Interview with Skirball Center curator Erin Clancey

Madeleine Brand interviews Erin Clancey, curator of the Skirball Cultural Center, about their new exhibit, Houdini Art and Magic, running now through September 4. This interview first aired on Southern California Public Radio on April 29, 2011. CLICK TO LISTEN.

Houdini & Holmes #1 available NOW

Talented young artist and animator Polly Guo has reprinted the first issue of her independent graphic novel, Houdini & Holmes.

The 25 page book finds Holmes and Watson setting out to prove Houdini's innocence after the magician is accused of murder. While there have been Houdini-Conan Doyle mash-ups, this is the first graphic novel (that I'm aware of) that teams Houdini and Sherlock himself.

Polly's first print run was only 50 copies, which she sold online and at last year's San Diego Comic Con. This time she's making available 400 copies. You can also reseve a copy of Houdini & Holmes 2, which Polly says should be ready this summer.

Click here for instructions on how to order Houdini & Holmes.

Mary-Louise Houdini

Is it just me, or has Houdini suddenly exploded into popular culture lately? This year we've already had news of four film/TV projects, Google celebrated Houdini's birthday with a doodle, papers seem a little extra full of Houdini stories (thanks to the Houdini Art and Magic exhibition), a reader tells me Houdini in name checked in the new movie, Fast Five, and now an ad for the new season of Showtime's WEEDS features this Houdiniesque image of actress Mary-Louise Parker.

For those who have never watched the show, know that it has nothing to do with magic. Last season Parker, who plays suburban pot dealer Nancy Botwin, was arrested by the FBI and led away in handcuffs. She's in a predicament, but like Houdini, she will probably perform a miraculous escape.

WEEDS season 7 premieres on Showtime on June 27.

Thanks to Athena Stamos Girl From LA Photography.

HOUDINI IS HERE!

The traveling exhibition, Houdini Art and Magic opens today at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. The Skirball is also featuring an additional retrospective of Jewish magicians, Masters of Illusion: Jewish Magicians of the Golden Age. Having had the honor or attending the previews, I can assure you, this is one you don't want to miss!

Keep watching Wild About Harry for news of upcoming events and special programing starting in May.

Houdini Art and Magic preview at the Skirball Cultural Center

Last night I had the extreme honor of attending a special preview dinner and reception for the Houdini Art and Magic and Masters of Illusion exhibitions at Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. The event was a veritable who's who of Houdini and magic history heavyweights, including; Sidney Radner, Milt Larsen, John Gaughan, Arthur Moses, Patrick Culliton, William Kalush, Mike Caveney, Richard Hatch, Max Maven, Roger Dreyer, and many more familiar names and faces.

The dinner was wonderful, the remarks moving, and the exhibitions are JAW DROPPING! I hope to find time this weekend to write up my full thoughts on these amazing displays of Houdini and magic memorabilia, but know that it exceeds all expectations. This Skirball stop is a MUST for any magic enthusiast or, heck, anyone who wants to take a walk through a colorful and glorious turn-of-the-century art form in a beautiful space (this was the first time I've been to the Skirball). A bonus is that LA is currently festooned with banner ads for the exhibitions (right).

The Skirball is open today from 12-8pm for a special Members Preview. The exhibitions open tomorrow, April 28, to the general public. Also watch for the May issue of Los Angeles magazine, which features a terrific illustration by Mark Summers of Houdini escaping from a straight-jacket while hanging above the Skirball (complimentary copies were handed out last night).

There was a professional photographer on hand last night taking photos during the dinner, reception, and in the exhibit halls. When I find the link to the photos, I'll post it here.

Thanks to the Skirball Cultural Center and Arthur Moses for allowing me to share in this amazing evening.

Cover art for U.S. edition of new Houdini and Conan Doyle book

Cover art for the U.S. edition of Masters of Mystery: The Strange Friendship of Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini by Christopher Sandford has been revealed on Amazon.

Gotta say, I think like the bold cover art for the UK edition from Duckworth better. I also like that the UK edition will be released a month before this U.S. edition from Palgrave Macmillan, which is set for release on November 22, 2011.

