Category Archives: The Grim Game

What a Variety: 9 + 19 + 1919 = 52

Posted on by
2

Below is an original Grim Game ad from a rare Variety Magazine that I just acquired. Variety was established in 1905 when it was launched as a weekly periodical covering vaudeville with its headquarters in New York City.

The picture that is one long thrill!

For dramatic entertainment of universal appeal, “The Grim Game” is in a class by itself.  The aeroplane collision in midair – an accident wholly unexpected but caught in its entirety by the camera – is only one of a long succession of thrills.

These six reels of thrill-entertainment may now be seen at any Famous Players-Lasky Exchange.

Story by Arthur B. Reeve and John W. Gray Directed by Irvin Willat

What makes this ad so cool is the following:

  • The date of the Magazine is September 19, 1919 (9 19 1919)
  • The page number that this ad appears on his page 52
  • It has an image of Houdini and his pet “Abraham Lincoln”
  • It has 4 roundel pictures of scenes from the film

Enjoy!

Spanish Trading Card Translated

Posted on by
1

A rare 1930 Spanish Houdini Trading Card just sold on Ebay for $214.50. Below is the text from the back of the card translated to English by Google translator:

One movie has been enough for this fantastic artist was known universally. Son of a wealthy merchant born in Chicago in 1887, where he studied engineering. From child showed always a strong character and determined that led to the realization of their daring plans. I build armor-plating which was the reason of his only film prinicipal “Houdini and human tank”, which gave him much popularity.

It is of a nervous temperament, and among his numerous feats has made the climb in front of  a “skyscraper” with the sole help of his feet and hands.

Now retired from filmmaking.

So now that it’s somewhat translated, what does this all mean? Your guess is as good as mine.  My real interest in this card is actually the image of Houdini on the front.  You see it is the same image that appears on the cover of The Grim Game Press Book and
The Terror Island Press Book:

It’s Official

Posted on by
7

The Official Houdini Séance in Fort Worth Texas was killer.  I had the distinct pleasure and honor to attend this in person and have a VIP seat. It all started in September, when I found out from John Cox that this event was being open to the public for the first time in its four decade plus history.  This was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.  I immediately booked my hotel and flight to Dallas Fort Worth, Texas. According to Arthur Moses, I was one of the first ones to get a VIP seat.  And speaking about Arthur Moses, he really knows how to put on an event.  He invited special guests to his house on October 30th for a Texas BBQ and to see his world renowned Houdini collection; I was honored to get an invite, but I was not able to fly in until the day of the Séance (October 31st). Arthur told me he was sorry that I couldn’t make the BBQ and to see the collection on the 30th, but he offered me a plan B which was to come over for breakfast on November 1st before my flight leaves in the afternoon.  This was an offer I couldn’t refuse.  Arthur is a gentleman and a scholar.  In fact, he has authored two books (Houdini Periodical Bibliography and Houdini Speaks Out) about Houdini.  I had the first one but not the second in my collection, and now thanks to Arthur’s generosity, I have signed copies of both.

On October 31st, I arrived in DFW at around 3:30, just three and half hours before the festivities were going to start.   I took a taxi to the hotel across the street from the Masonic Temple where the Official Houdini Séance was going to take place.  I just barely had time to walk over to Sundance Square in Downtown Fort Worth, get a bite to eat, get back to the hotel and get ready for an evening that I will never forget:

7 – 8 pm was the VIP private reception on the first floor in the Grand Ball Room, where John Cox introduced me to Arthur Moses and his wife Linda, as well as Bill Radner (son of the late great Sid Radner).  I also met a number of people from the local magic club (i.e. Magic Etc) in Fort Worth.

After beer, wine and appetizers, we then took the elevator up to the fourth floor.  This is where I received The Official Houdini Séance program and my VIP gift which was an old looking lock & keys with a portrait of Houdini and the words, The Official Houdini Séance Fort Worth 2012, stamped on it.

The Séance table was in the center of the room, with VIP seats surrounding the table.   On one side of the stage was a giant Houdini “straightjacket escape poster” from Ash Adams (Master of Ceremonies) extensive magic poster collection; And on the other side of the stage was an authentic Houdini Straight Jacket and an authentic Houdini Street Sign from Arthur Moses extensive Houdini collection.

Next was Introductions and Entertainment.

Ash Adams welcomed everyone and then introduced John Cox, who gave an outstanding talk and presentation on Houdini’s extraordinary career that was well received by all.  His talk included some unpublished photos, including a picture of Harry and Bess and a photo from The Grim Game of Houdini in a Bear Trap.  John’s presentation also included showing the Desperate Chances clip from The Grim Game which showed two planes crashing together in mid-air and plunging to earth. Everything went over extremely well. John should be very proud.

