Having discovered a way to combine Quicktime movies for my 13 second Grim Game assemblage, I've now gathered together several trims of what is Houdini's only filmed overboard box escape (to my knowledge) to give us the full event in 01:37. These clips come from The Learning Channel's 1999 documentary, The Greatest, the 1971 BBC documentary, The Truth About Houdini, and The Houdini Code (2008).
 |
| Kellar? |
Enjoy the show.
UPDATE: This is confirmed to be Harry Kellar. The man standing next to Kellar, who also shakes Houdini's hand, is magician Nate Leipzig.
UPDATE 2: You can now watch a more complete and clearer version of this footage HERE.
UPDATE 3: I've finally discovered exactly when and where this footage was shot. Check out: Houdini's overboard box footage identified at last!
Related:
Related:
Sure looks like Kellar.
ReplyDeleteThe Overboard Box Escape was usually done at some pier in New York City. I see lots of trees so it's probably somewhere else on this film.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it was filmed in somewhere in Jersey? There's a long retaining wall at the river's edge.
this web site is just awesome. Never ever saw the beginning of this clip before.Whats with the small flag Houdini is holding and sticks out from the box? A signal to his assistents that he is free from the cuffs and that the gaff is ok and he is safe to continue the escape? I assume he tells the surrounding nearby audience and press that the flag just proves he is in the box after its been sealed? Next it would be great to splice together the French movie Houdini made back in 1902. Ive seen it in bits and pieces but never as one continious clip.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anon. That front piece is from the TLC doc. Finding that is what inspired me to assemble this. I think the flag is to just show that he's inside the whole time. You can't really see it, but I believe it's waving all the way to the waterline.
ReplyDeleteAs far a location goes...that's a mystery, but the presence of Harry Kellar suggests this could be the west coast.
An unrelated question......is there anyone that is known, still alive, who saw Houdini perform on stage?
ReplyDeleteSure looks like Kellar to me. Kellar lived on the East Coast before he retired, so I'm not sure his presence in the video is an indication of where it took place. Very cool though that you picked him out of the crowd!
ReplyDeleteany idea on how he escaped from the box and kept it intact, maybe pulling side or bottom boards inward?
ReplyDeletein relation the unrelated anon question. how is it that of all his siblings their bloodline diminished vs grew?!?
Maybe teleportation or could it be that he's a ghost???
DeleteI'm always perplexed by how much traffic this old post attracts. Number 1 this week. Can anyone tell me what is drawing you here? Just curious. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis post always get so much traffic. Still don't know why.
ReplyDeleteBut heads up that I have the complete clip that runs a good 2 mins longer and I will be sharing that very soon.