His double for the plane-to-plane descent was Lieutenant Robert E. Kennedy.
New York Tribune July 06, 1919, Page 6
Several other doubles were used for Houdini during the more hazardous feats in the movie. These were dummies with painted faces. They were dressed in striped shirts and dark trousers to match the clothes he wore. The dummies were filmed in long shots; then studio-made close-ups of the star were inserted to create the illusion that he performed breathtaking feats that not even Houdini would risk. [Houdini The Untold Story by Milbourne Christopher page 163]
Dummies of Ann Forrest and Harry Houdini from the Grim Game. See Aviators in Early Hollywood (Images of America: California) by Kelly Shawna on page 52 for the complete photo which includes Robert E. Kennedy, Ann Forrest and Harry Houdini posing with their magical dummies.
Dummies do not land airplanes well in crash scenes but are desirable flight “fall guys” to drop on a rare occasion.
See pages 51-53 for other amazing Grim Game photos.
HOLY CATS!!!
That’s what I said when I came across the photo while doing research. It is an incredible shot. Plus the fact that it appeared on page 52 of the book.