Harry Houdini wrote a short novel in 1925, a romantic detective thriller, called The Zanetti Mystery (ghostwritten of course).

Houdini builds his story about the monstrous figure of Zanetti — genius faker, and arch rogue; he shows the methods by which even profound scientists have been hoodwinked by prophets of the occult and materializers of demons and spirits, and tells of the private lives often rivaling Babylon in abandon and luxury– of those who strip both rich and poor by mystery and mummery.

Through the whole fabric of the story there move the amazing characters of the half-world and underworld spies “snowbirds”, “lobby gows”, “stoppers”, “floppers”, “controls”, and “falls”, whom only Houdini can write about, because his special investigations have made him know them all and how they work as links in a chain system which is one of the weirdest forces for fraud and evil in the world. [The Journal]

The short novel (8 Chapters) was serialized over eight weeks in various Newspapers.

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• CHAPTER 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8

This week, I share Chapter 6 (Prologue) of 8:

CHAPTER VI
Prologue:
HERMAN STEINWAY, an aged millionaire, is being victimized in his belief in spirits by the notorious faker, Zanetti, who agrees to produce the spirit of the millionaire’s deceased wife in the flesh, for one million dollars. Van Haarlem, Zanetti’s chief detective, is put on the job. He induces the Gopher, an ex-convict, to break into Steinway’s home for a photograph of the dead woman. With this in hand, Van Haarlem sets out to find a girl who tallies with the description of this woman.
Meanwhile, the District Attorney has been cleaning up the spiritualistic fakers. Wallace Haines, Assistant District Attorney, is given this assignment. Haines has just become engaged to marry Lucile Linton, an ex-chorus girl now doing charity work in the slums. She promises to help Haines in his work. Van Haarlem appeals finally to the Gopher to help him locate a girl for the illusion, and Lucile who has been visiting the Gopher’s crippled child, offers herself under the guise of charity. Van Haarlem takes Lucille to see Zanetti.

Harry Houdini wrote a short novel in 1925, a romantic detective thriller, called The Zanetti Mystery (ghostwritten of course).

Houdini builds his story about the monstrous figure of Zanetti — genius faker, and arch rogue; he shows the methods by which even profound scientists have been hoodwinked by prophets of the occult and materializers of demons and spirits, and tells of the private lives often rivaling Babylon in abandon and luxury– of those who strip both rich and poor by mystery and mummery.

Through the whole fabric of the story there move the amazing characters of the half-world and underworld spies “snowbirds”, “lobby gows”, “stoppers”, “floppers”, “controls”, and “falls”, whom only Houdini can write about, because his special investigations have made him know them all and how they work as links in a chain system which is one of the weirdest forces for fraud and evil in the world. [The Journal]

The short novel (8 Chapters) was serialized over eight weeks in various Newspapers.

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• CHAPTER 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8

This week, I share Chapter 5 (Prologue) of 8:

CHAPTER V
Prologue:
HERMAN STEINWAY, an aged millionaire, is being victimized in his belief in spirits by the notorious faker, Zanetti, who agrees to produce the spirit of the millionaire’s deceased wife, in the flesh, for one million dollars. Van Haarlem, Zanetti’s chief detective, is put on the job. He induces the Gopher, an ex-convict, to break into Steinway’s home for a photograph of the dead woman. With this in hand, Van Haarlem sets out to find a girl who tallies with the description of this woman.
Meanwhile, the District Attorney has been cleaning up the spiritualistic fakers. Wallace Haines, an assistant district attorney is given this assignment. Wallace has just become engaged to marry Lucile Linton, an ex-chorus girl now doing charity work in the slums. She promises to help Haines in his task.

Harry Houdini wrote a short novel in 1925, a romantic detective thriller, called The Zanetti Mystery (ghostwritten of course).

Houdini builds his story about the monstrous figure of Zanetti — genius faker, and arch rogue; he shows the methods by which even profound scientists have been hoodwinked by prophets of the occult and materializers of demons and spirits, and tells of the private lives often rivaling Babylon in abandon and luxury– of those who strip both rich and poor by mystery and mummery.

Through the whole fabric of the story there move the amazing characters of the half-world and underworld spies “snowbirds”, “lobby gows”, “stoppers”, “floppers”, “controls”, and “falls”, whom only Houdini can write about, because his special investigations have made him know them all and how they work as links in a chain system which is one of the weirdest forces for fraud and evil in the world. [The Journal]

The short novel (8 Chapters) was serialized over eight weeks in various Newspapers.

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• CHAPTER 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8

This week, I share Chapter 4 (Prologue) of 8:

CHAPTER IV
Prologue:
HERMAN STEINWAY, an aged millionaire, is being victimized in his belief in the spiritualistic powers of Zanetti, notorious fake medium.
Zanetti works a few tricks of psychology on the old man and establishes his faith. Herman Steinway offers Zanetti one million dollars if the medium will produce the millionaire’s deceased wife, in the flesh, for just a few moments. Steinway explains that he must beg her forgiveness and hear her voice.
Zanetti sends out his chief detective, Van Haarlem, on this job. Meanwhile, Wallace Haines, a young assistant district attorney, is making strenuous efforts to round up Zanetti as a faker. Lucile Linton, to whom Haines has just become engaged, has been doing social service work. In her acquaintance with an ex-convict, the Gopher, she comes upon a valuable clue which she reports to her sweetheart.

