This footage is identified as Houdini doing a suspended straitjacket escape in Providence, Rhode Island, in September 1924. Houdini did indeed play Providence the week of September 15-21, 1924, so evidence of this escape shouldn't be hard to find. However, I've not been able to find any newspaper account or other mention that confirms the date and location of this escape. But it's still a fantastic piece of film.
Or this could be misidentified and a different city entirely?
He always keeps us guessing!
This clip is from a compilation of Houdini footage from the George Eastman House on the "Houdini The Movie Star" DVD set.
UPDATE: Thanks to reader Dave and the always resourceful Bill Mullins, we can now confirm this footage was shot in Providence. Bill and Dave cleverly used the names of businesses glimpsed in the background (Liggett Druggist and Dart & Bigelow) to establish that Houdini is doing the escape on Westminster Street in front of the offices of the Providence Tribune (the building seen flying the American flag below). Bill has also provided a map from the time.
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Today a modern office building stands on the sight at 40 Westminster Street.
So all that remains for us to discover now is the date!
UPDATE 2: Date discovered! This occurred on September 18, 1924. Thank you to Claire Stretch, great-grandaughter of Foster Lardner, who can be seen in the video standing beside Houdini with a camera. Read more about Lardner's photo albums HERE.
I saw a few cable cars zipping behind Harry. Did Providence have cable cars? The jacket looks like the L.A Pawnstars jacket.
ReplyDeleteThat's the right way to think! I did indeed check this and, yes, Providence had cable cars. Unfortunately I can't read the names on them.
DeleteSomebody has to do the thinking around here! ;)
DeleteSounds like a case for John Bengtson. The businesses in the building across the street are the keys, I think. The sign for Dart and Bigelow Calendars across the street would seem to point to Providence -- or at least this page seems to point there: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=quahogorg&set=a.10157900355653284
ReplyDeleteOh, great work on the sign! Yes, this certainly does point to Providence.
DeleteDart and Bigelow was located at 35 Westminster St., but unfortunately, the buildings on either side of the street look to have been long since demolished (leaving some real eyesores behind): https://www.google.com/maps/place/35+Westminster+St,+Providence,+RI+02903/@41.8250305,-71.4097099,3a,75y,45.19h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svLrpLEtofpIJv17VdpuMbw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x89e445168dd6b135:0x5aba85d33ac66ef8!8m2!3d41.8250885!4d-71.4097046
ReplyDeleteToo bad, but I love that we may actually have the spot. Now just the dang date.
DeleteIt would be interesting to see how some of the modern "escape artists" would do if their strait jackets were secured as properly as Houdini's was.
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind that Harry used special jackets for the suspended straitjacket escapes. The arms might have been a bit longer. It was to speed up his release and shorten the time he was dangling upside down.
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