Saturday, December 21, 2024

Sam Smiley drops the mic

Just a heads up that while I'm on a break from this blog, I am still active on my Patreon. And it's been a good month! The post below will be of interest to all who love to study and/or debate the infamous Houdini dressing room punch. It's a 1982 interview with eyewitness Sam "Smiley" Smilovitz with some interesting new details. He certainly didn't like Whitehead!


For those of you still circling my Patreon, this is a great time to take the plunge, especially if you want to do the lowest Handcuff King level ($5 per month). On January 1st, material from 2023 will become unavailable for Handcuff Kings, who get one year of archival content. Scholars and Angels can enjoy three years of archival content, which is currently everything.

Use the promo code SMILEY and get 30% off your first month. This end-of-year offer is good until Dec. 31st.

Hope to see you inside!

7 comments:

  1. It’s some pretty juicy stuff gotta say! - Abby Martin

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  2. Smiley was annoyed at Whitehead with good reason. He was quietly sketching Houdini in his dressing room and Whitehead interrupted that with his visit, and then the punches. He ruined the session and subsequently Smiley had to give Houdini an unfinished sketch.

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    1. I mean I would be pissed too if some bald guy just came in and just started punching my subject I’m drawing out of nowhere! 😂 - Abby Martin
      But ya’ll seriously. It was SO AWESOME TO READ!

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    2. Eyewitness historical accounts are usually fascinating reading.

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  3. It’s fascinating to me that these key players in Houdinis life were walking amongst us in the early 80’s! I grew up during the 70’s and it bothers me that I probably encountered people every day who saw Houdini perform live but never thought of asking!

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    1. You're not the only one bummed out about missed opportunities to talk to people who actually saw him perform or knew him personally.

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    2. If it makes you guys feel better I wasn’t even born yet and my parents were kids in the 80s. I probably wouldn’t get a chance to meet a centennial who remembered him. 😞 - Abby Martin. (Wishing she had a deLorean.)

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