Click image to enlarge and read details about this special Houdini dinner.
Full report on my experience next week.
Click here for more background on Grim Game Showing at Scranton’s Houdini Museum.
Houdini Dinner and Movie Tonight
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Category Archives: The Grim Game
More background on Grim Game showing at Scranton’s Houdini Museum
Houdini’s Lost Silent Film “The Grim Game” To Have A General Public Showing For The First Time In 96 Years At Scranton’s Houdini Museum June 13th.
Guests will be treated to meeting The famous Houdini Family, including Houdini’s Grand Nephew, Jeffery Blood. Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz, directors of Scranton’s Houdini Museum, convinced 95 year old Brooklyn resident and owner of the only print of Houdini’s “The Grim Game”, to sell it to TV network Turner Classic Movies. The deal was brokered by film restorationist Rick Schmidlin, who spent six months putting the team together that restored the film. The exclusive screening of “The Grim Game” will be on Saturday, June 13, at 8 p.m. The movie has never been shown on TV, and film critics consider “The Grim Game” to be Houdini’s greatest movie. It features Houdini’s best escapes in a 71 minute black & white silent film with a newly adapted musical score by award-winning composer Brane Zivkovic. Originally produced by Paramount in 1919, “The Grim Game” features Houdini as a journalist who gets framed for murdering a millionaire. The scenario allowed Houdini to show off his masterful escape artistry as authorities attempt to apprehend his character.
TCM has given Ms. Dietrich and Mr. Brookz permission to exhibit the film here in Scranton. This will be its first showing to the general public. The Houdini Museum makes for a fitting location since they unearthed the film, they are the only building in the world dedicated to Houdini, and himself performed in Scranton exactly 100 years ago at Scranton’s Poli Theater in 1915.
Houdini said of his film “The Grim Game,” “The present generation can see me in person, but I want my most thrilling feats perpetuated on the screen, so people in later years can assure themselves that I actually did them. That’s why I have saved the most sensational stunts I have ever done for this picture and have worked my head off to make them as successful as possible.” HOUDINI
What: Screening of Harry Houdini’s “The Grim Game” The night will also include a fabulous VIP cocktail party, with hors d’ourves & free open bar. Guests will be treated to meeting The famous Houdini Family, including Houdini’s Grand Nephew, Jeffery Blood. Posters and memorabilia of The Grim Game & Houdini’s performances in Scranton a century ago will be on display before and after the movie screening.Where: The Houdini Museum, 1433 N. Main Ave, Scranton, PAWhen: Saturday, June 13, 2015Time: 6 to 7 p.m. VIP cocktail party, with hors d’oeuvres & open bar. The Houdini Family will be present.7 to 8 pm Reserved admission, displays. The Houdini Family will be present.
8 pm Screening of Houdini’s long lost film ‘The Grim Game” Introduced by Houdini Historians Dorothy Dietrich & Dick Brookz.
9:30 to 10:30 pm film discussion
Details: Advance tickets are 6 PM, $49 VIP; 7 PM, $19 reserved seating; and 8 PM. $9 general admission (sold out). Tickets can be purchased at 570 342-5555.By Reservation only. No tickets will be sold at the door.
More information at http://Houdini.org
Contact:
Dorothy Dietrich, The Houdini Museum
dorothydietrichmagic@gmail.com
570-342-5555
Scranton Screening of The Grim Game – Same date, New Venue
On Saturday Night June 13th, I will no longer be seeing the Scranton screening of The Grim Game at the Leonard Theater as previously reported, but I will be seeing it at its new venue, The Houdini Museum, in Scranton. And I am going to get to see it with members of the Houdini family, including his grand-nephew, Jeff Blood; what an added bonus. I can’t wait.
Click the link below for a related article that was published today in the Scranton Times Tribune:
Click here for more screening details and ticket information. No tickets will be sold at the door.
LINK: Leonard to screen rare Houdini film
Times-Tribune recently had a feature story on the Grim Game that will screen at the Leonard in Scranton, PA on June 13th.Here is the link:
Our friend Dorothy Dietrich was interviewed and mentions her and Dick Brookz role in the Grim Game along with TCM, Larry Weeks, Rick Schmidlin, Brane Zivkovic, and Irvin Willat.Houdini Grim Game Cards throughout the years – Miscellaneous Cards
Today we conclude the series on Houdini Grim Game Cards throughout the years. Last time, we looked at the Sketch Card category. This time we are taking a look at the Miscellaneous Card category which will include Post Cards, Magic Cards, Playing Cards and a First Day Cover (FDC).
Post Cards:
- L302-84 Harry in the Paramount Picture, The Grim Game, 1919 Courtesy of the Sidney Radner Collection at the Houdini Historical Center, Appleton, WI 54911
- Harry Houdini with is costar Ann Forrest in the Paramount Picture, The Grim Game, 1919 Courtesy of the Sidney Radner Collection at the Houdini Historical Center, Appleton, WI 54911
- B&W Post Card
- Green Poster Post Card
Magic Cards:
- Magic Act 11 The Wonder Wallet
- Houdini’s Great Escape
- Houdini Escapes
Playing Cards:
- 298-60
First Day Cover (FDC):
- July 3, 2002 FDC
The Grim Game is coming to Scranton and so is HHCE
UPDATE: Scranton Screening of The Grim Game – Same date, New Venue
Visiting the Houdini Museum and Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz in Scranton, PA has been on my To-Do list for quite a while. Well, with the latest announcement that The Grim Game will screen at the historic Leonard Theater in Scranton, PA on June 13th, there are no more excuses. I plan to be there to support Dorothy and Dick and be a part of this exclusive showing at The Leonard Theatre, “Scranton’s Oldest Theater”.
