Last month, this incredible press booklet for The Master Mystery, sold for $4,200.00 (not including buyer’s premium) at a Potter & Potter Auction.  I would love to have added this to my collection.  Congratulations to winner!

Below is the description of Lot 298:

Houdini, Harry. Press Booklet for The Master Mystery. New York: B.A. Rolfe Productions, (1919). Sixteen different folio-sized (12 x 9”) film exchange publicity cards featuring illustrated scenes from the serial, including Houdini and “Q” (the Automaton), beautifully printed in a variety of colors on a mixture of coarse, textured papers; with other enclosures as issued, including two promotional pictorial puzzle booklets featuring Houdini, two unused hold-to-light mystery labels depicting Houdini upside-down in shackles, and several of the studio’s newsprint-style “supplementary press sheets” providing publicity copy for each installment, all laid down; with poster distribution and booking statistics sheets at rear; in a pebbled black cloth Rolfe binder, some cards hole-punched as issued. Five of the publicity cards soiled at bottom right, a few others with small losses and creasing at upper or same.

Hopefully whoever won this treasure of treasures will make it all available for others to see in the future. Meanwhile, enjoy the publicity card images above and the related posts with other images of publicity cards below.

Related Posts:

• Another Spanish-language Master Mystery Ad (HHCE)
• Spanish-language Master Mystery Ad (HHCE)
• The Master Mystery Insert Advertisement (Houdini Himself)
• Master Mystery sell sheets sell on eBay (Wild About Harry)
• Dr. Houdini meets Frankenstein (Wild About Harry)
• The man from the Hippodrome (Wild About Harry)
• Surrender to Houdini (Wild About Harry)

I’d like to watch Houdini do one or two of his stunts in this serial you’re making, I remarked to the representative of the B.A. Rolfe Company.  Maybe I could convince the fans that it’s all on the level, as you say, and not trick photography – if you can convince me.  Seeing is believing, you know.

You’re on! was the reply.

A few days later I was summoned to New Rochelle, where “The Master Mystery” was being produced, and was taken into the yard, where the big tank, shown below had been built.

This said my guide, is where we’re doing the under-water stuff.  Houdini is to go down into this tank in a diving suit.  Another diver, who plays the villain, will also descend.  Under water, the two will meet.  The villain, with a knife which he carries, will cut Houdini’s life line and air pipe.  No other diver ever escaped death under such conditions.  Yet Houdini ——————- Here he comes!

We clankered up onto the platform which had been built around the tank.

On two opposite corners the wizard and the huge villain took seats, like prize fighters, in their respective corners, while assistants, like seconds, helped them into their suits.

Before the large pate glass in the front of the tank, the cameras had been placed, while at the smaller windows, like the one marked “5” in the picture, powerful lights were turned on, illuminating the entire interior of the tank.

At last all was ready.  The two actors descended by means of ladders.  All we could see on top were the seething bubbles which rose from the exhaust valves of the diving suits. Suddenly the director, watching through the glass, fired a revolver.  One tug, and up came Houdini’s air pipe and life line — completely severed!

A few seconds of anxious waiting followed.  Then up popped Houdini, clad only in a bathing suit.  How he got out from that cumbersome suit I do not know.  Perhaps the picture will show, as it was all recorded.  It was from the film itself that the two small cuts showing Houdini under water and the struggle were taken.

Want to go this afternoon and see him thrown into the river, bound hand and foot?  My guide asked.

I’ll take your word for it this time, and use a picture of it, if you’ll send me one.  He did so, and here it is.

Source: Picture Play Magazine March 1919

This week, I thought I would share an interesting article from Houdini Himself about Handcuffs (American, British, French, Hungarian and Russian) he has met:

The Chanute Daily Tribune Fri, Jun 6, 1919 Page 3

Thoughts?

Here is another Spanish-language Master Mystery Exhibitor Ad.  This is a double-sided card-stock insert from Cine-Mundial, the Spanish-language version of Moving Picture World magazine.

The Main actor is Houdini

Produced by B A Rolfe

Authors are Arthur B. Reeve, C.A. Logue and John W. Grey

A series of Houdini is raising the viewer guessing

Action – Quick and sensational

Topic – Intense – Creepy

Acts of skill – Breathtaking

Uncertainty – Who keeps the interest in ever ascending scale

Emotions – That hurt and are quick to electrify the public

Release Date – Soon

Taken to the canvas by B. A. Rolfe, Inc

All foreign rights governed by EXPORT & IMPORT FILM CO., INC

Here is a Spanish-language Master Mystery Exhibitor Ad.  This is a double-sided card-stock insert from Cine-Mundial, the Spanish-language version of Moving Picture World magazine.

The Houdini Serial has taken the country by storm.  It is gold mine for independent exchanges. Territory going fast.  Produced by B.A. Rolfe.

Mystery Terror and suspense abound in the Houdini serial.  The greatest open market proposition ever presented.

Export & Import Film Co., Inc Secure Choice Contract for Pictures by Internationally Known “Escape Artist” and Sales Start Off Splendidly.

Click here and read all about it.

Expert and Import get Rolfe Rights.  In the coming weeks, I will post some Export and Import Film Co Houdini Ads.

The last two weeks, I shared some missing images from the Baker’s Dock Scene in Houdini’s Serial, The Master Mystery.  Each image included a funny caption as it appeared back in 1918.  As promised, here are couple more images from the movie, along with their film fun captions.  Enjoy!