Category Archives: Terror Island

Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – November 16 1919

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I recently went through a Houdini scrapbook compiled by Houdini’s personal friend, Quincy Kilby, and thought I would share items related to his movies in chronological order.

Previously we looked at letters from 1918 and the Master Mystery:

Letters from 1919 and The Grim Game:

And now we look at letters from 1919 and Terror Island:

Today, I share November 16 Letter:

Dear Q.K.

Just landed here sea air-plane from L. Angeles. Sid Chaplin, Charlie Chaplin’s bro owns air line. Made trip in less than 30 minutes.

The regular steamer regular steamer requires over two hours. Expect to remain here two weeks?? maybe less

Mrs. H arrives at 7 oclock.

Regards to you all

Houdini

P.S. My ears still ring—The roar of the engine…combined with the noise of propeller deafens you for awhile.

Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – November 4 1919

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I recently went through a Houdini scrapbook compiled by Houdini’s personal friend, Quincy Kilby, and thought I would share items related to his movies in chronological order.

Previously we looked at letters from 1918 and the Master Mystery:

Letters from 1919 and The Grim Game:

And now we look at letters from 1919 and Terror Island:

Today, I share November 4 Letter:

Dear Q.K.

We are here for the week.

Location work go to Catalina afterwards for 2 weeks, & hope to be ready to sail for England Dec 16-19.

Best wishes to your folks in which Mrs. H joins.  They say? I am the most sincere actor on this screen. And I who have never claimed actor-ability.

…

my address for while

Lasky Studios Hollywood Calif.

Best regards…

Harry Houdini

Related:

Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – October 20 1919

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I recently went through a Houdini scrapbook compiled by Houdini’s personal friend, Quincy Kilby, and thought I would share items related to his movies in chronological order.

Previously we looked at letters from 1918 and the Master Mystery:

Letters from 1919 and The Grim Game:

And now we look at letters from 1919 and Terror Island:

Today, I share October 20 Letter:

My Dear Q.K.,

Well we are back here for another picture.

Expect to be finished inside of 5 or 6 weeks.

We sail for England December 16th on the Mauratina.

Will be gone 6 months.

…

Houdini

Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – September 10 1919

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I recently went through a Houdini scrapbook compiled by Houdini’s personal friend, Quincy Kilby, and thought I would share items related to his movies in chronological order.

Previously we looked at letters from 1918 and the Master Mystery:

Letters from 1919 and The Grim Game:

And now we look at letters from 1919 and Terror Island:

  • Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – September 10 1919
  • TBS

Today, I share September 10 Letter:

Dear Quincy Kilby,

Leaving today for Lasky Studio Hollywood California until end of November or rather until middle of November.

Am going to do an undersea picture and in it shall make use of my swiming abilities.

Already it is planned a number of daring swiming stunts and whT I shall do with a fleet of submarines, is awful.

Nothing else, we leave to day will drop you alinr when possible.

Regards best wishes

yours as always the same old

Houdini

Regards to Mrs. Kilby from both of us,

Am sending you a picture of Tom Jefferson Ann Forest and myself.

Photoplay Magazine November 1919

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November 1919 Photoplay Magazine (Joe M. Notaro Collection)

I recently acquired the November 1919 Photoplay Magazine that included some Houdini Grim Game references that I thought I would share:

  • Paramount Artcraft Feature Ad that includes The Grim Game [page 4]
  • Photo of Houdini and Fatty Arbuckle [page 96]
  • Signs a new contract [page 99]
  • The Month In Brief “The Grim Game” [page 112 and page 115]

Page 4 (Joe M. Notaro Collection)

I just love these Paramount Artcraft Feature ads.

Page 96 (Joe M. Notaro Collection)

Houdini may be able to conjure cards from Roscoe’s ears, sleeve, and suspenders but our Fatty isn’t to believe it, he isn’t. He may look gullible, in this country-boy garb, but b’gosh he knows it’s only a trick and he can’t help looking skeptical. Yes–Fatty just dropped in for a visit, at the Lasky plant where the magician was working.

Per John Cox comment: The caption has it backwards, that isn’t Rosco dropping into see Houdini at the Lasky Studio. That’s Houdini dropping into the Comique Studio to see Rosco during the production of Back Stage, July 1919.

Prior to this photo with Arbuckle, Houdini risked his life and sustained injury making “The Grim Game”. So Houdini is showing off even with a cast on his left wrist he injured while making The Grim Game.

Page 99 (Joe M. Notaro Collection)

No sooner had Houdini finished “The Grim Game” for Famous Players-Lasky [FPL] than Jesse, manager of the last half of the concern, secured the signature to a new contract. By the terms of this agreement Houdini will remain with the Zukor organization for an indefinite time.

Houdini did Terror Island (TI) which did $111,000 in the United States and $54,000 abroad. Probably because of those low grosses Lasky and Paramount decided not to invest any more time or money in Houdini. His contract for further films was not picked up.

After FPL broke ties with Houdini following TI, he made two features (The Man From Beyond and Haldane of Secret Service) for the Houdini Picture Corporation.

