Unfortunately, the unique Australian trailers for Part I and II are no longer online.
Related:
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
'Houdini' concludes in Australia
The second part of the Houdini miniseries aired last night (June 30) in Australia on Seven. The second night had a new trailer which teased: "See the trick that finally killed Houdini. It's not what you think!"
Unfortunately, the unique Australian trailers for Part I and II are no longer online.
Related:
Unfortunately, the unique Australian trailers for Part I and II are no longer online.
Related:
11 Houdini lobby cards sell in auction
A treasure trove of rare Houdini silent movie lobby cards sold yesterday at the Profiles in History auction of The Morris Everett, Jr Collection, Part 1. Included was an ultra-rare title card for The Grim Game which sold for $5,500. I expect this is a new record. The auction featured lobby cards from all of Houdini's films except The Man From Beyond.
- The Master Mystery - "The Madagascar Menace" - $2000
- The Master Mystery - "The Water Peril" - $1,500
- The Master Mystery - "The Mad Genius" (electric chair) - $3000
- The Master Mystery (2 cards) - "The Mad Genius" & "Barbed Wire" - $1,600
- The Grim Game - Title card - $5,500
- The Grim Game - "Get above him, I’ll drop to his plane" - $2,500
- The Grim Game - "Over the edge – with death below and imprisonment above!" - $1,900
- The Grim Game - "Lock him in the strongest cell!" - $3000
- Terror Island - "Attempt to murder Harper" - $1,900
- Haldane of the Secret Service - "What a story he listened to!" (color) - $1,900
Collectively the cards took in $24,800, and that's before the 20% to 28% commissions. You can see each of the cards on the Profiles in History auction catalog pages below.
Click to enlarge.
Related posts:
- The Master Mystery Tour (lobby cards)
- Spend this weekend on Terror Island (lobby cards)
- The Man From Beyond color lobby card lands $1225 on eBay
Monday, June 29, 2015
Houdini miniseries receives IIG Award
Last night the Houdini miniseries was honored with an award from the Independent Investigations Group (IIG), a skeptical research and science advocacy organization. The miniseries was recognized for its depiction of reason and science over superstition (via Houdini's spirit busting activities) in mainstream media.
Academy Award Nominee Robert Forster presented the award to producer Gerald W. Abrams and screenwriter Nicholas Meyer during the 9th Annual IIG Awards held at the Steve Allen Theater in the Los Angeles Center for Inquiry.
Said Meyer, "I thank Gerry [Abrams] for the really wonderful opportunity he gave me and the great time we had putting this movie together. The icing the cake is this award which we were far from expecting, so thank you all very much."
Each year the IIG also presents the "Houdini Hall of Honor Award" to an individual who has devoted their career to promoting scientific and critical thinking to the public. The year's winner was best-selling author (and one-time magician) Richard Wiseman. His name will join Houdini, Carl Sagan, James Randi, Isaac Asimov, and others on a plaque on display at the Center for Inquiry.
On a lighter note, the 2015 "Terrible Television Award" went to Dr. Oz, who addressed the audience from behind the screen with smoke and pyrotechnics like the great fake Wizard himself. The show also featured very funny performances by the talented Hannah Gansen and Jim Coughlin.
"The IIG Awards recognize mainstream entertainment for promoting critical thinking and scientific values and dispelling myths and superstition," said host James Underdown, Chair of the IIG. "This has become an important annual event at the intersection of science and entertainment."
For more information about the IIG, visit their official website. Stay tuned for exciting news of an upcoming IIG-Houdini event and a look at an amazing Houdini artifact at the CFI.
Related posts:
Sunday, June 28, 2015
The King of Vaudeville
Here's a German poster for the 1953 classic Houdini with Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. I've never seen this design before. The title translates to Houdini: The King of Vaudeville. That's an uncommon accolade, but apt! This image comes from Cinema.de.
Houdini was released in West Germany on March 18, 1954. For an historical overview of the film, check out this post, which also includes the original U.S. trailer. I also have a dedicated Facebook page for this classic that inspired generations of young people (including myself) to study the art of magic and history of Houdini.
Related posts:
Saturday, June 27, 2015
American Pickers find Houdini in Georgia
Houdini turned up on American Pickers on Wednesday (6/24) when Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz visited the collection of a gentleman named Preston in Warm Springs, Georgia.
In his eclectic museum, Preston had a collection of magic and Houdini memorabilia. But what really drew Mike and Frank were a pair of leg-irons said to have belonged to Houdini. Preston has on display his documentation, which appear to be two framed letters from Hardeen. Mike also a noted a pair of "Australian Torture Thumbcuffs" in the collection.
While the Pickers specifically have "Houdini items" on their list of wants, they did not attempt to buy the shackles from Preston. They instead admired the cuffs while several informational pop-ups about Houdini came on screen. A nice tribute, and the kind of tie-in I had expected to see last year when HISTORY aired the Houdini miniseries. But I guess you can never predict a pick!
Thanks to Joe Fox.
