Vanishing Inc. co-founder Joshua Jay tells me they have not yet been able to access the section of the warehouse that held the collection, so there's still a chance some items could be recovered. But I have also heard it is a total loss. The fire occurred on June 6, 2024, at their Sacramento warehouse, which had been the company’s retail headquarters for over a decade. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
The company's computers were also casualties of the fire, so it's unclear if even an inventory of the collection survived. However, the good news is Geno professionally photographed and documented every item, so there is a complete record of what went to Vanishing Inc. This means the vital history contained in the collection is retrievable, even if the artifacts themselves are now lost.
ShareMagic, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, had planned to use the collection to create "an unparalleled exhibition that will bring Houdini's legacy to life for generations to come." Instead, this may turn out to be the single largest loss of Houdini history ever.
You can read Vanishing Inc.'s account of the fire on their blog and find additional details at One Ahead.
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My goodness! Do we know what Houdini props were within that collection?
ReplyDeleteI believe there was a straitjacket and handcuffs. Not sure what else.
DeleteRip Handcuffs rip straight jacket 😞
DeleteThis breaks my heart! 😭
ReplyDeleteMine too.
Delete🥺😭
DeleteThat's bad news. The Hall of Fame blaze was bad enough. Let's wait and see what's left in that warehouse.
ReplyDeleteI have my fingers crossed, and I've told them if they need help sifting through rubble, I can be there in 5 hours and maybe wrangle some other Houdini nuts as well.
DeleteVery sad loss to magic history. Not to point fingers , but I really think a collection of that importance should have been kept in fire-proof storage facility , not a warehouse.
ReplyDeleteThat would apply to the many of us who have their collections at home who don't have the logistics or money to do that. Although a small fireproof box to hold valuable documents, autographs, 1st edtions etc. might be feasible depending on the size/value of a collection.
DeleteRegardless sorry to learn of the loss, but grateful it was digitally preserved.
Diego Domingo
If you can afford Houdini you can afford to protect it.
DeleteThat’s how I look at it, a large fire safe is not that bad$
But some acquired important (now) items because they were given to them or when HH items went for $10 - 100. Some have treasures under their bed for lack funds to have better access/protection. Although at least a small a fireproof box for letters/photos and other small/inflammable items is still a good idea.
DeleteHoudini said let it burn….
ReplyDeleteI assume you're talking about his Will stipulation that instructed his props be "burned and destroyed" after Hardeen's death so no one could discover his secrets. This is true. But he certainly did not mean personal letters, posters, etc that he himself saved to tell his story. He was a collector himself and would never wish to see magic history burn.
DeleteThat’s true I’m just trying to make sense of this, also
Deletethey may want to bring it up at the seance as a sign?
It’s absolutely ridiculous this collection was not protected…..
ReplyDeleteThis is a disaster and disgrace to store irreplaceable HH items in a shoddy warehouse without fire sprinklers, it’s almost a crime.
ReplyDeleteNot going to say it makes HH even more valuable…..
The warehouse doesn't look shoddy to me, and do we know it didn't have sprinklers? I don't recall reading that in any coverage.
DeleteJohn It wouldn’t have burned if there were fire sprinklers.
DeleteAs soon as a fire gets hot enough the sprinklers come in that area. Bet your pal DC has them…..
We did not have sprinklers in the Magic Castle Library at the time of the Halloween fire - and that is what preserved our irreplaceable collection from destruction by water damage.
DeleteGood point, Lisa. Water is as destructive to collections as fire.
DeleteYeah. Mold, rust, erosion all that can damage with water. 😞 It’s been only a few days but I’m still sad about this. 😭 It’s so sad!
DeleteReminds me of the late Manny Weltman, who kept most of his collection in a storage facility. Manny expressed more of a fear of theft/burglary from his home and also the fear that, (his words) "the ghouls" would come thru the windows making off with his lifetime of work when he died, without regard for his family.
ReplyDeleteDiego Domingo
It's tough. I think I'd worry more about my collection being in a storage facility out of my sight. Those things burn as well!
DeleteThat Houdini collection was too valuable to store in the company warehouse. You keep the stock replaceable stuff in there. If a fire breaks out, you can reorder the items that perished.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know the cause of the fire?
ReplyDeleteCan't find any info on that.
Deleteargon gas fire suppression system
ReplyDeletefor collections?
That's the way to go.
Deletewell at least it was photographed and no one was hurt
ReplyDeleteEvery cloud has a silver lining!
DeleteMy husband and I actually saw the plumes of smoke from the fire that day while running errands. Didn't realize the contents. Such a shame.
ReplyDeleteOh nooooo! 😭
Delete