Below is an advertisement [Dramatic Mirror September 21, 1918] from my personal collection advertising that the Houdini Serial [AKA The Master Mystery] will be released on the open market plan.
The Master Mystery was released on the open market plan in November of 1918.
The first four episodes was first shown at a special trade show on November 7, 1918 at the Strand Theatre in New York City.
And it made its premier, November 18th, 1918 in the Saint James Theatre in Boston.
Back in 2021, I shared a couple French Cinema cards. Today, I share another one from my collection:
Below is the French to English Translation:
HARRY HOUDINI
Biographical Notice
Real name Erich Weiss, nicknamed The Perpetual Escapee or “The King of Escape, Harry Houdini (1874-1926) was one of the greatest American magicians and one of the leaders who knew how to raise, during his lifetime, his character at the level of myth. He had adopted hid pseudonym in homage, he said, to Robert Houdin, for whom he felt great admiration, and because he would was told that if one added an “i” to the name of his idol, that would mean in French like Houdin.
His fame was worldwide during the first quarter of the 20th century. He escaped from everything: handcuffs, straitjackets, and cells of prison. He gained fame by throwing challenges to police around the world: he was determined to free himself, in record time, from the cell where he would be locked up. To announce his arrival in a city, he freed himself from a straitjacket by force, hoisted, head down, in front of the facade of a building, or was locked in a nailed box which was then thrown into a river. On stage, he was immersed in a milk jug filled with water and padlocked. He was also an expert in traditional magic: a great manipulator of cards, he invented famous illusions such as the disappearance of an elephant or the walking thru a brick wall.
In 1915, on the death of his mother, whom he adored, he tried to make contact with her by attending countless spiritualist sessions but, discovering that he was still deceived, he undertook to lead a crusade against the charlatans of occultism by revealing in broad daylight the tricks they used to dupe their clients.
He approached cinema in 1919 with a fifteen-episode serial, THE MASTER OF MYSTERY, in which, the advertising boasted, each episode included an escape carried out without tricks or stopping the camera. The success of the film allowed him to sign a contract with Paramount which produced his next two films, THE GRIM GAME (1919), where we could see the first collision between two planes filmed in a sequence which was not planned and which was included in the montage because, fortunately, the accident did not cause any casualties. Then it was THE TERROR ISLAND (1920) which received only a small audience, which prompted Paramount to terminate its contract. Two years later, Houdini had set up his own production company and made his most famous film, THE MAN FROM BEYOND (1922), based on a story he authored, and the production of which he entrusted to Burton King, the filmmaker who had directed him in his first steps in cinema. The film enchanted Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the father of Sherlock Holmes, with whom he was a friend. Although the work did not achieve the expected success, Houdini himself wrote, produced and directed one last film, HALDANE OF THE SECRET SERVICE (1923) which, this time, was a resounding financial failure, ruining his hopes to continue doing cinema. Houdini died prematurely, at age 52, in a stupid accident in Montreal. While he was suffering from chronic appendicitis and was willing to withstand the most violent punches to the stomach, a student, who was visiting him in his theater dressing room, delivered an uppercut which caused peritonitis, and septicemia took his life ten days later, on October 31, 1926.
He has been played numerous times on the small and big screen. In the cinema, by Tony Curtis in HOUDINI, THE GREAT MAGICIAN (Houdini, George Marshall, 1953), by Jeffrey DeMunn in RAGTIME (id., Milos Forman, 1981), by Harvey Keitel in THE MYSTERY OF THE FAIRIES (Fairy Tale: A True Story, Charles Sturridge, 1997) and by Guy Pearce in BEYOND ILLUSION (Death Defying Acts, Gillian Armstrong, 2007). On television, by Paul Michael Glaser in “The Great Houdini”, Melville Shavelson, 1976, by Jeffrey DeMunn again in “The Magician of the Strange” (“Young Houdini”, James Orr, 1987 ) and by Johnathon Schaech in “Houdini” (id., Pen Densham, 1998). (*) Titles preceded by an asterisk were distributed in France on video only.
FILMOGRAPHY
1919 (The Master Mystery, Burton King) – (The Grim Game, Irving Willat)
1920 (Terror Island, James Cruz)
1922 (The Man from Beyond, Burton King)
1923 HALDANE OF THE SECRET SERVICE (Harry Houdini)
I am the proud owner of a very special Collecting Magic Workbook, along with the original articles and photographs used to assembly it.
That’s right, I own the original Master manuscript that was compiled for an SAM Assembly 206 evening (December 13, 2004) of collecting magic in Austin Texas
As you can see by the table of contents, there is lots to like here.
Ron Cartlidge (author of Houdini’s Texas Tours 1916 & 1923; and Houdini’s Final Tour to Texas, 1924) was the President of Assembly 206 at the time.
George Ford and Joseph Lauher had contributions from their web sites (Houdiana.com and Handcuffs.org) on Houdini.
Stephen Sparks, Houdini Collector, was asked to do nine or ten pages for this workbook, which resulted in an illustrated 45-page manuscript on Harry Houdini in the movies, theater, opera, and television.
Today, I share a link to Joseph Lauher’s Article on our friend Fred Pittella:
In October, I did a post, Update on Search for Tatler Handcuff, where we looked at a couple possibilities for what may have happened to the Tatler Handcuffs after they were given to W.W. Durbin by Bess Houdini.
Well since that post, I came across the more likely possibility and the missing IBM Museum is the key. Let’s look at the evidence in chronological order:
:
May 17, 1933:
June 1933:
March 1934 Linking Ring:
The I.B.M. Museum I [Ted Heuber] started is developing into a big thing, and plenty interesting, as all the officials are enthusiastic about it. There will be a booth at the convention for the Museum, and all the articles of the old masters and the greats will be on display. I am asking every member to try and contribute to it in the way of old apparatus of the old masters that you might have. You may loan it me or donate it to the museum giving a story of each article and it will be displayed with a card carrying the name of the donor, Wands, Lithos, or apparatus is what we want, just send to me at my above address, get busy at once, and let’s make this a real feature of the Convention. At Beaver Falls last year [June 1933] we had just a few things [Tatler Cuffs] displayed and it caused so much interest that I started the idea of a permanent museum, which will be taken to all Convention cities for publicity purposes from now on. Please get your articles in to me at once.
1934-1937:
Apr 1937 Linking Ring:
THE I.B.M. MUSEUM
It is with pleassure that we inform the Brotherhood that the I.B.M Museum in charge of Sec. Heuber will positively be on display at High Point.
We are constantly adding to the most wonderful array of magical relics, the costume wore by Herrmann the Great has been graciously donated to the collection by Mrs. Durbin. The Houdini Handcuffs will be on exhibition, as well as will the Kellar rope. There are hundreds of magical objects and pieces of apparatus of great interest to all magicians.
July 1937 Linking Ring:
The I.B.M. Museum under the care of Secretary Ted Heuber was housed in the store with the dealers, this display was of great interest and Ted in his spare time could be found explaining just what this or that was all about. Here was to be viewed Herman Trunk, his costume, and picture, many exhibits were loaned by Mrs. Durbin for the occasion, these were carried to and from High Point by Vice President Cecil. Houdini cuffs, Kellar rope, old apparatus, some of which Ted himself has been unable to coordinate. The string of wands are an interesting exhibit in themselves. Much interest was displayed in the posters of Kellar, altogether a most educational and entertaining feature of the convention.
May 1955, Linking Ring:
In a letter Billy Russell of Batavia, N.Y. writes: “In the early days of the IBM, we who are old-timers now, worked very hard to build up an International Museum of Magic. We secured many fine pieces used by the Old Masters, including the Escape Trunk used by Hermann the Great, tables used by Harry Kellar, the famous handcuffs that were made in England to hold Houdini, etc. (And from what I have been told that “etc” includes a lot more valuable pieces, A.L.B.) We collected many fine and valuable pieces.