Next, Ash Adams introduced Bill Radner who gave a very touching tribute to his father Sid Radner. This included showing a video clip of his father explaining two of Houdini’s famous handcuffs. It was an honor and privilege to hear Bill speak about his father. Sid would be very proud of his son, just like Bill showed how proud he was of his father.

Next we had amazing performances by Jamie Salinas who escaped from a strait-jacket and by Shel Higgens who swallowed a sword while standing on a ladder.

Next we got to hear Houdini’s voice.

Next was an intermission, before the Official Houdini Séance began.

The Official Houdini Seace begins.

The members of the Inner Circle were then introduced as they made their way to the Séance table.  This included Bill Radner, Thomas J. Boldt, Derek Kennedy, Arthur Moses, John Cox, a lady whose name I didn’t catch, Ash Adams and possibly one other.  Due to the storm on the East Coast, at least two invited inner circle members could not be present. This included Fred Pittella who was going to bring Houdini’s spirit trumpet and Larry Weeks who has a complete print of The Grim Game which I am pretty sure he was not bringing to the Séance.

Scott Wells proceeded to conduct the séance in a very professional manner.  Although I don’t believe Houdini returned; there were some spooky moments that occurred during the séance that made one wonder.  This included a brochure on the table moving, seeing someone up on the balcony fading in and out and a chair on stage moving at the end of the séance.  Either way, the entire evening was very entertaining and quite enjoyable.  It was all recorded, so who knows what they will see when they play it back.

After the conclusion of the Séance, all guests were invited downstairs to the Grand Ballroom for a Meet & Greet and chance to share their wonderful experience.

This Official Houdini Séance was a complete success and will be hard to top. What an amazing way to spend Halloween.

The next day (November 1), I took a taxi to Arthur’s house and arrived around 9:40 am.  Upon arriving, I got to participate in a pod-cast hosted by Scott Wells, the man who conducted the Séance.  Participants included myself, Arthur Moses, John Cox, and Magician Jamie Salinas. I got to share my wonderful experience at the Official Houdini Séance event and talk a little bit about The Grim Game and my blog site.  After the podcast was over, it was time to worship in Arthur’s Temple of Houdini

It was overwhelming, that is, I was speechless at the amount of information before me.  I could spend days doing research, but I only had until 12:00 to absorb what I could before John Cox and I had to leave for the airport.  In the short time, that I was there, I was able to take some pictures of the Houdini Shrine, put on a strait-jacket, and look through some items pertaining to The Grim Game and Houdini’s other movies.  These included posters, cards, original artwork, photos, programs, magazine ads and some periodicals.

What an amazing experience that I remember for the rest of my life.

Update:  Check out these other related links:

See him on Halloween

Posted on by
Reply

Tonight! Tonight! To Make Your Halloween Party

El Paso herald, October 31, 1919, HOME EDITION, Page 9, Image 9

See him above all else in the most astounding feat ever caught by a motion picture camera — Two aeroplanes race through the sky — Houdini is lowered from one to the other — just as he is about to board his enemy’s car, the machines clash in an accident, turn over and over, and plunge to the ground thousands of feet below! An accident absolutely authentic and reported by the Associated Press.

$1000.00 Reward: This sum will be paid by the Rialto management to any person who can prove that the hair-raising chase, collision and crash to earth from 3000 feet in mid-air as shown in “The Grim Game”did not ACTUALLY occur.

 

Still 289-21: You don’t need a key for this kind of box

Posted on by
1

This photo (Still 289-21) is one of 5 photos that appeared in a 1920 Cinema Chat Ad for The Grim Game.

So what is going on in this photo?

Harvey Hanford [Harry Houdini] has snuck into the Cameron home to visit Mary Cameron [Ann Forrest].

They are seated in the Cameron Library by the window.

Harvey tells Mary, “You don’t need a key for this kind of box – open it like this – ”

Harvey gives the box several sharp blows on the end to jar back the lock – then opens the cover.

[Scenes 25 – 42 paraphrased from Paramount Script]

Still 298-22: Who is the other man in this still?

Posted on by
1

This still 298-22 has intrigued me for a long time.

We know that is Harry Houdini playing Harvey Hanford (Cameron’s nephew) and we know that is Ann Forrest playing Mary Wentworth (Cameron’s ward and heiress), but who is the other man in this still?

Feel free to read The Grim Game Cast and Story and use the actor photos below for clues.