Related posts:
In his eclectic museum, Preston had a collection of magic and Houdini memorabilia. But what really drew Mike and Frank were a pair of leg-irons said to have belonged to Houdini. Preston has on display his documentation, which appear to be two framed letters from Hardeen. Mike also a noted a pair of "Australian Torture Thumbcuffs" in the collection.
While the Pickers specifically have "Houdini items" on their list of wants, they did not attempt to buy the shackles from Preston. They instead admired the cuffs while several informational pop-ups about Houdini came on screen. A nice tribute, and the kind of tie-in I had expected to see last year when HISTORY aired the Houdini miniseries. But I guess you can never predict a pick!
Thanks to Joe Fox.
Related posts:
Friday, June 26, 2015
All rise for the Robed Houdinis
The big Supreme Court decisions this week have certainly fired up political pundits, with one presidential hopeful calling the court justices "Robed Houdinis." I guess he means shining examples of those at the top of their profession?
Related:
Houdini himself was not a political warrior. He was supporter of both Republican Teddy Roosevelt and Democrat Woodrow Wilson. The idea of using Houdini's name and image in political attacks, especially cartoons, is something that goes back to Houdini's time, and he loved it. In fact, one poster for The Man From Beyond was made up entirely of such political cartoons.
Animated 'Houdini' coming to DVD
NCircle Entertainment, the largest independent studio for children's non-theatrical DVDs in the U.S., has acquired Houdini (a.k.a. Little Houdini), a French feature-length animated film produced by Dandelooo. Houdini will premiere in the U.S. on DVD on September 15.
"Our team in Paris is thrilled at our new partnership with NCircle Entertainment," said Emmanuèle Pétry Sirvin of Dandelooo. "The launch of Houdini in America has special significance, knowing that this amazingly talented boy was born in Europe, then sailed to the United States where he became the greatest magician of all time."
Below is a trailer:
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Houdini & Doyle to film in Manchester
Prolific North reports that the new TV series Houdini & Doyle will shoot at the Space Project in Manchester, a 360,000 sq ft facility for large scale TV and film production in the UK. The team is taking two stages – Space 02 and Space 03 – as well as using production office zones. A spokesman said work would see them resident "until the back end of the year."
The article also features this intriguing quote:
The drama will draw on what the production team claim to be historically documented instances of the Metropolitan Police turning to Houdini and Doyle to help tackle “unsolved and inexplicable crimes.”
Historically documented? I suspect what they mean is that Doyle worked with the police on at least one occasion (the case of George Edalji). As far as I know, Houdini was never brought into any kind of criminal investigation, inexplicable or otherwise. This is the first claim I've heard that the series will be based on any kind of fact. Until now, I've heard only that it would feature highly fictionalized adventures of the two men.
Houdini & Doyle stars Michael Weston as Houdini, Stephen Mangan as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Rebecca Liddiard as Constable Adelaide Stratton. The series will air in 2016 on ITV Encore, Global TV, and FOX. Production will also take place in Toronto, Canada.
Related:
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Houdini & Doyle official logo
Here's a great way to end our big Houdini & Doyle news day – the main title logo! This comes from the FOX press site, so it's the real deal. I like it.
As we've learned today, Houdini & Doyle will star Michael Weston as Houdini and Stephen Mangan as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The series begins shooting this year in the UK and Canada. It will debut in 2016 on FOX in the U.S., ITV Encore in Great Britain, and Global TV in Canada.
As we've learned today, Houdini & Doyle will star Michael Weston as Houdini and Stephen Mangan as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The series begins shooting this year in the UK and Canada. It will debut in 2016 on FOX in the U.S., ITV Encore in Great Britain, and Global TV in Canada.
Related:
Meet the new Houdini
Today it was announced that Michael Weston has been cast as Houdini in the new series, Houdini & Doyle, set for broadcast in 2016. So what do we know about the man who is following in the footsteps of Curtis, Glaser, Keitel, Schaech, Pearce and Brody?
Michael Weston was born on October 25, 1973 in New York City as Michael Rubinstein. He's the son of actors Judi West and John Rubinstein, the grandson of piano virtuoso Arthur Rubinstein and the great-grandson of conductor Emil Młynarski, the founding conductor of Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra.
When he was a teenager, Weston wanted to be a professional baseball player until he injured his arm. He then graduated from Northwestern University with a B.S. in theater arts. In 2000 he changed his name to Weston as there was already a Michael Rubinstein in the Screen Actors Guild.
The 41-year-old actor has worked extensively in American television, his best-known roles being the private detective Lucas Douglas on House, the homicidal meth addict Jake in the HBO drama Six Feet Under and Pvt. Dancer on Scrubs. House series creator David Shore (who is co-executive producing on Houdini & Doyle) planned a House a spin-off series with Weston's character as the lead in 2008, but the show never aired.
Weston has also appeared in the feature films Garden State (2004), The Dukes of Hazzard (2005) and State of Play (2009). He has been married to musician Priscilla Ahn since 2010.
