The Amazing Kreskin interviews the legendary Walter B. Gibson on his show The Amazing World of Kreskin in 1973. This is the entire episode. Walter talks about his friend and employer, Houdini, starting at 00:14:05.
Recall that Kreskin was said to have been writing a book about Houdini around this time (never published).
Watching Kreskin's TV series in the 1970's was a great influence on me; I learned what showmanship was all about (i.e. as seen in his performance of the "Bill Tube").
ReplyDeleteKreskin has been a professional performer for 7 DECADES, and he still performs.
...America's greatest Mentalist, since Dunninger!
I never knew you were such a Kreskin fan!
DeleteThanks for posting this! Unfortunately Gibson didn't have much interview time here and all we get are a few remarks about Harry exposing fraud mediums, and Gibson's take on the Arthur Ford message. I consider Gibson to be my second big discovery after Houdini. His two books on Houdini's magic, and escapes are cornerstones in my library.
ReplyDeleteNotice he tells the story of HH and spiritualism correctly. No mama's death as motivator. Starts early in his career and then WWI/Doyle is what activates the crusader. It was like hearing myself speak!
DeleteInteresting to see in 1973 the disclaimer ("not foster belief in the supernatural...for entertainment only....") per the (then) FCC/TV Code that they had to follow, before broadcast De-Regulation in the 1980s/90s, that saw psychic infomercials and more on the air.
ReplyDeleteYep. I miss ethics.
DeleteGibson is great, but Kreskin is a pretty bad interviewer, stepping all over him. It feels like they didn't do a pre-interview to let Kreskin know how the anecdote played out.
ReplyDeleteKreskin does seem to be rushing him to his points. Hard to do interviews like this when you know a commercial break is looming.
DeleteThe interview time was too short. Gibson should have been given at least an hour to talk. I'm looking at Gibson in this video, and wowed by the fact he was pals with HH.
DeleteI have an 82-page interview that Kreskin conducted with Walter Gibson in 1981. Kreskin gave it to Walter and his wife Litzka as a gift. David Haversat
ReplyDeleteOh my! Do they cover Houdini?
DeleteI would love to read that. I get mixed messages regarding how much face time Gibson had with Houdini. I believe he wrote that he saw Houdinis Vanishing Elephant illusion at the Hippodrome but I heard when asked in private he denied it.
DeleteI believe Gibson rubbed shoulders with Houdini now and then. He drove Harry around town when he was in Philly. Houdini also discussed writing projects with Gibson, and possibly took a few lessons from Gibson on the Chinese Sticks effect.
DeleteRegardless, that interview would be worth reading...Houdini or not.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!!! I would love to read that interview! Arthur Ford was audacious, pretending he got the code from the spirits when in reality it had already been published in the Kellock book.
DeleteAccording to Slim King, the Kellock book provides the code but not the actual secret word. I think it was BELIEVE.
DeleteThe first letter from Ford to Bess is in early Feb of 1928. The word is FORGIVE. Bess writes to Ford telling him he is correct! Forgive is the word Houdini had waited for from his mother, and if he were still alive it would have changed his life.
ReplyDeleteHow did Ford obtain the code word? Was it actually published in a book prior?
DeleteNo, it was not previously published, and it remains a mystery on how Ford would have known the code word "delivered" from Houdini's mother. The focus is often on the second message as the first one could not be explained. Essentially those representing Bess would say she was suffering and under stress and was mistaken. However, her letter to Ford is precise and well-written.
ReplyDeleteLater she would deny ever receiving a legitimate message from Houdini correct?
DeleteThis private letter from Bess to Ford is tremendous evidence. Ford was a known charlatan so he heard the code word from someone close to Houdini if not Bess herself.