“The museum was last shown at the Batavia, N.Y. IBM Convention in 1934[?], and was under the care of Ted Heuber of Pittsburgh. I understand all these things are in storage some place in Pittsburgh and I suggest that your IBM Convention Committee get busy and find them and display them at the coming convention. It would be a big drawing card and create a lot of interest.
“It is a shame to have all this old apparatus lost as it is about all that is left to show the rising generation what old-timers used. Please bring this matter to the attention of your committee and let us see a good old Museum at the coming convention.”
The above is Billy Russell’s letter which I am sure echos the thoughts of many oldtimers in the IBM. Unfortunately, it is apparent that the IBM did not keep a record of the apparatus donated and no one seems to know what became of it. The Board of Trustees investigated this superficially a few years ago and former International Secretary Ted Heuber stated at that time that he only had a few pieces that were given to him for his personal use. How many old-timers recall, as Billy has, just what pieces were donated and by whom? Let me know. Maybe we can post a list of what was in the Museum, even if we can’t exhibit it.
Billy continues: “I suggest that a truck—or a good rebuilt Greyhound bus would do it—build it into a museum to take around the country to schools and conventions and charge to see the museum. It would soon pay for itself and would do a lot for magic.
“Please see that something is done to find this collection and restore it to the IBM, who own it all. Hope to attend the Pittsburgh Convention—now 76 years old and can’t go as fast as I once could. Billy Russell IBM No. 301.”
Genii Jun 1955:
Bob Nelson is fostering a plan to build a permanent Shrine to the Goddess of Magic in Kenton, Ohio, to house relics, memorabilia, etc., of our art. Seems a little late when we had a chance to buy Durbin’s old Egyptian Hall once and passed it up . . . and a lot of people who donated items to the I.B.M., Museum, with Ted Heuber as Curator, are asking what happened to them and why Ted doesn’t produce them at the Conventions. Pittsburg would be an ideal spot to see them show up again. I know Billy Russell is plenty burned up since he gave some of his choice items (Kellar’s wand, etc.), to the collection in good faith, and he want them back if they are just gathering dust in somebody’s attic. See what you can do, Pittsburgh.
Linking Ring May 1958:
IBM MUSEUM MISSING
In the March 1936 issue of The Linking Ring, page 10, under Convention Notes about the IBM gathering in Batavia, N.Y., is this paragraph:
“Theo H. Heuber, originator, collector and keeper of the IBM museum, has done wonderful work in collecting and preserving many choice relics of old time magic. A large room has been set aside for the Musuem display at Batavia. Magicians having rare magical curiosities will do well to donate them to the Musuem having rare magical curiosities will do well to donate them to the Museum where they will be cared for and preserved for future generations. If you have relics that you do not care to part with please bring them to the Convention for the three day display.”
Here’s an opportunity for the folks who want to go museum hunting to form a posse and maybe they could unearth the treasures? After they are discovered? Then they can figure out what to do with them.
So the last known whereabouts of the Tatler Cuffs was in Pittsburgh. It’s time to form a posse and unearth them.
Related:
With the anniversary of Houdini’s Death approaching, thought I would share a a 1926 Billboard newspaper page [from my W.W. Durbin archive] that includes tributes to Houdini.
It also includes the pallbearers, magicians in attendance, and tributes from Chas. J.Carter, Sevis LeRoy, Nicola, B.M.L. Ernst, Howard Thurston, and others.
“H. was buried like a king.”
Double-click image for better readability
“Long live the King!”
The Halloween Edition features over 100 pieces. And Houdini makes his debut. The base set features 92 cards with 3 Houdini cards. Below are examples of the Houdini Cards:
There are 5 parallet sets (1982, Bloody Nightmares, Ghoul, Monochrome and Grimly Golds) that are limited and numbered.