Houdini & Doyle appears to be the actor's first encounter with Houdini and the world of magic. I've already been told (warned?) that the new series is highly fictionalized, so Weston won't have to contend with the same kind of historical scrutiny we're given his predecessors (no Fact Checks necessary). However, he certainly appears to have passed the first test in that he's a good physical match for Houdini.
Houdini & Doyle also stars Stephen Mangan as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Rebecca Liddiard as Constable Adelaide Stratton. The series will air in 2016 on ITV Encore, Canada's Global TV, and on FOX in the U.S.
Related:
It's on! Michael Weston and Stephen Mangan are ‘Houdini & Doyle’
Houdini & Doyle is officially set for 2016 with Michael Weston as Houdini and Stephen Mangan and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Here is the full article from this morning's Variety:
Fox Sets ‘Houdini & Doyle’ for 2016 Debut with Stars Michael Weston & Stephen Mangan
Elizabeth Wagmeister
@EWagmeister
Fox is saying “abracadabra” to David Shore’s supernatural adventure series “Houdini & Doyle” with ten episodes set to debut next year on the network.
Michael Weston (“House,” “Six Feet Under”) and Stephen Mangan (“Episodes”) have nabbed the two title roles in the period drama, inspired by true events. Stephen Hopkins (“24,” “Californication”) has signed on as director.
Rounding out the cast, Rebecca Liddiard (“Man Seeking Woman”), has been set as Constable Adelaide Stratton, the first female constable ever to work for the London Metropolitan Police Force.
The series revolves around master magician, escape artist and paranormal debunker, Harry Houdini (Weston) and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Mangan), the prolific writer, paranormal aficionado and creator of “Sherlock Holmes,” as they grudgingly join forces with New Scotland Yard to investigate inexplicable crimes with a supernatural slant.
“I’ve long been intrigued by both Houdini and Doyle; men who were ahead of their time, each fascinating in their own right. But the idea that these two, seemingly so different, could have been friends is almost too perfect,” said exec producer Shore. “In Michael and Stephen, we have found two incredible actors that embody the intelligence, humor and mystique of these men who, even when viewed through the lens of history, are larger than life.”
The international U.K./Canada Treaty co-production from U.K.’s Big Talk Productions and Canada’s Shaftesbury, in association with Shore Z Productions, hails from scribes David Titcher and David Hoselton who serve as exec producers with the “House” creator. Big Talk’s Kenton Allen, Matthew Justice and Luke Alkin, plus Shaftesbury’s Christina Jennings, Maggie Murphy and Scott Garvie also exec produce.
Fox’s stateside premiere date has not been set, other than sometime in 2016, but the series will premiere on ITV Encore and Canada’s Global in spring 2016. Sony Pictures TV is the distributor.
Related:
Monday, June 22, 2015
'Houdini' airs tonight in Australia
The Houdini miniseries airs tonight in Australia (where it is already June 23) at 8:40pm on Seven. This marks the premiere of the miniseries down under. Note the use of a somewhat different title logo below. Part Two will air on June 30.
For those about to watch the premiere in Australia, here's a little something I posted on the eve of the U.S. premiere last year: Why today is October 8, 1976.
Related:
Related:
William Lindsay Gresham on the Houdinis marriage
While visiting the American Museum of Magic in Marshall, Michigan last month, I came across a letter written by Gresham to his agent, Bernice Baumgarten, in 1954. In it Gresham pitches the idea for his Houdini book, taking aim at what was the only other Houdini biography in print at the time, Houdini His Life Story by Harold Kellock. Gresham writes:
I'm sorry you didn't like the Houdini book idea. What you saw (the carbon of the True booklenghther) is just a bare outline of what that guy really was. There has never been a real biography written -- the book by Harold Kellock, Houdini, His Life Story, is just posthumous publicity, with Bess portraying her marriage as a 33-year idyll. It was like hell.
Later, Gresham turns to the subject of Daisy White, for which he appears to have had a singular fascination:
Perhaps I'm just an enthusiast but I'd love to write a true account of Houdini's life and my years as a fact-detective editor have given me enough know-how to avoid libel. Incidentally, many years ago there was a cute little redhead bombshell who worked in the old Martinka's magic store. She was named Daisy White. After Houdini's death Bess Houdini found a stack of carbon copies of love letters Harry had written Daisy. The schmuck, he thought he took one great secret with him to the grave! What a character.
This last paragraph contains a true bombshell. Love letters "Harry had written Daisy." By the time Gresham writes his book, the author and nature of these letters has drastically changed. On pages 291-292 of Houdini: The Man Who Walked Through Walls, Gresham writes:
Knowing Houdini's prudishness and ultraconservatism in his attitude toward women, Daisy had written him several torrid love letters just to see what would happen. Houdini never threw away any scrap of paper unless it was a clipping which boosted and imitator. He kept the gag-love-letters hidden. After his death Bess found them and is said to have pitched quite a fit until Daisy explained the circumstances and managed to pacify her.
So which version are we to believe? Did Houdini write Daisy love letters, or did Daisy send Houdini "gag-love-letters"? The difference is enormous. The truth might be revealed in Gresham's assurance that he knew "how to avoid libel." Did he change the truth to make the letters innocent so as not indict Houdini? Or, with further research, did he discover what he had written to Bernice was incorrect? Tough one.
