Saturday, January 23, 2021

Smitten with Bess


Today is Bess Houdini's birthday. She was born Wilhelmina Beatrice Rahner in Brooklyn on January 23, 1876. For the occasion, I thought I'd share this review from the January 7, 1898 Galena Daily Republican. Clearly this reviewer was smitten with Bess! This is when the Houdinis were touring with the California Concert Company medicine show in Kansas. In these early years, Bess did a solo singing act in addition to her role in The Houdinis. Enjoy.


A bonus here is we learn Olivette was one of the songs she would sing.


Happy 145th birthday Bess!
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6 comments:

  1. Leo HeviaJanuary 23, 2021 at 9:54 AM

    HH did his card manipulations at these medicine shows. Gotta luv it! The reviewer never stopped gushing about them. He might have been smitten with Bess.

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    1. John CoxJanuary 24, 2021 at 10:43 AM

      One wonders if Houdini had his King of Cards poster on view here.

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  2. ColleenJanuary 23, 2021 at 10:06 AM

    “Houdini can have our cake”...love it! It sounds like Bessie could have their cake too, and that is simply fabulous, and fitting.

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    1. John CoxJanuary 24, 2021 at 10:42 AM

      Happy birthday to you too, Colleen. So close to Bess!

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  3. Tom and JohanJanuary 24, 2021 at 7:56 AM

    Great to see such an appreciative write-up about Bess. Thanks for sharing, John.

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