Below is an example of a Houdini 1982 parallel card:
Below is an example of a Houdini Ghoul paralled card:
Below are examples of the Houdini Grimly Golds:
There are also 7 Houdini Stickers of remastered Houdini posters. Below are examples:
Many of the above cards can be found on eBay.
Last known photograph of Tatler Cuff (May 18, 1933 Pittsburg Sun Telegraph) It shows the other side of cuff not shown in the famous photo from 1904.
Famous photo of Tatler Cuff (March 23, 1904)
In 2021, I did the following post:
It included the following:
In the 2021 post, we learned from the grandson of W.W. Durbin and the August 1994 Linking Ring article that there were additional owners (Tom and Bob Dowd) of the Egyptian Hall Museum prior to David Price. We also learned that “most likely[?]” the handcuffs and other paraphernalia along with Durbin’s apparatus and books were sold (possibly to Abbott’s) by his great grandmother after Durbin’s death (Feb 4,1937) and before Tom and Bob Dowd acquired the remnants of the magic theater.
So were the Tatler handcuffs sold to Abbott’s? Or is it possible the Dowd’s with IBM ties acquired them?
Mike Caveney wrote this on his website:
Two years after Durbin’s death in 1937 America’s Egyptian Hall was sold to Tom Dowd who remembered attending (with his younger brother Bob) the early magic conventions at Durbin’s home. The building was raised off its foundation and rolled two miles down the road to a spot next to the Dowd home.
Tom would eventually spend seventeen years as secretary/treasurer of the IBM, helping it grow into the largest magic organization in the world while his wife Mary worked as advertising manager of the Linking Ring.
Since the 2021 post, Leo Hevia and I have been in contact with Abbott’s and a relative of the Dowd’s, respectively.
Per a May 30, 2022 email from Leo Hevia to Me:
I did get a response from Abbott’s Magic. They don’t have anything that fits the description of any old handcuffs. I’m afraid we hit a dead end on the Tatler cuffs. Durbin’s widow sold his collection to the Dowd brothers, Tom, and Bob. After a few years they sold it to David Price and from there to Caveney and his pal George Daily. The collection exchanged hands three times. God knows where those cuffs are now.
In March, 2023, I had the following email exchange with Michael Lee, Grandson of Mary Dowd:
Mon, Mar 13, 6:53 PM to Me
Came across your posting of Egyptian Hall while researching my grandmother, Mary Dowd. I heard lots about the building growing up first hand from her as she helped her husband Tom perform. Sadly it was moved decades ago. It now sits on another farm outside, last I saw as a garage.
Tue, Mar 21, 10:10 PM to Michael
Wow, Mary Dowd is your grandmother, that is so cool the connection to Egyptian Hall. You don’t happen to have any additional info or leads on the Tatler Cuffs?
Wed, Mar 22, 2023 4:22 AM to Me
Thank you for the reply back! Unfortunately that story is probably lost to time. I remember my grandmother speaking of some Houdini books, however I believe those were sold or donated before she passed, and my great uncle, Bob Dowd, I believed he had a good collection upon his death, but the items went to a magic collection / auction, never got to see what all he had as I was out of state at the time.
When my mother passed, I inherited a trunk full of my grandfathers show materials and props, I saved a few pieces as they seemed original, early 1900’s. I’ll attach some photos, you may have seen these items before. Also going through boxes of old letters, I came across the sale paper for Egyptian Hall. It really put Kenton on the map back in the day, times were definitely different back then. I’m happy to have found this, it keeps their memory going, thank you.
In October, I shared with Leo Hevia my correspondence with Michael Lee, Grandson of Mary Dowd. Leo had this to say:
If Bob Dowd had the Tatler Cuffs and sold it off in his auction, then we’re screwed. The cuffs could be in the attic of somebody’s house in Ohio.
Addendum:
I find it interesting that after 1934, there is no mention [that I can find] of the Tatler Cuff owned by W.W. Durbin.
Houdini’s safe with Mirror Cuff that was opened by Charles Courtney for Bess Houdini in 1935
And that in 1935, the Mirror Cuff, now owned by David Copperfield is found in a safe [by Bess Houdini]. Coud it be, that once this Mirror Cuff appears for the fist time after Houdini’s death, that the Tatler Cuff needs to vanish.
If you have any additional info on where the Tatler Cuff may have gone, please provide in the comments or send me a private email.
On September 26, The Catalina Museum shared an instagram reel that showed their new Houdini “Terror Island” display that includes a couple lobby stills, the missing packing box escape footage, and a Did You Know question.
Below is QR code and link to the reel.
DID YOU KNOW?
MAGICIAN HARRY HOUDINI WAS CONNECTED TO CATALINA ISLAND BECAUSE…
HE MADE A FILM AT TOYON BAY BUT ALSO THROUGH A TUNA CLUB MEMBER AND STAGE MAGICIAN HARRY KELLAR.
Related:
In honor of Haldane of the Secret Service being released 100 years ago by the Film Bookers Office (F.B.O), thought I would share the following FBO ads:
Motion Picture News (Sep-Oct 1923)
What I love about the ad above, is that it mentions getting a copy of the big press book for Haldane of the Secret Service.
Moving Picture Workd (Nov-Dec 1923)
The above ad shows a few random pages from F.B.O press sheets. I particularly like the one in the lower left corner.
H A P P Y 1 0 0 TH A N N I V E R S A R Y ! !
Addendum:
Back in 2018, I had the rare opportunity to see this big press book during a trip to the east coast. Below is a snippet from the blog post about the trip.
Kevin [Connolly] had me sit at the dining room table, where he brought out the pressbook of all pressbooks. It was the Haldane of the Secret Service pressbook, which may be the only one in existence. It was about three times the size of any other Houdini Pressbook.
Besides my autographed book, “Houdini’s Schooldays” with limited edition bonus card, I hightly recommend “Magic Babylon, 1,001 Strange Conjuring Facts, Fallacies, and Tales” by Joe Hernandez. There is lots of Houdini in this book.
The author is currently offering these on eBay or you can pick up a copy on Amazon.
Below is the description:
CONJURING EVENTS THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
Everything you need to know about odd, amusing, and little-known incidents of conjuring trivia but have yet to learn is within these pages. Here you will find 1,001 genuinely unpredictable collections of stories, history, and bizarre events that have taken place since the beginning of magic, demonstrating that reality can be stranger than anything we can imagine in a work of fiction. These short, thought provoking and anecdotal stories will pique your interest and have you reconsider much of what you thought was true or false about conjuring.
You will amaze your friends and become known as an undisputed master of conjuring trivia:
· — Bess Houdini falsely claimed in a newspaper interview to have had a daughter.
· — President Abraham Lincoln was an amateur magician.
· — The town of Faucett in Buchanan County, Missouri, is named after magician Faucett Ross’s grandfather.
· — Houdini authored articles for the magic publication, Mahatma, posing as a European correspondent using the pen name of Herr N. Osey.
· — Jimmy Grippo once managed the career of Mario Bettina, the light-heavyweight boxer. Under Grippo’s management, Bettina won the world championship and held the title for five months.
· — The 1908 Famous Tin Pan Alley song “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was written by an amateur magician.
Joe Hernandez is the author of Conjurer’s Wisdom Vol 1 & 2 and Phonetastic. He frequently contributed to the magic journal Apocalypse and produced magic shows at the State Theatre in New Jersey. He was a consultant to the yearly NBC show “The World’s Greatest Magic.” Joe has collaborated in producing many magic videos, including DVDs from Rene Lavand, Harry Lorayne, Gene Maze, Mike Gallo, Sol Stone, and Herb Zarrow. He has appeared on numerous public television shows performing close-up magic, including a solo show on WABC. Joe is a member of the Society of American Magicians and the International Brotherhood of Magicians and a monthly columnist for M-U-M and The Linking Ring magazines.