In honor of our beautiful granddaughter, Peyton Jo, who was born today, thought I would share a couple baby photos of Houdini’s niece.
Credit: John Hinson Collection
Credit: HHCE Collection
This now makes 3 granddaughters and 1 grandson.
The Houdini Magical Fraternity was a club started by Houdini Magical Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls around 1975.
Members would receive promotional discounts and the monthly newsletter, Tidings.
Below are the first two from my personal collection of 9 issues.
If you’re interested in reading the other 7 issues, Tom Interval posted them in the Tidings album of his Hall of Fame Facebook page
The Houdini Magical Fraternity also published a Catalogue of Magic at the same time.
Below is the first one from my personal collection of 6 issues.
Last week, I (along with other Houdini Nuts above) had the pleasure of attending the opening reception of “Houdini Unchained” at the Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center in Anaheim, California.
It show-cased the amazing collection of Dr Randall Bell, which included an original milk can (below) that reportedly came from the basement of 278 W. 113th St, which I was dying to see in person. Randy Bell calls it “Can #1”. And Patrick Culliton thinks its Houdini’s “Last Milk Can”.
What a treat! Previously, I had only seen a picture of it in Patrick Culliton’s book, “Houdini the Key” on page 448. Per Mr. Cullltion (Nov 1993 Genii), if it is not a genuine Houdini prop, I’ll eat my hat. It’s the right age, the right size (small) and its beautifully gaffed.
The Milk Can measures 36 inches high, 26 inches at its widest point, and is 15 inches across the top. The top is secured by 4 hasps.
Besides this Milk Can, what other Houdini related Milk Cans are known to exist?
There is the first Houdini Can with straight sides (above) that Mueller acquired in 1967 from Dunninger and displayed in the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, which later was sold in auction in 2008 for $13,000 to an unknown owner.
David Copperfield has a Houdini Milk Can (above Left) and the Houdini Estate in Laurel Canyon has the Milk Can (above Right) used in the Doublefold escape,
And Dr. Moore (Left Can Above) and the American Museum of Magic (Right Can Above) each have a Hardeen Milk Can.
What is curious about the Bell can is it only has 4 locks compared to the other cans with 6 locks.
While I am obsessed with milk cans related to Houdini, the highlight of the collection IMHO, was seeing Houdini’s Cone to Flower illusion with traveling crate (above). Houdini’s assistant would enter the empty BIG TALL cone (that was large enough to completely cover her). When the cone was whisked up, the assistant was replaced with a bouquet of flowers. The girl would then reappear at the back of the theater. Note: according to “Great Magic Shows” Reviewed by Arnold Furst, Houdini also did this effect with an Orange Tree.
Seeing the Houdini’s Blooming Rosebush illusion (above Left) in person was also a highlight, along with Houdini’s Personal Séance Clock (above Right).
With an imperceptible bit of pressure on a foot pedal, the cast iron table would sprout flowers before a stunned audience. Although it dates from the early years of the 20th century, it was modified repeatedly during Houdini’s lifetime. Very few magic tables exist today. Note: Per October 2014 Genii, The “Blooming Rosebush” would be used in conjuction with the “Cone to Flower Illusion” for a complete flower routine.
The clock was used in Houdini’s “debunking” séance performances of 1923-26 in which he demonstrated how fraudulent mediums use trickery (in this case a wax hand taking the place of the mediums hand while the real hands were busy stopping the clock!)
This is a “must-see” collection “in person”.
Related:
Special Thanks to John Cox for “Houdini Nuts” photo and Joe Fox for “Houdini’s Blooming Rosebush and Flower Cone” note references.
HHCE Collection
Recently I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t sleep, so I checked out eBay and saw the above photo with a dog that resembled the dog in the Terror Island movie, so I bought it.
Image from Terror Island Movie
The following morning, I took a closer look at what I bought, along with the description:
Harry Houdini, Trips to Europe 1900-1915(?)
Hmm, I had seen the photo before, but where? And who was in the photo and when/where was it taken?
Well, we know that is Houdini and Bess in the photo, but what about the dog and boy?
My initial thought was that I had seen it among the Library of Congress photos.
And sure enough, there it was with the following description:
Harry Houdini, 1874-1926, full length, standing, facing left; with boy, woman and dog on board the KROUP.
I also found it on page 108/109 of Houdini His Legend and Magic with scrapbook images of Bess and Houdini with the following description:
Enroute to Europe, nd
But the descriptions were not that helpful, so that led me to do a deep-dive on Houdini’s pets, family and voyages. And this is what I found:
Houdini and “Bobby” in front of a lost poster Credit: John Cox at WildAboutHoudini
The dog in the photo is the Houdini’s pet dog, Bobby. The key clues can be found at WildAboutHarry links below:
Bobby died on December 15, 1918 so he is not the same dog in Terror Island that was filmed in 1919.
But the kid is the same boy in both photos. And that boy is Theodore Hardeen Jr.
Photo of Harry & Bess Houdini with dog “Bobby” Credit: Potter & Potter
The clues were his dad, Dash (Theo Hardeen) in the WAH photo and a photo that sold for $1,200 on Potter & Potter with the following description:
Houdini’s, The. Candid photograph of Harry & Bess Houdini and Hardeen. Circa 1910. Possibly gathered on a ship, and standing with a small group. A dog, perhaps Houdini’s faithful escape artist terrior named Bobby, hangs on his shoulder. 6 3/4 x 4 3/4″. Image somewhat faded, one corner clipped.
In the P&P photo, you can see Dash and Elsie Hardeen with her hand on the shoulder of Theodore Hardeen Jr.
Last but not least, I believe the photo was taken aboard the Kronprinzessin Cecilie, while sailing from the UK [June 14, 1911] to New York City [June 20, 1911]. Note: Dates are from Koval.
The LoC photo description mentioned being on board the KROUP, where I believe the U should have been an N making it KRONP.
But, the key clue was in the captions of two photos found in the 1911 chapter of The Great Houdini British Tours:
Houdini celebrating his birthday in Hudderfield UK in April 1911. Pictured with him is his dog Bobby.
Houdini with his dog, Bobby. In the background is a poster advertising an appearance at the Palace Theatre in Halifax, UK [May 29th thru June 4th 1911]
Theordore Hardeen Jr. was born December 20, 1905, so would have been 5 1/2 years old at the time of the photo.
In 2017, I shared three rare 1976 Plymouth Volare auto brochures that featured HOUDINI performing the Dekolta chair, Sawing a woman in half, and escaping from a locked safe.
Today, I share another one from my collection that features Houdini’s Vanishing Elephant.