Page 112 (Joe M. Notaro Collection)

“The Grim Game” (Paramount). This is the best play Harry Houdini has ever grappled with, or wriggled himself out of, and it is the best piece of the school which may be described as trick melodrama. In other words, all of Houdini’s celebrated stunts, such as shaking off a set of bracelets, writhing out of a straight-jacket, or breaking half a ton of manacles, are included, but there are also many new and entirely localized manifestations of his diabolic cleverness; and almost all of the feats, escapes and what-not are part of a well-woven, logical

Page 115 (Joe M. Notaro Collection)

plot. Included in this five-reel fracas, also, is the actual air-collision which stirred Hollywood a few months ago. Two machines performing at a great altitude for Houdini’s play, accidentally crashed together and fell to earth wrecking themselves, but fortunately not killing any of their occupants. Ann Forrest–who, at Triangle, was known as Ann Kroman–is a delightful ingenue lead in the adroit Harry’s adventures; and the cast includes, also Mae Busch–reappearing after nearly two years’ absence; she was formerly at Keystone–Arthur Hoyt, Tully Marshall and Augustus Phillips.

Houdini Master of Mystery Pinball Machine – HHCE Collection

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In 2018, I got to play the Houdini: Master of Mystery pinball machine (originally titled Houdini: Master Mystery after the movie) on Terror Island AKA Catalina Island where scenes for Terror Island were filmed.

There our 5 movie modes presented in black and white, with an an old-time film look and a piano accompaniment.

  1. Terror Island – Free the woman from the safe that was thrown in the ocean, then go back for the treasure.
  2. Haldane of Secret Service – Escape the waterwheel
  3. Mastery Mystery – Features “Q The Automaton”, the first ever movie robot. Stop him from getting the woman or getting to the weapon
  4. Grim Game – Move Houdini from plane-to-plane to rescue the woman
  5. Man From Beyond – Free Houdini from the ice, where he has been frozen for 100 years; And free him from his restraints in the insane asylum.

Failing to complete a movie mode results in the film “burning” on the display screen.

Suffice it to say, I always wanted one. Well, I found one I could afford on etsy and am now the proud owner of the cake topper pictured above.

Swedish Film (SF) Industry – Terror Island Program

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Per Wikipedia, SF studios, the largest film studio in Sweden, it was established on 27 December 1919 as Aktiebolaget Svensk Filmidustri, which means Swedish Film Industry in Swedish (AB Svensk Filmidustri) of Svensk Filnmindustry (SF).

SF had some nice Houdini movie ads that appeared in the Filmjounalen magazine.

Per Wikipedia, Filmjournalen was Sweden’s largest and most influential film magazine published between 1919 and 1953. The magazine was printed and based in Stockholm.

SF also had some nice programs for his movies:

I plan to share these ads and programs from my personal collection in future posts. Today, I share program from Terror Island:

Swedish Film (SF) Industry – The Grim Game Program

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Per Wikipedia, SF studios, the largest film studio in Sweden, it was established on 27 December 1919 as Aktiebolaget Svensk Filmidustri, which means Swedish Film Industry in Swedish (AB Svensk Filmidustri) of Svensk Filnmindustry (SF).

SF had some nice Houdini movie ads that appeared in the Filmjounalen magazine.

Per Wikipedia, Filmjournalen was Sweden’s largest and most influential film magazine published between 1919 and 1953. The magazine was printed and based in Stockholm.

SF also had some nice programs for his movies:

  • The Grim Game
  • Terror Island

I plan to share these ads and programs from my personal collection in future posts. Today, I share program from The Grim Game:

 

Swedish Film (SF) Industry – Filmjournalen 1921 No. 10

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Per Wikipedia, SF studios, the largest film studio in Sweden, it was established on 27 December 1919 as Aktiebolaget Svensk Filmidustri, which means Swedish Film Industry in Swedish (AB Svensk Filmidustri) of Svensk Filnmindustry (SF).

SF had some nice Houdini movie ads that appeared in the Filmjounalen magazine.

Per Wikipedia, Filmjournalen was Sweden’s largest and most influential film magazine published between 1919 and 1953. The magazine was printed and based in Stockholm.

SF also had some nice programs for his movies:

  • The Grim Game
  • Terror Island

I plan to share these ads and programs from my personal collection in future posts. Today, I share ads from Filmjournalen No. 10:

Swedish Film (SF) Industry – Filmjournalen 1921 No. 1

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Per Wikipedia, SF studios, the largest film studio in Sweden, it was established on 27 December 1919 as Aktiebolaget Svensk Filmidustri, which means Swedish Film Industry in Swedish (AB Svensk Filmidustri) of Svensk Filnmindustry (SF).

SF had some nice Houdini movie ads that appeared in the Filmjounalen magazine.

  • Filmjournalen 1921 No. 1
  • Filmjournalen 1921 No. 10

Per Wikipedia, Filmjournalen was Sweden’s largest and most influential film magazine published between 1919 and 1953. The magazine was printed and based in Stockholm.

SF also had some nice programs for his movies:

  • The Grim Game
  • Terror Island

I plan to share these ads and programs from my personal collection in future posts. Today, I share ads from Filmjournalen No. 1: