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Houdini Exposes the tricks used by the Boston Medium "Margery" to win the $2500 prize offered by the Scientific American.
by Harry Houdini, 1874-1926 (1924)

Details

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HOUDINI Exposes the tricks used by the Boston Medium "Margery" to win the $2500 prize offered by the Scientific
3

uri 66 9 tine Medieoi Exposed A. HOUDINI c. MARGERY n. J. MALCOLM BIRD D. MR. O. D. MUNN N order that the reader may
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with your approval, please count me out. Yours sincerely, HOUDINI. HH.JLD The Committee as finally formed consisted of
Society for Psychical Research ; Hereward Carrington ; and Houdini. Mr. Bird has acted as Secretary for the Committee
5

WALTER FRANKLIN PRINCE C. B. DR. DANIEL F. COMSTOCK D. E. HOUDINI MARGERY MR. O. D. MUNN So far as I knew there was no
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YORK. June 18, 1924. MR. HARRY HOUDINI, 278 WEST 113TH ST., NEW YORK CITY. MY DEAR MR. HOUDINI : As you will observe
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the presses and have this article of Bird's thrown out. "Houdini; stopping presses and throwing out that thing of
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MEDIUM BAFFLES EXPERTS," "SCIENTISTS PLAN MORE TESTS," "HOUDINI THE MAGICIAN STUMPED," "BAFFLES SCIENTISTS WITH
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movements. Soon after "Walter" appeared in the circle saying: "Houdini, you are very clever indeed but it won't work. I
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winding- up with a violent outburst in which he exclaimed: "Houdini, you G� d �� --, gel the hell mil nt here and never
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wonderful thing and her husband turning to me said: "Some day, Houdini, you will see the light and if it were to occur
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Committee and myself. With kindest regards, Sincerely yours, HOUDINI. Page twcnty-ti^o
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makes them very uncomfortable. �Nczv York Herald-Tribune. Houdini Stopped the Show! Apparently that unquestionably
of "Margery," otherwise Mrs. Le Roi G. Crandon, Mr. Harry Houdini is reported to have placed restriction on her
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could not "do her stuff" in a special locked box arranged by Houdini, the magician. In another box of her own
worked in Houdini's box. The spirits are more sensitive. �-Vfzc York American. (Arthur Rrisbane.) Trust in Houdini Houdini
great scientist but he is a master of tricks. Enlistment of Houdini in effort to ascertain what's what in alleged
inclined to trust Houdini to get at the truth of the matter than any committee of psychic experts. Houdini announces
the committee, not- Paqe twenty-eight ably the magician Houdini, regarded these reports as at least premature. At all
members of the investigating committee objected, particularly Houdini, who proceeded to impose conditions upon
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fool tin suckers and rake in the shekels. But up Boston way Houdini produced one of his boxes for a lady medium to get
se of love. But these mediumistic swindlers, exposed by Houdini on many occasions, make a mockery of that "inspiration
fortune tellers. More power to Houdini to run the fakirs out of business. �Providence News. Houdini and Spiritism It
when they permitted Harry Houdini, the magician, to watch some of their demonstrations. Houdini knows Margery Fails Not
principal witnesses at Margery's latest seances have been Harry Houdini, the stage illusionist, and a committee,
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will not fail to note that a solid oak cabinet devised by Houdini prevented ghostly activities in a locked room where a
outside the cabinet. �Buffalo F.xpress. Bah Blah and Ba, Houdini can�and will�if given the opportunity�show up the
newspapers from various parts of the U. S. stating that Houdini had discovered the secret of "Margery's" seances with
whether or not Mr. Munn of the Scientific American believes in Houdini's statements, I do. As an ethical physician it
American." The tests, so it is alleged, went on well until Houdini attended. Since that occasion or occasions the
refuses to say whether the tests were blank or otherwise. Houdini is quoted as follows: "The woman may be genuine, as
or illiterate, but the "Herald- Tribune" infers that when Houdini is present, her control, "Chester," declines to
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acted with prudence when it enlisted the services of Harry Houdini, in the case of "Margery." This medium, it will be
required to undergo a test seance under the supervision of Houdini. Perhaps it was a disappointment to many of us to
supernatural facilities. But when locked in a cabinet devised by Houdini, master trickster, her strange powers deserted
two types of boxes. The oak box is the property of Harry Houdini, the magician, who is a member of the committee. It is
through a room in which doors and windows were locked until Houdini brought his box. �The Press, Long Beach, Calif. If
activities the busy-bodies should curtail, that man is Harry Houdini, "handcuff king.'' No sooner does some "spirit"
waiting to be baffled, than Houdini appears on the scene and-explains how the "spirits are moved." Houdini is doing his
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Then Houdini appeared uii the scene. Houdini is the original Missourian, born and bred; he has to be shown. If
"Margery" were all she and her friends claimed her to be, argued Houdini, let her do her stuff in a cabinet of his own
"seance," carried out under the direction and watchful eye of Houdini, was a complete and total loss. Not one of
commission following Houdini's exposure of "Margery," but others have stuck to the ship because, as they say, Houdini's

Houdini pleads his case [electronic resource]
by Harry Houdini (August 29, 1925)

Details

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play, will publish this letter, I beg to remain �Youis, etc HOUDINI 278, West 113th Stieet, New loik, N Y 'SLEEP
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other$ but that we " shall know each other as we really are/* HOUDINI. We give space amongst our letters this week to a
Edward I. called himself the " hammer of Scotland." But if Houdini does not do more to sub]ugate Spiritualism than
what we said in the open letter to Houdini published in LIGHT of June 27th (p. 308). Houdini?s pose of being a friend
suppose, you would have drowned me altogether." The droll Houdini, it will be noticed, has offered 10,000 dols. for
intelligence to use wisely, or the wisdom to understand. xv Houdini seems to be of opinion that &ometbiBg must be wrong

Houdini: His Life-Story by Harold Kellock from the recollections and documents of Beatrice Houdini
by Kellock, Harold (1928)

Details

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HOUDINI His Life-Story
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HOUDINI
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KELLOCK from the recollections and documents of BEATRICE HOUDINI ILLUSTRATED il NEW YORK HARCOURT, BRACE & COMPANY
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FOREWORD HOUDINI left behind him very complete biographical material in the form of diaries covering the last two
work and play for thirtythree years. Harry and Beatrice Houdini were married ten days after they met, when he was
mentioned above, and from the recollections of Beatrice Houdini. The bulk of the research and collation of material was
art, the author has been able to give intimate glimpses of Houdini's methods and to reveal the inner workings of a
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. F r o n t i s p i e c e FACING PAGE EARLY PICTURES OF HOUDINI. HIS FATHER, RABBI WEISS . . 3 6 WITH MRS. FLITCROFT. A
. . . . . 37 MRS. HOUDINL'S FIRST PROFESSIONAL PICTURE. HOUDINI IN T H E FIRST YEAR OF HIS MARRIAGE . $2 THE HOUDINIS
DIFFICULT ESCAPES IL6 HOUDINI WITH SARAH BERNHARDT. WITH HIS WIFE AND MARTIN BECK . . . . . I I 7 HOUDINI AND HIS
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ESCAPE . . . 277 THE HANDCUFF KING. WITH HIS DOG BOBBY . 292 HOUDINI AT HIS PARENTS5 GRAVES . . . . 293 THE SCENE OF
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HOUDINI His Life-Story
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H O U D I N HOUDINI began his career with a traveling circus at the age of nine, in the Middle West, and his first
Hundreds of thousands of persons in various cities have seen Houdini, stripped and securely handcuffed by police
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in America and in many of the principal European capitals Houdini mystified the public authorities by his jail-breaking
matters she was pledged to secrecy. In a general way, however, Houdini on occasion would frankly discuss his methods
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infinite capacity for taking pains. Intimate visitors to Houdini's home had glimpses of this infinite capacity. Seated
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it on the floor. Presently his visitor might observe that Houdini had unobtrusively slipped off his shoes and socks and
It is safe to say that no human being could compete with Houdini in keeping himself alive, on occasion, with hardly
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just as big?" "What's the matter with the river stunt?" Houdini came back. "Can't you get some one to saw a hole in the
20

was cleared in the river ice, and at the appointed time Houdini made his way through the throng of thousands that had
gathered on bridge and shore in the bitter north wind. Mrs. Houdini was not with him that day, though almost invariably
of Houdini in the icy river. The water stunts were the bane of her life anyway, for she more than any one except Houdini
vanished with a splash into the icy water. r_ On such occasions Houdini always had with him in the crowd a skilled
This man had a rope with him, and his instructions were, if Houdini did not appear by the end of the third minute, to
21

H I S L I F E - S T O R Y Usually, on such occasions, Houdini reappeared in a little over a minute. This time two
expressed the opinion that some mishap had occurred and Houdini had done his last stunt. The newspaper men began
diver started to climb down. But before he got under way Houdini's head and arm flashed out of the water, and the next
had been under water eight minutes! Back in the hotel Mrs. Houdini was lying uneasily in bed when she heard newsboys
suddenly the cries became clear: "Extree! Extree! Houdini dead!" "Extree! Houdini drowned in river." She hurried the
22

desolate of her experience. But when the woman returned, Houdini himself burst in close behind her. His head was still
That was that." Sometimes, in rare moments of confidence, Houdini [8]
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afternoon, at the office of his attorney, some months before Houdini's last illness, in the interval of waiting for
lawyer asked if it was really true that Houdini could open any safe. "Yes," said Houdini. "If every one knew what I
hours a year. Maybe that's one of the reasons I am the Great Houdini instead of a sideshow piker." "Can you open our
you give me three minutes alone with it, I'll try," said Houdini. "But first let's make sure it's locked. It isn't any
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night. The lawyer left Houdini in front of it, and retired to his private office. In a few minutes Houdini summoned
the big steel door swung open. Back in the inner office, Houdini, on a sudden impulse, said: "I'll show you the secret.
continuing the conversation, when suddenly he noticed that Houdini was no longer by his [10]
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S T O R Y side. He turned back just as Houdini was starting to call him. Houdini stood holding the "burglar-proof" door
opens all right." They passed into the street, and then Houdini stooped over the lock a minute. "I'd better leave this
lock was adjusted again. By a curious irony of fate, after Houdini died no record could be found of the combination of
secured. He labored for half a day over a problem which Houdini could have solved, in the case of a strange safe, on
on the instant. Finally he had to blow the thing open. If Houdini were looking down on that sweating cracksman, he
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In one of his books, Miracle Mongers and Their Methods, Houdini gave comprehensive descriptions of the various methods
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H I S L I F E - S T O R Y in dignity and public favor. Houdini was surely the most explicit and painstaking of
his magic had no supernatural attachments. Mrs. Houdini writes: "When Houdini made a five-ton elephant vanish from the
just beneath the stage floor. "When, on the same stage, Houdini would swallow, or seem to swallow, a large spoolful of
and only a trick. I know how it was done, and I was with Houdini when he discovered the germ of it in an old book of
visitor from the other world imparted the knowledge. "When Houdini escaped from every sort of manacling device, from
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but there was no supernatural agency involved." Despite Houdini's constant disavowals a legend persists among many
assisted by statements of fraudulent mediums, exposed by Houdini, who would assert, after he had duplicated their
Doyle, who was Houdini's good friend in spite of their disagreement about spiritualism, insisted that Houdini's skill
largely supernatural. "My dear chap," he wrote during one of Houdini's tours in England, "why go round the world
your strength and skill avail you." To the end of his days Houdini was unable to shake Sir Arthur's conviction. J.
book entitled Sprit Intercourse, was equally emphatic. "Houdini . . . is enabled by psychic power (though this he does
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force necessary to shoot a bolt within a lock is drawn from Houdini the medium, but it must not be thought that this is
at times his body has been dematerialized and withdrawn." Houdini's reply to this was explicit. He wrote: "I do claim
serious menace." A peculiarly pathetic instance of belief that Houdini could reach into the hidden world for psychic
leg, Madame Bernhardt was playing in Boston at a time when Houdini was also filling [15]
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him to visit her at her hotel, and there for half an hour Houdini performed for her some of his choicest mysteries. The
caressing tones which only Bernhardt possessed, she said: "Houdini, you are a wonderful human being. You must possess
such marvels. Won't you use it to restore my limb for me?" Houdini looked at her, at once thrilled and amazed. "You can
do these feats that mystify mankind." There were tears in Houdini's eyes as he gazed at her appealing face and told her
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Harry Keller of happy memory. None can be compared with Houdini. At best the East Indian fakirs have a few clever stock
creative geniuses in that line during recent times. This was Houdini's view, not infrequently expressed, and it was the
hocus-pocus, the boy is made to reappear from the basket. As Houdini explained it, the boy is a contortionist. As soon
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time of Alexander Herrmann, who died in 1896. . . . Had Houdini put his abilities to evil uses he would undoubtedly
short of the capital penalty would have served. Doubtless Houdini would have wrought even greater havoc in human
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Spectators would be awed in spite of repeated assurances from Houdini that he was merely tricking them. On Hallowe'en,
guest at the home of Sophie Irene Loeb at Harmon-on- Hudson, Houdini gave a mock seance including a spirit message from
put on record that it was done wholly by dexterity." Had Houdini posed as one supernaturally inspired, one who could
35

Fortunately neither crime nor black magic had any lure for Houdini. He was a healthy-minded human being, apparently
great showman. Yet that description falls short of doing Houdini justice. Quite aside from his professional genius, he
36

II THE baby who was to be Houdini was born in the town of Appleton, Wisconsin, April 6, 1874, the son of Dr. Mayer
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as he grew old in America, would never talk of them, and Houdini was equally reticent. It seems clear, however, that a
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before his final tour from which he never returned, Mrs. Houdini made for dinner two strawberry pies, of which he was
She, too, kept a lock on her pie closet� not to keep out Houdini, for no lock was too complicated for him�but for other
and as they promenaded, her wifely instinct detected in Houdini's pleased yet placating manner some unconfessed
peccadillo. One of the pies was gone. On the empty plate lay Houdini's visiting card. The boy Ehrich was always prying
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N I the illusion was a real miracle. Thirty years later Houdini purchased this trick from Dr. Lynn's son in England for
45

He was probably the only man who was ever able to watch Houdini open a handcuff. After a time the locksmith went out of
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all. Your truant son, Ehrich Weiss." In his later years Houdini could throw no light on why he had fixed on Galveston
pockets plentifully filled with food. When, some years later, Houdini got his first real engagement as a performer, out
a five-dollar bill pinned to it. This gift in the abrupt Houdini manner was the beginning of a series of remembrances.
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name. Ehrich Weiss disappeared forever, and in his place was Houdini. [39]
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struck out as professional entertainers under the name of the Houdini Brothers. They performed various feats of magic,
place his partner is discovered bound in the same fashion. Houdini delighted audiences with this trick to the close of
development which would have amazed the older magicians. Houdini's decision to put to the test his ability as a
that he would always care for his mother. Through his life Houdini observed this pledge in generous measure. Even in
57

