This post is now retired.
But you will still be able to enjoy the story of Houdini in 1919 with the publication of my upcoming book.
Related:
- Houdini conquers Hollywood (at last) in The Grim Game
- What caused The Grim Game plane crash?
- Houdini's madcap Hollywood lunch
- Terror at the Hot Springs
- Return to Terror Island
Fantastic start to the new year. 1919 was definitely my favorite year for Houdini. Lots of great info here.
ReplyDeleteWonderful piece and many thanks. I seem to remember the Psycho automaton being in residence at the Houdini Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls.
ReplyDeleteHe was. He's now in John Gaughan's collection.
DeleteWait a few more days and I'll have a nice post about Psycho with something I don't think people have seen. Believe it or not there's a tie-in with the Circumnavigators Club.
Thanks, John. I'm glad that it, too, survived the fire. Looking forward to the upcoming post.
DeleteHere we go: A gift between Circumnavigators.
DeleteGreat 1919 recap John! Where is Psycho now? In Copperfield's museum?
ReplyDeleteThere's a picture of HH with Gloria Swanson in JC Cannell's Secrets book. There were also the giant wagon wheel and ladder publicity photos where Harry was roped and tied.
I just now realized that the fellow holding HH up by the neck in that Terror Island still was not an African-American extra. He looks Mexican or Pacific Islander.
Also notice there are no female African Americans. All the female extras are of some other ethnicity.
DeleteGreat story! 1919 certainly was a busy year for Houdini.
ReplyDeleteJack
Each time I do one of these I'm amazed at how jam-packed each year was. My chronology also reveals that. Truly one of the secrets of his success is he just worked harder than anyone else.
DeleteAt some point, I think it was 1914 or thereabouts, HH told a reporter he was tired, and was looking for a better way to earn a living. The pain to glory ratio numbers were not there. He had been working harder, not smarter, and probably explains why he tried the movie and film development business.
DeleteThe fellow seated right behind Houdini's head in that Silver Anniversary photo looks like Arbuckle. The Houdinis were away from 278 from April to December of 1919. Who lived in the house and took care of it? The pets and so on. Bess's mother?
ReplyDeleteYep, that is Arbuckle back there.
DeleteI'm pretty sure Bessie's mother did live in 278 at this time. But I believe there was a constant rotation of family members and/or people employed by Houdini staying there, so there was always someone to look after the house and animals. The Houdinis were gone all the time, but I don't think 278 was ever empty.
Excellent start to 2019! Looking forward to more...
ReplyDeleteGreat tead, Rick Schmidlin
ReplyDelete