Ever hear the one about Houdini and the Dutch windmill? The story first appeared (as far as I can find) in an article by Walter B. Gibson called "Houdini's Last Interview Revealed His Narrow Escapes." This ran in several newspapers in December 1926. Below is an excerpt from the Wichita Falls Times.
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| Wichita Falls Times, Dec. 5, 1926 |
This windmill story appears in Harold Kellock's Houdini: His Life Story and Milbourne Christopher's Houdini: The Untold Story. I suspect Christopher got it from Kellock, and Kellock got it from Gibson. Try as I might, I've never been able to find any evidence or independent source for this story, and most current biographies omit it.
So is the windmill story fiction, or just another example of the Germany problem (which encompasses the Netherlands)? If any of you research bloodhounds want something to track down, this would be a good one! It would have happened in May or June 1902 when Houdini was with the Circus Corty-Althoff in Holland.
It's worth noting that this Gibson article also contains what appear to be the first appearances of the stories about Houdini being tied to railroad tracks in Dresden, and being tied to the back of a horse in Nova Scotia in 1896. Those are also tales of outdoor stunts gone wrong that I've never been able to confirm.
Want more? You can read the full "Houdini's Last Interview" by Walter B. Gibson as a Scholar member of my Patreon. Fact or fiction, it's good stuff!
Top image A.I. generated.
UPDATE: For those who don't like my A.I. image, here's an illustration from the March 1928 Tales of Magic and Mystery. Thanks to Joe Notaro for this one.
Are we doomed to endure generic A.I. art from now to eternity?
ReplyDeleteHaha. Sorry. I really wanted some kind of illustration of this windmill escape and typically I can find an one done by a real artist in some Houdini kids book that I'll scan and use (and credit). But there was nothing for this, so I decided to give A.I. a try. It's my first time. It might happen again, but only after I've exhausted my other traditional methods.
DeleteI could draw Harry escaping a windmill if you want. :) - Abby Martin
DeleteThis is a great escape idea btw.
Walter B. Gibson expanded on these stories from the interview in Tales of Magic and Mystery (Dec 1927 to Apr 1928). In the March issue, there is a drawing of Houdini lashed to the sails of the windmill before it was set in motion.
ReplyDeleteThanks Joe!
DeletePlease understand that this is not in any way an argument. I'm just looking at this through the eyes of a crime scene investigator. Especially as I am only too familiar with the antics of news "journos" who put getting their by-line above anything else. So, with that in mind, I'm going to pretend that the "journo" is on the witness stand trying to prove that Harry actually performed the Dutch Windmill Escape. Here goes. "To the witness in the stand, you quote Harry Houdini of saying that he "was of a heavy weight" when in fact he was a short man who had no extra fat on his body which was athletic. Of course his "added weight" would have to be taken into consideration but it's obvious that no one did. And, Mr. Houdini was a real planner not some fly-by-night. Did Harry Houdini actually use that phrase "of a heavy weight" or are you embellishing the interview? Remember that there are charges for lying under oath. What is your answer? Witness answer. "Well, maybe he didn't actually say that he was of a heavy weight." To the Witness in the stand, "I see a sketch of Mr. Houdini lashed to one of the windmill sails. Mr. Houdini usually has a lot of press for these events. Can you produce a photo that he actually alit upward on the windmill sails? Witness: "No, I can't." "To the witness in the stand: So in other words, you cannot prove that Mr. Houdini was actually even at this event. It's just your word and you have no actually evidence?" Answer: "Yes, that is correct." To the Witness in the stand. you are found guilty of lying in a fake news piece for your own personal gain, since no other press was present either."
ReplyDeleteThat is my take on this. I doubt it ever happened. If someone can produce an actual press release with a photo of Harry lashed up or on the ground post-crash landing. Then I'll believe it. Maybe I'll just ask Harry myself. We both speak Hungarian. This is all meant in the best of friendship here and I respect everyone else's view on this. But I want to see hard evidence of some kind about "heavy Harry Houdini." With respect and in fun.