Sunday, November 15, 2015

Houdini!!! in Columbus, Ohio

Magician, collector, and all around good guy Joseph Hanosek has produced a terrific 15-page booklet on Houdini!!! in Columbus, Ohio. I love specialized works like this.

A Columbus resident himself, Joe chronicles Houdini's appearances in the capitol city in 1907, 1911, 1915, 1916 and 1925. Houdini had planned on bringing his "3 Shows in One" back to Columbus in early 1926, but cancelled when he learned he'd be required to perform the 2 1/2 hour show three times a day and four times on Sunday.

The booklet includes photos and newspaper clippings from Joe's collection. One interesting detail is after Houdini successfully performed a suspended straitjacket escape from the Citizen's Trust and Saving Building at High and Gay streets, the Postmaster gave him a cigar. Did he smoke it?

Joe made copies of Houdini!!! in Columbus, Ohio available at last week's 14th Los Angeles Conference on Magic History. To get your own copy, send $5.00 to: Joseph Hanosek, 1236 Castleton Road North, Upper Arlington, OH 43220.

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10 comments:

  1. Bill MullinsNovember 15, 2015 at 9:22 AM

    Joe was one of many people I never got to speak to last week, and I knew nothing about his Columbus booklet. How can I get a copy?

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    1. John CoxNovember 15, 2015 at 9:25 AM

      Ah, dang. It was on his table. I shot him an email suggesting maybe he could put some up on eBay. But I'll send you his contact info.

      Delete
  2. BillNovember 15, 2015 at 10:37 AM

    Now that you mention it, I do remember seeing it. But I neglected to go back and get one before everything closed.

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  3. Leo HeviaNovember 15, 2015 at 12:01 PM

    Well Bill, at least you were there. The rest of us were out of the loop.
    John, can you post Joe's contact info for anyone interested in purchasing this booklet?

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    1. John CoxNovember 15, 2015 at 1:27 PM

      I don't want to post Joe's info without his permission. I'll ask him how people can get a copy.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousNovember 16, 2015 at 6:00 AM

    John,

    Good to see a work on Houdini's Ohio presence. I get to Columbus all the time and would also like some Joe's contact info if he consents so I could get my hands on his booklet and maybe even compare notes on Houdini in Ohio. Thanks, Dale Bernard in Cleveland.

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  5. AnonymousNovember 16, 2015 at 6:49 AM

    I too would be interested in purchasing a copy from Joe. I live in Cincinnati and have been researching Houdini in my area. So far i have found the location of a public Straitjacket upside down escape and where he perormed at Keith's Theatre. I also recently visited a site in Indianapolis. - Jack

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  6. Michael GriffinNovember 16, 2015 at 6:59 AM

    hi i live in columbus,,can i get his contact info too? thanks

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  7. John CoxNovember 16, 2015 at 8:07 AM

    Here we go. To get a copy, send $5.00 to Joseph Hanosek, 1236 Castleton Road North, Upper Arlington, OH 43220.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Roanoke AntiquesMay 13, 2021 at 7:25 PM

    I have what I think may be early photos of Houdini in OHIO with a circus or show and he was doing an elevation or suspension trick in the photos - I am looking for an expert in identifying Houdini photos or circus/magician photos from the late 1800s - please reach me by email roanokecollector on gmail

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