A 1919 Unbelievably RARE Houdini “The Grim Game” Movie Still Franklin Kimema Theatres Movie Card just sold on ebay for $260.01.  Below are the photos and description of the rare item:

1919 “The Grim Game” Harry Houdini Kinema & Franklin Theatres MOVIE STILL Movie Card (Oakland, CA)

 RAREST OF THE RARE!

Houdini’s Best and Greatest LOST FILM!

“Shackles, Fetters, Chains Fail to Hold HOUDINI in “The Grim Game””

These little cards (2 3/4 x 1 & 1/4 approximately) were EXCLUSIVE to the Kinema, Franklin and the T& D Theatres in Oakland and San Francisco  (All owned by the Turner & Dahnken Theatre Circuit on the West Coast based in San Francisco!!)   These cards were NOT nationally distributed – and were exclusive to T&D Theatres!

As far as I know – this is the only one of this image in existance.  (Correct me if I am wrong!)  This real photo collector card is advertising the UPCOMING showing at the Franklin in San Francisco, the year was obviously 1919 (Maybe 1920), but UNFORTUNATELY – the actual play dates are not printed!  FACIMILIE signature in white.  Card is in PHENOMONAL condition!  No rips, tears or ANY damage!  A ‘bump’ in the photo under certain light.  (This needs to be preserved in an acid free environment!)  SEE PHOTOS.  The 2 right corners have VERY slight bumps as well – you have to look under magnification.

EXTREMELY RARE still image from Houdini’s FIRST feature Length Silent film where he starred and produced!   This still is AFTER the mid-air plane crash, and he is bloodied and holding the limp body of his lady love – she lived!  This is actually a very handsome photo of Harry.  YOU CAN SEE IT HERE!!!  At about the 5:10 mark!  THE ACTUAL FILM FOOTAGE OF THIS STILL!!!! 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7sXLOEaxSA

(I wish I could tell what she is holding in her right hand – I can’t even tell in the photo using a loupe!  It looks like a rock?  or a Walnut??  It obviously was part of the plot – a memento from her love, Harry?)

FROM WIKI:  The famous mid-air plane collision was not scripted. It was a real accident caught on film over the skies of Santa Monica, CA. Stuntman Robert E. Kennedy was doubling Houdini at the time. Miraculously, no one was killed, and the story was rewritten to incorporate the accident. Publicity was geared heavily toward promoting this dramatic “caught on film” moment, claiming it was Houdini himself dangling from the plane..

This card is also promoting Charles Ray in “The Egg Crate Wallop”.