Despite Covid, 2020 was still an amazing year for Harry Houdini Circumstantial Evidence (HHCE) for a number of reasons.

Discovered and shared the true location and date of The Man From Beyond (TMFB) Niagara Falls Rescue scene, which was shot in the rapids of some other river far from any dangerous falls.

• CAMERA WORK AT FARMINGTON

Shared my findings on Two reels of Houdini Film “Lost and Found” at Sherman Grinberg Film Library, which included the discovery that the “hanging from a bed sheet” footage on reel 2 resembles Houdini during the making of TMFB. And that he filmed two different escapes from sheets, and the one on reel 2 was not chosen for TMFB.

• Two reels of Houdini Film “Lost and Found” at Sherman Grinberg Film Library

Completed the task of summarizing and sharing each adventure from the McCord file compilation (April 24, 1920 v1 n1 to June 5th 1920 v1 n7) of “The Amazing Exploits of Houdini” found in The Kinema Comic:

• The Bride and the Orangutan (April 24, 1920)
• The Jewel Thieves (May 1, 1920)
• “Stop Thief!” (May 8, 1920)
• The Gold Melters (May 15, 1920)
• Adventure of the Midland Express (May 22, 1920)
• In the Dead of Night (May 29, 1920)
• Out of the Sky (June 5, 1920)

Shared my research on the search for New York World Vanishing Elephant photos:

• HHCE Search for New York World Vanishing Elephant Photos

Shared links to new books on Harry Houdini:

• EARLY ENGLISH CONJURING COLLECTORS: JAMES SAVREN AND HENRY EVANION (Jim Hagy)
• Growing Up With Houdini (David J Muller)
• The Great Harry Houdini (Claire Golding)
• Harry Houdini and Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Moses)
  • Book 1: Together Again In 1908: On The Trail Of Houdini
  • Book 2: Extraordinary Adventures of a Secret Police – The Missing Athlete
  • Book 3: Extraordinary Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – The Missing Athlete
• SPIES: Harry Houdini (Katherine Factor)
• HOUDINI The Elusive American (Adam Begley)
• Book features info and trick(s) on Celebrity Magician Dorothy Dietrich

Celebrated the 100 year anniversary of Terror Island movie by sharing some incredible ads, photos, and not widely known info about the movie:

• 100th Anniversary: Terror Island (Catalina Island Museum)
• 100 years Ago Today: Terror Island Exclusive First Run
• Terror Island Released in the UK 99 years ago

Shared early Houdini Trading Cards from an extremely rare set of 25 Hoyo De Monterrey of Havanna Tobacco Cards (No. 57-81) circa 1920, depicting stills from his Terror Island movie:

• Terror Island Trade Cards – No. 57-61
• Terror Island Trade Cards – No. 62-66
• Terror Island Trade Cards – No. 67-71
• Terror Island Trade Cards – No. 72-76
• Terror Island Trade Cards – No. 77-81

Also, shared info about his other movies:

• SEE Houdini’s Feature Movies
• Master Mystery Paper Robot Reproduction
• The Master Mystery Glass Slides
• Houdini Breaks Wrist and Ankle (?) filming The Grim Game
• Houdini Grim Game Promotional Poster/Brochure
• The Grim Game Released 100 Years Ago in the UK

Shared Houdini’s 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923 appearances in the Boys Cinema Magazine:

• Jan 17, 1920. v1 n6. “Houdini the Handcuff King”  cover & p26.  (HHCE Collection)
• Feb 21, 1920. v1 n11. “Houdini”  p12+.  (HHCE Collection)
• Jan 8, 1921. v3 n57. photo  p5. (HHCE Collection)
• Feb 5, 1921. v3 n61. photo p26. (HHCE Collection)
• Feb 19, 1921. v3 n63. photo  p5. (HHCE Collection)
• May 7, 1921. v3 n74. “The Grim Game”  p14. (HHCE Collection)
• May 14, 1921. v3 n75. “Terror Island”  cover & p2+.  (HHCE Collection)
• June 25, 1921. v4 n81. “The Grim Game”  p14+. (HHCE Collection)
• July 30, 1921. v4 n86.  “The Marvelous Houdini” (photo feature)  p14+.  (HHCE Collection)
• March 4, 1922. v5 n117. Houdini card on cover.  (HHCE Collection)
• March 25, 1922. v5 n120. Houdini cover with Famous Heroes Card # 4 insert. (Arthur Moses Collection)
• Jan 13, 1923. v6 n162. “Houdini In The Man From Beyond”  p14+.  (Arthur Moses Collection)

