Thursday, March 31, 2022

The letter of apology

In 1976, the S.A.M.'s annual wand-breaking ceremony for Houdini was held inside Room 401 at Grace Hospital, where Houdini died. I recently saw video from that event, and during it, magician Jay Marshall said an incredible thing:

"One of the interesting things is J. Stuart Whitehead wrote a letter of apology to the family, and they destroyed that. But he had apologized for having struck Houdini."

Marshall didn't elaborate and I don't have any other information on this letter, but how I would love to have read it! By the way, Marshall really did say "Stuart" Whitehead instead of Gordon. But I think that was just an honest mistake.

If anyone has any more information on this letter, or remembers Jay talking about it in more detail, please let us know in the Comments below.
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4 comments:

  1. Leo HeviaMarch 31, 2022 at 10:47 AM

    Great stuff John! Is that Grace Hospital video private?

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    Replies
    1. John CoxMarch 31, 2022 at 11:34 AM

      Private for now.

      Delete
    2. John CoxMarch 31, 2022 at 7:46 PM

      But don't feel like you're missing much. They don't really show the room. The camera stays tight on the speakers and this was the only thing said that made me sit up.

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    3. Leo HeviaApril 1, 2022 at 9:37 AM

      Yeah--I wanted to see the room. I thought you could see it in the video. There's that one photo of it. It's a two patient room if I remember correctly.

      Delete