Saturday, February 25, 2023

The Foolers channel Houdini in Akron tomorrow


Just a reminder that our great friend and fellow Houdini Nut Jessica Jane Peterson will hanging above the same stage as Houdini tomorrow, February 26, when The Foolers play the historic Goodyear Theater in Akron, Ohio. Jessica joins magicians Matt Donnelly, Vinny Grosso, and Alex Ramon in the new Penn & Teller production.

As you can see below, Houdini played his "3 Shows in One" at the Goodyear for three days in May 1926. On his final night he was challenged by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. to escape from a packing case.


You can find more information and book tickets at The Foolers official website.

at

6 comments:

  1. Leo HeviaFebruary 25, 2023 at 9:01 AM

    Wow! The Goodyear Theater must have been near the end of his Spring 26 tour. And the packing case escape was still a go to bread and butter feature like the USD.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John CoxFebruary 25, 2023 at 9:14 AM

      Correct on both counts! The week of May 3 was a split week; three days in Akron and two days in Harrisburg, PA, and that was the end of the first "3 Shows in One" season. At the moment, this Goodyear packing case challenge is the last one I have in my chronology.

      Delete
    2. Leo HeviaFebruary 25, 2023 at 10:33 AM

      That had to be serious work traveling fast from Ohio to Pennsylvania. It's great that HH ended on a high note with a traveling full evening show. He got that in before signing out to the Great Beyond. The Challenge Packing Case Escape: Probably the best all around challenge stage escape HH ever devised. What's not to like? The challenger provides the wood and builds the darn thing. No need to lug it from city to city.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 26, 2023 at 8:45 AM

    Good info.The Goodyear Theater is one of those old great theaters. I've been there recently and it pretty much looks like it did back in the day. I saw Chris Angel perform there, but was surprised he didn't bring up the fact that this was the same theater where Houdini performed. Speaking of travel, does anyone know how Houdini would travel from, say, Toledo to Cleveland or Cleveland to Akron? Car, train or one of those Lake Shore Electric Railway trains? You can still see parts of those tracks in existence and I wondered if these were the same tracks Houdini rode on?--Dale in Cleveland

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John CoxFebruary 26, 2023 at 9:13 AM

      Hey Dale. How cool that you've been there. I'm betting Criss Angel didn't even know Houdini performed there. I'm not even sure the Goodyear knows (if not, they do now). As far as I know, Houdini always traveled with his show by train.

      Delete
    2. Leo HeviaFebruary 26, 2023 at 10:58 AM

      The Foolers should do a bona fide packing case escape. Maybe they will.

      Delete