And what are we to make of Gresham's claim that the Houdini's marriage was "like hell"? Certainly his final book did not reflect a troubled marriage. In fact, in a lengthy passage on pages 75-76, Gresham paints the Houdinis marriage as, yes, idyllic. He even adds: "There was only one thing of which she could be absolutely sure: he was not interested in other women."
So was Gresham exaggerating in this letter, trying to make his book sound more salacious and therefore more appealing to his agent who wasn't yet sold on the idea of Houdini biography? Was he repeating gossip or making a snap judgment that he later backed away from? Or, again, did he avoid the topic entirely in his final book to protect himself from libel?I want nothing more to believe the fairytale -- that the Houdini's marriage was what Bess characterized as "33 years of heaven." But I have to admit that the more I do primary research, the more I encounter troubling indicators, such as this Gresham letter, that there might have been some problems.
The wild card for me is the extent of Bessie's involvement with alcohol. If she had a serious drinking problem during the marriage -- if she was an alcoholic -- then there certainly could have been times that it was "like hell." But we also have ample evidence of the Houdinis love and affection for one another.
My guess is the Houdinis 33-year marriage was, like many long term marriages, a complex personal relationship. I doubt it was all "heaven." But until we get more evidence, I find it hard to believe it was "like hell." Still, this is a curious letter from a man who seemed committed to uncovering the truth about Houdini.
Thanks to Alex and Keli Hindenach of the American Museum of Magic for providing me with a copy of this letter, and to Diego Domingo for his help identifying Bernice Baumgarten.
Related:
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Houdini checks into Gran Hotel
Houdini put in an appearance on the popular Spanish language dramatic series Gran Hotel (a.k.a. Grand Hotel) played by actor Jorge Bosch. The series, which originally aired 2011-2013, is now available on Netflix with English subtitles. The Houdini episode is Season 2, Episode 19, Part 33. Houdini appears doing the Water Torture Cell at 00:35:55.
I'm not sure if this was Houdini's only appearance on the series.
Thanks to @janebabes on Twitter for the tip.
Saturday, June 20, 2015
The Brandon book
Continuing my examination of books about Houdini using images and insights from my own collection.
The 1993 biography The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini by Ruth Brandon is maligned by Houdini buffs. This is largely due to Brandon's pet theory, as expressed in the book, that Houdini was impotent. Brandon admitted this notion was not based on any evidence, just a "guess." But she believed it was the best explanation of why the Houdinis never had children. This was promoted as the sensational revelation of the book, and the author repeatedly shared her theory on TV and in documentaries. It even found its way into popular culture via a mention on Seinfeld.
Of course, the reason the Houdinis didn’t have children had to do with Bess's inability to do so, something her niece, Marie Blood, said she would have shared with Brandon had the author shown any interest (I got the feeling that Brandon had rubbed Marie the wrong way). I’ve also heard whispers over the years that Brandon, who authored the 1984 book, The Spiritualists, had a pro-spiritualist agenda. However, I see no real evidence of this in the book itself. (Unless the idea of robbing the great debunker of his sexual power could be considered an attack?)
But if we move beyond the bedroom, I think The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini has a lot to recommend it. Certainly in 1993 it was a very welcome book. It had been 24 years since the last major Houdini biography (Houdini The Untold Story by Milbourne Christopher), and while Brandon didn’t really break new ground, she nicely consolidated a lot of the important new research from smaller, individual studies. It provided Houdini buffs with a nice "everything we know up to now" biography while we waited for the great game changer, Houdini!!! The Career of Ehrich Weiss by Kenneth Silverman.
It's also a very well written book. In fact, for people who want an easy read on Houdini, it's still a biography I'd recommend, impotency theory and all.
Publication
The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini was first published in Great Britain by Martin Secker & Warburg Limited in 1993. It would take a year for the book to find its way "across the pond" to the U.S. where it was published by Random House in October 1994 (although the U.S. first edition shows only the 1993 copyright date). Both hardcover editions featured very nice cover art. The UK art was designed by William Webb with a photo credit to the Radner Collection. The U.S. cover was by Mike Lam with photo credit to UPI and poster images from the Granger Collection.
The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini has so far seen two paperback editions in the UK. The first was published in 1994 by Mandarin and featured a shirtless Houdini on the cover. The second came from Pan Books in August 2001 and offered up more conventional cover artwork. This later edition also separated the photos into two sections instead of having all in one central section as in all other editions.
The first U.S. paperback edition was published by Kodansha Globe in 1995. It had an attractive cover designed by Lilly Langotsky. A later reprint from Random House appeared in October 2003. It featured an entirely new cover design by Tamaye Perry, who made nice use of stills from Houdini's movies. This paperback is still in-print today and is available on Amazon.