Of course, I will be getting them both. :)

Slowing things down a bit

Just a heads-up that I've landed some real-world work for the summer, so I can't promise I'll be able to keep up the same level of (almost) daily updates that I've managed since launching Wild About Harry last November. But, don't worry, I won't let anything major slip past. Thanks for understanding.

Recording of the Final Houdini Seance

Here is a recording of the famous Final Houdini Seance held atop the roof of the Hollywood Knickerbocker Hotel on October 31, 1936. It is narrated by George Boston and features the voices of Edward Saint and Bess Houdini. This recording was released by Hudson Records in 1959 and reissued by Mark56 in 1975.

The 1959 and 1975 LP recordings of the Final Houdini Seance.

Happy Easter.

Ghost Hunters hunt Houdini

I didn't see it, but it appears the Ghost Hunters recently went in search of Houdini in an episode titled, "A Soldier's Story". The site of the potential haunting was the Sterling Opera House in Derby, Connecticut (right). The Ghost Hunters specialty is capturing EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) and, according to a wrap-up of the episode at 411mania, they did record something while trying to contact Harry on the stage of the historic theater.

I don't know. The show sounds pretty sketchy, but these are always fun. Maybe I'll try and catch a repeat.

Boo!

UPDATE: Having now seen this, Houdini only gets a mention as having performed at the theater. No ghost action.

The real deal

Check out this photo of Mike England holding an authentic Houdini lock at the 30th annual Crossroads of America Antique Padlock Show held in Indianapolis last weekend. But this isn't just any Houdini lock. Says Michael:

"The screw lock I am holding [...] is an original Houdini owned Siberian Cell Padlock. The gentlemen that is holding the Houdini lock in another photo is the owner, Jeff Strumberger and yes, he has documentation on this lock -- far more documentation than I have ever seen to support the fact that Houdini owned this lock...it is quite possible that this lock was one of the locks in the famous Houdini "shackled head to toe" photo" [either at Houdini's knees or at the ankles].

You can check out many more photos of the handcuffs, locks, and straightjackets that were on view at Handcuffs.org.

Thanks to Mike for letting me share his pic.

LINK: Harry Houdini exhibit to appear at Skirball Cultural Center

Publicity about Thursday's opening of Houdini Art and Magic at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles is kicking into gear, starting with this article in the L.A. Times.

Look for a nice printed version in tomorrow's Sunday paper.

Houdini challenges Christianity?

Escape artist Norman Bigelow has a history of writing controversial works about Houdini, most famously his 1983 self-published booklet, Death Blow, which came down strongly in favor of the idea that Houdini was murdered.

Now, via his new blog, ESCAPE ARTIST SPEAKS OUT, Norm has posted his first Houdini entry: Houdini Challenges Christianity. Not sure I completely understand it -- and I'm taking no position myself -- but it's something I've never read before and I'm happy to see Mr. Bigelow is still in the game and stirring the pot (on this Good Friday).

Have a read for yourself at Norman Bigelow's ESCAPE ARTIST SPEAKS OUT, and feel free to comment below.

UPDATE: Not surprisingly, this has generated a little controversy on The Magic Cafe forums.

Houdini in The Card Trick

At last night's monthly Magician Member Meet-up at The Magic Castle, host Mark Nelson announced something that definitely piqued my interest. In celebration of the upcoming Houdini and Jewish Magicians exhibitions at the Skirball Center, The Magic Castle will present a short play written by Jim Steinmeyer and featuring the always terrific Jim Bentley as Houdini called, The Card Trick. Details were scant, but from what I gathered, this will be a one time performance open to AMA members and held in the new Peller Theater.

I will keep my ear to the ground and hopefully have more info soon. Stay tuned!

UPDATE: Details here.

Letter from Kellar to Houdini sells for $32,500

A two page hand-written letter from Harry Kellar to Houdini sold today in auction for an amazing $32,500 (plus 20% commission).

In the letter, dated Jan 29, 1918, Kellar congratulates Houdini on his vanishing elephant illusion, and says that he is very sorry to hear about the death of Mrs. Leon Herrmann and that both Leon and his wife were devoted to each other.

Just to show that content is king when it comes to letters, another hand-written letter from Kellar to Houdini that didn't have strong magic history references sold for only $1000.

