Monday, March 27, 2017

A Houdini birthday present from Kevin Connolly

Friday might have been Houdini's birthday, but it was Houdini fans who received the gift. That's because mega collector Kevin Connolly shared on his Facebook group CONJURING HISTORY - BUY, SELL AND TALK this remarkable press photo of Houdini from his collection. I've never seen this shot before and it's a stunner!


This photo probably gives us our best, most detailed look at a Houdini straitjacket. To my eye, this appears to be the same straitjacket that surfaced on Pawn Stars in 2011. It later sold at auction for $46,980. There is a very distinctive V-like dip in the leather across Harry's upper chest that occurs on both jackets (you can also spot this in some film footage). So it looks this pic is also a gift to whoever now owns this jacket!


Thanks to Kevin for letting me share his share here on WILD ABOUT HARRY. Below are a few other gems from the Connolly Collection.

UPDATE: Check out the newspaper clipping in THIS POST about Houdini's 1915 straitjacket escape in Los Angeles. The photo is a pretty good match.

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7 comments:

  1. Leo HeviaMarch 27, 2017 at 1:05 PM

    This photo looks doctored. There appears to be magic marker lines around HH's shoulders, and the background behind him is painted over?

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    Replies
    1. John CoxMarch 27, 2017 at 3:53 PM

      Yes, you'll see this kind of thing with old press photos. They enhance them for printing. Means this probably appeared in a paper at one point.

      Delete
    2. Mark WilloughbyMarch 28, 2017 at 8:33 AM

      The two vertical lines and the lower horizontal line appear to be crop marks.

      Delete
    3. John CoxMarch 28, 2017 at 8:37 AM

      Indeed. It looks this image as used in the paper was just one column wide.

      Delete
    4. Mr.MagicApril 1, 2017 at 11:39 AM

      Now that's truly amazing

      Delete
  2. John CoxAugust 11, 2019 at 9:55 AM

    Check out the newspaper clipping in THIS POST about Houdini's 1915 straitjacket escape in Los Angeles. The photo is a pretty good match.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leo HeviaAugust 11, 2019 at 11:20 AM

      This Pawn Stars straitjacket seems to have been Harry's main jacket for the outdoor stunts for years.

      Delete