In my collection, I also have two U.S. pre-publication editions of the Brandon book. The first is a proof from publisher Random House. A very different cover concept is shown inside along with a review from the London Times. The second is a curiosity; a trade paperback edition featuring artwork that would appear on the U.S. hardcover. It's likely this is an early export edition, typically sold in airports and overseas markets, although there's nothing on the book to indicate it as such.
Despite the controversy, The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini, "the Brandon book", is a worthy biography that deserves a place on any shelf of Houdiniana, if for no other reason than for these great cover designs.
The 1993 biography The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini by Ruth Brandon is maligned by Houdini buffs. This is largely due to Brandon's pet theory, as expressed in the book, that Houdini was impotent. Brandon admitted this notion was not based on any evidence, just a "guess." But she believed it was the best explanation of why the Houdinis never had children. This was promoted as the sensational revelation of the book, and the author repeatedly shared her theory on TV and in documentaries. It even found its way into popular culture via a mention on Seinfeld.Of course, the reason the Houdinis didn’t have children had to do with Bess's inability to do so, something her niece, Marie Blood, said she would have shared with Brandon had the author shown any interest (I got the feeling that Brandon had rubbed Marie the wrong way). I’ve also heard whispers over the years that Brandon, who authored the 1984 book, The Spiritualists, had a pro-spiritualist agenda. However, I see no real evidence of this in the book itself. (Unless the idea of robbing the great debunker of his sexual power could be considered an attack?)
But if we move beyond the bedroom, I think The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini has a lot to recommend it. Certainly in 1993 it was a very welcome book. It had been 24 years since the last major Houdini biography (Houdini The Untold Story by Milbourne Christopher), and while Brandon didn’t really break new ground, she nicely consolidated a lot of the important new research from smaller, individual studies. It provided Houdini buffs with a nice "everything we know up to now" biography while we waited for the great game changer, Houdini!!! The Career of Ehrich Weiss by Kenneth Silverman.
It's also a very well written book. In fact, for people who want an easy read on Houdini, it's still a biography I'd recommend, impotency theory and all.
Publication
The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini was first published in Great Britain by Martin Secker & Warburg Limited in 1993. It would take a year for the book to find its way "across the pond" to the U.S. where it was published by Random House in October 1994 (although the U.S. first edition shows only the 1993 copyright date). Both hardcover editions featured very nice cover art. The UK art was designed by William Webb with a photo credit to the Radner Collection. The U.S. cover was by Mike Lam with photo credit to UPI and poster images from the Granger Collection.
 |
| UK and U.S. hardcover first editions. |
The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini has so far seen two paperback editions in the UK. The first was published in 1994 by Mandarin and featured a shirtless Houdini on the cover. The second came from Pan Books in August 2001 and offered up more conventional cover artwork. This later edition also separated the photos into two sections instead of having all in one central section as in all other editions.
 |
| UK paperbacks. |
The first U.S. paperback edition was published by Kodansha Globe in 1995. It had an attractive cover designed by Lilly Langotsky. A later reprint from Random House appeared in October 2003. It featured an entirely new cover design by Tamaye Perry, who made nice use of stills from Houdini's movies. This paperback is still in-print today and is available on Amazon.
 |
| U.S. paperbacks. |
In my collection, I also have two U.S. pre-publication editions of the Brandon book. The first is a proof from publisher Random House. A very different cover concept is shown inside along with a review from the London Times. The second is a curiosity; a trade paperback edition featuring artwork that would appear on the U.S. hardcover. It's likely this is an early export edition, typically sold in airports and overseas markets, although there's nothing on the book to indicate it as such.
 |
| U.S. proof and early export paperback. |
Despite the controversy, The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini, "the Brandon book", is a worthy biography that deserves a place on any shelf of Houdiniana, if for no other reason than for these great cover designs.
Enjoy these other selections from the WILD ABOUT HARRY bookshelf:
- "This book is full of lies" - Houdini His Life Story
- The secrets of The Secrets of Houdini - The Secret of Houdini
- "Had Houdini lived he would have written this book" - Houdini's Escapes and Magic
- The gateway biography - The Great Houdini
- An alternative gateway - Houdini Master of Escape
- The first great Houdini biography - Houdini The Man Who Walked Through Walls
- The textbook - Houdini The Untold Story
- The perennial Houdini on Magic - Houdini on Magic
- The Fantastic Four - The Original Houdini Scrapbook, Houdini His Art and Magic, Houdini A Pictorial Life, Houdini His Legend and His Magic
Friday, June 19, 2015
LINK: Trip to Scranton is extra special
Link day indeed! Joe Notaro has just posted his full report on his trip to Scranton to see The Grim Game at the Houdini Museum. Click on the headline to read all about Joe's adventures at Harry Houdini Circumstantial Evidence.
Related:
Related:
LINK: The Knickerbocker Hotel's Haunted History
I guess it's link day today, so here's a link to a terrific article at KCET.org about the Hollywood Knickerbocker Hotel. Of course, the Knickerbocker was site of the Final Houdini Seance in 1936, and the article touches on this with a first hand recollection of the "dismal, drizzly night" by L.A. Times reporter Gene Sherman. Click the headline and have a read at KCET.
