Wednesday April 13, 2022
4pm – Rode over to Harry Ransom Center (HRC) with Houdini Collector Dr. Bruce Averbook of Ohio, who shared some photos from his museum he is working on. BTW, next year’s Magic Collector’s Expo (MCE) will feature his museum. Can’t wait!
4:30pm – 5:30 Dr. Eric Colleary put together a fantastic Houdini exhibit (2 glass showcases of Houdini ephemera, plus a one sheet Man from Beyond Poster) just for the Expo and gave a well-received presentation on the HRC and how it obtained the Houdini collection.
5:30pm – 6pm Rode over to Esther’s Follies with HH aka Harlan Hogan.
6pm – 9:30pm Got to enjoy “the greatest entertainment experience in Texas”, Esther’s Follies Special Dinner & Show for Magic Collector’s Expo. “It’s comedy, magic, music & historical fun!”
9:30pm Rode back with Gary Hunt (website: handcuffqueens.com) and discussed the book, Houdini’s Zanetti Mystery that I published at the beginning of the year.
Thursday April 14, 2022
9am – 9:30pm Entered the Dealer Room at the MCE and made the rounds. Houdini Collector’s Ken Trombly and Roger Dreyer had dealer tables.
Bought an original White Studio, NY “Man From Beyond” Still from Ken Trombly.
Chatted with Roger Dreyer about “Q” from the Master Mystery and NFTs.
10am – 4pm Got to enjoy “the greatest Houdini experience in Texas”, HRC.
Went back to HRC to do research on Harry Houdini’s film career. This included containers with ephemera on the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation (The Grim Game Stills, Terror Island Ads), Film Developing Corporation/Weehawken Street Corporation (Financial statements, correspondence, taxes 1921-1925), Houdini Picture Corporation (Haldane and Man From Beyond stills), Mystery Picture Corporation (Business and Administration, plus info on Ashes of Passion, original film title Il Mistero di Osiris [The Mystery of the Jewel] later renamed Reincarnation), and Octagon Film Corporation (The Master Mystery Scene Plots and Scripts).
6pm-7pm Ran into Gary Hunt at TexMex restaurant in town and shared my day at HRC.
7pm – 8:30pm Attended MCE. Randy Pitchford (who purchased the Magic Castle) introduced Neppy, Ricky Jay’s Automaton, which he had John Gaughan restore.
Lance Burton & Fielding West shared reflections and stories on one of the greatest gatherings of magicians in the world (Harry Anderson, Lance Burton, Doug Henning, Harry Blackstone Jr., Siegfried & Roy, John Thompson, Fielding West, Jeff McBride, Mark Wilson, and Max Maven) for a stage spectacular of magic to benefit a very worthy cause.
8:30pm – 11pm Dealer Room Open
Purchased from Kent Cummins a red-tone cover variant of the black-tone cover Lee Jacobs reproduction “Houdini Souvenir Program”.
Friday April 15, 2022
10am – 1pm Went back to HRC to wrap-up research on Harry Houdini’s film career. This included over-sized folders and boxes with original posters (Man From Beyond, Milk Can, WTC, Vanishing Elephant), title cards (Grim Game, Man From Beyond, Master Mystery) and lobby cards (Man From Beyond).
2:30-4pm Attended Session#4 at the MCE. David Charvet introduced his latest book, “The Great Jester” Kent Cummins shared the story of making a tree appear on top of a new building being erected, and Gabe Fajuri introduced Steve Cohen’s new book on Malini.
7pm-8:30pm Attended MCE “Magic of Austin Show” which was very entertaining.
Thank you to Bill Smith and all his helpers for putting on an amazing Expo.
And thank you to Dr. Eric Colleary and Michael Gilmore at the Harry Ransom Center for being so helpful with my Houdini research and making this trip extra special.
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Thank you for the report on your trip!!! It’s always nice to get updates on Eric, and the HRC. Would have loved to attend his presentation on how the HRC acquired all that HH material.
You are most welcome!
Fantastic! I’m dying to hear more. Love that pic of you and the TMFB posters.
I highly recommend it! Lots to digest and share.
Great report and photos, Joe!
So, is Harlan Hogan (sounds like a “character name” that Houdini would use for himself – in one of his own films)….a “Magic/Houdini” guy?
Lol, Harlan Hogan (born Robert Charles Hogan) is a magic guy (member of the Magic Castle and the IBM) who shared a great story with me of how he became known as Harlan Hogan. For almost 30 years he was known as Bob, until he was ready to join SAG. There are strict rules regarding your performing name, first come first served. An actor’s name is in many ways like a trademark. Unbeknownst, Bob Hogan had already been claimed. He could be Bob-Charles but that was awful. Then it struck him, Harlan, his dad’s name. Harlan Hogan was a great name for an actor, just like Harry Houdini. Funny thing is, his dad (Harlan William Hogan) hated the name Harlan, and went by Bill. Later Harlon Hogan legally changed his name to Harlan Robert Hogan.