I recently have come across two Chicago Footlights Theatre Magazines with Harry Houdini:

• September 1903
• June & July 1904

And thought I would share some snippets.

The first one is Volume 1, Number 3 for September 1903 that I found on eBay. It prints a letter Harry Houdini had written from Moscow, Russia on July 25, 1903.  The Houdini letter appears on page 8 and takes up about 2/3 of a column and is addressed “My Dear Old Pal”. The letter describes the great success “Harry Money Houdini” was having in Russia which he describes as “…the biggest sensation ever made in Russia”. Houdini also reports that he “… had sent more money home from this country in four months, than any other country in ten.”

 

A LETTER FROM MOSCOW, RUSSIA

Follow’s a letter from The Great Houdini. It speaks for itself. He is a wonderful little man and all America wishes him continued success.

Moscow, Russian, July 25, 1903

My Dear Old Pal: Seeing your life’s history in Clipper, also when you were captured and your released put me in mind that it would be proper to drop you a few lines, an as to let you know that we are still in the land of the living, and have managed to keep out of the clutches of the law even up to this late day.

Have made the biggest sensation ever made in Russia and have sent more money home from this country in four months, than from any country in ten.

Why, I do not know but nevertheless it may come in handy some day, when they will refuse to book Harry Money Houdini.

April 27^th, I managed to break out of the M Siberian Transportation Cell, and that is what started the salary list rifling sky high. So you see that even though we are doing the old act, we are doing a new act getting money.

From what I hear from Chicago every once in a while, I hear that you are away up on top!

Am greatly pleased to hear of this, and trust that you will keep the good work up.

…

It may interest you know that I was speaking Russian like a Turk. When I return to America, I think I will open a small Education of Domestic School of Languages for I have had to speak my introductions in no less than eight languages.

Magical news is very scarce, so can’t tell you of anything that would interest you. Will share with kindest regards and best wishes to you and Mrs. In which my Mrs heartily praise, I remain as ever your friend.

H. HOUDINI

My bookings three months ahead so in case you had time drop me a line. Month of September, Circus Carre, Groningen Holland

Month of October, Central Theatre, Dresden Germany, after that we return to England

…

The second one is Volumes 1 & 2 for June & July 1904 that I found at the McCord Museum.

And the article on Harry Houdini appears on page 4 and takes up about 2/3 of a column. The article describes a man who became “successful” and yet “was not too busy to run all the way from New York to Chicago to see his friends and reward his benefactors of other times.”

HARRY HOUDINI

Houdini like a soft summer zephyr off the lake on a torrid day, blew into our sun burnt city, from over the seas, a few days ago, and did as much good, and was the cause of as much joy to many of his old acquaintances, as one should suspect a ministering seraph to do and for a suffering soul about to depart this earthy fever. Success is a mighty fine sensation. All of us can become accustomed to adversity, but few ever learn to bear upon them lightly the mantle of prosperity. Houdini is as natural in the role of a rich man all covered over with success and diamonds as he was in the poor struggling days when together we sold Hostetter’s almanacs for magic books in Mr. Hedge’s museum.

Harry has purchased with the good old coin he made by slipping out of handcuffs, $40,000 worth of New York municipal bonds at 4 per cent, and owns a large flat building in New York which yields him enough to buy ten dollars worth of ham and eggs at every meal for life, no matter how long the strike keeps up. Softly, — Harry sought and found all his old friends who treated him kindly in the bleak hours, and one particularly, who had slipped down the greasy way to uselessness — a good man, intelligent, and at one time a worthy, respectable citizen, but who tried to drink up all the whiskey in Chicago, — (he is too sincere and honest and old man to mention his name, —) Houdini found this old acquaintance who, with tears in his eyes, sobbed out his thanks as he was dressed up in new underwear, shoes, socks, ties, suit, hat, gloves, shirts, —everything,— was given a modest little roll to tide him over and because why, — because he had been kind one day to a hard working man who did tricks for a living and who meant  to succeed and did. All honor to him. We wish he had a bank full of money. Houdini who never called himself “great” but is. Remember the name, Harry Houdini, —an actor—a magician,—a success,—a man. Above all the man who was not too busy to run all the way from New York to Chicago to see his friends and reward his benefactors of other times. Remember his name Harry Houdini,—handcuff king.