A fire broke out at the well-named HOUDINI cinema complex in Zürich, Switzerland this morning. Emergency services were called at around 7.30am after a passer-by reported smoke pouring from the building.
Firemen evacuated 40 people. No one was injured. The cause of the fire remains unknown, though it is thought to have started in the bar on the ground floor of the building.
The HOUDINI cinema opened last August and occupies the first three floors of a seven-storey building which also comprises apartments, shops and restaurants. You can check out the official website at www.kinohoudini.ch.
Source: The Local Switzerland. Photo: Marcel Haertlein.
Houdini was a teetotaler, and the fire started in the bar on the ground floor of the building. Was Harry trying to tell the proprietors something?
ReplyDeleteBelieve.
Delete1995: Niagara Falls Houdini Museum FIRE
ReplyDeleteHalloween 2011: Magic Castle FIRE
2015: Switzerland Houdini cinema FIRE
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I'm beginning to think that Harry is mad that his final request was never heeded: "To have my props destroyed and BURNED upon my death".
Anyone know what the theater's connection to Houdini is?
DeleteJohn also covered a part of Magic Castle fire story here
http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2011/11/did-original-houdini-seance-have-more.html
"This comes from the Sevier County News:
“Did Houdini return? According to Dorothy Deitrich, director of the Houdini Museum, during the seance, the candelabra that was used, suddenly began to burn brightly.”
John also commented on the "hawk or eagle" showing up mentioned in the article.
The rest of the Sevier County News article went on to say "Many witnesses were there to attest to the event. The flames burned extremely high. Devin Knight, one of the inner circle noticed it first. He asked Houdini to make the flames go higher and they did. It was at the exact same time as the fire was discovered at Hollywood's Magic Castle. Could the Magic Castle fire have been a sign from Houdini? A way of letting them know he took notice? Dorothy Dietrich said "I wouldn't think so. It is very sad. I guess it is just one of those many strange Houdini happenings that only seems to add to his legendary status."
Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz
The Houdini Museum, Scranton, PA
The Only Building in the World totally devoted to Houdini
I don't think there's any connection between this theater and the real Houdini. It appears to be a new building. Just a cool name.
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