Shared the rare 1978 Stuart Pharmaceutical calendars which featured Spectacular Houdini Feats and original artwork by James Barkly:

• January/February(George Goebel Collection)
• March/April (HHCE Collection)
• May/June (HHCE Collection)
• July/August (HHCE Collection)
• September/October (Missing)
• November/December (HHCE Collection)

Shared some special posts about Houdini events in 2020:

• HHCE Séances plus Collector’s Corner #29 Takeaways
• Houdini-centric Presentations at NEMCA
• Houdiniocracy

Last but not least, shared three ground-breaking posts on my latest investigation and findings on the Mirror Challenge. Which Included additional information, insight and new photographic evidence on the Mirror Challenge confirming Houdini escaped from a cuff known as the “Tatler Cuff” as opposed to the Mirror Cuff in David Copperfield’s collection:

• Is Houdini being locked into the Tatler Cuff or the David Copperfield Mirror Cuff?
• Mirror Cuff “exposed Jan 1920” and “locked in safe until mid 1930s”
• William McCaffrey and Famed Birmingham “Tatler” Handcuffs

2021 should be another amazing year for Houdini and hopefully a better year for all.

On November 14, Jim Hagy gave his well-received Dazzled By Diamonds: Evanion and Houdini presentation at NEMCA. I recently acquired a copy of this 28 page monograph that was produced in 2005 with his presentation at the British Library.

Jim’s presentation was based on his upcoming new and enlarged edition of his ground-breaking book, 1985 Early English Conjuring Collectors James Savren and Henry Evanion. Thanks to the generosity of Gary R. Frank, I have number 97/200 of the 1985 editon.

And now that Jim Hagy’s new and enlarged editon 2020 Early English Conjuring Collectors James Savren and Henry Evanion has been released, I have number 129/500 and highly recommend it. Details and how to order can be found below:

We are pleased to announce the release of this new edition exploring the
famed story of Houdini’s relationship with these two early English
magicians. The updated, limited and numbered edition is 200 pages
produced in full color with more than 85 illustrations. The format follows
our recently released Fair Tricks, The Magicians at the Columbian
Exposition, Chicago 1893.

Available in limted edition by contacting: reginaldscotbooks@comcast.net

EARLY ENGLISH CONJURING COLLECTORS: JAMES SAVREN AND
HENRY EVANION
Of the many legends concerning Harry Houdini’s collection of historical magic
and theatrical material, none may be as renowned as his acquisition of playbills
and ephemera from Henry Evanion. Evanion was not only an obsessive collector
of both theatrical and general ephemera of 19 th century London, he enjoyed a
long career as a performing magician including appearances for English royalty.
Houdini’s published recollections told only a small part of Evanion’s story as
Harry unquestionably knew it. Early English Conjuring Collectors traces
Evanion’s fit in the Houdini narrative, the Evanion legend crafted by Houdini
himself, and the broader reality of the life, performing career, and collecting
habits of Evanion and fellow magician, collector, and friend, James Savren.

Jim Hagy has been interested in conjuring history for more than 55 years. He
has written extensively about 19 th and early 20 th century performers, including
biographies of Henry Evanion, James Savren, William Henry Young, and Edwin
Dearn. He is most recently the co-author (with his spouse, Sage) of Fair Tricks:
The Magicians at the Columbian Exposition, Chicago 1893. He has also been the
editor and publisher of Perennial Mystics and its predecessor publications for
collectors and is a Member of the Inner Magic Circle (London). In real life, he is
Distinguished Lecturer in Residence at Loyola University Chicago and founder
and director of The Rooftops Project for the international charitable sector.

