This portrait shot of Houdini has appeared in at least one documentary, but I don't believe it has ever seen print; so I think it's a perfect way to end our Unpublished Houdini series. What can I say? This is a fantastic shot of Houdini, capturing his iconic gaze and intensity, and the background gives it a very contemporary feel. It's almost like this was put together in present day to exaggerate the mystery of Houdini. But this is Houdini's own work in his own time. It's Houdini then, now, FOREVER.
"I am going to live as long as I want to and on my 100th birthday I am going to do my upside-down strait-jacket escape hanging from the tallest building in New York City."
-HOUDINI
I hope you all enjoyed our weekly dose of Unpublished Houdini. But don't worry, I still have plenty of unpublished shots of Houdini and Bess from our Hinson Endowment and I'll continue to share them in posts throughout 2014.
The Complete Unpublished Houdini:
A great photo John! Houdini had that penetrating stare that could go right through you. Please keep spoiling us with those unpublished photos!
ReplyDeleteLove this series!
ReplyDeleteNice photo and Houdini quote. I thoroughly enjoyed the series and look forward to more photos from the Hinson endowment in 2014.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this - it's been a good series!
ReplyDeleteThanks gang. More unpublished pics to come in relevant stories, including one that will be among the first posts of the New Year.
ReplyDeleteSo does anyone recall which documentary this image is in?
Fantastic, John and John. Thanks again for sharing all of these.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great end to a great series of photos - just dat stare! The charismatic, penetrative, and not a little intimidating stare that says, "Bitches, be real. I am Houdini!" :)
ReplyDeleteI love that quote too - "I'm going to live as long as I want to..." If he could have performed the strait jacket escape in 1974, that would have been epic, but alas he died over half a century too soon (and wasn't his involvement in films his way of trying to get away from physically challenging escapes like that? So yeah, Master of Bullshit he was too, lol).
Over... I mean almost. It's too early in the morning to do math. :p
ReplyDeleteAlso, Merry Christmas John and John, and thank you!
Can anyone ascertain what pin he is wearing?
ReplyDeleteLove the photo. Pose says it all. " I am the Great Houdini "
ReplyDeleteHH ! :-)
Possibly the Masonic symbol? I believe Houdini joined the Masons sometime in the 1920s.
ReplyDeleteHere's a close up on the pin. Looks like an Iron Cross? Could be Masonic.
ReplyDeleteCould be the Teutonic Cross. Masonic Symbols
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