Harry Houdini wrote a short novel in 1925, a romantic detective thriller, called The Zanetti Mystery (ghostwritten of course).

Houdini builds his story about the monstrous figure of Zanetti — genius faker, and arch rogue; he shows the methods by which even profound scientists have been hoodwinked by prophets of the occult and materializers of demons and spirits, and tells of the private lives often rivaling Babylon in abandon and luxury– of those who strip both rich and poor by mystery and mummery.

Through the whole fabric of the story there move the amazing characters of the half-world and underworld spies “snowbirds”, “lobby gows”, “stoppers”, “floppers”, “controls”, and “falls”, whom only Houdini can write about, because his special investigations have made him know them all and how they work as links in a chain system which is one of the weirdest forces for fraud and evil in the world. [The Journal]

The short novel (8 Chapters) was serialized over eight weeks in various Newspapers.

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• CHAPTER 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8

This week, I share Chapter 3 (Prologue) of 8:

CHAPTER III
Prologue:
HERMAN STEINWAY, an aged millionaire, is being victimized in his belief in the spiritualistic powers of Zanetti, notorious fake medium.
Zanetti works a trip of psychology on the old man and establishes his faith. Herman Steinway offers Zanetti one million dollars if he will produce his deceased wife, in the flesh, for just a few moments. Steinway explains that he must beg her forgiveness and hear her voice.
Zanetti sends out his chief detective, Van Haarlem, on this job. Meanwhile, Wallace Haines, a young assistant district attorney is making every effort to round up Zanetti as a faker. Lucile Linton, a social worker with whom Haines is in love, finds a clue for her sweetheart when she calls on the “Gopher” who is an ex-convict.

Harry Houdini wrote a short novel in 1925, a romantic detective thriller, called The Zanetti Mystery (ghostwritten of course).

Houdini builds his story about the monstrous figure of Zanetti — genius faker, and arch rogue; he shows the methods by which even profound scientists have been hoodwinked by prophets of the occult and materializers of demons and spirits, and tells of the private lives often rivaling Babylon in abandon and luxury– of those who strip both rich and poor by mystery and mummery.

Through the whole fabric of the story there move the amazing characters of the half-world and underworld spies “snowbirds”, “lobby gows”, “stoppers”, “floppers”, “controls”, and “falls”, whom only Houdini can write about, because his special investigations have made him know them all and how they work as links in a chain system which is one of the weirdest forces for fraud and evil in the world. [The Journal]

The short novel (8 Chapters) was serialized over eight weeks in various Newspapers.

• Chapter 1
• CHAPTER 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8

This week, I share Chapter 2 (Prologue) of 8:

CHAPTER II
Prologue:
HERMAN STEINWAY, an aged millionaire, is being victimized in his belief in the spiritualist power of Zanetti, notorious fake medium. Wallace Haines, a young assistant district attorney, has been assigned to rid the city of these fakers.
Van Haarlem, Zanetti’s chief detective, who supplies advance information on the faker’s victims, renews his acquaintance with an old friend, an ex-convict called the “Gopher.” Lucile Linton, the girl who has captured Wallace Haines’ affections, meets the Gopher through her social work when she calls on his crippled child, Milly. Haines confides his ambition to Lucile and she promises to help him in the stupendous task of rounding up Zanetti.

Harry Houdini wrote a short novel in 1925, a romantic detective thriller, called The Zanetti Mystery (ghostwritten of course).

Houdini builds his story about the monstrous figure of Zanetti — genius faker, and arch rogue; he shows the methods by which even profound scientists have been hoodwinked by prophets of the occult and materializers of demons and spirits, and tells of the private lives often rivaling Babylon in abandon and luxury– of those who strip both rich and poor by mystery and mummery.

Through the whole fabric of the story there move the amazing characters of the half-world and underworld spies “snowbirds”, “lobby gows”, “stoppers”, “floppers”, “controls”, and “falls”, whom only Houdini can write about, because his special investigations have made him know them all and how they work as links in a chain system which is one of the weirdest forces for fraud and evil in the world. [The Journal]

The short novel (8 Chapters) was serialized over eight weeks in various Newspapers.

• CHAPTER 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8

This week, I share Chapter 1 (The Characters) of 8:

CHAPTER I
The Characters:
Zanetti—The Faker, Spiritualist—Medium and Sinister Figure, Who has Never Been Outside of His Elaborate and Mysterious Mansion.
Steinway—The Aged Millionaire Widower and Victim of Zanetti.
Van Haarlem—The Medium’s Chief Detective. Who Looks Up the Unfortunate Victims.
The Gopher—An Underworld Character Employed by Zanetti.
Lucile Linton—Ex Chorus Girl and Social Worker, Who Has Befriended the Gopher and is in Love with
Wallace Haines—Her Sweetheart, a Promising Young Assistant District Attorney
Brent Mitchell—Another of Zanetti’s Private Agent’s.