Related:
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| The Knickerbocker in 1938. |
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LINK: Houdini fans don't want you to see this!!!
"In the long run, anything that promotes discussion about Houdini and interest in magic is great in our books, but just for the sake of clarity, we recommend you use this FACT CHECKING GUIDE while you watch Episode #1 on Tuesday night."
Thanks to the Melbourne Magic Festival for the nice shout-out. I'm very flattered to see how far and wide my little Facts Checks have spread.
The Melbourne Magic Festival was created in 2008 by The Australian Institute of Magic with the two-fold aim of giving Melbournians the opportunity to see world class performances of magic in a theatrical environment, and the chance for performers to create shows that express themselves as artists. You can get more information and register at the official website: melbournemagicfestival.com.
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Wednesday, June 17, 2015
How Houdini almost went 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
One of the earliest and most intriguing of these near misses occurred in 1915 when Houdini was approached by the still young Universal Film Company to star in an adaptation of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Presumably, Houdini was being considered for the lead role of Captain Nemo.
This clipping from Variety was uncovered by our friends Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz at the Houdini Museum in Scranton. It suggests why the project never went forward...at least not with Houdini in the lead.
VARIETY
February 20, 1915
HOUDINI WANTS $40,000
Harry Houdini was approached by the Universal this week to appear in its production of "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea." When it came to the money talk Houdini took the film men off their feet upon demanding $40,000.
In explaining why he asked the big money Houdini explained his vaudeville prestige would be damaged by appearing on the screen. Houdini offered to be handcuffed and then placed in a coffin and buried underneath the sea by divers, all in full view of the camera.
The offer made Houdini, the film men stated, was the same as Annette Kellerman's salary, which they said was $400 weekly with a small percentage of the profits.
In today's money, $40,000 was almost a million dollars in 1915 ($929,948 according to DollarTimes). Even Houdini admitted, "I'm afraid I want too much money."
It's interesting to see that at the start of 1915 -- a year in which Houdini embarked on a nationwide Vaudeville tour -- he considered filmmaking a career liability. But by year's end, he was visiting stars and movies studios in California, and would soon plunge into the movie business with his own Film Developing Corporation.
Universal's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea would be made in 1916 with Allen Holubar as Captain Nemo. For the role, Holubar wore a long white bear and wig. One wonders if Houdini would have gotten the same treatment? The final film was a combination of the book and another one of Verne's adventure novels, Mysterious Island. The film was produced by the "Williamson Brothers Submarine Film Corporation" and much was made of the underwater photography, a real novelty in these early days of cinema.
Even though Houdini wouldn't take the plunge in 20,000 Leagues, in 1917 he made a deal with the Williamson Brothers to star in another underwater spectacular tentatively titled "Houdini's Sub-Sea Miracle." This time they met his salary demands, which was said to be "the largest sum of money ever paid to any one performer for a single motion picture." Thriller writer Arthur Somers Roche wrote a script, but for reasons unknown, the project never went before the cameras.
But the idea of Houdini in underwater action proved irresistible, and when it came time to make his second feature for Famous Players-Lasky, Houdini turned to Williamson Brothers technology and featured several underwater scenes in Terror Island. In fact, Terror Island bears a striking resemblance to Universal's 20,000 Leagues in that it features an inventor with an experimental submarine who sets out a rescue an abducted girl from a "mysterious island."
Universal's 1916 version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea survives and is available on DVD and via Amazon Instant Video. It's fun to watch and imagine what this film could have been with Houdini in the lead.
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Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Take a walking tour of "Houdini's Magical Appleton"
Appleton's History Museum at the Castle will be conducting walking tours of "Houdini's Magical Appleton" tomorrow, June 17, and next Wednesday, June 24, at 6:00pm. The tours will be led by curators Emily Rock and Nick Hoffman. Here are the details.
Check out more about this and other 2015 Summer events at the museum website.
Houdini's Magical Appleton
$5.00 per person / $2.50 for Museum Members
Wed., June 17, 2015 for walkers at 6:00pm
Wed., June 24, 2015 for advanced walkers at 6:00pm
Location: History Museum at the Castle
Join a guided walking tour of the sites associated with the myths and reality of Houdini’s life in Appleton. Houdini claimed the city to be his birthplace, but he was actually born in 1874 in Budapest, Hungary. We will explore his brief life in Appleton by visiting where his childhood home once stood, sites of fictional magical feats, and his father’s synagogue. Explore the city that Houdini called home. Fees will be collected the night of the event.
Check out more about this and other 2015 Summer events at the museum website.
Gray Water Ops Houdini Coin is here
Gray Water Ops has released their limited edition Houdini Coin. As you can see from the photo, it's a beauty! The first 1,000 coins will come numbered on the thin edge of the coin. Ten dollars from the sale of every coin will be donated to the S.A.M. Houdini grave restoration fund.
This is the first in Gray Water's 20 coin "Greatest Magicians Series." Every coin will feature a different magician and have a different charity selected to receive the funds.
