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.

Previously we looked at letters from 1918 and the Master Mystery:

• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – June 14 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – July 14 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – October 7th 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – October 27 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – November 7 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – November 14 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – December 15 1918

And now we look at letters from 1919 and The Grim Game:

• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – March 7 1919
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – April 12 1919 and April 24 1919
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – May 1919
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – June 9 1919
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – June 28 1919
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – July 12 1919

Today, I share July 12 Letter:

Dear Q.K.,

My wrist getting along okay, July 20^th, will try and finish the last few scenes, and return to New York leaving on or about July 25^th.

…

…

The Grim Game will be finished next Sunday, my wrist will be strong enough to do the finishing stunts.

Tom Jefferson is at work in another studio.

Will try and see him before we leave.

Must close bes of all good wishes, from Mrs. Houdini and your pal to you all

Houdini

P.S, …

We will remain here until on or about July 26^th.

After that New York Address.

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.

Previously we looked at letters from 1918 and the Master Mystery:

• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – June 14 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – July 14 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – October 7th 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – October 27 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – November 7 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – November 14 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – December 15 1918

And now we look at letters from 1919 and The Grim Game:

• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – March 7 1919
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – April 12 1919 and April 24 1919
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – May 1919
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – June 9 1919
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – June 28 1919

Today, I share June 28 Letter:

And Poem by Q.K. for The Silver Wedding of Harry and Beatrice Houdini:

The letter mentions breaking his wrist again; he first broke it when filming The Master Mystery and now during the filming of The Grim Game which was 90% finished.

• 100 Year Anniversary – Houdini Breaks Wrist

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.

Previously we looked at letters from 1918 and the Master Mystery:

• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – June 14 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – July 14 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – October 7th 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – October 27 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – November 7 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – November 14 1918
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – December 15 1918

And now we look at letters from 1919 and The Grim Game:

• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – March 7 1919
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – April 12 1919 and April 24 1919
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – May 1919
• Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – June 9 1919

Today, I share June 9 Letter:

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…

He does not know yet that he is to be “murdered” by an arch fiend in the first act, and though he always asks me what will be become of him, I do not give him a sensible answer.

So we have a fine time, as no one really knows the full story…

Houdini

…

So, who was young Joe Jefferson?  Let’s look at who his father was first. Joseph Jefferson III (1829-1905) was the 4^th 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.

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.`