Houdini and Godfrey, The Man of Mystery

Harry Houdini and Theo Hardeen with first sub-trunk (they may have got from Godfrey) Photo Credit: Pat Culliton The Key p46

Mike Meyer shared with me the following video about Houdini’s Metamorphosis trunk and a magician named Joe Godfrey that I think you will find interesting:

Additional Notes:

The history of the handcuff act can be traced back as far as Joe Godfrey, who was supposed to be the first to introduce it with much success.  [HH Scrapbook 38]

According to Houdini’s Fabulous Magic, it was in the 1890s that magicians began to specialize in handcuff escapes and one of the earliest references to “The Handcuff Act” is found in a book entitled New Ideas in Magic, by W. H. J. Shaw, which was published in 1902. It states:

This act was first introduced by Joe Godfrey, followed by Louis Paul, and in the last ten years, several performers have introduced the act to good success…

Related:

Houdini 1953 – American Lobby Cards

I started the year off, sharing the 1953 pressbook from the Tony Curtis Houdini movie. Thought I would continue sharing other related Houdini related movie items throughout the year, like: Posters, Lobby cards, stills, magazine covers/advertisements and programs from around the world.

Today I share (the original workbook photo in my collection) of the American 11×14 Set of Lobby Cards:

  1. Publicity shot of Curtis and Leigh
  2. Houdini being placed in a canvas bag, standing inside the Sub Trunk
  3. Front cover of the Pressbook
  4. Houdini being lowered into the Chinese Water Torture Chamber
  5. The packing crate being lowered into the cut hole of the iced over river
  6. Houdini in his cell, trying to pick the door lock with his feet
  7. A close up of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh
  8. Houdini’s legs being shackled, just before being placed in the packing crate
  9. Back stage after Houdini’s stooge just got him challenged to escape from Scotland Yards jail

BTW, I have original pressbook and originals of all of these Lobby cards with one signed by Janet Leigh.

 

Houdini’s Schooldays reviewed in Ye Olde Magic Mag Vol 10 Issue 2

Ye Old Magic Mag (YOMM) is the first fully-digital magic history magazine, covering magic of the past and collection of magic memorabilia.

Marco Pusteria reviews ‘Houdini’s Schooldays‘ in Vol 10 Issue 2.

Here are a couple snippets from Pusteria about my contribution to Houdini’s Schooldays by Herbert Allngham that I published in 2023.

The book contains the transcription of the complete story, as published, together with all the images that accompanied it, and it is prefaced by Joe’s scholarly study of the text and of the acquisition of this rare collection.

For the reader of this magazine the research carried out by Joe Notaro is the most interesting part of the book, providing a context to the story and some information that is little known.

Pusteria is acknowledged by me in Houdini’s Schooldays for his thoughts on Houdini and R. B. Ogle. Houdini and Ogle is also featured in YOMM Vol 8 Issue 3; The cover image is a rare illustration by Ogle who provided artwork for some of Houdini’s adventure fiction in the 1920s. Ogle was a candidate for illustrating Houdini’s Schooldays.

Related:

Houdini 1953 – Mexican Lobby Cards

I started the year off, sharing the 1953 pressbook from the Tony Curtis Houdini movie. Thought I would continue sharing other related Houdini related movie items throughout the year, like: Posters, Lobby cards, stills, magazine covers/advertisements and programs from around the world.

Today I share (the original workbook photo in my collection) of the Mexican 11×14 Set of Lobby Cards:

BTW, I have originals of all of these Mexican Lobby Cards in my personal collection.

Houdini 1953 – Posters plus

I started the year off, sharing the 1953 pressbook from the Tony Curtis Houdini movie. Thought I would continue sharing other related Houdini related movie items throughout the year, like: Posters, Lobby cards, stills, magazine covers/advertisements and programs from around the world.

Here is sample (from original workbook photo in my collection) to wet your appetite:

  1. 1 sheet poster from Argentia
  2. 1-sheet poster from France
  3. 1-sheet poster from Italy
  4. 1-sheet poster from Belgium
  5. 1-sheet poster from Italy
  6. Handcuff display used for movie
  7. Curtis/Leigh on the Cover of a French film magazine
  8. Curtis/Leigh on the Cover of Genii magazine
  9. Scene from movie

Houdini Manacle comes to light

No not the Tatler Mirror Cuff (from missing IBM Museum) that Bessie Houdini gave to W.W. Durbin (President of IBM), but the Russian Manacle that Bessie gave to the Society of American Magicians and is part of the S.A.M Hall of Fame and Magic Museum currently on display at the Whittier Musuem.

Over Ten Years ago (June 2013), I made the trek to the Whittier Museum to see famous handcuff. In fact, I attempted to see the famous handcuff (i.e., the Russian Manacle) twice and both times the Houdini Display was dark. The first time, no one showed up with the key to open the museum, and the second time, the lights in the Houdini Display wouldn’t come on.  Well the third time was the charm.

I attended the opening ceremony on January 27th, 2024 and got a nice close-up look at the Russian Manacle.

I highly recommend the experience!