I am the proud owner of a very special Collecting Magic Workbook, along with the original articles and photographs used to assembly it.

That’s right, I own the original Master manuscript that was compiled for an SAM Assembly 206 evening (December 13, 2004) of collecting magic in Austin Texas

As you can see by the table of contents, there is lots to like here.

Ron Cartlidge (author of Houdini’s Texas Tours 1916 & 1923; and Houdini’s Final Tour to Texas, 1924) was the President of Assembly 206 at the time.

George Ford and Joseph Lauher had contributions from their web sites (Houdiana.com and Handcuffs.org) on Houdini.

Stephen Sparks, Houdini Collector, was asked to do nine or ten pages for this workbook, which resulted in an illustrated 45-page manuscript on Harry Houdini in the movies, theater, opera, and television.

Today, I share a link to Joseph Lauher’s Article on our friend Fred Pittella:

• A visit with Fred Pittella by Joseph Lauher

With the anniversary of Houdini’s Death approaching, thought I would share a a 1926 Billboard newspaper page [from my W.W. Durbin archive] that includes tributes to Houdini.

It also includes the pallbearers, magicians in attendance, and tributes from Chas. J.Carter, Sevis LeRoy, Nicola, B.M.L. Ernst, Howard Thurston, and others.

“H. was buried like a king.”

Double-click image for better readability

“Long live the King!”

The Halloween Edition features over 100 pieces. And Houdini makes his debut. The base set features 92 cards with 3 Houdini cards.  Below are examples of the Houdini Cards:

There are 5 parallet sets (1982, Bloody Nightmares, Ghoul, Monochrome and Grimly Golds) that are limited and numbered.

Below is an example of a Houdini 1982 parallel card:

Below is an example of a Houdini Ghoul paralled card:

Below are examples of the Houdini Grimly Golds:

There are also 7 Houdini Stickers of remastered Houdini posters. Below are examples:

Many of the above cards can be found on eBay.

In honor of Haldane of the Secret Service being released 100 years ago by the Film Bookers Office (F.B.O), thought I would share the following FBO ads:

Motion Picture News (Sep-Oct 1923)

What I love about the ad above, is that it mentions getting a copy of the big press book for Haldane of the Secret Service.

Moving Picture Workd (Nov-Dec 1923)

The above ad shows a few random pages from F.B.O press sheets. I particularly like the one in the lower left corner.

H A P P Y  1 0 0 TH  A N N I V E R S A R Y ! !

Addendum:

Back in 2018, I had the rare opportunity to see this big press book during a trip to the east coast. Below is a snippet from the blog post about the trip.

Kevin [Connolly] had me sit at the dining room table, where he brought out the pressbook of all pressbooks. It was the Haldane of the Secret Service pressbook, which may be the only one in existence. It was about three times the size of any other Houdini Pressbook.

Besides my autographed book, “Houdini’s Schooldays” with limited edition bonus card, I hightly recommend “Magic Babylon, 1,001 Strange Conjuring Facts, Fallacies, and Tales” by Joe Hernandez.  There is lots of Houdini in this book.

The author is currently offering these on eBay or you can pick up a copy on Amazon.

Below is the description:

CONJURING EVENTS THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED

Everything you need to know about odd, amusing, and little-known incidents of conjuring trivia but have yet to learn is within these pages. Here you will find 1,001 genuinely unpredictable collections of stories, history, and bizarre events that have taken place since the beginning of magic, demonstrating that reality can be stranger than anything we can imagine in a work of fiction. These short, thought provoking and anecdotal stories will pique your interest and have you reconsider much of what you thought was true or false about conjuring.

You will amaze your friends and become known as an undisputed master of conjuring trivia:

· — Bess Houdini falsely claimed in a newspaper interview to have had a daughter.

· — President Abraham Lincoln was an amateur magician.

· — The town of Faucett in Buchanan County, Missouri, is named after magician Faucett Ross’s grandfather.

· — Houdini authored articles for the magic publication, Mahatma, posing as a European correspondent using the pen name of Herr N. Osey.

· — Jimmy Grippo once managed the career of Mario Bettina, the light-heavyweight boxer. Under Grippo’s management, Bettina won the world championship and held the title for five months.

· — The 1908 Famous Tin Pan Alley song “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was written by an amateur magician.

