balbina Radner moved in permanently. The house also saw a succession of live-in maids and no shortage of animals. Visitors spoke of the trick front door that opened from the hinges, and also the fact that Houdini had wired the house for sound so he could amaze visitors with his "mind reading" prowess. Stacks of books and files filled every available space. Houdini once said, "I actually live in a library."

In fall of 1926, as Houdini was embarking on his tour, he reportedly stood outside 278 in tears. When Joseph Dunninger, who was driving him to the train station, asked him what was wrong, Houdini replied that he had seen his house for the last time. He was right. Houdini died that Halloween.

Six months after Houdini's death, Bess sold 278 to her neighbors, John and Filippina Bonanno for just $3000. A mortgage was arranged that had the Bonannos making twice yearly payments to Bess with 6% interest. While Bess had (amazingly) cleared the house of Houdini's collections, donating them to the Library of Congress and the New York Public Library, she left furniture and Houdini ephemera (including a Milk Can) in the basement. This appears to have been fine with the Bonannos, and everything remained there well after Bess's death in 1943.

Rose Bonanno, who knew Houdini when she was a child, was a good custodian of Houdini history. She did not make radical changes to the house, keeping as much of the original woodwork and period fixtures as possible. The house even remained on D.C. current well into the 1980s. In 1953, she welcomed Houdini producer George Pal to the house, whom she felt bore a resemblance to Houdini. Dunninger and Blackstone were also visitors.

Rose also allowed Houdini séances to be held in the house. During one séance in 1949, Rose claimed to receive a phonecall from Houdini who instructed the sitters to look at "Paper Magic, page 118, Fig. 12." (There is no Fig. 12 on page 118.) A photo of the last séance, done as a live Halloween broadcast in the early 1970s, appeared in Walter Gibson's The Original Houdini Scrapbook.

Rose kept up her twice yearly payments (in June and December) to Bess's sister, Marie Hinson, who had inherited the mortgage. With each payment, she included a friendly note. In one she wrote that she recently read Houdini The Untold Story by Milborune Christopher. "It is not a bad misinformed book," she told Marie. "He wrote nice things about him."

But her letters also sadly track the downfall of the area. In 1972 she wrote:

"We are all fine and always working hard to keep the house up but the neighborhood is in a deplorable condition. It's more like a slum, everyone back and front of houses, houses boarded up and windows broken and plenty of fires."

When Rose died on September 19, 1978, her brother, Rev. Charles Bonanno, inherited the property, but was unclear where the mortgage stood. "You see my sister died so sudden that I am not familiar with her debts and income," he wrote to Marie, now 92.

With the help of Marie's son, Vincent, Charles paid off the remainder of the mortgage ($750) on July 10, 1979. Now in a nursing home himself, he was eager to sell, but found it difficult. "On fifth avenue it would be worth a good deal but not in Harlem," he complained to Marie. "The section is very poor full of drug addicts and muggers." Indeed, the area had become so bad, the man who watched after the property would cover the front steps with lime to keep the junkies off them.

At one point Charles reported that he might have a possible buyer from the world of magic.

"Got a call from Rochester from a Mr. Peter Ruff (Houdinii) uses Harry's name with a extra "i" to his name, wants to buy the house if the price is right. I don't know what to say as I have no idea what to charge for it, have you ?? Hope I get a buyer soon as I can't hold out too long with the tenants in it taking advantage of my absence from the house and doing what they want."

Charles eventually sold the house in April 1980 to Louis Moise. At this time the basement was finally cleared and its contents and auctioned off in a general estate sale in New Jersey. Houdini buffs in the know walked away with countless treasures, including posters and portraits of Houdini's mother and father. (Read: The greatest Houdini auction ever.)

But treasures remained. In 1985, magician and Houdini buff Dixie Dooley paid a remarkable visit to the house (covered in his book, Houdini Question Reality). At this time, the house had a tenant named Mr. Wilkes. Wilkes did not allow Houdini fans into the house, but on this stormy night he made an exception for Dooley. In fact, not only did he allow the magician to see the entire house, but in a story that makes all Houdini fans green with envy, he gave Dixie posters, a printing block, an overboard box and a spirit table, all of which had somehow been lingering in the house all these years. Wilkes refused money for the items. The fact that Dixie promised to "treasure them" was good enough for him. He then told Dixie that the spirit of Houdini was a regular visitor. "One night he turned the lights on and woke me up from a sound sleep," said Mr. Wilkes.

In 1991, Fred Thomas purchased the house from Louis Moise. Thomas claims he had no idea it was Houdini's former home until his neighbors told him so. But Thomas shut out Houdini fans and historians, saying, "People are always outside taking pictures of the house. I've developed a callousness." A profile of him in the Daily News was headlined: "Hey, Houdini fans, leave this poor man alone."

Thomas lived on the first two floors (Garden and Parlor) and turned the top two floors into rental apartments. It's said during the renovations a stash of valuable Houdini silent movie posters were discovered in the walls. He also added a call box to the front of the house, which robbed it of any potential status as a historical landmark. (A historic plaque was eventually installed as part of the Cultural Medallion Program). In 2000, Thomas took out a $100,000 mortgage on the house, which was paid off in 2010.

During Fred Thomas's ownership, the only glimpse of the inside of 278 came when one of the apartment units came up for rent or a resident threw a party. The all-important parlor level, where Houdini had his trophy room and library, remained closed off to all. But Thomas's investment paid off as the area dramatically improved.

278 today.

Today 278 is on the market for $4.6 million, ironically returning to its relative value in 1904. On June 18, 2017, there was a one time only open house that finally gave Houdini fans a chance to see inside [covered in detail here]. Happily, much of the house has remained intact, especially the parlor. It's still very much the house Houdini inhabited.

The sale of 278 is being handled by Douglas Elliman Real Estate. As of this posting, I've not heard of a buyer. But let's hope whomever becomes the next owner of 278 honors its historic connection to the world's greatest magician, and will continue to preserve those parts of the house that have remained unchanged and still hold that Houdini magic.

A very big thanks to Tom Interval and Bill Mullins for uncovering the pre-Houdini history of 278 and sharing their research. Thanks to Fred Pittella for allowing me to share his 1914 real estate listing. And a very big thank you to John Hinson for providing me with the original mortgage and correspondence between Marie Hinson, Rose and Charles Bonanno.

UPDATE: HOUDINI'S 278 IS SOLD!

Related:

• 278 IS FOR SALE!
• Inside Houdini's 278
• Discovering 278: the home of Houdini
• Wild in Houdini's New York, 2017
• Houdinii

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.

Bessie's Christ

Here's something special for Easter Sunday. This is a needle point by Bess Houdini of...well, you know who that is. (No, not him.) This hangs in the home of our good friend and benefactor, John C. Hinson, the great-nephew of Harry and Bess Houdini. As with Bessie's letter to John's father Vincent, this again shows how she re-embraced religion later in her life.

Happy Easter.