The letter was just one of many items that sold for surprisingly high prices at the Martinka & Co. auction of items from the collection of magic scholar and Houdini biographer, Milbourne Christopher. According to Kevin Connolly at Houdini Himself, the auction brought in over one million dollars (including commissions).

Also see: Two Hardeen scrapbooks sell BIG in Christopher Collection auction

Two Hardeen scrapbooks sell BIG in Christopher Collection auction

Two original scrapbooks belonging to Houdini's brother, Theo. Hardeen, blew away their estimates of $600-$1,200 in the Martinka & Co. auction of magic memorabilia from the collection of Milbourne Christopher held today in New York.

The first scrapbook, "Newspaper Notices, T.W. Hardeen", comprising over 50 pages of newspaper clippings from 1916, sold for an amazing $22,500! The second scrapbook, dated 1927 and containing challenge notices, letters of congratulations, newspaper articles mentioning Hardeen as Houdini's successor and original photographs, sold for a whopping $30,000! (Add 20% commission to these prices.)

Houdini items also saw some high-priced action. An original manuscript for Magic in Boston 1792-1918, which was researched and written for Houdini by H. J. Moulton, sold for $40,000. A Houdini/Kellar letter went for $32,500. A rare unused Houdini window decal nabbed $3,750. A signed copy of Robert-Houdin’s Confidences sold for $30,000. A copy signed by Houdini grabbed $9000.

Duckworth publishing 'Houdini and Conan Doyle' in the UK

Gerald Duckworth & Co. will be publishing Christopher Sandford's new book about Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the UK on October 20, 2011, a full month before the U.S. release.

Judging by the listing on Amazon and the cover art (right), it appears the title in the UK will just be Houdini and Conan Doyle. In the U.S., where the book is do to be released by Palgrave Macmillan on November 22, the title is Masters of Mystery: The Strange Friendship of Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini.

I'm very excited about this one! I'm even more excited that I'll be able to get the book earlier than expected.

You can pre-order Houdini and Conan Doyle (UK edition) by Christopher Sandford at Amazon.co.uk. The U.S. edition can be pre-ordered here.

With thanks to Suzannah.

Observe, If You Will...

A new short story by Terry Hayman, Observe, If You Will... has been released as an eBook by Fiero Publishing. Here is the description on Amazon:

A Montreal prostitute is being grilled for her knowledge of Harry Houdini's death. But if the mysterious customer who took her to Houdini's last rehearsal and performance is really a killer, how did he do it, and why?

Observe, If You Will... is available for The Kindle via Amazon. You can also find other formats, and read a sample, at Smashwords.

Official website for "Houdini House"

thehoudiniestate.com

The fabled "Houdini House" in Laurel Canyon, California, now has a redesigned website that promotes the 4-acre hillside property as a rental for parties, film shoots, corporate events, and even weddings.

I've attended two parties on the estate, and I’m pleased to report the grounds have been beautifully restored, the fountains and waterfalls are again flowing, and the remaining guest house (the original mansion burned down in the ’60s) is adorned with beautiful original paintings of the master magician. There’s even a statue of Houdini now on the site.

Of course, Houdini never actually lived on the property. He and Bess rented a smaller house across the street that is no longer there. But he did spend time at the estate, which was then owned by a man named Walker, and when Bess moved to Hollywood in the '30s she held her parties and annual séances there, hence it came to be known as the "Houdini House."

Frenemies?

Here's one that has me scratching my head. Recently I acquired a catalog from the Dunninger Collection sale in 1988, and for sale inside was this candid photo of Houdini and the infamous Mina Crandon aka Margery the Medium.

Far from being a portrait of the bitter enemies that has come down through history (some even implicate Margery in Houdini's death), this photo shows them to be VERY friendly indeed. I mean, look at this! He's holding her hand and turning on that old Houdini charm. He wasn't even this amorous with his on-screen leading ladies. Other photos taken during this session show a grimly serious Houdini, but certainly not here.

Of course, maybe Houdini is just lulling her into a false sense of security before he brings the hammer down on her bogus act. Or maybe the Margery story is more complex than we know? Interestingly, the famous photo of Margery at her front door, which was used in her own publicity, was taken by Houdini.