Your choices are as follows:

 

Harry Houdini (Harvey Hanford)

 

Thomas Jefferson (Dudley Cameron)

 

Augustus Philips (Clifton Allison)

 

Tully Marshall (Richard Raver)

 

Arthur Hoyt (Dr. Harvey Tyson)

 

Unidentified Actor (Old Servant Banks)

 

Or you could choose NONE OF THE ABOVE.

Care to take a guess before I share some more thoughts on the matter:

Well, it is not Harvey Hanford [Harry Houdini] unless Dixie Dooley’s story is correct and Houdini has a twin brother in disguise.

It possibly could be Dudley Cameron [Thomas Jefferson]. Could this be the scene when the following Cameron spoken title appears?

“I’ve told you to keep away from Mary, you – spendthrift! I have other plans for her. Now get out!”

Cameron has disinherited his nephew.  He has never got over his hatred of the young reporter who once forced his way into his presence to get a story and whom he had thrown out. He has repudiated and forbidden HH to enter his house. Cameron also want’s Mary to wed Dr. Harvey Tyson not HH when he dies.

It possibly could be Clifton Allison [Augustus Phillips] since we know he carried a revolver and shot Dr. Tyson and Cameron in the movie.

I think we can rule Richard Raver [Tully Marshall] out; he was never at the house at the same time as HH and Mary, and does not come across as the type to have a gun.

It possibly could be Dr. Harvey Tyson [Arthur Hoyt]. There is a scene in the script where Dr. Tyson see’s the couple HH and Mary before him.  Their attitude shows him that there is a rival in the field who may upset his matrimonial plans. Dr. Tyson shows his bitter anger at what he has seen.  He starts as though to confront the lovers…  However, Dr. Tyson has a moustache in the movie.

It possibly could be Old Banks [unidentified actor], the man-of-all-work who is Cameron’s servant, butler and guard at times.  The following subtitle appears in the movie:

The main entrance is guarded by old Banks, the man-of-all-work, who admits only the chosen few.

On one occasion when HH pays a visit to Mary, HH is discovered by Banks. By a clever trick, Banks drops the gun and HH seizes it.  Banks calls attention to the fact that HH has no business on the grounds and in a spoken title adds:

“If anything happened around here, we’d have circumstantial evidence on you – prowling about these grounds with a gun!”

HH places gun just inside the gate just before closing it and making his escape.

Okay, so based on knowledge of the movie, the above descriptions and photos of the actors; who do you think it is now?

Cinema Chat Series Part 3 of 3

Posted on by
6

Number 42, March 8, 1920 [page 16 and 17]

Below is the text from the ad:

Houdini the handcuff king, who is here seen in pictures from his latest film is one of the highest paid men in vaudeville, and one of the most famous men in the world. He started in life as a locksmith. Soon he learned he could pick any lock. He conceived the idea of going into vaudeville as a handcuff expert. He was instantly successful and toured the world in an act which took the form of escaping from any kind of handcuff with which he had been manacled. Escapes, however, were the least of his many stunts, as a list of some the remarkable things he has done would prove.

As an instance he was once handcuffed, tied and sewn in a canvas sack, and thrown from Eiffel Tower, Paris.  Halfway down Houdini was out of the manacles and the sack and clinging to a parachute.  He was thrown from Brooklyn Bridge locked in a steel safe.  He came up in one minute.  He escaped from a strait jacket whilst suspended head downwards from the “Times” Building, in New York.  He has also escaped from every famous prison in the world including the Tower of London, and the Conciergerie in Paris. So far he has never been successfully challenged on any feat, and we will permit anyone to tie him, nail him in a box or seal him up in glass!

Houdini has appeared before all the crowned heads of Europe.  He has been locked and manacled in practically every prison in America. Before he is manacled he is always stripped and examined carefully for keys, etc.  He has also escaped from time-lock safes.

In his first Paramount-Artcraft picture, The Grim Game, Houdini does practically all the stunts that have made him a world-famous figure, a perpetual mystifier, an entertainer par excellence. His aerial feats in this photo-play will cause one all to gasp, for they are simply extraordinary.

In future blogs, I will attempt to describe the scene, character(s) and actor(s) that are depicted in each picture still from The Grim Game.