T O R Y The boys could not agree, so after a few months Houdini substituted his brother Theodore as the other
sideshow at the World's Fair, and thereafter Ehrich, as Harry Houdini, "Handcuff King and Escape Artist," appeared for
twenty shows a day for twelve dollars a week. At the museum Houdini performed his handcuff act, which was his own
fair agility to mystify simple audiences. In later days Houdini discarded the trick box altogether and permitted
Jugglers, Bearded Ladies, Laloo the Bird Girl and many others. Houdini, aged eighteen, studied them all closely for
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his skill and thoroughly selfsatisfied. When the upstart Houdini sought to exchange ideas with him, Goldin snubbed him
seventy-five, heh! You got nothing to tell me." Twenty years later Houdini was being paid fifteen hundred dollars a
Occasionally the two met, in the course of their careers, and Houdini's references in his diary to the older man were
ceased to rankle. Back in New York, in the spring of 1894, Houdini played for a time at a beach resort. "Harry,"
wrong with it?" asked Houdini. "Say 'I have nothing up my sleeve.' It sounds better." "Thanks," said Houdini, shortly.
shortly. He never used "I ain't got" again. About this time Houdini fell in love, in his abrupt and impetuous manner,
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can best be told in Beatrice Houdini's own words: "At the beginning of the summer of 1894 Houdini, unaccompanied by his
and we went together and sat in the very front row. "While Houdini did his tricks I sat with my eyes popping from my
against her will and had observed with growing distrust Houdini's defiance of natural laws, lost her temper completely
performer unmercifully, even threatening to have him arrested. "Houdini, meanwhile, had leaped down to us, all
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ending and a beginning for both of us, and before I left, Houdini managed to whisper that he would see me again. "The
'I'm having another dress made for the young lady,' said Houdini. 'I want the ruined one, to get the proper size.'
him and closed the door, shutting him out without a word. Houdini stood in the yard, a very uncomfortable-looking young
61

him how the frills stood out. " 'You are wonderful/ said Houdini, and his voice shook, for he was only nineteen. No
so happy. " 'You would make a beautiful bride,' remarked Houdini thoughtfully. "He suggested a visit to Coney Island. I
afternoon and we were far from my home. I began to cry. "Houdini, all tender solicitude, vainly tried to comfort me.
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you were my wife, they wouldn't dare punish you,' cried Houdini fiercely. His suggestion astounded me�he seemed such a
an alluring display of wedding rings. Before I knew it, Houdini had whisked me inside, and I was trying some of the
that fitted was speedily found, but when it came to paying, Houdini turned out his pockets with a look of dismay. He
63

two dollars in my purse and I slipped them stealthily to Houdini, who paid them out for the license with dignity. So we
immature procedure, but our instincts served us well. When Houdini died we had been married for thirty-three years, and
and we were romantically in love to the end. " 'Now,' said Houdini, as we left McKane's office, 'I shall take my bride
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instant acceptance of me was the more beautiful because Houdini's love for his mother had dominated his life
fact, for that first night, there was really no room for us. Houdini could sleep with one of his brothers. A shakedown
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crunched open, and I could hear footsteps running. Soon Houdini burst into the room. "Mrs. Moore, it appeared, was
the brothers had a brief engagement at a dance hall. Also, Houdini was compelled for diplomatic reasons to wangle two
Y. McKane. The first of these was by a Jewish rabbi, for Houdini's family, the second by a Roman Catholic priest. But
67

to see me. I was seriously ill and wanted her badly, so Houdini, with one of his brothers, went to her home and would
These were the facts as Stella and I understood them, and Houdini's staunch skepticism when I told him amazed and
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hours I wept bitterly over those tights, but in the end Houdini's diplomacy and unfailing tenderness brought me round
together at the dance hall in Coney Island I had a bad scare. Houdini asked his brother and me to take a walk with him
70

Photo by Campbell-Gray, London. H0UD1NI, MRS. HOUDINI, MRS. RAHNER, AND MRS. WEISS
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twelve times. As soon as the last beat ceased to reverberate, Houdini clasped his brother's hand and mine together,
God.' "His brother and I repeated the vow after him. Then Houdini kissed me and shook Theodore's hand. ll know you will
seemed wholly abnormal and strange. It was apparent that this Houdini whom I had known less than two weeks was an
my mother. "But there were no more dramatics that night. Houdini sensed my fears and immediately began to lead me away
tranquillity. "Then came a night when I really fled from Houdini, convinced that I had married the devil. L53-]
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H O U D I N I "That evening Houdini laughingly remarked that I had never told him the first name of my father, who had
me that I had married the idevil. Stealthily, my eyes on Houdini, I backed toward the door, and then turned suddenly
screaming frantically, from the room and from the house. Houdini made after me and soon caught me up in his arms.
73

had peopled my world. "In due time I learned that while Houdini had attacked my superstitions relentlessly, he duly
fall, in such dizzy exhibitions, and Houdini's assistants realized that if Houdini gave a thought to the date he would
displayed it prominently in his dressing- room, so that for Houdini that day was the fourteenth and he played his
easy to fool him. . . . "During the short period before Houdini's partnership with his brother Theodore was dissolved,
an obscure concert hall. This partnership lasted through Houdini's life." Iss]
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the first paragraph of which ran as follows: "The brothers Houdini, who for years have mystified the world by their
(sic!), the petite soubrette, who was married to Mr. Harry Houdini on July 22 by Rev. G. S. Loui, of Brooklyn. Harry
and he and Miss Bessie Raymond will hereafter perform it." Houdini lost no time in getting out a flamboyant playbill,
75

strapped, the box is then rolled into a small cabinet, and Mlle.Houdini dratn the curtain and claps her hand. three
hands the curtain is-drawn open by Mons ftoudini and Mlle.Houdini has disappeared, and upo>. (be lift* being opened
hands tied is precisely the tame manner as wci- Jtfans, Houdini's when Tint entering the bag. Jut tbiik OT�T this, lie
77

I was sometimes more of a handicap than an asset," Mrs. Houdini relates. "I was a frail little thing, weighing less
79

piece in which melodrama mixed aimlessly with farce. Mrs. Houdini was invariably the ingenue, in "Over the River
out in response to her cue, he proved to be a burly negro. Houdini came running after him and stopped the show with his
would come turns and turns and turns. Mrs. Houdini did a song-and-dance act. Houdini did the handcuff act, sleight of
more strenuous toil. Whenever they were desperate for work, Houdini would wire to Chicago, and Mr. Hedges, manager of
80

were exhibited. Ten to twenty shows a day were the rule. Houdini would do the handcuff escapes alone at every other
however, attracted little attention, for in those early days Houdini seemed unable to sell his audiences on it. The
at night. Between the acts Mrs. Houdini would make up card tricks and sell them. Houdini visited gambling houses at
curses, which not infrequently would drive Mrs. Houdini to hysterical weeping. Houdini, always confident of the future,
playing a concert hall in a small town in Wisconsin, Mrs. Houdini was reading one of the local papers when her eye
81

the person who can handcuff me so I cannot escape. "HARRY HOUDINI "Handcuff King and Jail-Breaker." The item nearly
dollars! She had never seen so much money. She rushed to Houdini, who shamefacedly admitted that he had saved that
demand a new coat. The sudden affluence filled Beatrice Houdini with pride. She clipped the item and promptly mailed it
the Houdinis drifted back to Kohl and Middleton's, Mrs. Houdini purposely arrived at the first performance two minutes
hundred dollars and we don't need your old dime museum." Houdini was aghast at his wife's temerity. He realized how ill
82

