Author Archives: hhce

HHCE Séances plus Collector’s Corner #29 Takeaways

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Harry Houdini Circumstantial Evidence (HHCE) has attended a number of the Official Séances (Fortworth, SF, Baltimore) but never a Houdini Original Séance by our friends Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz.  Well that changed this past Halloween weekend when things went virtual.  The purpose of this post is to share HHCE takeways. For details of the virtual seances, plus the virtual Magic Collectors’ Corner on Houdini, please read the following post by John Cox:

Original Houdini Séance (HHCE Takeaways):

  1. At 1:16 pm, Dorothy Dietrich talks about the famous 1904 Mirror Cuff challenge. She mentions me as the owner of a 1904 Tatler Magazine Page that shows Houdini with a different Mirror Cuff than the one in David Copperfield’s collection and emphasizes that there is another pair of handcuffs somewhere in the world. And she wants Houdini to give us a clue of where to look for them or what happened to them.  She also mentions my website:
  2. At 1:29 pm, is when a printers block that was used by Houdini toppled over on the séance table. And right after that, 1:29 to 1:30 pm Dorothy asked Houdini the following: “Where are those Mirror Handcuffs that we now refer to as the Tatler cuffs.  If you can give us any kind of a sign where to look. Is there another pair? If there is another pair of handcuffs that we need to find?” Dick Brookz: “Or did you destroy them?” Dorothy: “If there is a pair we can find, make something happen.”  Well, HHCE, has additonal evidence that the Tatler Cuff survived and clues of where to start looking:

Collector’s Corner (HHCE Takeaways):

  1. Learned that Jack R White (author of the article “Houdini and his movies” proudly displayed on my wall) recently passed away. R.I.P Jack.
  2. Loved seeing my good friend, Fred Pittella and his video of his amazing collection (Houdini & Escapes Museum). It brought back some extra special memories we have shared together:
  3. And last but not least, was excited to hear Houdini’s Ghost, Patrick Culliton, discuss Houdini’s flight in Australia. Magic Castle members may recall that John Cox and Mike Caveney discussed this topic as well on Behind the Bookcase. HHCE may do a post on Austrailia’s First Flights March 1910 in the future.

Thanks to my heroes John Cox, Patrick Culliton, Dorothy Dietrich & Dick Brookz, Fred Pittella and Houdini for making Halloween weekend extra special.

“Sagbacks blame the jinx”

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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:

Boys Cinema Jan 13 1923 v6 n162

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Boys Cinema ran every week from Dec 1919 (n1) to May 1940 (n1063). Houdini appeared in 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923 issues:

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

This week I share Houdini’s appearance in Boys Cinema Jan 13, 1923. v6 n162 from the mighty Arthur Moses collection.

The text covers Houdini’s career and gives a synopsis of the “The Man From Beyond”.

The photos are from incidents in “The Man From Beyond”.

Top photos are Harry Houdini (HH) as Howard Hilary (HH).

The three photos on the right show HH soon after being dug out the ice block when a rash act nearly cost him his life, Hilary’s rescue of Felice from the Niagara Falls, and his fight with Dr. Trent.

Middle left is Hillary and Dr. Sinclair rescuing Dr. Strange from the dungeon, whilst on the lower left Hilary is seen negotiating the rapids.

Bottom middle is when Howard Hillary comes back to life after being imprisoned in the ice for over hundred years.

Thank You Arthur!

 

The Grim Game Released 100 Years Ago in the UK

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Last week (Oct 11) marked the 100th anniversary of the release of Houdini’s “The Grim Game” in the United Kingdom.  Prior to the release, Trade Shows occurred earlier in the year.

To celebrate, I share a couple Bioscope Ads:

The Bioscope Feb 19, 1920; BTW: Aeroplane accident occured May 31st, 1919 and Houdini broke his wrist  June 28th, 1919.

The Bioscope Feb 26, 1920

Related:

Boys Cinema Mar 25 1922 v5 n120

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Boys Cinema ran every week from Dec 1919 (n1) to May 1940 (n1063). Houdini appeared in 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923 issues:

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

This week I share Houdini’s appearance on the cover of Boys Cinema March 25, 1922. v5 n120 from the mighty Arthur Moses collection.

The set of 24 Famous Heroes cards came out in the Weekly Boys Cinema Magazine, with the first card (No. 1) being inserted in the Boys Cinema Issue No. 117, Vol. 5 March 4, 1922.

Each week, they issued another card. The Harry Houdini card (No. 4) came out in Boys Cinema issue No. 120, Vol 5 March 25, 1922.

And the card is available on eBay from time to time, but the magazine is extremely hard to find. So it appears more cards have survived than the magazine the card was inserted in.  Thank You Arthur!

Book features info and trick(s) on Celebrity Magician Dorothy Dietrich

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Below is a 7 minute 41 second youtube video link advertising the book that mentions our friend Dorothy Dietrich at the beginning and shows you how to create an included illusion (page 91) with the celebrity magician (starting at 3:10 mark).

The book is believed to be Portuguese. Any additional info on this book and how to obtain a copy would be greatly appreciated.

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Master Mystery Paper Robot Reproduction

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Back in 2013, I shared the following image:

http://www.robothut.robotnut.com/houdiniPaperRobotPages.html

Since then, I have come across some additional information posted in 2010 by “robothut” aka John Rigg’s, the maker of the above paper robot reproductions of “Q” from the Master Mystery.

robothut: I received my reproduction poster and built up the paper Houdini robot.  The poster is all in Spanish, there is no date or copyright on the poster. So there is no way to know if this handout poster for kids as it says in Spanish, was made back in 1919 when the movie was made or at a later date.  I have also increased the scale of the robot to make it easier to build. There is a place on the poster that says Mr. M. Barrenchea did the artwork. So any Spanish friends out there that can track down any info on this guy? The small robot is from the poster scale and is about 7.5 inches tall, the larger one is my scale and is about 9.5 inches tall.

 

robothut: I just got a reply from the seller of this [reproduction] poster in Spain. The original was made in the early 20’s. I don’t know anything about the drawer [artist]. I attached you in this email some pictures of the original (front and back).  So as you can see he took images from the back of this poster and added them to the front layout for the reproduction copies he sells.

So, the 7.5 inch tall and 9.5 inch paper robots made by “robothut” were originally created from the above reproduction poster.

The first image from “robothut” shows the front and back of the original (12.75 x 8.75 in) for comparison to the reproduction poster (19.5 x 13.5 in).

Boys Cinema March 4 1922 v5 n117

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Boys Cinema ran every week from Dec 1919 (n1) to May 1940 (n1063). Houdini appeared in 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923 issues:

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

This week I share Houdini’s appearance in Boys Cinema March 4, 1922. v5 n117 from my personal collection.

Boys Cinema July 30 1921 v4 n86

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Boys Cinema ran every week from Dec 1919 (n1) to May 1940 (n1063). Houdini appeared in 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923 issues:

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

This week I share Houdini’s appearance in Boys Cinema July 30, 1921. v4 n86 from my personal collection.

Boys Cinema June 25 1921 v4 n81

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Boys Cinema ran every week from Dec 1919 (n1) to May 1940 (n1063). Houdini appeared in 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923 issues:

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

This week I share Houdini’s appearance in Boys Cinema June 25, 1921. v4 n81 from my personal collection.