See below for related links:

RARE ORIGINAL HARRY HOUDINI 1919- THE GRIM GAME- RIALTO THEATRE PROGRAM

Posted on by
1

RARE ORIGINAL HARRY HOUDINI 1919- THE GRIM GAME- RIALTO THEATRE PROGRAM fails to sale for $231.49 on Ebay private listing that ended today; Reserve not met. Below is the description of the rare item:

FRESH TO THE MARKET -1ST TIME FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNERS ESTATE –!!A RARE ORIGINAL NOT A REPRODUCTION !! SILENT MOVIE PROGRAM SCHEDULE FROM MUSKEGON MICHIGANS  MOST POPULAR PHOTO PLAY HOUSE – THE “RIALTO”  THEATRE FEATURING HARRY HOUDINI ,PARAMOUNT STAR IN THE 1919 SILENT MOVIE “THE GRIM GAME”-THIS PROGRAM SCHEDULE FEATURES HARRY HOUDINI IN THE CENTER FOLD –(UNDERNEATH THE PICTURE PUBLISHED BY BRADFORD & CO) THIS  PROGRAM  ALSO SCHEDULES SILENT MOVIES FROM THE MAJESTIC,ELITE AND REGENT THEATRES –PRINTED ON GREY PAPER –VERY GOOD CONDITION –NO TEARS OR STAINS –SHOWS VERY LITTLE WEAR FROM HANDELING –THIS WAS FOUND FOULDED UP IN A STACK OF OLD POST CARDS -PROBABLY THE ONLY REASON IT SURVIVED ALMOST 100 YEARS!—LAYING FLAT OPEN  MEASURES 9” X 5” –FOLDED MEASURES 3-1/8” X 5”

Cinema Chat Series Part 2 of 3

Posted on by
2

Number 59, July 5, 1920 [page 19] A message from Houdini, The Handcuff King, to readers of “Cinema Chat”:

14 June 1920

To the Editor of Cinema Chat.

Dear Mr. Editor, –

I thought it might interest your readers to know that I am finishing up my tour in Great Britain.

The six months I have spent here have been, without the question of a doubt, the most successful, artistically and financially, of my theatrical career.

I fly to Paris by aeroplane June 27th, and take a few street scenes there for a tentative picture and fly from Paris to Cherbourg July 2nd, where I catch the Cunard liner Imperator and sail for America.

Shall always be delighted to hear from my admirers.

My kindest regards and best wishes to all friends.

I beg to remain,

Sincerely yours,

Houdini

P.S. – Should you wish to inform your readers, those desiring to write to me can address me c/o Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, 485, Fifth Avenue, New York City.

After reading the letter, I asked myself a few questions:

  • What was Houdini doing in London for 6 months?
  • What tentative picture was he talking about?
  • And was it ever made?

I went to the Houdini Bible, The Career of Eric Weiss by Kenneth Silverman, for answers.

Below are some excerpts from Silverman that I believe answer the mail:

…his time abroad was filled with movie work and long post-poned appearances on the Moss circuit.

Before going abroad, Houdini had reached a major decision. Instead of working for Famous Players-Lasky or another studio, he would produce his own motion pictures. He shot street scenes in London, Edinburgh and Paris for a film about counterfeiting, tentatively called “The Dupe”.

When Houdini returned to America, in mid-July 1920, his attention was fixed on film work.  Over the next eighteen months, in fact, he gave not a single stage performance. As if to make it impossible for himself to turn back, before leaving England he unsentimentally destroyed $25,000 (his figure) worth of illusions he had bought–“never used even a thought.”  And when giving his customary shipboard performance for charity, he had himself billed as “the World Famous Cinema Star.”

Although he had brought back street-scenes for a picture about counterfeiting, he also considered making a film version of The Count of Monte Cristo (one of his ten favorite books) or of some tales by Poe (whose grave in Baltimore he photographed).  He dropped these plans, to write the scenario for a movie to be called The Man From Beyond.

I find it amusing that readers of Cinema Chat could address a letter to Houdini; and ironic it was care of Famous Players-Lasky (FPL) Corporation, when he was essentially done with FPL.

Other related links:

Cinema Chat Series Part 1 of 3

Posted on by
4

Number 48, April 19, 1920 [cover]

Houdini appeared in a number of ads in the Cinema Chat Magazine.

Part 1 will look at a couple of these ads that appeared in 1920.

Part 2 will look at a message from Houdini The Handcuff King, to readers of Cinema Chat that I think you will enjoy and get a kick out of.

And last  but not least, Part 3 will look at my favorite ad which will include 5 images, 3 of which have not been published since 1920 as far as I know; that’s right I am going to save the best for last; trust me, it will be worth the wait.  Meanwhile enjoy the ads in Part 1.

Number 48, April 19, 1920 [inside cover page] On our cover this week?  Who is it? Why Houdini.  Known throughout the world as the Handcuff King.  Houdini is now playing pictures for the Famous Players-Lasky.

Number 50, May 3, 1920 [page 21] Houdini in a tight fix.  But he gets out of his manacles on the screen as easily as he did on stage.