During the past few years Mr. Saint had been writing a book about Houdini which he planned to call "Houdini's Dynamite." It was believed nearly completed, but the manuscript has not yet been found. Mrs. Houdini said it would be placed in the hands of another prominent magician to complete.
A Houdini book by Ed Saint called "Houdini's Dynamite"? Now that's dy-no-mite! (Anyone understand that reference?)
Unfortunately, this is the first and last I've ever heard of this. Could the manuscript still be out there somewhere? The title suggests the book may have been focused on Houdini's spirit debunking.
I guess we can include Houdini's Dynamite by Edward Saint alongside The Truth About Houdini by Theo Hardeen and The Other Side of Houdini by Kreskin as a Houdini book that might have been.
Want more? You can read the full obituary as a "Scholar" member of my Patreon.
Do we know how old Saint was when he died?
ReplyDelete52, just like Houdini.
DeleteDy-no-mite!!! Jimmy Walker from Good Times. He was something.
ReplyDeleteLater on, the obit indicates that Saint's papers were to go to the Library of Congress. So that would be the first place to look for the lost manuscript.
ReplyDeleteI thought that too but it's also mentioned in the obit that Bess said the manuscript would go to a capable magician to finish it. She might have handed it over to...somebody to finish it. Who obviously never did.
DeleteGood suggestion, Bill. Thanks.
DeleteAnother interesting mention in the obit: Saint associated with Houdini before his death. I'm under the impression that Saint never met Houdini. So far I've never read anything about Saint associating with him until this obituary.
ReplyDeleteHuh. I missed that. Think that might be questionable, but something to watch out for.
DeleteActually it's my bad, I misinterpreted the sentence:
Delete"Saint, who had traveled around the world as a magician, was associated with Houdini at the time of his death."
It meant at the time of Saint's death. Interesting also that the obit referred to Saint as a disciple of Houdini. Had to have been meant as a Houdini scholar.
Funny, as a kid, I called Saint, Gibson, Christopher, and myself Houdini "disciples."
DeleteYou know, John, since there are so many "Houdini books" out there that don't appear to have ever happened, perhaps it's time for a book about all the books that got lost along the way since there are hints about them. I'd love to see that, but it isn't my wheelhouse to write. But you are certainly in the "catbird's seat" to be able to comprise such a tome of interest. And who wouldn't just love that!
ReplyDeleteMight not be enough for a book, but it could make an interesting article. But I'll leave it to others. I have my own line-up of books I want to do, and I don't want any of those to make this list of books that might have been! :)
DeleteLost Houdini books off the top of my head:
Delete1. The Kellar biography Houdini had planned on writing. His vast correspondence with Kellar was going to be source material.
2. The 100 page Eliot Sanford manuscript detailing the time he spent with Houdini the last month of his life. Might be published.
3. Hardeen's manuscript on Houdini? Never got off the ground.
4. Ed Saint manuscript.