Gray Water Ops is a veteran owned company that mints custom challenge coins for military units deployed worldwide. You can purchase the Houdini Coin at the Gray Water website.
Thanks to Keith Hanshaw.
Related posts:
This is the first in Gray Water's 20 coin "Greatest Magicians Series." Every coin will feature a different magician and have a different charity selected to receive the funds.
Gray Water Ops is a veteran owned company that mints custom challenge coins for military units deployed worldwide. You can purchase the Houdini Coin at the Gray Water website.
Thanks to Keith Hanshaw.
Related posts:
Class of 2015 learns from Houdini
Principal Jeffrey Roadcap reflected on key moments in history occurring on June 12 and tied each one to a lesson. In recalling Harry Houdini's act of freeing himself from a straitjacket while suspended from 40 feet upside down in New York City on June 12, 1923, Roadcap pointed to the importance of perseverance to get out of sticky situations.
"You need determination to be successful in life," he said.
A second Houdini connection would be if the students marched out to the traditional Pomp & Circumstance. This was Houdini's opening music for his 3 Shows in One.
Houdini Lives indeed.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Another 'Houdini & Doyle' audition on Vimeo
Another audition tape for the new TV series Houdini & Doyle has shown up on Vimeo. This time it's actress Natasha Wilson reading for the role of Adelaide. Click to watch it quickly before it gets pulled or put behind a pay wall like the last one.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ON VIMEO
The two scenes read here, which are the same scenes read by actress Maddie Phillips in the last tape, don't give us much information about the series, although Houdini does get a mention. It appears the scenes are between Adelaide and Sir Arthur.
Houdini & Doyle will be a fictional series featuring Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle solving paranormal mysteries. It will air on FOX in the U.S., ITV in the UK, and Shaw Media in Canada. While no air-dates have been announced, co-producer Shaftesbury says "the series will be filmed in London and Canada Summer 2015 for broadcast in 2016."
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'Houdini' arrives down under, June 23
The Houdini miniseries is set to air in Australia on Tuesday, June 23 at 8:40pm on Seven. Part Two airs June 30 at 9:15pm. Evan Jones, who played Jim Collins in the miniseries, has been handling press for this airing. In an interview with The West Australian, Jones says:
"I didn’t really know that much about Houdini beforehand so when I got the role I went to The Magic Castle in Los Angeles and did a lot of research and it was crazy to find out what a big deal he is, like, literally the big deal of magic."
Houdini stars Adrien Brody and Kristen Connolly. The miniseries first aired on HISTORY in September 2014.
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Sunday, June 14, 2015
Houdini photos test auction records
Haversat & Ewing Galleries auction this weekend of The Ed Hill Collection may have set new records for the sale of unsigned Houdini photographs. First and foremost is this terrific 3.5" x 2.5" shot of Houdini being put into a straitjacket. The auction estimate was $250-300. The final sale price was a whopping $3,890 (including 17% premium).
The only photo I can think of to rival this one recently was the group shot at Bessie's 35th birthday party, which sold for $4000 in last year's big Potter & Potter Houdini auction. But that photo had what appeared it be Bessie's handwriting on the back and was larger.
A production still from The Grim Game (this year's hot topic to be sure) blew past its 250-$300 estimate to land at $1,228. I'm thinking this could be a new record for a Grim Game still.
Other big ticket Houdini items were an original portrait postcard (Lot #99) which went for $1,630. A Grim Game advertising postcard (Lot #111) fetched $1,433.
Congrats to Haversat & Ewing Galleries for another successful auction, and thank you for being supporters of WILD ABOUT HARRY.
The only photo I can think of to rival this one recently was the group shot at Bessie's 35th birthday party, which sold for $4000 in last year's big Potter & Potter Houdini auction. But that photo had what appeared it be Bessie's handwriting on the back and was larger.
A production still from The Grim Game (this year's hot topic to be sure) blew past its 250-$300 estimate to land at $1,228. I'm thinking this could be a new record for a Grim Game still.
Other big ticket Houdini items were an original portrait postcard (Lot #99) which went for $1,630. A Grim Game advertising postcard (Lot #111) fetched $1,433.
Congrats to Haversat & Ewing Galleries for another successful auction, and thank you for being supporters of WILD ABOUT HARRY.
The Grim Game hits Scranton
Here's a report by Clay Lepard at WNEP on last night's screening of The Grim Game at the Houdini Museum in Scranton.
It looks like a great time was had by all. Our friend Joe Notaro of Harry Houdini Circumstantial Evidence was in attendance and I will link to his full report when available.
Related:
(If you are having trouble viewing this video, watch at WNEP.)
It looks like a great time was had by all. Our friend Joe Notaro of Harry Houdini Circumstantial Evidence was in attendance and I will link to his full report when available.
Related:
Friday, June 12, 2015
The photo Houdini didn't want you to see
While I was at the American Museum of Magic in Marshall, Michigan last month, I was able to look through some archival Houdini material in their excellent Research Center. While going through a folder on his Aviation career, I came across a remarkable photo and knew I had found something special. Here's the story.
