Saturday, February 13, 2016

Houdini and the American Gaiety Girls

David Saltman at The Houdini File has an interesting post today about Houdini's short-lived and ill-fated experience managing a burlesque troop, The American Gaiety Girls, in the 1890s. David explains the interesting connections back to the extended Weiss family and also shares an early family portrait showing a young Cecilia Weiss.

The American Gaiety Girls is a subject I've yet to tackle here, so click on over to The Houdini File and enjoy:

THE HOUDINI FILE: NO BIZ LIKE FAMILY BIZ
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6 comments:

  1. Leo HeviaFebruary 13, 2016 at 5:05 PM

    That photo of a young Cecilia is amazing. I now understand why HH entered the partnership in the American Gaiety Girls with confidence.

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  2. Joe M. NotaroFebruary 13, 2016 at 5:51 PM

    Supposedly when two of the singers were too drunk to go on, Harry Houdini and his cousin, Harry Newman, filled their slot. It was perhaps his first and last attempt at singing on stage. HH was roundly booed by the audience for his less than tuneful effort.

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    1. AnonymousFebruary 14, 2016 at 5:21 AM

      Hey Joe M. Notaro. You plagiarized that passage from page 39 of The Metamorphosis. Give credit where it's due please.

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  3. Leo HeviaFebruary 13, 2016 at 6:31 PM

    Hah! That's a great anecdote Joe! I don't remember reading that in any of the bios.

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    1. Joe M. NotaroFebruary 14, 2016 at 7:25 AM

      It was in the MacNAB, the Metamorphosis. Sorry, I should have pointed that out.

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    2. John CoxFebruary 16, 2016 at 9:31 PM

      One of the many things that great about Bruce's book is it provides fresh info on the Gaiety Girls.

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