ACCLAIM FOR THE 1985 FIRST EDITION OF EARLY ENGLISH CONJURING
COLLECTORS:
“It is writings such as this which will make future collectors bless [Jim’s] name. If
you are a collector then it is a must for your library. If you are just an interested
magician you’ll derive pleasure from the anecdotes and descriptions of the life
and times of a magician working in that period in England.” Billy McComb, in
Genii, The Conjurors’ Magazine
“James Hagy has produced a most valuable addition to the biographical literature
of magic and his delightful monograph is unreservedly recommended.” Dr.
Edwin A Dawes, in The Magic Circular
“The picture of Evanion the collector comes alive . . . entertaining, carefully
researched, and fully annotated.” James Alfredson, in Magicol
“An excellent monograph….” Dr. John Henry Grossman, in The Magic
Circular
“I can now join the magic collectors who doubtlessly have already expressed
their appreciation of your contribution to the sum total of our knowledge . . . in a
well-crafted exposition.” Dr. Leonard N. Beck, The Library of Congress
“I am most impressed . . . it has given me a terrific insight into the fascinating
history of Evanion. It is an outstanding treatise…” John Salisse, Member of the
Inner Magic Circle (London)
“I enjoyed the Evanion/Savren book very much . . . . Congratulations on a job
well done!” Ricky Jay

Previously, the six hard to find 1977 Stuart Pharmaceutical calendars from the series numbered DM-73301 to DM-73306 were shared:

1. June: Escape from Prison when Manacled in Handcuff and Irons(HHCE Collection)
2. July: The Celebrated Straitjacket Release(HHCE Collection)
3. August: The Challenging Release From Wet Sheets (John Cox Collection)
4. September: The Perilous Escape From the Spanish Maiden(HHCE Collection)
5. October: The Spectacular Release From the Cannon(HHCE Collection)
6. November/December: Escape From a Nailed Packing Box(HHCE Collection)

Each featured Spectacular Houdini Feats and original artwork by James Barkly.

This year, I am sharing the even harder to find 1978 Stuart Pharmaceutical calendars from the series numbered DM-17301 to DM-17306:

1. January/February(George Goebel Collection)
2. March/April (HHCE Collection)
3. May/June (HHCE Collection)
4. July/August (HHCE Collection)
5. September/October (Missing)
6. November/December (HHCE Collection)

This month, features the sixth calendar from 1978 series numbered DM-17306:

BONUS:

Over the past few weeks, Meir Yedid took us on Houdini journey where he examined his life through a five-part mini-series at Roger Dreyer’s Houdini Museum, which can be seen for free here:

1. http://magictimes.com/houdini-museum-tour-episode-one/
2. http://magictimes.com/houdini-museum-tour-episode-two/
3. http://magictimes.com/houdini-museum-tour-episode-three/
4. http://magictimes.com/houdini-museum-tour-episode-four/
5. http://magictimes.com/houdini-museum-tour-episode-five/

And on November 10^th, Meir Yedid took us to the 94^th annual Houdini Wand Ceremony. I think you will enjoy the quick documentary style 12 minute video:

• http://magictimes.com/houdini-broken-wand-ceremony-2020/

Meir says that he is not done for the year, and hopes to have another feature that looks at a massive Houdini collection soon..

BONUS

Here is Meir Yedid interviewing Tony Spina in July 2006, about Houdini’s secret assistant Amedeo Vacca.

• http://magictimes.com/tony-spina-reveals-amedeo-and-houdini-secrets/

Related:

• Trip to East Coast is Extra Special, Day 3 (Houdini Museum NY, Kevin Connolly, 278, and The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini)
• Trip to New York is Extra Special

Yesterday was Day 1 of the first virtual “Yankee Gathering” from the New England Magic Collectors Association (NEMCA).

Houdini was part of the annual conference with five Houdini-centric presentations by five fascinating gentlemen, Kevin Connolly, Jim Hagy, Ken Trombly, Arthur Moses and David Ben.

