Talking Houdini on The AP Strange Show

I recently had the pleasure of being on The AP Strange Show podcast. We had a great talk about you-know-who.

On this week's episode of The AP Strange Show, Houdini historian John Cox joins AP for an in-depth discussion about the legendary magician, escape artist, and arch debunker of Spiritualist phenomena, Harry Houdini. 

In this conversation, he and AP discuss some of the lesser known history of Houdini in AP's hometown of Worcester, MA, including his last outdoor performance and the mystery surrounding the coffin he used during his "buried alive" performances. From there John talks about what got him into the rabbit hole of Houdini's life, the work he's done to attempt a balance between the legends and facts about the man, and the various projects he's worked on in preserving Houdini's legacy.

You can listen to The AP Strange Show on the official website, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or via the embed below. Enjoy.

Related:

• Marking the 99th on The Magic Word Podcast
• America: A History: Who is Harry Houdini?
• And now for something completely different

More "Mystery & Wonder" NYPL events in June

These events at the New York Public Library keep sneaking up on me! Below are two more events coming up in early June. These are part of the NYPL's ongoing Mystery & Wonder: a Legacy of Golden Age Magicians exhibition. Click the headline links to get tickets and more information.

The Art of the Illusion: Collecting and Conserving Magic Posters at NYPL

New York Public Library for the Performing Arts -Bruno Walter Auditorium
Tuesday, June 2 • 6:30 PM - 8 PM

Magic poster experts and conservators discuss the art of the illusion.

For more than 100 years, the New York Public Library has been building an extraordinary collection of rare color lithograph posters that promote the great magicians and illusions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Forty-eight of these striking posters are currently on view in the exhibition Mystery & Wonder: A Legacy of Golden Age Magicians in New York City. These posters illustrate magicians reimagining old tricks and inventing new ones, shaping each performer’s unique identity within a new visual language of magic as audiences became more international.

Esteemed magic historian and poster collector Charles Greene III will speak about the rise and importance of posters in promoting the Golden Age of Magic and the thrill of collecting these historic works of art today. NYPL paper conservators Denise Stockman and Juliana Cordero will share their stories about the fascinating process of restoring the posters included in the exhibition. Exhibition curator Annemarie van Roessel will lead a discussion and Q&A from the audience. 

The History of Society of American Magicians

Harvey Fierstein Theatre Lab
Thursday, June 4 • 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Lecture presentation about The Society of American Magicians and Harry Houdini. The Society of American Magicians today is an outgrowth of what had initially been a Saturday night social tradition inaugurated in New York City in the 1890’s. Richard Cohn, magician, historian, author, consultant and Associate of the Inner Magic Circle will speak of the origins of the club. He will also talk of the role of Dr. Saram Ellison in the founding and establishment of the S.A.M.

Thomas Ewing, S.A.M. National Historian will focus on Harry Houdini and his efforts to transform what was originally a New York group into an international organization. This metamorphosis not only brought clubs located in other cities into the fold but hobbyists and amateurs as well as professionals in other regions into the fabric of what is today an international organization.

To keep up with all the events, keep watching the "Mystery & Wonder: a Legacy of Golden Age Magicians" program page.

Related:

• Mystery and Wonder: A Legacy of Golden Age Magicians in New York City

Harry Kellar: The Magician Who Inspired Houdini

Here's an excellent new documentary from PBS station WQLN about Harry Kellar. Great interviews and good Houdini content as well. Enjoy.

In the reenactments, Houdini is played by Howard Lang. Kellar is played by Aaron Pacy.

Related:

• Copperfield shares Houdini and Kellar
• Harry Kellar visits The Grim Game set
• Letter from Kellar to Houdini sells for $32,500

'Houdini Speaks to the Living' at House of Magic in Glenside, PA

Just a reminder that the acclaimed play Houdini Speaks to the Living will be at the House of Magic's Smoke & Mirror Theatre in Glenside, Pennsylvania, May 28-30. Click for tickets.