boyish nor at all like a turtle out of business hours. On Houdini's first engagement there, he arrived simultaneously
Huber's and its effects were put on the auction block in 1910, Houdini, the indefatigable collector, parked himself at
removed to the cellar, Houdini missed it and had it brought upstairs again. Every morning Houdini would be out of bed
83

for talent, drifted into the museum and watched the show. Houdini's handcuff act made a great impression on him. When
his business associates, however, and suggested engaging Houdini, they declared that no dime museum performer could
an eye on Houdini and eventually got him an engagement at the Keith house in Boston. He was the first Houdini fan among
managers and remained one of Houdini's closest friends to the end. "I saw every one of Houdini's tricks and stunts," he
idea how he did a single one of them." However, long before Houdini played Keith's, he received a summons which he
84

booked to play Tony Pastor's in New York. Tony Pastor's! Houdini could hardly believe it. That famous hall was still in
known in its way as its immediate neighbor, Tammany Hall. Houdini was so excited by the prospect that he spent all his
pianist. Barely twenty-five persons were in the house. But Houdini, his head in the air, spoke to them as he did later
85

past the two stars, when suddenly Maggie Cline stopped Mrs. Houdini. "My God, child!" she exclaimed. "Who made you up?"
in here, kid," she said. "Let me fix you." She led Mrs. Houdini into her dressing-room. In a few minutes, after her
reply. "Indeed! And what do the Great Houdinis do?" Mrs. Houdini explained as well as she could. Then Maggie Cline
86

or embarrassment. With a word of thanks the girl joined Houdini in the wings, and when he saw her he stared in
they did work! They put all their hearts and souls into it. Houdini had the air of playing before a royal family.
the bill} it was her last season. Times had changed, and Houdini was the big feature of the show. In fact he played
89

H I S L I F E - S T O R Y them! Mrs. Houdini sat for hours recalling to her what she did for them, but Maggie Cline
their lives. But after seeing Houdini perform, she repeated her earlier opinion: "Houdini, you are great," she said. "I
terse line did not make Houdini. For players and politicians alike, fame follows publicity. Houdini's minor act, in the
10:30 A.M., or during the lunch hour, or during dinner time. Houdini had not yet learned the peculiar art of
and he had years of struggle ahead of him before the name Houdini began to appear in the news in New York, Chicago, and
90

toured the smaller eastern towns during the open season. Mrs. Houdini relates the circus episode as follows: "We first
from out of the darkness hailed us. 'Is that the Houdinis?' Houdini shouted an affirmative, and the next instant we
do you do?' he asked, looking us over. " 'Anything,' was Houdini's prompt reply. " 'The first thing you do with this
do Punch and Judy; the wife, mind-reading. In the concert Houdini to do magic, wife to sing and dance�then your trunk
93

darkness, the cramped quarters, I fell on the cot sobbing. Houdini soothed me. He was already engaged in thinking out
streaming through a little hole in the side of our cupboard. Houdini was out already. Hearing the people in the car
'Are you one of the Houdinis?' she asked. " 'Yes, I'm Mrs. Houdini.' " 'You are one of our features, aren't you?' "I
94

with a dozen men, the performers. These we joined, just as Houdini came in with Mr. Welsh. "A waiter plumped down a cup
cup of coffee at my place, asking: 'Ham or ?' I looked at Houdini. He said: 'One ham, one "or," J and every one
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audience. "A hasty back-stage consultation was held, and Houdini volunteered to add the Wild Man to his repertoire. An
cigarettes, and cigars. Then the cage was drawn in, with Houdini growling and tearing at a bit of raw meat. "The Wild
him with cigars and cigarettes to hear him growl, and as Houdini did not use tobacco the rest of the men of the troupe
acts went well with one exception. That was the handcuffs. Houdini was still unable to give the public a thrill with
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them apparently assumed that Houdini was using prepared cuffs. "However, on one occasion, Houdini's cleverness with
after the sheriff had gone off and everything was quiet, Houdini deftly picked the locks of the jail and the whole
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proud of that money! I felt that I earned it all myself. "Houdini and another performer had the privilege of selling
twenty-five dollars a week, and as we had our meals free, Houdini was able to bank the salary except twelve dollars a
the places were closed. Angry and disappointed, I berated Houdini soundly for not making advance arrangements. As we
it, a wonderful chicken dinner cooked to a turn. That day Houdini had been talking with a local clergyman and his wife.
ate that dinner with tears streaming down my cheeks, but Houdini had no word of reproach for my outburst of temper.
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courteously, he said: *I always keep my word. Good-by, Mrs. Houdini.' "My heart was breaking, and I was on the edge of
reply with a pretense of calm dignity: 'Good-by, Mr. Houdini.' "Houdini had wired for my sister to meet me, and when I
recriminations. My brother-in-law, who adored me, promised to thrash Houdini if he ever met him. I was duly petted and
heard Houdini's voice. I flew to the door, and we fell into each other's arms weeping. 'See, darling,' said Houdini, 'I
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converse quietly in the midst of company was helpful. One of Houdini's cues was the raising of the left eyelid three
quiet, as I was committing some indiscretion� and doubtless Houdini used it more than any other signal in our code.
of friends, I was relating an intimate story. Repeatedly Houdini gave me the cue to hold my tongue, but I chose to
the quarrel during the circus days, whenever I got angry, Houdini would leave the house and walk slowly around the
minutes. "On one occasion my bad temper made me obdurate to Houdini's overture of the hat. He had been putting a new
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to Mrs. Houdini, then Exit Rapidly.* Within were these formal words: 'Mr. Houdini wishes to inform Mrs. Houdini that
promises that the one that fell will never fall again.�Mr. Houdini, Friend Husband.' "It was impossible to be angry
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VI AT the end of the circus season Houdini had saved �. nearly all his salary. This money he was induced to invest in
first of a number of unfortunate business ventures, for Houdini was a poor business man. He trusted every one in
tangible thing connected with this concern was its debts, but Houdini set to work gallantly to make it go. He would do
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form to be shocked. Though he could ban smut from his show, Houdini was not always able to assert his authority
wakened. Houdini and his cousin, Henry Newman, who was the advance agent, had to make up hastily for the parts. Houdini
there. The villain, who in one scene had to kidnap Mrs. Houdini, was also in a state of alcoholic paralysis. There was
into service as kidnapers. When the time arrived for Mrs. Houdini to be kidnaped, poor Tiddlywinks tried to pick her
remained in the show. But it had not long to remain. Despite Houdini's heroic efforts, his first managerial venture
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venture left Houdini with some debts, which were paid off as soon as possible. At the close of that chapter Houdini
trip was to Nova Scotia. Marco billed Mrs. Houdini as his daughter and Houdini as his son-in-law and successor. His
hazardous work and will introduce my daughter and her husband, Houdini, who is my successor, and who will do my famous
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comprised the entire troupe. During his career with Marco, Houdini, who was trying to develop the publicity technique
newly-broken horse, instead of the docile beast on which Houdini had counted, and the self-deliverer found himself
flung under the flying hoofs as soon as he freed himself. Houdini's only chance lay in making the horse run until he
be goaded farther, Houdini was able to free himself without danger. Marco at last gave up, and Houdini took over the
States, wishing his successor better fortune than he had had. Houdini's luck, alas, was worse! The tour had
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night they slept in a hallway, and the two men gave Mrs. Houdini their coats to lie on. The following morning they
determined to get on that boat, and after a consultation Mrs. Houdini went to the captain alone to do the cry-baby act.
the apparatus of magic and a few collapsible tables. Mrs. Houdini at once set about unpacking the magic, in the ship's
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his best show clothes. Mrs. Houdini's part of the work was done. They waited for the Great Houdini until the passengers
passengers grew restive. When he finally appeared, the Great Houdini was white as a ghost and his clever hands were
the deck�just in time. This was their first knowledge that Houdini suffered from seasickness. He never did anything by
abroad almost invariably brought on a violent nausea. After Houdini's disappearance his wife stood helpless among the
they repressed their mirth. One woman suggested that Mrs. Houdini should do the tricks} so for the moment she essayed
a lady magician. She had always fixed the "gimicks" for Houdini, but of course she could do only the simpler mechanical
mechanical stunts, and these she attempted, trying to imitate Houdini's flow of comedy. Her efforts, however, were
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into the hat. Mrs. Houdini could hardly wait to get to the men to tell them of the little fortune. Houdini was lying on
him about the money, were: "May I spend some for eats?" Houdini opened his eyes and fastened them on her with a glance
malevolence and disgust: "No!" he shouted. "I think," says Mrs. Houdini, "it was the only really bitter word he ever
baggage was held at the station with twenty dollars due on it. Houdini procured a hall bedroom for which they paid
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They had free entrance to the vaudeville houses, though Houdini had never played them. After the close of the matinee,
week and the weeks to follow were altogether uncertain. In Houdini's mind, however, the future was always clearly
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Music Hall as a comedy act! Recalling Houdini's former failure as a comedian, Mrs. Houdini was a bit doubtful about
tramp followed me here." Then, with a rattling of tin cans, Houdini would appear in his tramp make-up, trailing a
double song and dance. While he wrote out the cues, Mrs. Houdini fashioned a child's dress from her best nightie and
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first part Mrs. Houdini played a little girl, while Houdini had to do straight for the comedian. Houdini, as comedian,
first part and the after piece came the specialties. Mrs. Houdini, made up as a newsboy, opened the show and sang a
first week was at thirty dollars j the second, twenty-five. Houdini gathered old [92]
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fortnight, as Houdini drew his salary, he said to the manager: "My name is not Rahner. I am really the Great Houdini."
him blankly. "Who in hell is the Great Houdini?" he asked. Wholly unabashed, Houdini explained to him. "All right,"
lodging had to be paid for. At one time during the early days Houdini found himself stranded in New York with only
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D I N I About this time also, Houdini circulated handbills announcing that Professor Houdini had opened a school of
from business and had an ambition to astonish his friends. Houdini continued his connection with Roterberg for many
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Kohl and Middleton's at Chicago, in the course of which Houdini plunged into a crap game to retrieve his fortunes and
sixty dollars. This put the pair in serious difficulties. Houdini promised his wife never to gamble again�and kept his
horror, there was no one to shift their four heavy trunks. Houdini persuaded some of the passengers to help him
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they looked on it as a turning-point in their fortunes. Houdini pleaded with the conductor to wait for a minute or two
obdurate. To him a schedule was a sacred thing. Pushing Houdini aside, he waved the starting signal to the engineer.
came from the funnel of the locomotive. The next instant Houdini was sprinting wildly past the locomotive. Just as the
an abrupt stop. Then half a dozen trainmen rushed down on Houdini, with cries of profane rage. "I won't get up until
trunks are on board," he cried. "How about letting us start?" Houdini had taken such a grip on the rails that the men
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their stand. Dr. Pratt played the organ and Houdini the tambourine, and Mrs. Houdini sang. After a crowd had collected,
The man was a natural evangelist and always got results. Houdini would take in the money while the others handed out
playlet. The property man played the hero, Mrs. Houdini's sweetheart. Houdini was the heavy (villain). One night the
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the part of the lover, and a puzzled audience watched Mrs. Houdini respond to his love-making and doubtless wondered at
Coffeeville, Kansas, one night after the show, two gamblers offered Houdini one hundred dollars to open the rear door
They wanted to "fix" some cards or other paraphernalia. Houdini had no particular moral compunctions�he explained that
key." It was one of the gamblers. Under this persuasion Houdini went with them. Still covered with the gun, he was led
