Sunday, March 24, 2024

Houdini is alive and well at 150


Today is Houdini's 150th birthday. I think it's safe to say he's never been more alive. It's a day to celebrate. Speaking of celebrations, here's a personal tidbit from Houdini's 106th birthday excerpted from The Valley News, May 20, 1980...


This is true. I had half the cafeteria singing. I think they were afraid I was trying to start a revolution. But no one is going to stop us from singing today!

Everybody...

🎼 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.... 🎼

Links to some of today's celebrants:
Today's Jewish Birthday: Harry Houdini (San Diego Jewish World)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOUDINI (Music Magic and More)
at

17 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 24, 2024 at 5:00 AM

    Happy Birthday Harry! And here’s to 150 more! Whoo!

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  2. Leo HeviaMarch 24, 2024 at 6:54 AM

    You had half the cafeteria "singing"--not "signing." If it wasn't for Whitehead's interference, Harry would still be with us!!!

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  3. AnonymousMarch 24, 2024 at 7:55 AM

    "Many Happy Returns!!!" With all my very good wishes, Maestro

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  4. John Hinson great nephew of Bess and Harry HoudiniMarch 24, 2024 at 9:36 AM

    Happy birthday great uncle Harry.

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  5. Erik HoudiniMarch 24, 2024 at 12:58 PM

    One of my favorite quotes from Harry:

    "I must fling myself down and writhe; I must strive with every piece of force I possess; I bruise and batter myself against the floor, the walls; I strain and sob and exhaust myself, and begin again, and exhaust myself again; but do I feel pain? Never. How can I feel pain? There is no place for it."
    Harry Houdini

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    1. Leo HeviaMarch 24, 2024 at 1:51 PM

      Sure--ignoring the pain was the beginning of the end in Detroit 1926.

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    2. AnonymousMarch 24, 2024 at 2:33 PM

      That and a contract that provided severe financial penalties if he were to miss a performance.

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    3. Leo HeviaMarch 24, 2024 at 3:13 PM

      Yup--a double whammy that caught up to Harry. There was a discussion in the birthday Zoom meeting about the punch. Doubt was cast on it, but HH told Max Malini at the train station that he let a college kid hurt him.

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    4. John CoxMarch 24, 2024 at 3:32 PM

      There was too much discussion about his death for my taste. And I didn't get a chance to read a fantastic letter I had planned to present. But I liked the cupcakes. :)

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    5. Leo HeviaMarch 24, 2024 at 4:25 PM

      The highlight for me was Dorothy's tour of the museum. It was ASMR as she described the exhibits and how she acquired them. Maybe we can read that letter in a future Patreon post. I'll take any Houdini discussion, life, death, and anything in between. I didn't know about the item in Silverman's book that's preventing a reprint of his Houdini bio. Something from the Ernst family Houdini diaries? They gave him permission to page thru them.

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    6. AnonymousMarch 25, 2024 at 12:42 PM

      I believe that contract with such severe penalties if Houdini missed a performance was the driving force as to why he waited so long to get medical attention.

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  6. AnonymousMarch 24, 2024 at 3:44 PM

    Happy birthday, Houdini. And thank you for all the joy you continue to give to me and the world. I just wish you could see the world now, I think you would get a kick out of most of it.

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  7. Jeff and Debbie BloodMarch 24, 2024 at 6:26 PM

    We were delighted to be part of today's Zoom call celebrating Houdini's 150th birthday. Houdini would be so proud knowing he has an elite group of fans discussing and debating his life activities. Bess always told the family to keep Houdini's name alive. Well it certainly looks like Houdini did his part keeping his legend alive.

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  8. AnonymousMarch 26, 2024 at 8:39 AM

    I also enjoyed it, Happy Birthday Harry your still alive!

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  9. AnonymousMarch 26, 2024 at 8:41 AM

    I think a lot more people were in on the zoom than you think.
    The only ones missing were Patrick and Mario, it was great..Houdini

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    Replies
    1. John CoxMarch 26, 2024 at 8:58 AM

      I wonder what the high number of viewership was? I saw 3 pages worth of folks at one point.

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