Thursday, July 15, 2021

Houdini in Hawaii (yes, Hawaii!)

Recently I was able to acquire this unpublished (reproduction) photograph showing Houdini and Bess in "Honolulu 1910." Houdini in Hawaii!? Until I saw this, I would have told you Houdini never visited the Aloha State. But here's proof that he did! Gotta love the leis around their necks. The other two women are unidentified.


This was almost certainly taken aboard the steamship Manuka when Houdini was returning from Australia. The ship ported in Suva, Fiji on May 17, so it likely ported in Honolulu around May 25. [See UPDATE.] The local paper noted Houdini's presence, and even reported there were hopes he might perform in the city.

Honolulu Advertiser, May 26, 1910

Houdini's return from Australia via the Pacific was the final link in a journey that took him around the world. This made him eligible to join the Circumnavigators Club, which he did in 1912.

So, yes, the Houdinis went Hawaiian! If only for a day. Pretty wild.

UPDATE: I've nailed down the exact dates of Houdini's Hawaiian adventure. The Manuka arrived in Honolulu on May 24 at 7:45pm at the Alakea Wharf. It departed the following day, May 25 at 3pm. So the photo above was likely taken on May 25, 1910. Aloha.

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11 comments:

  1. Leo HeviaJuly 15, 2021 at 8:37 AM

    Harry asked for the equivalent of $42,263.86 a week in salary. It's understandable why the theater managers balked. I didn't know his ship docked in Hawaii on its way to the U.S. Great photo!

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    1. John CoxJuly 15, 2021 at 4:42 PM

      That was pretty much what he was paid for a week at that time. Sometimes he got more. So he wasn't asking for anything above and beyond.

      Delete
    2. Leo HeviaJuly 15, 2021 at 9:29 PM

      THAT is a lot of money! HH was obviously worth it but the theater managers thought otherwise. Did the ship dock in Fuji May 17th, or was it Fiji?

      Delete
    3. John CoxJuly 15, 2021 at 10:01 PM

      Oops. Typo. It was Suva, Fiji.

      Delete
  2. DAVID SALTMANJuly 16, 2021 at 9:51 AM

    That ship also stopped in Wellington, New Zealand, Vancouver and Victoria BC. Any trace of HH there?

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    1. John CoxJuly 16, 2021 at 11:05 AM

      Do you have dates on those, David? All I know is Vancouver on June 1st. Thought that's where HH disembarked. But maybe not?

      Delete
  3. John CoxJuly 16, 2021 at 11:55 AM

    You know, there's an unidentified pic of HH standing on a palm tree on page 65 of Christopher's Pictorial Life. I've always thought it didn't quite match the other "world tour" photos on those pages, all of which appear to be ports on his way TO Australia. I wonder if that palm tree pic is Hawaii?

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  4. Barry SpectorJuly 17, 2021 at 6:43 AM

    Has anyone ever researched Houdinis passport records or know if he even had one?

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    1. John CoxJuly 17, 2021 at 12:15 PM

      He had a passport. Don't know how to check the records on that or what kind of records they kept back then.

      Delete
  5. John CoxJuly 23, 2022 at 4:42 PM

    I've nailed down the date(s)! See update.

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  6. AnonymousMay 2, 2023 at 10:59 PM

    I just saw a signed letter from Houdini in a store on Oahu from 1917. Signed Harry Handcuffs Houdini. Gave me chills.

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