When Houdini became fascinated with aviation in 1909, he bought a French Voisin biplane in Germany. But he needed a place to fly it. So Houdini made a deal with the commander of German army troops stationed at Wandsbek near Hamburg. In exchange for using the Hufaren parade grounds as his airfield, Houdini would give aviation lessons to the German soldiers. Proudly, Houdini had photos taken of himself and his "students" on the day of his first flight, November 26, 1909.
When World War I broke out several years later, Houdini became swept up in the patriotic fervor of the day, selling war bonds and even enlisting for service himself. But, privately, he fretted about the flying lessons he had given to the German soldiers at Wandsbek, fearing that he was responsible for teaching them skills now being used against U.S. and allied troops. So he destroyed all photos of himself with the German soldiers, and relocated the stories of his early aviation triumphs to Australia.
But this photo reprint seems to have slipped through and found its way to Marshall – which is where I found it and bring it to you today. It's the photo Houdini didn't want you to see. (If you need help finding Harry, click here.)
Related:
When Houdini became fascinated with aviation in 1909, he bought a French Voisin biplane in Germany. But he needed a place to fly it. So Houdini made a deal with the commander of German army troops stationed at Wandsbek near Hamburg. In exchange for using the Hufaren parade grounds as his airfield, Houdini would give aviation lessons to the German soldiers. Proudly, Houdini had photos taken of himself and his "students" on the day of his first flight, November 26, 1909.
When World War I broke out several years later, Houdini became swept up in the patriotic fervor of the day, selling war bonds and even enlisting for service himself. But, privately, he fretted about the flying lessons he had given to the German soldiers at Wandsbek, fearing that he was responsible for teaching them skills now being used against U.S. and allied troops. So he destroyed all photos of himself with the German soldiers, and relocated the stories of his early aviation triumphs to Australia.
But this photo reprint seems to have slipped through and found its way to Marshall – which is where I found it and bring it to you today. It's the photo Houdini didn't want you to see. (If you need help finding Harry, click here.)
Click to enlarge.
Thanks to Alex and Keli Hindenach of the American Museum of Magic for making me a copy of this photo and allowing me to share it here. The American Museum of Magic's Research Center is available to researchers by appointment.
Information on the Wandsbek parade grounds deal is found in The Secret Life of Houdini by William Kalush and Larry Slomon, which contains the best chapters on Houdini's aviation exploits.
Stay tuned for more from the archives of the American Museum of Magic.
Houdini daze - June 12-13
Just a couple reminders today before I bring you "The photo Houdini didn't want you to see." First up, Haversat & Ewing Galleries auction of The Ed Hill Collection is now live. Some nice Houdiniana in this auction, so click here to view and bid.
Tomorrow, Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz will screen TCM's restoration of The Grim Game at The Houdini Museum in Scranton, PA. In attendance will be Houdini family members Jeff and Debbie Blood. Tickets are still available, so click here for all the details.
Finally, today is the birthday of Lisa Cousins of the Magic Castle's William Larsen Sr. Memorial Library. Lisa does a wonderful job watching over the AMA's Houdini treasures. Happy birthday, Lisa! Click to revisit Lisa's talk on Houdini and Valentino.
Tomorrow, Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz will screen TCM's restoration of The Grim Game at The Houdini Museum in Scranton, PA. In attendance will be Houdini family members Jeff and Debbie Blood. Tickets are still available, so click here for all the details.
Finally, today is the birthday of Lisa Cousins of the Magic Castle's William Larsen Sr. Memorial Library. Lisa does a wonderful job watching over the AMA's Houdini treasures. Happy birthday, Lisa! Click to revisit Lisa's talk on Houdini and Valentino.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
'Impossible' poster art and websites
Here is the impressive poster artwork for the new play Impossible starring Alan Cox as Houdini and Phill Jupitus as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The play will be performed exclusively at the Edinburgh Fringe 2015 at the Pleasance Dome, August 5-31. It is is one of several Houdini-themed events at the festival.
You can follow the play on Facebook and Twitter @Impossibleplay. The official website is www.impossibleplay.co.uk. Tickets can be booked via the Pleasance Theater Trust.
Press shots by Idil Sukan/Draw HQ.
Related:
In 1920, Hungarian-American magician and escape artist Harry Houdini met celebrated British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for the first time. The two men quickly became close associates, however Houdini was troubled by his new friend's passion for mediumship and his fervent belief in life after death. When shown the mediums' miraculous feats, all Houdini could see were the kind of conjuring tricks with which he was all too familiar.
Directed by Hannah Eidinow and starring Phill Jupitus as Conan Doyle and Alan Cox as Houdini, Impossible, the new play by Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky (writers of 2012's Coalition and 2014's Kingmaker), tells the unlikely, extraordinary and true story of what happened next - a story of spiritualism and seances, friendship and feud, death and regret.
You can follow the play on Facebook and Twitter @Impossibleplay. The official website is www.impossibleplay.co.uk. Tickets can be booked via the Pleasance Theater Trust.
Press shots by Idil Sukan/Draw HQ.
Related: