The idea of Bess playing Houdini's sister is not as odd as one might think. I have found numerous references from the 1890s right up through 1925 that Harry and Bess often presented themselves as brother and sister onstage.
I've been contemplating a post on this brother-sister revelation, but I'm still gathering info and trying to get my head around it. But it appears Harry and Bess might have played characters onstage more than has ever been understood.
Below is the full playlet as it appeared in the Examiner. If you click it and save to your desktop, it should open large enough to read. Enjoy.
Below is the full playlet as it appeared in the Examiner. If you click it and save to your desktop, it should open large enough to read. Enjoy.
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| Click to enlarge. |
UPDATE: Recently I found an article in the March 15, 1908 Pittsburgh Daily Post that openly discusses what it calls the Houdinis "my sister" subterfuge:
The article goes on to tell the same basic story shared in this post about how Bess believed husband and wife acts don't succeed and how they should no longer perform as such. It goes on say that success came soon after that decision, and Bess, who "is superstitious to a degree that is abnormal even among people of the stage," felt she should never appear onstage as Mrs. Houdini.
Wild!
Thanks, this was very interesting and fun - though I can't pretend to understand all the references in the play, but that would require some serious research or time travel! Fabulous illustrations, especially the one of Houdini alongside Bess and her feather duster! I looked up the author, Ashton Stevens, and it seems he was a very highly regarded drama critic (and was even the inspiration for the Joseph Cotton character in "Citizen Kane"). I'd love to know what prompted him to write such an elaborate and unique Houdini piece!
ReplyDeleteOh, thanks for the info on Ashton Stevens.
DeleteYes, one gets a sense there are lots of inside jokes in here. It would be fun to find out who each of the guests were.