HOUDINI comes to Blu-ray May 3

On May 3, 2011, Legend Films will release the 1953 classic HOUDINI on Blu-ray high definition for the first time.

As with their most recent DVD release, HOUDINI will come bundled with the 1969 movie, Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies. The set is called "The Tony Curtis Double Feature." It doesn't appear it will be available as a stand-alone Blu-ray.

This joins Bruce Cardozo’s restored The Man From Beyond as the only Houdini movies so far available on Blu-ray in the U.S.

The Tony Curtis Double Feature HOUDINI Blu-ray can be pre-ordered now at Amazon.com (and, remember, using my links helps support the site).

The secret recordings of Bess Houdini

Imagine a collection of secretly recorded private telephone conversations between Bess Houdini and the "leading magicians of the day." Does this sound too good to be true? Well, apparently, it's for real!

In a 1966 issue of The Linking Ring, John Booth recalled paying a visit to Bessie and Edward Saint in their "small Spanish stucco bungalow" at 8565 Westknoll Avenue in Hollywood (now West Hollywood) in the '30s. "Mrs. Houdini was a lively little lady of complete naturalness," recalled Booth.

As they were sitting "engrossed in talk about the late showman", Booth suddenly heard his own disembodied voice coming from an unknown source within the room. "It was as though radio voices had suddenly begun to penetrate the air around us," said Booth. That's when Ed Saint revealed the secret, and dropped a bombshell:

"Madame Houdini is making a collection of records of her conversations over the phone with leading magicians of the world. We have seven prominent magicians, made this way, talking with Madame Houdini. None of the magicians has been aware of the recording, at the time, so they have been entirely spontaneous. When they are gone, and some are older men like Cardini and the Great Leon, this will be a valuable historical collection."

Holy Houdini! How many of these were made? What other magicians were recorded? And most importantly, where are these recordings today?

"Across the years, I have tried fruitlessly to find out who obtained these recordings from the Houdini estate," said Booth in 1980. "No one can tell me what happened to the voice records: they simply disappeared."

UPDATE: Secret recordings of Edward Saint revealed.

Tom Cruise was set to play Houdini in 2004

In a new interview on Who's Hoo at the Magic Castle, actor and magician Steve Valentine tells an interesting story about the time he was invited to producer Ray Stark's home for a dinner party. After the party, Stark showed him a script for his new movie: HOUDINI.

Of course, I've written about Stark's 30+ year struggle to produce a movie about the great magician in MAGIC magazine (October 2006), but what Steve adds to the story was something Stark said to him directly:

"We've got Tom Cruise to play Houdini."

Cruise had long been rumored for the role (the photo mock-up here comes from Entertainment Weekly), but I've never been able to nail down whether he was committed, or if it was just media speculation. Now we have confirmation that Cruise was, indeed, set for the role.

Steve adds that Stark wanted him to be a magic consultant on the film, but that he died "like a week later", which would put this in 2004.

Is Cruise still open to playing Houdini, I wonder?

Steve Valentine recently set-up his own Houdini project at the Syfy channel called, Among the Spirits. Unfortunately, the proposed Houdini and Conan Doyle "stempunk" series wasn't discussed during the interview, but you can read about it here.

Who's Hoo at The Magic Castle is the online talk show created by Rob & Tommi Zabrecky and hosted by Fitzgerald. The show is taped before a live audience in the Inner Circle and is available for AMA members to view on the Magic Castle website.

UPDATE: Check out the full story of this never-made Houdini movie: The saga of Ray Stark and Houdini.

Tomorrow...

While doing research for my post about Bess Houdini's film, Religious Racketeer, I came across something that I think is a real bombshell. Certainly it's something that will pique the interest of historians and collectors. It comes from a visit with Bess in the 1930s and direct from the mouth of Ed Saint himself. The photo below is your hint. I'll drop the full bombshell tomorrow.

UPDATE: The secret recordings of Bess Houdini

Is it safe?

Check out this file photo of Houdini emerging from a safe that sold yesterday on eBay for $168 (with 12 bids). The photo is heavily touched up, but still nice as it's an uncommon shot. The only other place I can recalling seeing this is in Kellock's Houdini His Life Story. There it is credited to the White Studio, N.Y. Congrats to whoever nabbed this rarity.