In Houdini Speaks to the Living, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini debate the true nature of magic, science and faith through a historically based, largely verbatim play from writer-director Beth Burns and writer-magician Patrick Terry, who also plays Houdini.

You can check out a trailer for the play on YouTube.

Related:

• 'Houdini Speaks to the Living' 2026 tour
• REVIEW: 'Houdini Speaks to the Living' at The Players
• The real story of Houdini & Doyle

'They Come To Watch Me Die' with Humphrey Cornthwaite

Magician Humphrey Cornthwaite will perform a one-man show,  They Come To Watch Me Die,  at Smith’s Alternative in Canberra, Australia, on May 27, 2016. Below are details.

They Come To Watch Me Die is a solo theatre performance by Humphrey Cornthwaite based on the life of Harry Houdini. During the performance Humphrey as Harry will break the fourth wall and perform routines made famous by the great escapologist Houdini.

Humphrey started his career as a street performer in London’s Covent Garden performing the strait jacket escape. From Covent Garden Humph has worked as an escapologist for many years travelling throughout Europe playing many venues and many festivals.

They Come To Watch Me Die is Humphrey’s first scripted solo show.

You can purchase tickets at the Smith’s Alternative website HERE.

Related:

• Houdini Plays
• The Man From Beyond down under
• When Houdini showed Australia that a man can fly

LINK: HHCE highlights from Magic Collector Expo

Our friend Joe Notaro has a full report on this year's Magic Collector Expo, with all the Houdini highlights. Click the headline or the image below to have a read of Harry Houdini Circumstantial Evidence.

Related:

• Magic Collector Expo 2024 aboard the Queen Mary
• A five star Magic Collector Expo in Cleveland
• LINK: HHCE highlights from Magic Collector Expo (2025)

Fred Pittella's Houdini key bookmark and lapel pin

Our friend and collector, Fred Pittella, has released two new pieces of Houdini merchandise memorabilia. The first is a high-quality bookmark with a replica Bean Giant Handcuff Key. "So your next page doesn't escape you!" says Fred. A mini trading card also comes loose in the package. With so many new Houdini books this year, a good bookmark is a must!

Next is a high-quality lapel pin depicting the Handcuff King in his prime. This is a beauty, and is going to be my new go-to lapel pin. Especially as it captures Houdini in his Handcuff King days.

The price of the bookmark is $40 plus $14 shipping. The lapel pin is $25. You can get them by contacting Fred at fredpstuff@aol.com.

Related:

• Fred Pittella inherits Larry Weeks estate
• Guest Blog: The Bobby Handcuffs come home
• New Houdini Pin from Castle Thunder Graphics

How about a review?

My new store and publishing imprint, Wild About Harry PRESS, is doing well. I've sold out of my stock of signed and sealed Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899. Thank you to everyone who bought their copy from me. 

Copies are still available from Mike Caveney's Magic Words, but if you still want to buy a signed or discounted edition from me, let me know by clicking the "Notify when back in stock" button on the product page. If I get enough interest, I will restock.

I've also now added the ability to write a REVIEW. So if you've purchased the book from me (or from anywhere) and want to share your thoughts, just click the "Write a review" button on the product page. As an incentive, I will randomly select one of the first ten reviewers and send them a promo postcard for my upcoming book, Handcuff King: The Conquests of Harry Houdini, 1900-1909.

All this is about me getting ready for that next book, so I appreciate everyone's help in getting the store up and running.

Related:

• Wild About Harry PRESS is open for business
• Escaping Obscurity reviewed by David Dellman
• ESCAPING OBSCURITY: Reviews & Reactions

'A Strenuous Career' available now from 1878 Press

The centenary books keep coming! David Haversat has announced the publication of A Strenuous Career: The Personal Challenge and Advertisement Scrapbook of Harry Houdini. Below are details.