Joe Hernandez is the author of Conjurer’s Wisdom Vol 1 & 2 and Phonetastic. He frequently contributed to the magic journal Apocalypse and produced magic shows at the State Theatre in New Jersey. He was a consultant to the yearly NBC show “The World’s Greatest Magic.” Joe has collaborated in producing many magic videos, including DVDs from Rene Lavand, Harry Lorayne, Gene Maze, Mike Gallo, Sol Stone, and Herb Zarrow. He has appeared on numerous public television shows performing close-up magic, including a solo show on WABC. Joe is a member of the Society of American Magicians and the International Brotherhood of Magicians and a monthly columnist for M-U-M and The Linking Ring magazines.

Today, I share 3 of 4 Trade Press Notices mentioned in the February 20th Kinematograph & Lantern Weekly ad below:

The Kinematogragph Weekly Feb 13th, page 81:

The Bioscope February 13, 1919 pages 65 and 77:

The Era, February 12th, page 19:

Today, I continue my series where I share 4 page supplements that appeared in Kinematograph and Lantern Weekly and promoted Houdini’s movie serial, The Master Mystery, in the UK.

• Feb 6, 1919
• Jab 23 1919
• Jan 30, 1919
• FEB 13, 1919

It appeared on supplement pages ix-xii of the February 13, 1919 Kinematograph and Lantern Weekly

BONUS

The following appeared on page 85 of the February 13, 1919 Kinematograph and Lantern Weekly:

“Houdini” – at Sing-Sing.

“The Master Mystery,” the big serial in which Houdini stars, has beewn a phenomenal success is the States-where big features are a common occurentces-and had had a queer and unique honour conferred on it. Under the auspices of the Mutual Welfare League the film is being shown to the convicts at Sing-Sing. The first episode was shown last Tuesday, and one episode a week is being given until the whole serial has been exhibited. Will any society arrange to get it shown over here at Dartmoor?

Today, I continue my series where I share 4 page supplements that appeared in Kinematograph and Lantern Weekly and promoted Houdini’s movie serial, The Master Mystery, in the UK.

• Feb 6, 1919
• Jan 23 1919
• JAN 30, 1919
• Feb 13, 1919

It appeared on supplement pages i-iv of the January 30,1919 Kinematograph and Lantern Weekly

Today, I continue my series where I share 4 page supplements that appeared in Kinematograph and Lantern Weekly and promoted Houdini’s movie serial, The Master Mystery, in the UK.

• Feb 6, 1919
• JAN 23 1919
• Jan 30, 1919
• Feb 13, 1919

It appeared on supllement pages xiii-xvi of the January 23, 1919 Kinematograph and Lantern Weekly

Houdini Schooldays: Plus history of the story is now available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

Product Description:

Joe M. Notaro brought Houdini’s full novella, ‘The Zanetti Mystery” into print and now he tackles ‘Houdini’s Schooldays’.

‘Houdini’s Schooldays’ was serialized over 30 weeks (9/18/1920 to 4/2/1921) in the ‘Merry and Bright’ comics and has never been published in book form until now. Herbert Allingham was the author and Harry Houdini owned the dramatic and screen rights.

This is a BIG story. An extremely fine production in all respects.

Don’t miss this amazing yarn.

A MAN LIKE HOUDINI could not fail to have had a wonderful early life, and this story tells of his adventures while still at school.

In addition to sharing ‘Houdini’s Schooldays’ with original illustrations, Joe. M. Notaro shares his research on the history of the story, along with photos of rare items (from various collections). Research includes other Allingham stories with Houdini’s name attached, Copperfield’s ‘Merry and Bright’ books, Houdini and Allingham correspondence, Houdini’s education (Appleton, Milwaukee), and a look at possible illustrators for the story.

Joe M. Notaro is a Houdini historian, author, collector, blogger, and expert on his movies and writings. For more info, please visit his website: HarryHoudiniCircumstantialEvidence.com

BONUS:

While supplies last, the first 52 customers (U.S. only) to purchase directly from me via PayPal will receive an autographed copy of the book with a signed and numbered limited edition bonus card (1 per customer):

• 5×7 card of HOUDINI as a schoolboy

Please inquire about price and availability via email: Joe.M.Notaro@gmail.com