Kevin Connolly: At a young age, Kevin and his father watched the 1953 movie “Houdini” starring Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. The movie would impact his life from that moment on. It began a life-long career of collecting Houdini- related materials, many of which are unique to his collection.  The memories of the movie and his collection of Houdini artifacts have forever created a connection between Kevin, his father and “Houdini himself”.

Jim Hagy: Interested in conjuring history for more than 55 years. He has written extensively about 19th and early 20th century performers, including biographies of Henry Evanion, James Savren, William Henry Young, and Edwin Dearn. He has been the editor and publisher of Perennial Mystics and its predecessor publications for collectors and is a Member of the Inner Magic Circle (London). In real life, he is Distinguished Lecturer in Residence at Loyola University Chicago and founder and director of The Rooftops Project for the international charitable sector.

Ken Tromby: Growing up in Newton, MA in the 1950’s and 60’s, Ken religiously watched the Ed Sullivan show, and remembers  Jay Marshall, Richiardi, Fred Kaps and Al Flosso as some of the performers who inspired him. By the time he was 8 or 9, he was regularly taking the street car into Boston to visit the joke shop to buy tricks. By junior high, he had discovered Holden’s Magic Shop, and a junior high school magic club, The Presto Club, headed by magician and teacher, Herb Downs. Performing magic from junior high through law school and into adulthood, he also discovered  Milbourne Christopher’s Panorama of Magic, which ignited an interest in magic posters and related imagery. Since the 1970’s, Ken has collected magic posters, broadsides, and ephemera with emphasis on 19th century magicians and the greats of magic’s Golden Age, particularly  Harry Houdini. He has presented talks on his collection in London, Boston, Washington, LA and Chicago. Ken operates www.magicposters.com, and also regularly displays items from his collection on Instagram at magic posters.

Arthur Moses: Became interested in Houdini when he read a book about him in the 7th grade. Now more than 40 years later, he has over 6000 items of memorabilia in his collection.  Individually each is just an interesting artifact but when put together as a whole of a collection, you get a sense of who Houdini was; what he was like; what he thought.  ”With any of the period pieces it is very awe inspiring to know what is in my hands. I am holding history.  Someone has owned these items before me and someone will own them afterword’s; I am just a caretaker for a brief moment in time. It comes with an obligation to learn, teach, and protect. It is the ”chase” looking all over the world that makes this exciting, fun, challenging, and even sometimes lamentable.”

If you look at the information from his website you will see he is one of only two persons that hold the complete recording of Houdini’s voice. www.houdinispeaksout.com

Author: Houdini Speaks Out, Houdini Periodical Bibliography, and Harry Houdini & Sherlock Holmes Together Again In 1908

Articles: over two dozen articles published in magic magazines & journals

Featured in September 2013 on the Canadian television program Extreme Collectors

David Ben:  A world-renowned practitioner of sleight-of-hand who has performed throughout Canada and the United States. He is also a lifelong magic collector and magic historian. The co-founder and Artistic Director of Magicana, a performing arts organization and registered charity dedicated to exploring and advancing magic as a performing art (www.magicana.com), he is the publisher and editor of Magicol – A Journal of Magic History and Collectibles. A magic consultant on numerous film, television and theatre projects, he is also the author of six books related to magic, and several feature-length profiles of magicians in magic journals. He was the guest curator of the exhibition Illusions – The Art of Magic at the McCord Museum in Montreal and at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, Canada.

HOUDINI PRESENTATIONS

Lecture #2: “Houdini Deltiology” by Kevin Connolly

Deltiology is defined as the hobby of collecting postcards, especially picture postcards.  Like most collectors, Kevin collects items that he enjoys.  This was his initial incentive to start collecting postcards.  Kevin’s presentation focused on his related postcard collection which he has compiled over many years.  He hopes that you enjoy viewing them as much as he has enjoyed collecting them.

Kevin shared 48 amazing postcards, many signed by Houdini himself.  My particular favorites were the ones related to his movies.  For example, Item 8 was a Houdini for President Postcard and on the back was an ad for the Master Mystery: If you liked the “Master Mystery” please ask the manager of your theatre when the next HOUDINI picture will be shown here.”

