I thought I would start the New Year by sharing a couple paraphrased parts of a Story Treatment titled HOUDINI THE GREAT by Frank O’Connor and Dore Schary, dated January 3, 1936

 

Bess gives birth to a baby boy but it dies at the same time Houdini frees himself from the buzz saw escape.

 

Later on in the treatment…

 

Bess is taken. Houdini is told that if he will agree to cancel his proposed unmasking of the spiritualists, his wife will be returned to him safe and sound, but if he goes through with his plans, his wife will be in serious danger.

Houdini, stalling, asks for some proof that his wife is still alive and he is told that he will receive a message from her in the form of a letter which will indicate to him that she is all right.

The following morning, Houdini receives a note from Bess.  It is apparently a simple, straight-forward note, telling him that she is well and that he should do whatever he thinks best.  However, this note employs the use of many of the words used in the mind-reading code that Bess and Houdini had worked years ago during the vaudeville days.

Houdini gets the significance of the message which tells him very plainly where she is being held. Houdini contacts the police and Bess is liberated and the spiritualists are apprehended.

TO BE CONTINUED…