Category Archives: The Grim Game

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

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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

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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

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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.

Weird Tales Sketch Card

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This is a scan of an original character sketch card by Studio-Hades that sold on eBay last month.  The scan contains slightly more contrast and considerably less detail than the original, the scan really does not do this piece justice.

It is from the WEIRD TALES 2 sketch collection and is numbered 13 in the series; there is only one of each card in a series.

The following text appears on the back of the card:

Few periodicals have had such a lasting impact on literature and popular culture as Weird Tales. First published in 1923 during the heyday of the pulp magazine, Weird Tales broke the constraints of what was conceivable in popular fiction at that time. Crafted by a diverse group of authors, including Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, Robert Bloch, Tennessee Williams and August Derleth, they seamlessly melded themes as disparate as space viruses and necrophilia to sword and sorcery and historical speculation – all for a penny a word. Conan the Barbarian, arguably Weird Tales most famous son, enjoys more fame now than at the time of his creation.

Acheron Mint celebrates the unholy legacy of the strange, occult, the supernatural and bizarre and the fearless writers who conceived it with the Weird Tales Sketch Collection Set Two.

The sketch is of course from The Grim Game.  In fact, it was from the following famous image that can found in the Library of Congress.

Harry Houdini was a frequent Weird Tales contributor.  Here are some Houdini Weird Tales covers.

  • Weird Tales Volume 3 No. 3 March 1924 
  • Weird Tales Volume 3 No. 4 April 1924
  • Weird Tales Volume 4 No. 2 May June July 1924

Houdini Opens at Broadway

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NY Tribune August 24th, 1919

93 years ago to the day, August 25th, 1919, The Grim Game opened at B.S. Moss’s Broadway Theatre at the corner of B’way & 41st St.

NY Tribune August 27th, 1919

Houdini appeared in person explaining on the stage a few of the dare-devil mystifying stunts portrayed in the film.

Below is a review of the film, story and Houdini’s speech from the NY Tribune.  Enjoy!

Houdini Shows How Easy It Is to Do Hard Things and Make a Good Photo Play

“The Grim Game”, at the Broadway Theatre is entirely different from any picture we have seen, and it seems to us a smashing success in every sense of the word.

Our only criticism is that the story is too long in getting started.  We wanted less preparation and more Houdini, and after the picture was finished we felt still more strongly that a lot of time had been wasted in the first two reels.  The last three are crammed full of miraculous escapes, aeroplane flights and disappearing heroes.

All of the things which Houdini does (they are not tricks) are done in plain sight of the camera, so that if you cannot do them too it is not because you do not know how they are done.

The story is by Arthur B. Reeve and John W. Gray.  It tells of a miser, Thomas Jefferson, who lives alone a beautiful old home with his niece.  Her fiancé is Harry Hanford, a reporter.  This is Houdini.  The owner of the newspaper is in debt to old Cameron, who holds his notes.  A Richard Raver, lawyer, is also in debt and has forged his clients name to secure money.This part is cleverly played by Tully Marshall. Dr. Tyson who completes the triumvirate, would benefit by old Cameron’s death, because his will states that the doctor must marry his niece and inherit his money.

Hanford arranges a bet concerning circumstantial evidence, which if his employer wins, will bring him money enough to redeem the notes held by Cameron.

The old miser is to be spirited away and he himself is to be the suspect. Only the plan goes astray, for some one really does murder the old man, and the three men who have been in the game with Hanford all claim that they know nothing about it, and refuse to clear him.

As all three of them would benefit by Cameron’s death the story resolves itself into one of those mystery murder plays.

Houdini makes a speech at the end of the picture in which he tells of the aeroplane collision which is shown so plainly in the pictures.  The ending was to have been quite different, but when the propellers on two planes interlock, and the planes are sent whirling around in the air 4,000 feet above the earth and the camera catches it we do not wonder that they to keep it in the picture.

The plane in which Houdini is chasing his enemy is directly over the other plane. He lets himself down by a rope, and it was the intention of the scenario writer to have climb in the enemy plane and take the wheel, but the other way was much more exciting only, of course no one would voluntarily take such a risk.