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layouts were. The cellar door opened outward, and after Houdini mastered the lock system and felt the door give, he
violently that he knocked one man down against the other. Houdini leaped inside and snapped the lock to behind him. He
enraged gamblers took a shot at him through a cellar grating. Houdini flung up his hand to shield his face and the
picked his way out, and stole home to the hotel. Gradually Houdini became the focal point of the show. One evening, in
bell and a banner advertising a medicine show featuring "Houdini the Magician�Peerless Prince of Prestidigitators"� at
gallery, the windows of which displayed lithographs showing Houdini in evening clothes, the devil behind him and
witches fluttering in the dusky background. He entered and saw Houdini undo his handcuffs, pour a glass of water and
him. "I haven't learned to coin my thrill in publicity," Houdini told him. "I think no one can beat me at magic� [99]
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to mention their whimsical-looking infant, Buster, whom Houdini named. In the opening ensemble piece Joe Keaton did a
an Irishman. Mrs. Houdini played the soubrette, Myra Keaton the woman lead, and Houdini straight. Houdini was
up the show, much to Joe's disgust. One night, while Mrs. Houdini was doing a song on the stage, she heard a voice cry,
and Myra, busy at the piano, did not hear the cry. Mrs. Houdini remembered Buster asleep in the hotel. She jumped over
lobby, Joe, Myra, and Houdini, followed by most of the audience, were rushing in the door. Mrs. Houdini was not exactly
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Hill, in desperation, asked Houdini to give a spiritualistic seance as a special Sunday show. Houdini was advertised as
House was jammed. The messages and demonstrations given by Houdini caused the greatest astonishment and awe and were
that sensational seance was simple. That Sunday morning Houdini had paid a quiet visit to the village cemetery,
gossip. Both these worthies were "fixed" not to give Houdini away. While Houdini copied the names, dates, and legends
the intimate personal histories of those who lay beneath. Houdini had learned so much about the people of the town that
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the influence of the Society of American Magicians which Houdini helped to mold. The show business was surrounded by a
Houdinis were well prepared for handling spirit messages. Houdini had already taught his wife "mindreading," for which
a crowded theater. Mrs. Houdini, "blindfolded," could tell the date of a coin handed to Houdini by a stranger in the
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NNOUNCEMENT EXTRAORDINARY, OPERA HOUSE: 7 9. GREAT TRIPLE BILL, HOUDINI GREAT Will sivc Sunday night A Spiritual Seance
ol tht h.^uif (� ' 'vtiybody. Aduk} JIK1 chiUrci iiikf. A HOUDINI PLAYBILL Galena, Kansas. Jan. 9, 189S
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could signal any one number or combination of numbers. Mrs. Houdini easily learned the trick of going into a trance,
mediumistic rigmarole, the droning out of spirit messages. Houdini, of course, was a thoroughly impressive and
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H O U D I N I to Thee" and other familiar hymns. Houdini would visit homes, ostensibly to take orders for copies of the
One night, between the acts, the tipster pointed out to Houdini two negroes sitting in the gallery who were the local
of the little town felt that they were implicated. When Houdini began to give his "messages," he presently stepped
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in the medium business on their own for a brief period. Houdini took this step primarily to save his young wife from
Mrs. Houdini recalls a number of incidents relating to this venture. She relates: "I retain a vivid picture of Houdini
deep mourning in the circle of patient clients. I remember Houdini's admonitory whisper: 'Mrs. Mary Blank here. Her
that morning. I was badly in need of a hat, and I had asked Houdini for that one, but his reply was that we could not
brood sulkily on the hat. " 'Time to start, Bess,' whispered Houdini. " 'Do I get that hat?' I demanded. �<No�can't
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H O U D I N I "Houdini whispered to me urgently, meanwhile explaining aloud that the spirits were a bit difficult that
recall one evening, in a town over the Canadian border, Houdini had put me in a trance, and I was reading sealed
the Weiss home in New York. Houdini was a great pal of hers and often spoke of her. So to Houdini's astonishment my
another town. "But Mary Murphy fooled us. She wired. As Houdini often explained in his lectures on fraudulent mediums,
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to explain to the good people of that Canadian town that Houdini and I really had no inside knowledge of the spirit
halls, and the surroundings were cleaner j but very soon Houdini found that he could not go on with it. He was too
gave them comfort, but it was a false comfort at best." Houdini's observation of a rival "medium" at St. Joseph,
deluded clients were so pathetic in their credulity that Houdini began to be doubtful about the whole business. It was
touch on Houdini's disgust. They were giving seances in a small town. Looking out of the window, before a seance, Houdini
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admonitions, she turned toward Houdini's place and entered. When the messages began to come, Houdini played a long
returned home, the child was brought in with his arm broken. Houdini was deeply shocked when the news was conveyed to
acts the Houdinis did their magic and the trunk trick, and Houdini alone did the handcuff act. Ever jealous of his
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H I S L I F E - S T O R Y Great Houdini, he would play his part with a wad of paper stuffed in each cheek. In the fine
"Ten Nights in a Barroom," Houdini played Jim Morgan, the paternal bar-fly, and Mrs. Houdini his little daughter Mary
between Mrs. Houdini and the titular leading lady of the company which did not add to the harmony of life. Mrs. Houdini
leading lady. The leading lady knew that she outclassed Mrs. Houdini. Their respective husbands had a difficult time.
stage business to steal the leading lady's thunder, Mrs. Houdini secretly decided to adapt a realistic trick to the
and dies. Mrs. Houdini filled a small rubber balloon with red ink and hid it under her curls. When Houdini as her
the red ink spurted over her face. "My God, Bess!" groaned Houdini, springing forward with a cry of terror that was not
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V I I I THE thing that gave Houdini his first lift out of obscurity was a development of the despised handcuff trick,
nonsensical speculation, in every civilized language, as to how Houdini escaped from handcuffs and prison cells under
persons have explained the mystery by the suggestion that Houdini could compress his knuckles so that they became
his wrists and thus be easily slipped out of the gyves. Houdini could not do that, though it was not for lack of
smaller compass than one's wrist. From many ordinary handcuffs Houdini could release himself by giving them a blow in a
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carefully preserved secrets will leak a little, and after Houdini became famous there grew up a veritable army of
submit himself to the rigorous conditions often accepted by Houdini as part of the day's work. No other would accept
to the wall or the bars, his clothes locked behind him, Houdini would walk jauntily [114]
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Gaiety Girl Company was slowly dying on his hands, that Houdini conceived the idea of visiting police stations and
Stranger Who Unfastens Any Pair of Handcuffs Put on Him Harry Houdini of the American Gaiety Girl Company, which plays
police had any handcuffs which they couldn't manage. Mr. Houdini is an expert in unlocking [115]
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pulled out his own manacles and fastened them around Mr. Houdini's wrists, putting the key in his pocket. Then the
equal success each time. It makes no difference with Mr. Houdini what kind of handcuffs are produced. He unlocks them
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Ernst. International Newsreel. Above: SARAH BERNHARDT WITH HOUDINI IN BOSTON. Belozv: THE HOUDINIS WITH MARTIN BECK IN
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H I S L I F E - S T O R Y virons, that Houdini hit on a scheme for making his police-station stunt more dramatic. He
his one-horse rig, a little black bag between his feet. Houdini took his wife to the city jail to pay a visit to Rohan,
to keep the rotund and good-natured officer amused while Houdini prowled about and surreptitiously studied the lock
visit was without result. The locks were complicated, and Houdini could not discover what he wanted j so on the
time Rohan began to get suspicious. He was tired of Mrs. Houdini's stories and obviously bored with carrying on a mild
time, however, Houdini had signaled that he had what he was afterj so they left abruptly. The next day Houdini told his
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anything like that in Chicago before -y so that was news. Houdini therefore paid another visit to the jail, this time
that Houdini could not get out, and he was not averse to having that young nuisance make a fool of himself. Houdini was
said Houdini. That sounded more like the real thing, they admitted, and so that was done, and in addition, at Houdini's
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astounded. The real thrill, however, came next morning. Houdini burst into the room (he always burst in, he could never
clippings. Houdini sent one to every person he had ever known�or heard of. This was the real beginning of Houdini's
police chief would refuse to allow Houdini to test the integrity of his jail. As Houdini became better known, however,
will hold him," was the usual argument, but nothing held Houdini. His experiences included all the most modern American
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corseleted in leather and steel and chained to huge oaken beams. Houdini broke free from all these restraints. In all
in a cell. As the turnkey walked away down the corridor, Houdini reflected that he did not like the twinkle in that old
exactly malevolent, but it was provocative and derisory. Houdini, however, quickly freed himself from his shackles and