By the way, if you are the winner of this photo and want me to take it down, just shoot me an email via this page and it will vanish like magic!

The expert

Watch this bright young man deliver his school report on Houdini like an expert. Bravo!

Watching this I'm reminded of another youngster who delivered his school report on Houdini back when Gerald Ford was President. Sixth grade, Sunny Brea Elementary, Mrs. Buss' classroom. I'm sure I didn't do it as well as this bright lad, and I certainly didn't nail the facts as well as he does, but that day I discovered yammering about Houdini was something I loved to do. And I'm still at it today.

Jackman hints at 'Houdini'

Broadway.com reports that Hugh Jackman is in the final stages of prep for his solo concerts at San Francisco’s Curran Theatre, where he’s set to appear May 3-15. “I’ve been working on my one-man show in my head for about 15 years, but now it’s finally happening,” says Jackman.

When asked about the show coming to Broadway, Jackman said: “I’m also looking to come back and do a show show on Broadway, so probably that will be first.”

The website speculates that Jackman is talking about the long-in-the-works Houdini musical. At last report, the book was being written by Oscar winner Aaron Sorkin with music by Danny Elfman.

Not much to go on, I know, but at least it's something. I really want to see this happen. If Hollywood can't get it together and give us a proper big budget Houdini biopic (operative word being "biopic"), I'm happy to turn it over to Broadway. Just imagine the media attention and merchandising that will accompany this show. And if it's a hit, well, it could have the impact on a generation that the Tony Curtis movie had.

I'm just still trying to get my head around Aaron Sorkin as the writer.

When Madame Houdini spoke

In 1937, having successfully set up a Houdini biopic at Paramount, Bess Houdini and Edward Saint turned their attentions to developing a second movie that would be starring vehicle for Bessie herself.

The film was to be called Madame Houdini Speaks. The idea was, having fulfilled her ten year "imposed silence", Bess would finally sound off on her views about spiritualism in a dramatic feature film. Saint claimed the film "will go into immediate production" and promised:

"The sensational picture will be packed with ghostly dynamite that will blast the fakes, frauds and humbugging religious racketeers hiding behind the cloak of spiritualistic superstition. Madame Houdini will play the part of herself on the screen and her long experience in tracking down the miracle mongers will be vividly portrayed in the spooky and mystic-laden production."

This is quintessential Edward Saint -- press agent-cum-carnival barker. However, there was more to this project than bluster. The film had a real producer in Fanchon Royer, "one of Hollywood's outstanding independent women producers", and a director in Frank O'Conner, who was also writing the Paramount Houdini biopic. A friend of the family, O'Conner was said to have performed with Houdini in vaudeville and "knew the great magician well."

Madame Houdini Speaks would eventually be released as Religious Racketeer (sometimes referred to as Religious Racketeers and later retitled Mystic Circle Murder). It was filmed in March of 1938 at The Grand National Studios in Hollywood, which was located on the southwest corner of Poinsettia Street and Santa Monica Blvd. next door to the United Artists Studio. As announced, the film was produced by Fanchon Royer and directed by Frank O'Conner (whose Houdini biopic was never made). However, Bess would only appear at the beginning and end of the film as "Madame Houdini." But she did indeed "speak out" and proclaim her belief that communication with the dead was impossible.

The film was given a special "Magicians Preview" on April 12, 1938, where it received an especially positive (polite?) review from Richard Frohmann in Goldston's Magical Quarterly. Said Frohmann:

"Although Religious Racketeer makes no pretense at being a million dollar production, it tells a good story in an arresting and memorable manner. Mrs. Houdini plays an outstanding part in the story, and it is clear that her stage experience has stood her in good stead. The film is undoubtedly good-class entertainment for discriminating filmgoers, and never once borders on bathos or unreality."

Religious Racketeer premiered at Shea's Century Theater in Buffalo, New York on July 7, 1938. It then played limited engagements, typically as part of a double bill. In 1940 it was reissued as Mystic Circle Murder.

