Houdini's secret leg braces?

Potter & Potter held their fourth auction of memorabilia from Ken Klosterman's The Salon de Magie yesterday. One lot that really captured my attention was a set of leather leg braces said to have been used by Houdini during his suspended straitjacket escapes. They sold for $6000 (including premium). This may seem low, but that's likely because there is no record of Houdini using such devices. However, I think these may be the real deal, and a long-concealed Houdini secret.

By my current count, Houdini did 78 suspended straitjacket escapes. It makes sense to me that at some point he would devise some kind of ankle protection, and I can see these coming from his inventive mind. (Can we now say Houdini invented gravity boots?)

The auction description states that Joseph Yadah acquired the braces from Hardeen. Yadah eventually sold them to The Salon de Magie. A letter of provenance was part of the lot, but not pictured. Coming from Hardeen is good. We know he inherited his brother's escape apparatus, and Hardeen himself never did a suspended straitjacket escape (as far as I can find).

Unfortunately, there are no known photos showing Houdini using these braces. But there are some photos that might. Below is a shot of Houdini doing a suspended straitjacket escape in Times Square in 1917. Note the unnatural sharp protrusions at the knees. This really looks like it could be the top edge of the braces. Also, bending at the waist as we see Houdini doing here would be far easier (and safer) if he were wearing braces like these.

Here's another shot from Houdini's famous 1918 Ladies Home Journal spread (How I Get Out Of A Strait-Jacket). Houdini's left pant leg is sliding down, giving a glimpse of his leg. That could just be his sock. But it looks a little thicker and sturdier to me. Could it be a brace?

Finally, there is a sentence from the November 6, 1916, Pittsburgh Sun describing Houdini's suspended straitjacket escape in that city. Could this "special appliance" be a reference to these braces?

Then Houdini's ankles were fastened to the rope by a special appliance that prevented injury, but insured safety.

Why wouldn't Houdini wear these on the outside of his pants? That I don't know. But I suspect he felt it was visually more appealing to conceal them. And why show this clever device to his competitors? Let them break their ankles! So, in their own way, these braces were a well-kept Houdini secret.

None of this is conclusive, but I will continue the search for evidence. In the meantime, congratulations to the winner. I think you might have landed a very special and unique piece of Houdini history.

Related:

• Houdini's greatest outdoor stunt determined!
• Suspended straitjacket escape in 1913, but it's not Houdini
• Guest blog: Houdini in Pittsburgh by Zabrecky

Those were the days

Here's an ad from 1980 for all old-time style Bell telephone that evokes nostalgia for 1913. They had me at "Ragtime," and sold me with "The Great Houdini."

The Houston Chronicle, Sept. 29, 1980.

My guess is this wasn't a great seller as it seems ill-timed. Nostalgia was big in the 1970s. I actually had an old-time phone. But a wave of modernity was about to hit the go-go '80s. Ah, those were the days.

Related:

• Calling Houdini...
• Houdini's London address and phone
• Houdini was a "wireless telephone" pioneer

Houdini-Hodgson Challenge Recreated by U.K.E.A

Here's a video of Robin Fox's recreation of the infamous Houdini-Hodgson challenge during the UKEA convention at Shrewsbury Prison last weekend. The purpose of my "challenge" was to gain a better understanding of exactly how Houdini was manacled, and they certainly did that! Enjoy.

Thanks to Dave Cox for the kind shoutout to my site. There are some excellent escape and Houdini-related videos on Dave's YouTube channel, CoxysPicks. I recommend having a browse. And a big congratulations to Robin Fox and the UKEA for successfully re-staging this historic escape. 

Related:

• Breaking news!
• "This is a contest, not a love match!"
• Guest Blog: A modern day Transport Cell challenge

Big Houdini news 100 years ago today

If you were a Houdini fan 100 years ago, you would have woken up to some big news this morning, as reported in The New York Daily News.

New York Daily News, June 16, 1925.

After a 3-day preview in Cumberland, Houdini did indeed open his "3 Shows on One" at the Alvin Theater in Pittsburgh on Labor Day. As promised, it was an "all-Houdini show." However, it did include some jazz tunes and bare legs, thanks to Dorothy Young's "Radio Girl."