Below is the schedule for this special event:
6:00 PM – VIP Admission
6:00 to 7:00 PM – VIP Cocktail Party, includes hors d’ourves & OPEN bar.
7:00 PM – Reserved & General Admission
7:00 to 8:00 PM – Houdini displays, pre-movie discussion & cash bar.
8:00 PM – The Grim Game movie screening
9:30 to 10:30 PM – Houdini displays, post-movie discussion & cash bar.
For advance tickets, go to: www.theleonardtheater.com
Hope to see you, there.
Related Posts:
Houdini Grim Game Cards throughout the years – Sketch Cards
Today we continue the series on Houdini Grim Game Cards throughout the years. Last time, we looked at the Modern Trading Card category. This time we are taking a look at the Sketch Card category.
Let’s start by looking at the one of one Weird Tales Sketch Cards:
- 2012 Weird Tales Sketch Card One (Notaro Collection)
- 2012 Weird Tales Sketch Card Two
Next, let’s look at the one of one Sketch Card I own from Houdini’s The First World Super Hero Series:
- 2012 Worlds First Super Hero Sketch Card (Dan Gorman)
The sketch is from the following famous 298-47 still:
Cropped Image courtesy of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
What happened to David Thompson, whose plane flipped over?
Credit: Cecil B. DeMille Trust
Our friend Bill Mullins alerts John Cox and I about an article in the Rockford Register-Republic dated Wednesday, January 16, 1957 about David Thompson who had just become a fledgling member of the National Real Estate flyer’s association at the time, but of course he was no newcomer to aviation:
He was an army test pilot for 20 months in 1917-19, and was called to Hollywood by Paramount Pictures after he left the air service signal corps (ancestor of today’s U.S. Air Force). His first movie stunt flight in Paramount’s, “The Grim Game”, was nearly Thompson’s last and ended with his plane flipping over. Thompson helped found the Mercury Aviation company in Hollywood, with Cecil B. DeMille as president. And was one of the earliest airline pilots. He holds the distinction of making the first flight from the U.S. to Mexico City.
You can read the full article below for this and more about David Thompson.
Click on article to enlarge for reading
Thanks Bill!
Bonus:
Some years after the movie was released, Houdini used the final sequence (AKA “Desperate Chances”) in a vaudeville act. One night Tommy (aka David Thompson) took his wife to see the act and found that after running the clip in which the stunt man faltered and the planes locked, Houdini referred to this as his narrowest escape. He then invited members of the audience on stage. Wondering what Houdini’s reaction to him would be, Tommy joined the group. The great escapist recognized him at once and, without the flicker of a lash, identified him to the audience as “the hero who saved my life in The Grim Game.” [Hollywood When Silents Were Golden]
Of course it was really Christopher V. Pickup in the upper plane who saved Robert E. Kennedy (Houdini’s stunt double) as he hung from the rope. Tommy actually flew the lower plane.
LINK: Rick Schmidlin Interview about Finding and Saving The Grim Game
My friend, John Cox, over at Wild About Harry, knocked it out of the park with a two part interview with Rick Schmidlin, the man who produced the restoration of Houdini’s “The Grim Game”. Check it out.
BONUS INTERVIEW is coming.
In Part II of the interview, we discover that it was in 1959 when a 16mm negative and print was made from a 35mm nitrate original [that Larry Weeks acquired in 1947 from Houdini heirs according to the opening title card in the restored movie]. What we don’t find out is the specifics of how and where Larry might have gotten his original 35mm nitrate print. But not to worry, John is going to do a BONUS INTERVIEW in which he and Rick speculate on where Larry might have gotten his original 35mm print. It should be interesting indeed. Stay tuned!
UPDATE:
BONUS INTERVIEW is here.
What happened to Robert E Kennedy after the plane incident?
Credit: Cecil B. DeMille Trust
Above is the scene immediately after planes hit the earth. Note crowd rushing forward to greet pilots. Robert E. Kennedy (Houdini’s Stunt Double) is in the center with back to camera being congratulated on his narrow escape by fellow pilots (or according to another account, he was he being blamed by fellow pilots for the accident).
Houdini never saw or spoke to him again. According to Tommy [David E. Thompson], who flew the pickup plane, he got up and ran away and was never seen again. Shortly after the spectacular crash, Kennedy and Bill Hahnel, a fellow flying officer in the service, made exhibition flights throughout the country, billing themselves as The Flying Tramps. Later, Kennedy became a noted test pilot, pioneer airplane pilot and inventor of navigation instruments. After several barnstorming tours of Texas, Robert E. Kennedy joined with members of Los Angeles based bus company, Pickwick transportation, in the formation of Pickwick Airways. Flying tri-motors, the new airline pioneered air routes into Mexico until Pickwick was absorbed by a larger airline. Kennedy continued flying until he went to work for Douglas Aircraft in 1934. After retirement, he lived in Anaheim until his death in 1973. But perhaps he can best be remembered for adding one more legend to the folklore of Harry Houdini.
Next related post will look into what happened to David E. Thompson, whose plane flipped over?
Sources:
- Taped interview with Robert E. Kennedy conducted by Arch C. Wallen, and Los Angeles Times, May 22, 1966
- Locklear The Man Who Walked on Wings by Art Ronnie 1973