99 years ago, we loss Harry Houdini. Today, I share a snippet of a letter F. L. Black of the Dearbourn Publishing Co. sent Quincy Kilby on Nov 9 1926:
Note: Dearbourn is located in Michigan.
Quincy Kilby was a personal friend of Houdini, who compiled a Houdini scrapbook which is in the Boston Public Library.
The letter is from an eye-witness who saw Houdini’s last performance in Detroit, talked to him afterwards, confirmed he was suffering intensely; and kept in touch with Hardeen until the end.
Also confirms Bess Houdini’s state as prostrated or one of extreme physical weakness and mental exhaustion, to the point of collapse.
Houdini was definitely more to her than the average husband and he is definitely more to the world as and we continue to celebrate and learn more about the life of this amazing man every year.
Next year is the big one, number 100!
He was the only one that was allowed backstage. A press guy? He talked to Harry after the performance. Then Harry goes back to the hotel and then the hospital. Correct?
Frederick L. Black, who served as the business manager, was also a writer for the publication, notably publishing a series of articles in The Dearborn Independent in 1925 and 1926 regarding his research into the John Wilkes Booth conspiracy theories. Quincy Kilby also wrote a book about actor/assassin John Wilkes Booth. And Houdini was an avid collector of historical artifacts, including handwritten letters of every member of the Booth family.
And yes, goes back to the Statler hotel, then Grace Hospital!
Thanks Joe! Black’s letter to Kilby is in Kilby’s scrapbook. There’s a great article about that scrapbook in the #11 issue of the Yankee Collector. The library documented the scrapbook in microfilm to avoid wear and tear on the scrapbook by researchers, and to facilitate photocopying its contents.