Lot 28 Description:

Portrait Postcard of Lila Lee, Inscribed by
Houdini. Circa 1919. Delicately tinted oval portrait printed
postcard of the movie star with her name printed below the
likeness. Divided back, postally unused. Near fine. INSCRIBED
and INITIALED by Houdini ink on the recto: “Lila Lee / ‘Beverly
West’ / Terror Island / HH.”

I love the above postcard of Lila Lee (who played Beverly West in Terror Island) that sold for $1600 last week at a Potter and Potter Houdini auction. While I didn’t win the postcard ascibed by Houdini, I am fortunate to have a similar postcard in my collection, just not annotated by HH:

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 a 1954 Japanese program (read pages from left to right) from my collection:

Front and Back Cover

Pages 2 and 1

Pages 4 and 3

Pages 6 and 5

Pages 8 and 7

Pages 10 and 9

To celebrate 150 years, thought I would share an article (The Star,  April 4, 1974) from my personal collection that celebrated a century:

H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y  H O U D I N I !

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, Delprade, and the origin of Metamorphosis (WildAboutHoudini.com)

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’s Schooldays is now available

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!

Last year, I published my second Houdini book, Houdini Schooldays Plus History of the Story, which is still available.

• Houdini’s Schooldays is now available

Besides publishing my second book, there were many more highlights for HHCE in 2023.

Shared some special posts that included not widely known information.

• First Golf Lessons in the UK
• What Pathe Films was Houdini involved with?
• Davenport Brother Rope Trick leads to Houdini’s first Handcuff Escape
• Houdini, the master of illusion, throws himself chained into the Seine
• Who was the printer and selling agent behind “Adams Press” located at 19 Park Place?

• The Aeroplane in Film Plays

• Haldane 100th Anniversary – Get a copy of the big press book

Shared a series of posts on Houdini’s copyrighted plays.

• Houdini Breaks into Playwriting – Challenged or Upside Down
• Walking Through a Brick Wall
• Buried Alive

Shared some additional posts on Houdini and Reeves.

• What connection did Houdini and Reeve have with Supreme Pitures?
• The Submarine Mystery

Shared The Grim Game Story Adapatation.

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4

Shared “Houdini Nuts” adventure.

• HHCE highlights from Magic Collectors Expo 2023

Shared a series of posts where I share an interview that Pictures and Picturegoer magazine did with Harry Houdini.

• His romance
• His future film plans
• His pet superstition
• His greatest happiness
• His fertile brain
• His pleasure in films

Shared s series of posts where I share 4 page Master Mystery supplements and trade notices that appeared in Kinmatograph and Lantern Weekly.

• Feb 8 1919
• Jan 23 1918
• Jan 30 1919
• Feb 13 1919
• Feb 20 1919

Shared a number of other items from my personal collection.

• The Spirit of Houdini Wishes You a Happy New Year!
• Harry Houdini (signature) appears on 1961 Days of Thrills and Laughter (DTL) Production Still(s)
• Happy 149th Birthday
• Movie still from Haldane of the Secret Service – Charles Fang
• Movie still from Haldane of the Secret Service – Jane Jennings
• Movie still from Haldane of the Secret Service – Gladys Lesliie
• The Man From Beyond on VHS and DVD
• Famous Cinema Star Series Postcard of Harry Houdini
• Rare 11×14 Grim Game Still
• Mark Spears Monsters Halloween Edition Trading Card Series
• Houdini Serial Released on the Open Market Advertisement
• French Cinema Cards continued
• Collecting Magic Workbook – A visit with Fred Pittella

Shared my latest research on the Tatler Cuff.

• Tributes to Houdini (Durbin)
• Update on Search for Tatler Handcuff
• The missing IBM Museum is “the key” to the Tatler Handcuffs

In 2024, I plan to continue to share research, items from my collection, and publish my next Houdini book.

The word “lithophane” derives from Greek “litho”, which is from “lithos” which means stone or rock, and “phainein” meaning “to cause to appear.” Originally, lithopanes were made from carved porcelin but with modern 3d printing, the world of lithopanes are more affordable.  Our unique pieces are 3D printed in plastic and take 5-7 hours to create.

With a simple tealight and stand, (supplied) the photo comes to life in an almost “holographic” appearance.

We have also created a night light version which adds a little spookiness to your hallways.

The tealight stand comes with an LED tealight.  The night light version comes with an LED nightlight plug and adapter to hold the litophane in place.

The Master Mystery Lithophane shows Houdini with the first robot in cinema, Q the Automaton Robot.

Approximate size is 3.5 x 4.5 inches.

A truly special reproduction of the poster, this unique piece will be a welcome addition to any magician’s magic room.

I purchased the night light version (which is not curved) and have it plugged into an outlet in my Houdini room devoted to his movies.

I think I like the curved version in the stand, even better that the night light version.

What other recipients have said:

• “This is soooo beautiful.”
• “A truly magical piece for my office.”

You can order here:

• Master Mystery Lithophane | brucekalvermagic

Writer’s Blocks are handmade odes to history’s greatest writers. Each solid wood block features the portrait, signature, and famous works of a particular author.

The portrait is a famous image of Houdini in The Grim Game.

And, the following Houdini works are featured:

• The Right Way To Do Wrong (1906)
• The Unmasking of Robert Houdini (1908)
• A Magician Among the Spirits (1924)
• Houdini exposed the tricks used by the Boston Medium “Margery”

They make perfect decorations for any literary bookshelf, desk, dresser, or table.

And come in two sizes: REGULAR – 8 cubic inches (2in x 2in x 2in) and JUMBO – 27 cubic inches (3in x 3in x 3in).

I highly recommend the JUMBO, the REGULAR is a bit small.

You can order while supplies last on Etsy:

Writer’s Block: Harry Houdini – Etsy

Los Angeles Herald, 30 September 1919