The well-researched 64-page booklet
Houdini's Tour of Australia by Leann Richards has been reissued in a printed edition by Ginninderra Press. This is the first time a printed edition has been made available since the original release in 2006.
When escapologist Harry Houdini toured Australia in 1910 he brought magic, mystique, his wife and an aeroplane. Houdini conquered crowds and nearly caused riots, he escaped straitjackets and shackles and flew through the air. Some said he was supernatural, to others he was a fraud, but Houdini confounded them all. This is the story of Harry Houdini, ‘the greatest and most astounding artist that ever appeared in Australia’.
Houdini's Tour of Australia is available at
Amazon.com and
Amazon.co.uk. It's also available for the Kindle.
Related:
I just watched a lovely short newsreel on the Smithsonian website about one of Houdini's Aussie flights (or preparation thereof). I'm sure you've seen it, though it is not the same footage I had previously seen. Thanks for the heads-up about the booklet.
ReplyDeleteI had linked to it HERE, but that link is dead and I can’t find the new one. Can you shoot it to me? Thanks.
DeleteSure thing. I'll email it to you.
DeleteThanks! Can't embed that one, so I've updated with a screen cap and link. I like the goggles and nose guard!
DeleteAccording to Richards in his book, Harry kept the Milk Can in reserve his first few weeks in Australia before performing it.
ReplyDeleteYes. I noted that in my chronology. It was shrewd move that he did in both Melbourne and Sydney. The first few weeks he did challenges. And then introduced the Milk Can later. A way to keep the folks coming back for more.
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