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into the corridor. The turnkey had not locked it! After Houdini had let himself out of the corridor, he came upon the
in a noncommittal voice. At Memphis, Tennessee, in 1899, Houdini, having freed himself from a cell and from the jail
gate. Suddenly came a sharp summons to hold up his hands. Houdini turned to see a scowling guard with a cocked rifle
and Houdini hastily put 'em up. The man was the rock-pile guard, and the warden had neglected to inform him that Houdini
made Houdini careful to be assured in future that all prison guards had warning that he was breaking jail. One of Houdini
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surprised Andy Rohan. On this occasion, after stripping Houdini, the chief of police had him locked in a cell with four
leg-iron that has no key and works by a combination lock. After Houdini had escaped from these complicated shackles,
formal and not very complimentary public statement: "Should Houdini turn out to be a criminal, I would consider him a
appearance in case of future emergency." Once and once only Houdini failed to get out of a handcuff. It was shortly
freak. Poor Houdini stood disconsolately on his platform, and his wife wept bitterly. "Do you give up, Houdini?" asked
detective. He was a hard-looking customer. "No," replied Houdini, resolutely. [122]
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it, and it won't unlock." The audience had departed and Houdini could not explain the reason for his failure. He
went to their lodgings. "Well, Bess, I'm done for," said Houdini. "The whole world will know that I failed to get out
Bartholmes, Mrs. Houdini's brother-in-law, had indeed suggested that he could land a good steady position for Houdini,
up their vagabond life�but somehow Beatrice could not see Houdini settling down in a lock factory. Anti-climax came the
laugh at the Great Handcuff King. Not a soul laughed. Later Houdini asked Mr. Hedges, the manager, if there had been
had taken any notice of their great tragedy. After that Houdini was more wary. He first locked and unlocked every cuff
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I X THE publicity from Houdini's jail-breaking stunt in Chicago brought quick results. In a few days a representative
to keep warm. Unfortunately Mrs. Houdini was confined to her bed with influenza. Houdini had done no act without her
he said. "We want you for the star act," was the reply. Houdini asked the salary and was told eighty-five dollars. "I
went to the telephone for instructions and returned with Houdini's price accepted. Hou- [124]
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the room. The agent eagerly agreed to everything. Finally Houdini excused himself and went to consult his wife. When
outside, and they drove to the theater in state. Beatrice Houdini had never ridden in a cab before, and in the
before minor audiences. After his short session at Hopkins, Houdini went back to the dime museums once more, but the
to talk with you." When they were seated in a restaurant, Houdini asked the man what he thought of the act. "I think
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you make it go, I'll raise you. My name is Martin Beck." Houdini turned suddenly to beam at his wife across the table.
was conscious that in Houdini he had made a find, but in his mind there was a large reservation. Houdini seemed to him
put an end to most of the miscellaneous tricks with which Houdini had cluttered his act. The Houdinis had a tender
minor magic and were reluctant to abandon it. Thereafter Houdini no longer produced an incredible number of objects,
Houdinis took great pride, was discarded. In this trick Houdini would borrow a watch, and [126]
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passed quietly to Mrs. Houdini, who would place it on the back of a target off stage. Meanwhile Houdini, profusely
pistol. He would then demand a target and insist that Mrs. Houdini place it on her head. When he aimed and fired the
was thereupon returned to the owner intact. The first time Houdini ventured this bit of magic in public, the releasing
actually smashed, much to the dismay of the performers. Houdini, however, picked it up, brazenly declared that it was
favorite for over a year. However, when Martin Beck advised Houdini to cut the lesser stunts and confine himself to a
to the Pacific Coast. They were booked to travel tourist. Houdini, as usual, accepted every one's advice about the
enough food with them to last through the entire journey. Houdini spent all his money except seven dollars on the
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H O U D I N I into their room, and for two days Mrs. Houdini was busy roasting and baking. When they went to the train
coffee�the Houdini commissariat included condensed milk�for five cents a cup. Their first meal was a banquet. Houdini
that they had only seven dollars, proved most sympathetic. Houdini could buy [128]
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could cook it for them on his oil stove. At subsequent stops Houdini did go shopping with George and bought fresh bread
tempers were on edge. The train was to stop for an hour. Houdini asked his wife to take a walk with him, but she was
possible to get ice cream, I'm going to bring you some." Houdini vanished until after the starting whistle had sounded.
party, and here's a small present for your kindness." To Mrs. Houdini's dismay, he counted five shiny silver dollars
produced an assortment of dishes for the passengers of the Houdini [129]
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frying-pan. All the passengers, including Houdini, feasted�that is, all except one. Mrs. Houdini was too uneasy to
proved invincible. Minutely he described the game. Mrs. Houdini could hardly understand a word of the jargon, but
there still remained seventy-five free and clear. This, Mrs. Houdini promptly annexed. She was taking no chances with
George would appear at meal time with a majestic bow. "Mr. Houdini, what you all gwine ter hab to eat?" His larder
Francisco, June 2, 1899, they were still bloated millionaires. Houdini insisted on taking a room at six dollars a week.
stove. As soon as they arrived, tired and grimy, Mrs. Houdini washed Houdini's ears. He was one of the little
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never learned the art of keeping his ears clean. To Mrs. Houdini, brought up in a household where the virtue of
moved to do the job himself. Shortly before Houdini's last illness, Mrs. Houdini, who had herself been confined to her
the middle of the night with a painful realization that Houdini's ears, neglected for several days, must be in a very
with fleas. Houdini immediately fell asleep, for no stinging or biting insects ever troubled him, but Mrs. Houdini lay
Mrs. Houdini staggered to the window and saw some houses apparently tumbling down. Then she dashed back to Houdini, but
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not enough to disturb the native realtors. The next day Houdini challenged the local police to fasten him in such a way
were handcuffed to the fetters. Weighted down with steel, Houdini was allowed to hobble into a room which he had not
we'll unlock him," he said comfortably, and at that moment Houdini stepped out of the room carrying all the shackles in
particularly violent cases, and regarded as escape-proof. Houdini's body was locked in this, and his hands were locked
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Naturally the press could not ignore such demonstrations. Houdini became a topic of discussion throughout California
newspaper what purported to be an exposure of Houdini's handcuff act. Houdini, he said, had a key concealed in his
professor was sure he could duplicate everything Houdini could do with handcuffs. Houdini's reply was prompt. He would
could not escape, he need not give Houdini the hundred dollars, but he must permit Houdini to shave off the professor's
Theater. The professor failed to show up for the contest, but Houdini's popularity did not suffer thereby. The Houdinis
Orpheum Circuit. One of the actors on the bill kept telling Houdini that he was worth at least two hundred dollars.
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immediately. At the end of their first week on the new scale, Houdini went out and bought his wife her first fur
satisfaction. It became for them the symbol of a new stage in Houdini's career. That career was attracting increasing
from the police shackles in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Houdini bested the police handcuffers in Memphis, Nashville,
another period of uncertain and scattered engagements began. Houdini fumed and fretted. He had saved no money, for each
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comedians, and "Thardo, the rattlesnake poison-defier." Houdini paid no attention to any of these except Thardo, but he
from Houdini's in the Hall of Freaks, and the ring of spectators about her contained no person more fascinated than Houdini
. When Houdini saw a trick, he was never content until he knew how it was done. Sword-swallowers, frog-swallowers,
poison-eaters, strong men, spiritist mediums, sleight-of-hand artists�Houdini would stand before them for long periods,
were. During his first tour with Welsh Brothers' Circus, Houdini devoted much time to an old Japanese who could swallow
similar large objects and bring them up again. He advised Houdini to start with very small potatoes, gradually
order to accustom his muscles to this pleasant pastime. Mrs. Houdini strenuously disapproved of such magical pranks,
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especially those who went in for live frogs, always lured Houdini. He was finally cured of the desire to emulate such
man's performance with his usual intentness one evening, Houdini saw him swallow a whole flock of frogs. Later, when
counted his flock over in his dressing-room, one was missing. Houdini speculated uncomfortably on the whereabouts of
various Boscos who swallow live snakes merely disgusted Houdini. He would spend hours with them discussing their
blacksmith's anvil by the horn and place it on a table. Houdini followed him about with the reverent admiration of a
small boy for his first cowboy. Another strong-man hero of Houdini's museum days was William Le Roy, known as The Nail
teeth a nail that had been driven through a two-inch plank. Houdini would watch his act with the utmost intentness over
