The Grand Magical Revue with a short-lived attempt by Houdini to mount a straight magic show in England in 1914. He only presented it a dozen times. This poster is for the last known performance at the Empire Theatre in Nottingham on June 12, 1914.
Both this and the Circus Brush poster came from the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame in Canada. Both are heavily lacquered. There are a few surviving Grand Magical Revue posters, but what's nice about this one is it lists "De Kolta's Marvellous Cube" among the illusions to be performed. This poster appears on page 101 of Houdini His Life and Art by James Randi and Burt Randolph Sugar.
I've not seen this poster since that day back in 2016, but it was for sale along with the Circus Brush poster. Perhaps that means we will see it appear on eBay as well?
UPDATE: Looks like this poster has inspired some reproductions over the years, as seen below. The one on the left was part of a "Houdini Portfolio" from the 1970s. On the right is a reproduction created by the Houdini Historical Center in 1995 (thanks to Chunk Romano for the image). Looks like the HHC felt the need to add a photo of Houdini in chains, which is incongruous on a poster advertising him as a straight Magician.
Related:
For some reason HH thought he had proprietary rights to the DeKolta Expanding Die when he purchased it from Will Goldston. Will Robinson reminded him the workings had already been published in a magic book. I wonder if he used Bess for this trick or another young female.
ReplyDeleteVery cool you have the picture of the magical revue poster, I have a few posters regarding the revue tour including the come "see me magisch", you wrote about . Any chance you took one of the circus busch poster? Btw I appreciate you almost authenticating the busch poster for me, should be here tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteYou have the "come see me magisch" poster? I thought that went to the Copperfield collection. That's gotta be the best of them all.
DeleteI did takes pics of the Circus Busch poster. Happy to send them to you. Just email me.
The new issue of Genii has current pics of David Copperfield's collection and this same (June 12) poster is in there and it looks good as new. Wondering if he got this one at some point and had it restored? Or is it another one?
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