Predictably, the film sparked controversy in spiritualist circles. According to a report in Genii, the film was "hissed down by believers from Lillydale" (a "spirit camp"), who packed the Buffalo theater for its first showing. They later denounced the film in their journal, Psychic Observer, reproducing a letter from Bess "in her own hand" in which she states she had received a genuine message from Houdini (I expect they were talking about this letter).

The only available print of Religious Racketeer -- which was released on DVD in 2006 by Alpha Video as Mystic Circle Murder -- runs only 68 minutes, a far cry from its originally reported 90 minute running time. Unfortunately, in this print, the epilogue with Bess is abruptly cut off. Did she have more to say? It appears so. In fact, she may have delivered a fairly lively last word. Evidence for this exists in a review in The Jinx, which quotes Bess in the epilogue as calling mediums "those leeches."

Hopefully, the cut epilogue will one day be rediscovered and restored so we can hear Madame Houdini speak.

Thanks to Marc Wanamaker of the Bison Archives for the information on the Grand National Studio.

Want more? You can see an opening day "World Premiere" newspaper ad for Religious Racketeer as a member of my Patreon.

Related:

• Watch the entire 'Religious Racketeers'
• Mystic Circle Murder released on DVD
• Film of Bess Houdini in 1938

Link: Tribute to 'Mrs Houdini'

Swedish artist Karin Jonsson has created a rather Avant-garde tribute to "Mrs. Houdini" at Karin Josson MFA. Pretty wild stuff. Click the headline for the exhibit, and make sure you check out the video, Bess - 2011.

www.kannisova.se

Houdini gets The Simpsons treatment

I'm happy to report that Houdini played a big part on last night's magic-themed episode of The Simpsons.

Titled "The Great Simpsina", the season 22 episode finds Lisa stumbling into the dilapidated home of The Great Raymondo (voiced by Martin Landau). After some convincing, she learns magic from the old magician, and also discovers he was given the Milk Can escape by Houdini himself (the Can is hidden inside a secret room accessible when you tip a Houdini bust).

Lisa learns to do the daring escape, but inadvertently reveals the method to the much-hated Cregg Demon, a pretty funny send up of Criss Angel. Demon claims Houdini's spirit passed him the secret, and makes it a part of his show with his own ultra-tacky presentation ("I hope you're watching up there, Houdini bro. I did your great grand niece."). I won't reveal the end, but know that David Copperfield, Ricky Jay, and Penn & Teller all put in appearances, voiced by themselves.

It was a pretty good episode with lots of references to Houdini and some nice inside magic jokes. One thing -- the method of the Lisa's Milk Can is revealed. While it's not exactly how Houdini's can worked, I wouldn't be surprised if this touched off a bit of controversy in some magic circles. Teller is credited as the Magic Consultant for the episode.

"The Great Simpsina" is available for purchase on Amazon and iTunes, or you can watch it for free on Hulu. Lisa is also featured on the cover of this month's MAGIC magazine.

Haldane was here

So my cat and I were watching Haldane of the Secret Service last night, and I completely forgot that Houdini shot a scene on the embankment beside Westminster Bridge in London. I've been to this very spot many times without realizing this. So for my friends in England and those traveling to London soon, remember, Houdini stood here.

"The name's Haldane. Heath Haldane."

Below are some more thrilling cities (that's a nod to Ian Fleming) from Houdini's Haldane of the Secret Service. Houdini shot these European locations while he was on tour in 1920. At the time, he only had a vague notion for a film about counterfeiting that he was calling The Dupe. These shots do feel somewhat sandwiched in just to give the film international flavor, but it's one of the pleasures of Haldane to see these famous cities captured in time.

Below the Eiffel Tower and atop Montmarte in Paris

Hot on the trail in Glasgow, Scotland

Haldane hits Hull, England

New York, New York

UPDATE: So last night my cat and I were again watching Haldane of the Secret Service and I noticed something new in the location footage. In the below shot of a busy London railway station one can see an advertisement for the "International Horse Show" at the Olympic, June 16-28. That gives us a good idea of exactly when Houdini shot his London scenes. Houdini was in London at exactly this time.

Related: 

• Finding Houdini in Hull
• Chasing Houdini in Edinburgh
• Houdini found at Beaver Falls!