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.
Great stuff Joe! I love it! That little boy, was he George Hardeen’s dad or uncle? Harry rode on the Kronprinzessin Cecilie a number of times, didn’t he?
The little boy was George Hardeen’s Uncle. Harry Houdini Hardeen (Theodore Hardeen Jr’s younger brother) was George Hardeen’s father. And yes, Harry also rode on that ship in 1913 a couple times.
Thanks Joe! That lost poster behind a kneeling Harry. What is it? Is there a better photo of that poster?
Per WAH, the poster (Houdini gazing through the bars of a jail cell window) can also be spotted in the background of at least one other candid shot. I believe, he is referring to the leftmost poster on p22 of Houdini A Pictorial Life, but it is not a better photo.
Ahhh–now I see the image. It’s a close up of a pair of hands grabbing prison bars. This is incredible!!! Thanks for the clarification!