Recently came across this embedded video at Historic Films – The Society of American Magicians:

which shows Houdini performing some card manipulations in San Francisco 1920?

This footage has been previously described as Marvels of Motion (aka Houdini in “VELVET FINGERS”) a short from 1925/26.  However, we know that Pathe released a serial titled “Velvet Fingers” on December 5, 1920:

So, can we infer this card manipulation footage is actually from 1920 and not 1925/26?

The title card in the video clip says “Magic in SAN FRANCISCO 1920 Courtesy Jesse A. Mueller” and the S.A.M. caption on the site for the video, says Houdini performing some card manipulations in San Francisco.

Well, its highly unlikely this is Houdini in 1920 performing live in SF since AFAIK, he only visited SF in 1899, 1907, 1915, 1923 and 1924.

And FWIW, Jesse A. Mueller was a SF magician, S.A.M. member, knew Houdini and was President of the Sphinx Magazine in 1920.

With that said, can that still be Houdini on the screen in a 1920 short or serial? or is that an older Houdini?

Thoughts!

Bonus:

Moving Picture World May 30 1925 Marvels of Motion Issue C

Image from: https://www.houdini.org/houdinirr.html

According to the September 1954 National Police Gazette article in my collection titled, “How Houdini Did It”, by Walter Gibson:

In Germany, Houdini undertook a death race with the Berlin-Dresden Express. He allowed himself to be lashed to the railroad track, a few miles outside Dresden, exactly 15 minutes outside Dresden, exactly 15 minutes before the train was due, picking a spot where the crowd could watch him.

Houdini had first tested this escape and was sure he could perform it in ample time. In fact, he was running so well ahead of schedule that he was beginning to stall for time, when the express suddenly appeared around the bend. It was running ahead of schedule too!

“I had just freed my hands.” related Houdini, “and was working to release my feet, which were tied to the other rail. I couldn’t get them free, but as the train thundered closer, I managed to gain enough slack to throw my body over the far side of track and pull my feet, still bound, down beside the rail. The wheels of the locomotive missed me by mere inches and cut the ropes instead.”

This happened on the side of the track away from the onlookers. After the express roared by, they looked in horror for Houdini’s mangled body. To their amazement, he arose beyond the track and gave the ropes a triumphant toss.

Believe it or Not!

BTW: Houdini was in Dresden Germany in September 1900 and October 1903.

Bonus:

Image from: Who Is Houdini? by Fred Lockley Photoplay, June 1920  HHCE Collection

Recently learned that George Goebel (Costumer, Illusionist, Houdini collector) passed away at 88 years old on January 4th.  I had the pleasure of meeting this extraordinary gentleman during my East Coast Houdini Adventure with Fred Pittella:

George and his lovely wife Carole touched our hearts from the moment we first met on November 1, 2018. This visit was as special to them as it what to us. Carole welcomed us to their charming home with champagne and orange juice as we got comfortable in the living room. And George got dressed up for the occasion and had so much he wanted us to experience.

George kept saying, I think you might find something you might like in that box, notebook, or cabinet.  It seemed to bring as much joy to George as it did to Fred and I, seeing us experience these Houdini treasures. George even had me break the seals (in fact he insisted) on some items (e.g., envelope with billets folded by Houdini), just so I could hold something that Houdini Himself did. It was all so surreal.

While I can’t share the details of everything, we got to see and experience, I can share that we got to see and read postcards from Houdini to his Sister Carry (sometimes spelled Carrie).

We then went to the dining room, where Houdini Himself greeted us.

Carole brought in a platter of delicious sandwiches to enjoy, along with a variety of cheesecakes to choose from.

George then had us continue to go thru his treasures, including rare posters (like the Wintergarten poster he purchased for $25 in the 1950’s), playbills and books (some annotated and signed by “Harry Handcuff Houdini”).

Fred also got his fix of cuffs while he was there, including a wooden pair with the “HH” stamp on it.

I was like a kid in a candy shop, although, I think George was the biggest kid of all. I will never forget the joy on his face or the time we had together; it was truly something very special we all shared.

Rest in Peace George and say hello to Houdini!

Siegfried Fischbacher, Magician of Siegfried & Roy, dies at 81 (January 13th)

I first saw Siegfried & Roy Superstars of Magic in Beyond Belief at the Frontier Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in the early 80’s.  And I last saw Siegfried at the Siegfried & Roy Secret Garden of the Mirage Hotel on March 29, 2019, where we talked about his early days at the Frontier Hotel and he made a collectable coin magically appear that said:

Look for the magic all around you!

Rest in Peace, Siegfried and say hello to Roy!