Mr. Taroug would like to know...

A unique Hollywood-related Houdini item is on eBay at the moment. This is an original memo from director Norman Taroug dated Jan. 24, 1952. He is almost certainly talking about Paramount's Houdini with Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh here, and he appears to be cracking a joke. He was, after all, the director of the Martin and Lewis comedies.

Click to enlarge.

As this is before the start of production and Taurog was a major Paramount director at the time, I can't help but wonder if he was in consideration to direct Houdini? The film was ultimately directed by George Marshall.

Norman Taurog directed 180 films in his career. He received the Academy Award for Best Director for Skippy in 1931. He was later nominated for Best Director for the film Boys Town (1938). He later directed six Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis comedies (including my favorite, Living It Up with Janet Leigh) and nine Elvis Presley films. He passed away in 1981.

Related:

• HOUDINI (1953)
• Houdini (1953) makes list of 10 most inaccurate biopics
• Bessie visits Paramount (and so do I)