Lecture #6: “Dazzled By Diamonds: Evanion and Houdini” by Jim Hagy

Of the many legends concerning collections of conjuring material, none may be as renowned as the acquisition by Harry Houdini of playbills and ephemera from Henry Evanion. Houdini’s published recollections told only a small part of Evanion’s story as Harry unquestionably knew it.

This presentation, based on the upcoming new and enlarged edition of Jim Hagy’s groundbreaking 1985 Early English Conjuring Collectors, traced how Evanion fits into the Houdini narrative, the Evanion legend crafted by Houdini himself, and the broader reality of the life, performing career, and collecting habits of Evanion and fellow magician, collector, and friend, James Savren.

Gallery of Collections #1: Ken Trombly

In his approximately 30 minute tour of his collection, Ken shared with us some highlights of what he has been able to track down, restore and display over the years.

This included showing us a number of Houdini items like French and German Challenges, Photographs, postcards, Telegrams, Early Metamorphosis poster, Circus Busch Poster, Prison Cell Poster, and Mirror Challenge Poster.

Gallery of Collections #2: Arthur Moses

Arthur shared his Houdini Collection with a Video Tour of his home.

He  shared a 1903 Russian handbill; several documents pertaining to Houdini’s patents; an insurance policy, challenges, playbills, programs, postcards, straightjacket, pitchbooks, handcuffs, movie pressbooks, rare stanhopes, glass lantern slides, autographs, posters, photographs, personal effects, and books and magazines in over 25 different languages.

Gallery of Collections #3: David Ben & Julie Eng – The McCord Collection

David Ben gave a presentation on The Art of Magic at the McCord Museum in Montreal and at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, Canada.

It featured some amazing Houdini posters from the Alan Slate collection of over 1000 Houdini items. It included 3 sheet posters of the image that was used on the 2002 stamp, a buried alive on stage poster, and water torture cell poster, as well as an 8 sheet buried alive poster.  Posters of some of Houdini competitors were also on display. A total of 58 magic posters made up the exhibition at Art Gallery of Ontario, along with a Houdini straightjacket that I have never seen before. David Ben also had some of his personal collection on display, which included footage of Houdini doing straight-jacket escape and card manipulations that was acquired from the McIlany Collection.

UPDATE:

• Day 2: Houdini’s Flower Table blooms at Yankee Gathering

Related;

• Trip to East Coast is Extra Special, Day 3 (Houdini Museum NY, Kevin Connolly, 278, and The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini)
• Trip to East Coast is Extra Special, Day 4 (Ken Trombly)
• It’s Official (Arthur Moses)
• Happy 2019 from HHCE and the McGill Union Ballroom (McCord Musuem)

From my personal collection, the following article and Houdini quote [?] appeared in the October 25, 1926 Times The Weekly News-Magazine:

Harry Houdini, prestidigitator, handcuff king, foe of charalatan spiritists: 

“As I was about to perform my ‘Chinese water-cell trick’ * on the stage of the Capital Theatre at Albany, N. Y., faulty stage tackle let the ponderous wood-and-iron stock fall upon my left foot, crushing it.  Though my supple feet and ankles constitute great assets to me in my escapes from fetters, piano boxes, safes and other receptacles, I risked swelling and infection, stayed on the stage, did other tricks.  Afterwards one of my staff said something about a ‘jinx.’ wherat I rebuked him sharply, ‘There is no such thing as a jinx.’ An Albany newspaper said, “There is a line worth writing in the copybooks . . . Only the sagbacks blame the jinx.'”

* The footnote of the article goes on to explain the routine and expose a method. For more info, see page 442 of “the Key” by Patrick Cullition.

Six days after this article appeared, Houdini passed away on Halloween, October 31, 1926.

Related:

• HARRY HOUDINI HURT DURING ACT IN THEATER
• What really happened on October 24th, 1926 between the train arriving and the show in Detroit?