For the first time in history, A Strenuous Career: The Personal Challenge and Advertisement Scrapbook of Harry Houdini places in your hands a breathtaking, full-color facsimile of one of the most significant artifacts from the life of the world’s greatest escape artist. This is the amongst the largest and most important scrapbooks personally complied by Harry Houdini! Every page is reproduced directly from Houdini’s own working scrapbook—exactly as he assembled it—preserving the energy, ambition, and relentless drive that defined the man.

Meticulously reproduced from the original scrapbook—courtesy of Dr. Bruce J. Averbook’s extraordinary historic archive in The Averbook Magic Art Museum and Library—this volume features over 160 premium, large-format color pages, presented in a luxurious 9" x 12" hardbound edition with an elegant slipcase. Every detail has been preserved to immerse you fully in Houdini’s world.

This is not simply a book—it is a rare artifact, a conversation piece, a centerpiece for any serious collector of magic or history enthusiast. 

The book is available exclusively from David Haversat's 1878 Press Co.  The print run is only 300, and many were sold at this week's Magic Collectors' Expo. So if you want this, I wouldn't delay!

Related:

• The 2026 Houdini Centennial Bookshelf
• Read 'The Cancer of Superstition' TODAY
• YOU CAN NOW OWN HOUDINI'S FIRST DIARY

The Truth About Houdini on its 5oth

I've already talked about how I was bitten by the Houdini bug in late 1975 after the one-two punch of seeing Houdini (1953) and Doug Henning's first magic special. As we entered 1976, I was officially "into" Houdini and started searching for more. That's when the universe seemed to conspire to turn me into a Houdini fanatic by feeding me a steady stream of new Houdini gems. One of those was the first American airing of the 1970 BBC documentary, The Truth About Houdini, 50 years ago today, on May 15, 1976.

This introduced me to a larger Houdini world. Not only was I able to see film footage of the real Houdini in action, but I was also able to see the giants of Houdini's world at that time: Walter B. Gibson, Milbourne Christopher, James Randi, and Sidney Radner.

I have done many posts about this important documentary, which you can revisit via the related links. If you've never seen it, you can give it a watch below. It will always be my favorite Houdini documentary, and an important part of my Houdini awakening.

Want more? You can view a cut scene from the documentary as a member of my Patreon.

Related:

• The first great Houdini documentary
• Channel 44's Houdini Halloween of 1976
• No love for The Truth

Bruce Averbook to receive 2026 Milbourne Christopher Award

Our good friend Dr. Bruce Averbook will receive the 2026 Milbourne Christopher Award for Magic History Preservationist. This is certainly deserving. Bruce owns one of the best magic collections in the world and houses it in one of the best private museums, The Averbook Magic Art Museum & Library.

Last year, Bruce allowed the publication of Houdini's first travel diary from his collection. The result is Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899. He's about to do it again with Houdini's original challenge scrapbook, which will be published next week by David Haversat's 1878 Press as A Strenuous Career: The Personal Challenge and Advertisement Scrapbook of Harry Houdini.

Another friend of our blog, Scott Wells of the popular The Magic Word Podcast, is also being honored this year with the Ambassador of Magic Award.

Congratulations to Bruce, Scott, and all the recipients this year.

The Milbourne Christopher Foundation was established by Maurine Christopher in 1989, and was created to perpetuate the memory of her husband and his lifelong interest in encouraging excellence, originality, and leadership in the art of magic.

Related:

• Christopher Awards roundup (2023)
• Dorothy Dietrich & Dick Brookz receive Milbourne Christopher Award
• Bill Kalush to receive 2016 Milbourne Christopher Award

The Grim Game will screen in New York, May 15

Houdini's best silent film, The Grim Game (1919), will screen this Friday, May 15 at 6:30 PM, at the New York Public Library's Bruno Walter Auditorium. The screening will include live piano accompaniment by Makia Matsumura and be followed by a discussion with Dorothy Dietrich. This is part of the programming for the New York Public Library's ongoing "Mystery & Wonder: a Legacy of Golden Age Magicians" exhibition.

Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library

The year 2026 marks the centennial of legendary escapologist and magician Harry Houdini’s death. In recognition of his amazing life and the Library for the Performing Arts’ current exhibition Mystery & Wonder: a Legacy of Golden Age Magicians in New York, we will screen his 1919 silent film The Grim Game with live piano accompaniment by Makia Matsumura. Houdini plays an intrepid young journalist framed for murder after falling in love with a winsome ingénue played by Ann Forrest. Chases, dramatic escapes, and a real mid-air plane crash are only part of the fun. Following the screening, Dorothy Dietrich, magician and co-founder of the Houdini Museum, and magician and historian Richard Cohn will discuss the making of the film, its re-discovery and restoration, and Houdini’s legacy today.

Curiously, the film is advertised as being screened on 16mm film. The only 16mm print of The Grim Game I'm aware of is the original that was owned by Larry Weeks. I doubt this could be that print. So, at some point, a 16mm print must have been struck from the digital TCM restoration, or this could be a mistake, and this is the DCP. I suspect the latter.

Either way, The Grim Game hasn't been screened in a few years, and it is really fun to watch with an audience, so this is a must-see screening!

Click here for more information and to register for tickets.

Related:

• Houdini conquers Hollywood (at last) in The Grim Game
• Houdini sells out in Sierra Madre
• Mystery and Wonder: A Legacy of Golden Age Magicians in New York City

Pateron double reward in May

Every month, I offer my patrons a special reward as thanks for their support. This month, I'm offering a double reward. The first is the Third Quarter 1993 Mystifier newsletter as a searchable PDF. It's an interesting issue with an insightful article on Houdini's physical fitness routines by Zen Karate author Randall Bassett, the first printed interview with Houdini's assistant Dorothy Young, and even Houdini's horoscope! In addition, I'm offering a PDF of the 1994 Museum Catalog from the Houdini Historical Center. You see all the goodies one could get at the time.

As a reminder, on my Patreon, I offer exclusive content not found on this blog, including material from archives and private collections, as well as my latest historical findings. For example, I recently shared a translation from a 1901 Dutch newspaper interview in which Houdini offers details about his time as a locksmith's apprentice that I've never read before. But do we believe it? This one has sparked a lot of conversation in the comments.

As a patron, you will also receive thanks in my upcoming book, Handcuff King: The Conquests of Harry Houdini, 1900-1909, a special preview of that book, and an exclusive pre-order opportunity. That's all coming later this year. Oh, and you'll also be supporting all my Houdini work, which is the point of Patreon: supporting creators.

So if you are wild about Harry, joining my Patreon is a pretty good idea this year. And what better time than during a month with a double reward? So come hang with us!

Related:

• Announcing WILD ABOUT HARRY on Patreon
• A special reward for my 100 patrons

Houdini concludes his first "3 Shows in One" tour

It was 100 years ago today that Houdini completed the first tour of his full evening "3 Shows in One" in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This was the second half of a split week. The show played two days in Akron before moving on to Harrisburg for the final three shows. The below from the Harrisburg Telegraph gives a nice taste of the show.

Harrisburg Telegraph, May 8, 1926.

This piece also provides some clues about what Houdini's 1926-27 tour would have looked like. It says he is booked in Harrisburg for a February 1927 return, and that the tour itself is already booked through March. Of course, this was never to be. Houdini died two months into his second tour on Halloween 1926.

Built in 1908, the Majestic stood at 323 Walnut Street in Harrisburg. In 1936, it was converted to a movie theater and was renamed the Rio. It closed on October 25, 1954, and was razed in March 1955. Today, Strawberry Square occupies the site.

Want more? Click below to view an original poster from this brief but historically significant 3-day engagement in Harrisburg from Mike Caveney's Egyptian Hall Museum.

Related:

• Houdini's "3 Shows in One" turns 100
• Houdini opens at the Alvin 100 years ago today
• Houdini has no time for love