Houdini’s speech is dignified and effective.  He makes no attempt to be facetious, but merely tells of the danger of making such a picture.  Irvin Willat  directed the picture and risked his life to photograph some of the scenes.

H. U.

Famous Players-Lasky Backlot

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Houdini came to Hollywood, California in 1919 to film his two features (The Grim Game and Terror Island) for the Famous Players Lasky. The Famous Players-Lasky Backlot sat on the corner of Vine Street and Selma Avenue in Hollywood.  Click here to see other photos of the backlot.  See below for images of Houdini on the backlot.

The photo above is from my copy of the Magical Bulletin (April 1921 Vol. 9, No. 4). It shows Mr. Harry Houdini in the act of entertaining some of his associates at the Hollywood Studios during the filming of his famous pictures.

The photo above sold on eBay back in July. It shows Houdini standing on what is most likely the Famous Players-Lasky studio backlot.

To see another fantastic photo of Houdini on the Famous Players Lasky backlot, check out John’s blog at WildAboutHoudini.com titled, Houdini in HOLLYWOOD; the image on the blog is from Arthur Moses Collection.

Rare Houdini Poster

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This poster is an awsome find in the world of Houdini collectibles – a fantastic photo of a classic Houdini pose (L302-60). These were made around the late 1970s and are rare enough to be collectible but not so rare that that they break your bank account.  I was fortunate enough to pick one up for $29.99 and that included shipping.  It measures 16×20 and is on a high grade semi-gloss paper.  It is proudly displayed in my Houdini room.

Thomas Jefferson Found

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Last week, I posted a blog about the Old Man Jefferson Connection which looked at Houdini’s connection with Joe Jefferson and Thomas Jefferson.  Joe Jefferson and Thomas Jefferson were sons of actor Joseph Jefferson III who was famous for creating the role of Rip Van Winkle.  Houdini appeared on the same bill as Young Joe Jefferson during his vaudeville days and he appeared with Thomas Jefferson who played Old Man Cameron in The Grim Game.  In that blog, I posted a photo of Young Joe Jefferson but not Thomas Jefferson.   As far as I know, there are no movie stills of Thomas Jefferson from The Grim Game and I have seen and cataloged most if not all of the movie stills from the movie. So what did Thomas Jefferson look like; I combed the internet numerous times and finally found 2 photos at the findagrave.com website:

Thomas Jefferson
Birth: Sep. 10, 1856 New York, USA
Death: Apr. 2 1932 Hollywood Los Angeles County, California, USA

Son of actor Joseph Jefferson who was believed to be the earliest actor to appear in films. Married to actress Daisy Robinson, Jefferson followed his father’s footsteps as a stage actor for nearly half a century.  One of his greatest stage successes was playing Rip Van Winkle which he did for twenty-five years.  Jefferson was a member of D.W. Griffith’s stock company for a time during his career. Actor in numerous films, Jefferson passed away at his home in Los Feliz following a brief illness.

Burial: Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood Los Angeles County, California, USA
Plot: Section 20B, #168 (unmarked)

Old Man Jefferson Connection

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The following correspondence from Houdini to Quincy Kilby intrigued me when I read it in Houdini, The Key on page 96:

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…

It intrigued for a number of reasons:

First off the date of the correspondence is during the time that he lived in Hollywood and was filming the Grim Game.

Srapbook compiled by Quincy Kilby
Img: flickr/boston_public_library

Second, who was Q.K.? Quincy Kilby, was a personal friend of Houdini, who compiled a Houdini scrapbook which is in the Boston Public Library.  He also wrote a history of the Boston theatre, and another book on actor/assassin John Wilkes Booth.  He spent 20 years accumulating the items in his Houdini scrapbook.  These include letters, newspaper clippings, and a very exciting scene and prop list.  Houdini knew about Kilby’s project.  He sent his friend items marked “for your Houdini scraps book.”

Joseph Jefferson III as Rip Van Winkle

Third, 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.

And last but not least, 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.