Monthly Archives: November 2025

Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – October 7th 1918

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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.

Today, I share a October 7th Letter:

My Dear Q.K.,

Glad to hear from you. Met Mr. Hubble, in Yonkers, as the Movie Studio is in Yonkers.

…

My wrist is now out of the splint, but far from being well.

It will take a few more months, but it does not stop me from working, oney frim performing my heavy stunts, so alls well.

…

Houdini

Filmed in and around Yonkers, New York, shooting began in late July and continued throughout the summer and fall of 1918. Every day Houdini commuted 28 miles to Yonkers from his home in New York City. Houdini suffered minor injuries, including a broken wrist [on Saturday August 10, 1918] when he lost his grip on a chandelier from which he was swinging.

Cut Signature Card sells for more than Original Letter it came from?

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Harry Houdini headlines the list of 1/1 cut signature cards in 2025 Topps Tier One and sells on eBay for $6,323.00 not including Tax and shipping charges.

Front

Back

It came from a Harry Houdini Typed Letter Signed to a Fellow Magician that sold at RR auction on 01/10/2024 for $3,478.

Description
Houdini pays the way for a fellow magician: “Enclosed you will find my check for $15. which will pay your round trip fares”
TLS signed “Houdini,” one page, 8.5 x 11, May 17, 1917. Letter to Boston-area magician Edwin Fay Rice, in part: “As you may want to make your own arrangements I think it best for you to do as you like and enclosed you will find my check for $15. which will pay your round trip fares, parlour cars both ways…Mrs. Houdini and I sorely disappointed that Mrs. Rice will not be down here but such is life.” In fine condition, with some minor chipping to the top edge. Encapsulated in a PSA/DNA authentication holder.

Accompanied by the original mailing envelope and a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA. A journalist for the Boston Daily Times, Edwin Fay Rice had a short but impactful career in the world of magic, and was a key figure in helping found the Mystics Circle of Boston as a member of the Society of American Magicians.

As a Houdini historian, I find these “cut” signatures a destruction of history. But these days, there’s more likely to be someone prepared to pay money for a cut signature card than a letter. In essence, while the letter is a piece of history, the card is a modern, manufactured rarity with high market demand among a large base of sports card collectors who value those specific attributes over the historical content of a simple letter. So sad!

Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – July 14 1918

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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.

Today, I share a July 14th Letter:

My Dear Q.K.,

…

I shall be very busy from now on, as I have the Serial to make, invest, construct and present two new tricks at the Hippodrome, for I have been so “Eminently” successful that the management have seen to reengage me.

With the Film Developing Corp [FDC]. I now have three business’ to attend to, hope I have not bitten off more than I can chew, for it’s a lot of work, but as it is the work I like we will start at it anyway.

Just think of it I must create and present two tricks of fifteen minutes duration up to my usual standard of mystification for the Hip and think I will be okay.

…

Houdini

Work on the Master Mystery Serial was just about to start.

And because Houdini’s “Cheer Up!” show was so successful, the Hippodrome extended his contract to do the “Everything” show in the Fall of 1918. “Everything” was a Mammoth Musical Spectacle with a ton of acts that would include Houdini producing his pet eagle “Abraham Lincoln” from beneath the folds of an American flag.

So Houdini was a busy man with  the Master Mystery Serial, his Hippodrome show, and the FDC to attend to.

Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – June 14 1918

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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.

Today, I share a June 14th Letter:

This is where we find out that he has “signed with B.A. Rolfe for a ten-reel serial” to be written by Arthur B. Reeve, and Charles A. Logue.

He signed the contract on June 5, 1918 and was guaranteed a salary of $1500 per week during production and promised half the net profit (a codicil over which he would later sue). The proposed serial’s length was contractually specified at 10 chapters but later increased to 15.