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.