Want more? You can see a photograph of Houdini taken on his last day at the Hippodrome as a member of my Patreon below.

Related:

• Houdini's "Triumphant Return" and farewell
• Houdini's grand finale: 3 Shows In One
• Dorothy Young remembers her days with Houdini

Breaking news!

Word is Robin Fox beat my challenge to recreate the infamous Houdini-Hodgson challenge at yesterday's UKEA convention at Shrewsbury Prison. DRAT! I am making inquiries. I hear his brother might have helped him. And what was with that glass of water being given to him during the challenge? Did anyone check those shackles for file marks!!??

Seriously, a massive congratulations to Robin and the UKEA for successfully re-staging this historic escape. I'm dying to hear what it felt like to be in Houdini's shoes and if Robin had any fresh insights about the original challenge.

Related:

• "This is a contest, not a love match!"
• Houdini vs. Hodgson in new book
• Guest Blog: A modern day Transport Cell challenge

VIDEO: Weird & Crazy Tales From The 1920s

One of my favorite YouTube channels is The1920sChannel. Founded in 2013, there are a wealth of videos related to the 1920s, and several related to Houdini. Below is a recent upload. This collects several "weird and crazy tales of the 1920s "and is pretty terrific. Houdini appears at 34:58, but I would recommend watching them all. The straw hat riot is especially wild, and maybe relevant as Houdini was known to wear a boater in the 1920s.

Related:

• Who Is Houdini? (Photoplay, June 1920)
• Houdini's boater floats in the 23rd Street subway
• The true story of Houdini & Doyle

Jen Silverman's "Untitled Houdini Project" reading in Portland

On Thursday, June 26, there will be a workshop reading of "Untitled Houdini Project" by Jen Silverman as part of the 2025 Profile Theatre Playwright Festival in Portland. Silverman is a playwright, novelist, and screenwriter with an impressive background and credits. It's exciting to see a new young voice taking on Houdini.

In the winter and spring of 1926, Harry Houdini was summoned to a hearing before the House of Representatives to testify on behalf of a new bill that would make acts of fortune telling illegal.

The newest project by playwright Jen Silverman takes as its starting point the exact transcript for these Congressional hearings, while weaving in thrilling theatrical séance sequences, and the growing complexity of Houdini's relationship with Rose Mackenberg, Houdini's chief investigator.

Are we to be a country of cold hard facts, scientific data, and honesty? Are we to be a country of comforting possibilities, where the boundary between the living and the dead is crossable if the right guides are permitted to take you? What does it mean to argue over the character of a nation in 1926 And, of course, what does it mean to do that right now?

You can buy tickets to the reading on Eventbrite.

Thanks to D.R. Schreiber, The Historical Conjurer, for the tip. 

Related:

• Guest blog: Mr. Houdini Goes to Washington, Part I
• A Rose by many names
• Houdini Plays

Houdini and E. Patrick Talon, son of Philippe

Recently, the New York Public Library shared artifacts from their upcoming exhibition, "Mystery and Wonder: A Legacy of Golden Age Magicians in New York City." Among the treasures was a photograph of Houdini with a man identified on the NYPL website as Ira Davenport (right).

This caused some confusion as the man bears little resemblance to the Ira Davenport in the famous photo of Houdini and the spiritulist taken in 1910, and, as far as I know, they never had a second face-to-face meeting.

But by sheer chance, I stumbled on the answer. The mystery man in the photo is actually Edmond Patrick Talon, the son of the magician Philippe. It was taken in Paris, likely in 1909. Below is the photo and an excerpt from the article, "Unknown Facts About Philippe," written by Houdini for the December 1921 M-U-M.

Very little was known of Philippe, though I tried to trace him for a long time. By the merest accident, I made the acquaintance of his son, E. Patrick Talon. One day I walked into the establishment of Caroly, in Paris, who informed me that a son of the celebrated Philippe was alive and wished to dispose of some of his father's letters. An appointment was immediately arranged for at the Alhambra Theatre where I was then performing, which proved to be the inception of a friendship that lasted till the death of Philippe's son. Strange as it may seem, E. Patrick Talon, though he knew not one word of English, was born in Ireland and named Patrick in memory of Philippe's successful stay in Dublin. So great was the joy of Philippe when tiny baby Patrick enriched the musical history of old Erin by giving forth his initial wail, that he produced the inexhaustible wine barrel trick at the performance that evening and bade the audience drink, in good cheer, to the health of his son.

"Mystery and Wonder: A Legacy of Golden Age Magicians in New York City" opens February 12, 2026, and will run until July 11, 2026.

Want more? You can read and download Houdini's entire Philippe M-U-M article as a "Scholar" member of my Patreon below.

Thanks to Leo Hevia and Abby Martin for putting me on the scent.

Related:

• Houdini treasures at NYPL exhibition preview
• M-U-M's The Houdini Years PDF
• "Houdini, we started it, you finish it."

Among the Gods

Here's another photo re-share from my 2013 series of unpublished images provided by our good friend John Hinson. This shot shows Houdini and Bess posing with a group of fellow travelers at "Balanced Rock" in the Garden of the Gods National Park on January 4, 1916. Houdini was appearing at The Burns Opera House in Colorado Springs at this time.

Balanced Rock still exists today and is a popular stop and photo op for tourists. Besides being an amazing natural phenomenon, we can now add: Houdini was here!

Discovering Houdini's appearance in Colorado Springs was an exciting find. You can read more about that and see a collection of clippings as a member of my Patreon below.

Thanks to John Hinson.

Related:

• A spectacular fastening
• Announcing the Hinson Endowment
• Finding Houdini in Colorado Springs

Houdini art fanzine from 1980

Here's an eBay oddity that caught my attention. This is a 1980 fanzine produced in Bristol, England, called HOUDINI. It's not a magazine about Houdini himself, but a fanzine devoted to music and theater art. However, the man himself is featured on the cover of issue #1, and there appears to be an article about "The Self-Liberator" by Jim Newman. Was there ever an issue #2, I wonder?

You can view the auction HERE.

The real Houdini was no stranger to Bristol, playing the city in 1904 (2x), 1909, 1913, 1914, and 1920.

District Free Press, March 13, 1909. 

Related:

• This post by Tom Interval is Dynamite
• Genii & Houdini: The lost decade
• Houdini Periodical Bibliography Revised 3rd Edition

New York Magic Conference to aid Houdini grave restoration

The next New York Magic Conference takes place on Saturday, June 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The focus will be close-up magic, and 100% of all registrations will be donated to the Houdini grave restoration fund. As we all know, the exedra is badly in need of repair. So this is a great way to help and learn magic from some of New York's most influential magicians. Below are details:

Initial list of performers for the conference:

Doug Edwards
Thomas Solomon
Doc Sasco, Dr.S
Dorothy Dietrich
Dick Brooks
Eric Q
Lou Johnson
(others to be announced shortly)

Location:
Abracadabra NYC
19 West 21st Street
New York, NY 10010

Price is $45.00 in advance and $65.00 at the door (if available, seating is extremely limited at this venue). Again, 100% of all registrations will be donated to the Houdini grave restoration fund.

To register for the conference, visit the Abracadabra website.

For additional information, please email your name and contact information to: NewYorkMagicConference@gmail.com or visit the New York Magic Conference on Facebook.

A fantastic daylong magic event that all are invited to enjoy!

Related:

• Houdini's grave is in trouble

Houdini treasures at NYPL exhibition preview

Our good friend Charles Greene III attended an exclusive preview of an upcoming magic exhibition at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Billy Rose Theatre Division. As you can see, there were some Houdini treasures on display.

Click here to view photos on Charles' Facebook page

"Mystery and Wonder: A Legacy of Golden Age Magicians in New York City" opens February 12, 2026, and will run until July 11, 2026.

Want more? Charles, one of our fellow patrons, provided photos of an early Houdini letter he discovered in an NYPL scrapbook. You can check that treasure out on my Patreon below.

Thank you, Charles!

Related:

• NYPL reveals unseen Houdini poster
• "America's Sensation!" on display at the NYPL
• NYPL Digital Gallery invites us into Houdini's backyard