Category Archives: The Grim Game

Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – July 12 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:

And now we look at letters from 1919 and The Grim Game:

Today, I share July 12 Letter:

Dear Q.K.,

My wrist getting along okay, July 20th, will try and finish the last few scenes, and return to New York leaving on or about July 25th.

…

…

The Grim Game will be finished next Sunday, my wrist will be strong enough to do the finishing stunts.

Tom Jefferson is at work in another studio.

Will try and see him before we leave.

Must close bes of all good wishes, from Mrs. Houdini and your pal to you all

Houdini

P.S, …

We will remain here until on or about July 26th.

After that New York Address.

Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – June 28 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:

And now we look at letters from 1919 and The Grim Game:

Today, I share June 28 Letter:

And Poem by Q.K. for The Silver Wedding of Harry and Beatrice Houdini:

The letter mentions breaking his wrist again; he first broke it when filming The Master Mystery and now during the filming of The Grim Game which was 90% finished.

Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – June 9 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:

And now we look at letters from 1919 and The Grim Game:

Today, I share June 9 Letter:

Hollywood, California June 9, 1919

Dear Q.K.

Thomas Jefferson and myself frequently converse about you, and it was through an accident that I found out young Joe Jefferson was a friend of mine.

I thought that young Joe was an old man, but it appears that he was younger than I.

Worked with him in vaudeville, that is he was on the same bill, and very pleasant, and very pleasant weeks we had…

So Mr. Thomas J. and I have lots to talk about…

He does not know yet that he is to be “murdered” by an arch fiend in the first act, and though he always asks me what will be become of him, I do not give him a sensible answer.

So we have a fine time, as no one really knows the full story…

Houdini

…

 

So, who was young Joe Jefferson?  Let’s look at who his father was first. Joseph Jefferson III (1829-1905) was the 4th generation of a theatrical family that was established by Thomas Jefferson (1728 -1807), an English actor who managed several theatres.  Thomas’s son Joseph Jefferson I (1774-1832) came to America in 1795 on tour and remained to manage the John Street and Park Theatres in New York and the Chestnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia.  He played a comic actor.  Joseph Jefferson II (1804-1842) was an actor as well.  All three Jefferson’s were noted for playing old men.  Joseph Jefferson III was born 20 February, 1829 at Philadelphia United States of America, son of Joseph Jefferson, actor, and his wife Cornelia Frances Thomas Burke.  He began is stage career at 4, and, after his father died in 1842, relied on acting for a living. At 21 he married Margaret Clements Lockyer. On February 18, 1861 his wife died, leaving four children.  On December 20, 1867, he married Sarah Warren the niece of the actor William Warren. Fame came with his creation of the role of Rip Van Winkle. He died in 1905.

Young Joe

Joseph Warren Jefferson IV was a child of the second wife.  He was born July 6, 1869.  He was a member of his father’s company.  So at the time of the Grim Game, Joe Jefferson IV would have been 50 years old and Houdini 45 years old, making young Joe Jefferson five years older not younger than Houdini. Joseph Jefferson IV (1869 – 1919) performed at Macauley’s Theatre three times in Rip Van Winkle.

What was the connection with Thomas J and young Joe? Thomas Jefferson played Old Man Cameron in the Grim Game.  Like young Joe Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson was one of Joseph Jefferson III sons. He acted in his dads company in several roles opposite his father.  He became an actor in D.W. Griffith’s stock company appearing with Houdini in The Grim Game.`

Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – May 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:

And now we look at letters from 1919 and The Grim Game:

Today, I share May 11 Telegram:

Dear Q.K.,

We start in to work tomorrow. Been delayed. Thomas Jefferson is in my cast, strange you write to me regarding him.

Shall convey your regards, He plays my rich crabbed uncle.

…

Houdini

And a undated [May ?] Telegram:

Dear Q.K.?

Thought the enclosed [Still 298-22] might interest you. Have started in to work. Thomas Jefferson is my cast. Will write you more in detail as soon as I get opportunity, Regards H.H

Will have to postpone our Silver wedding mayhap a month or so.

 

Find it interesting that Houdini was thinking he may have to postpone his 25th Wedding Anniversary due to working on The Grim Game.

Related:

Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – April 12 1919 and April 24 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:

And now we look at letters from 1919 and The Grim Game:

  • Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – March 7 1919
  • Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – April 12 1919 and April 24 1919
  • TBS

Today, I share a April 12th Letter:

 Dear Q.K.,.

. . .

We leave for Los Angeles Calif Wednesday [4/16] and my address will be for the next 5 weeks or say 6 weeks Lasky Studios Hollywood Calif.

. . .

Houdini

And a handwritten April 24 letter:

Dear Q.K.

Arrived Okay.

My address for (?) next 2 months – Lasky Studios Hollywood California

nothing new. Expect to start in about first week in May.

Hopes all well

Yours as always

Houdini

Related:

Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – March 7 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:

And now we look at letters from 1919 and The Grim Game:

  • Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – March 7 1919
  • TBS

Today, I share a March 7th Letter:

My Dear Q.K.,

…

We expect to leave for Los Angeles in 6 weeks as I have signed with Jesse Lasky for a feature picture.

So you see I am drifting away from vaudeville, and with the exception of my European dates have no plans re a return.

If I do not give my own show, will very-likely return to Hippodrome, unless I remain in pictures, and now you know all my plans.

Houdini

Related:

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: