Saturday, October 3, 2020

Houdini mystery sign found in Boston

Reader Aldo from Boston sends in this photo of a Houdini curiosity he discovered on the streets of Boston. This is obviously not an original piece of Houdini advertising, but what is it exactly? Could it be decor from a bar or restaurant that recently closed? Anyone from Boston recognize this?


As for Houdini playing "The Astoria" on May 11, 1908... Houdini was actually playing Keith's Theater in Philadelphia on May 11, 1908. While he was doing the Milk Can at this time, on this particular day he did a challenge handcuff escape, which the papers called "a trifle in comparison to his new tricks."

Below are links to some more found Houdini curiosities.

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7 comments:

  1. Leo HeviaOctober 3, 2020 at 5:18 PM

    Harry looks naked in the painting. We know he did the Milk Can in the raw at least once for a college show. He bathing suit was the color of a competing university and after getting called on that he stripped it off. Boston always gave him a good reception throughout his career.

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    1. John CoxOctober 3, 2020 at 5:45 PM

      That was actually right around this time (May 6) in Boston. It was at the Harvard Student Union and HH made the mistake of wearing Yale blue.

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    2. Leo HeviaOctober 3, 2020 at 5:55 PM

      Yes! Thanks for looking it up! Do you think it's possible the artist who painted this knew about that Harvard Student Union performance and got the date wrong? I'm certain the artist depicted a naked HH.

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    3. Leo HeviaOctober 3, 2020 at 5:56 PM

      Speedos were not around in 1908.

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    4. John CoxOctober 3, 2020 at 6:03 PM

      It's an interesting thought, but if that was the intent, wouldn't the artist have made reference to him appearing at Harvard instead of the Astoria (which is just a made up theater)? I think it's just coincidence.

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  2. ChristineOctober 4, 2020 at 12:42 PM

    Speedos may not have been around, but tiny trunks were! https://youtu.be/HJ47uIa7j5U

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    1. John CoxOctober 4, 2020 at 1:08 PM

      As were jockstraps, which Houdini appears to be wearing in that one famous photo of him emerging from a prison cell. I sometimes wonder if he was always wearing a little covering of some kind during his "nude" tests.

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