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act was sold by the amazing showmanship of her husband. Houdini never wearied of watching this man, of talking
old showman or acrobat or magician in any town he came to, Houdini invariably got in touch with him and would sit up
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his day-to-day contacts, spurred on by artistic curiosity, Houdini learned all the technique of utilizing suspense,
years, was a dangerous feat, and on two or three occasions Houdini narrowly escaped an ugly accident when he was
danger was impressed on audiences by a typical piece of Houdini showmanship. He had his formidable rescuer, always near
full light on the stage. When, toward the close of 1899, Houdini's efforts to start in the big show palaces of the
an exalted value in New York. In the late spring of 1900, Houdini, with his wife, booked second-class passage on a
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ship's engines. Before the vessel was out of New York harbor, Houdini's eyes were rolling, and his complexion turned
delirious. The ship's doctor visited him occasionally, but Mrs. Houdini had to spend virtually the whole voyage in the
where he could not reach to untie them. At one time Mrs. Houdini kept a life-preserver strapped about him for fear he
who were confident of their ability to startle the world. Houdini's certificates from police chiefs of remote American
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concealed bullet-proof garment lined with ground glass. (Houdini later bought the garment and treasured it.) The other
disillusionments fresh in London's mind, it was not remarkable that Houdini wore out much shoe leather without finding
polite good-day. After some days of fruitless interviews, Houdini happened to call at the office of an agent who was
interested in Houdini and arranged to have him meet C. Dundas Slater, manager of the Alhambra. It was a lucky day for Houdini
became Houdini's manager and with this start became such a figure that he finally entered Parliament. Slater allowed Houdini
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Yard, I'll sign you," he said. "Can you go with me now?" was Houdini's reply. At London's famous police headquarters,
Yard handcuffs were the last word in scientific manacles. Houdini, however, insisted on trying them, so suddenly
and get into trouble," he remarked. With that he encircled Houdini's arms around a pillar, snapped on a pair of
said. He started toward the door with Slater. "Wait!" cried Houdini. "I'll go with you. Here's the way the Yankees open
longer any question with Slater about an engagement. He drove Houdini back to the office and signed him for two weeks.
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H O U D I N I Houdini's opening night was eventful. As soon as his act began, a stranger calling himself "The Great
the original Handcuff King, and denounced Houdini as a fraud. For once Houdini seemed to lose his nerve. He permitted
of the stage, thundering against Houdini as an impostor. The man even declared that Houdini was not an American and had
and this distinguished reenforcement completely restored Houdini's equilibrium. "Get me the Bean Giant," he whispered
cuff. For a long time the cuff remained invincible until Houdini blew into Boston and solved its secret in a few
dollars, however, by refusing to explain his method. Now Houdini advanced upon Cirnoc, and holding out
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them," he said. "Lock me in," challenged Houdini. Cirnoc did so, whereupon Houdini retired to his little cabinet and in
emerged with his hands free. It was then Cirnoc's turn. Houdini locked him in the cuffs and even gave him the key, but
the bonds. The audience gave Houdini an ovation, and Cirnoc, discomfited, had to ask Houdini to release him. However,
release him. However, with a show of sportsmanship, he shook Houdini's hand before- he left the stage. It is probable
interposition of Mr. Depew, was a clever Yankee frame-up. Houdini, however, had never heard of Cirnoc before. He was to
hear more of him later on. With this dramatic beginning, Houdini proceeded to make a smashing hit. His engagement,
Each succeeding performance was of increased interest, for Houdini was a challenge to professional restrainers of all
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H O U D I N I At first Houdini released himself within a small tent, but this evoked some criticism. Doubting Thomases
the tent concealed secret help of some kind. So one night Houdini dramatically ordered the tent removed. He had police
the open stage, he freed himself in five minutes. Before Houdini left, he was reengaged for the holiday season,
he was suspicious of reputations made in England. Before Houdini went on, the Director explained to him in broken
act," was his parting admonition. "Now you vorkj I vatch." Houdini started with the handcuffs, and after his first
ran out to the center of the stage and led the applause. Houdini had perfected a new stunt, the first public exhibition
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German city. However, an officer of the secret police advised Houdini to make the attempt despite the prohibition. If
incur was a small fine for bathing in public. Accordingly Houdini eluded police watchers and did his manacled dive.
charge was walking on the grass, and for this misdemeanor Houdini duly paid a few pfennigs. The local press dealt with
sufficiently forgave Houdini to permit him to demonstrate his skill at headquarters, and after Houdini had freed
the enthusiastic Herr Direktor, conscious of the fact that Houdini's run had broken all records for paid admissions to
appe'als to the management of the Wintergarten, Berlin, where Houdini was scheduled to appear [145]
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H O U D I N I through October, to let him present Houdini for another month. The Wintergarten management had already
N I im Oktober Dresden's request was callously refused. Houdini moved on to Berlin, and every night the huge
reprimand the management for overcrowding. In order to keep Houdini through November, the Wintergarten paid Ronacher's,
marks. On returning to the Alhambra, London, in December, Houdini found himself featured even above the famous ballet.
magic words "Houdini�Alhambra." "Not bad for Dime Museum Harry," Houdini wrote in his diary. By this time Houdini was
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I S L I F E - S T O R Y The main difficulty was expense. Houdini was fast becoming the sensation of the great European
The gown, he estimated, was about his mother's size. While Houdini gazed at it, with an ambitious plan unfolding in his
entered the window and began removing it from the model. Houdini immediately marched into the shop and offered to buy
really did not sell her Majesty's relics. However, when Houdini assured the man that he wanted it for his mother, the
Britain. "As I walked out with that dress in my possession," Houdini noted in later years, "I would not have changed
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D I N I to be scheduled for the date of her arrival, and Houdini was to be presented with a silver bowl. The
doors, and Houdini was told it was impossible to find a place in the audience for his mother. Immediately Houdini
for her in the upper tier. At the close of his engagement, Houdini took his mother to her old home in Budapest. He had
up all night in a second-class coach. Once in Budapest, Houdini was determined that his mother's return should be a
luxuriant palms, and the gilded, rococo furnishings of the time. Houdini, short of cash but with the air of a
parties. "After listening patiently to his remonstrances," Houdini wrote in an autobiographical fragment, "I revealed
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for nothing.' Accordingly the scene was set." Of course Houdini invited every one who had ever known his father or
enthroned in her heavily carved and gilded chair," recorded Houdini. The manager of the hotel entered into the spirit
guests into the salon. It was a big party. "That night," Houdini concludes, "Mother and I were awake all night talking
I escorted the Fairy Queen Mother en route to America." Houdini does not mention that he had to borrow carfare to get
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U D I N I Thereafter ensued a succession of triumphs for Houdini, throughout Germany and in cities of other continental
at the Krupp works devised a new handcuff and challenged Houdini to free himself from it. On the night of the trial the
away, there was a serious riot in front of the theater. Houdini got himself free from the Krupp cuffs in a few minutes
despair, Herr Direktor Althoff engaged Houdini, to join him at Dortmund. As soon as Houdini arrived, he visited police
previously with the irons on him. With this sensational start, Houdini proceeded to break all records for the horseless
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the fall of 1901 packed and usually record houses greeted Houdini through successive engagements at Prague, Hanover,
at Hanover that Houdini was first able to make a profound impression with his strait-jacket escape. Houdini got the
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behind a curtain." However, the act did not make a hit. Houdini would emerge from behind the curtain, after releasing
abandoned the act for stage purposes. In Hanover, after Houdini had escaped from the police manacles, Count Schwerin,
the only restraint in Germany that could hold Houdini. "Lace me in it," Houdini demanded. The strait-jacket was indeed
reenforced with thick leather. The Count was reluctant to permit Houdini to risk breaking his bones [152]
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handcuffs, and finally he ordered his men to strap Houdini in. It took Houdini one hour and twenty-nine minutes to get
created a real sensation among the German public. By the time Houdini quit Germany for a period in December, and opened
thoughts of suicide�or murder�until some one thought of Houdini. The American said he would be glad to open the case if
Permit a stranger to remove her precious bag! Nevaire!" Houdini, importuned again, entered the lady's room, picked up
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morsel. Returning to Germany, for an engagement at Cologne, Houdini found himself facing a serious threat to his
published an article in the Rheimsche Zeitung denouncing Houdini as a charlatan and his handcuff act as a swindle. With
American intrepidity and a shrewd eye to publicity values, Houdini decided to hale Werner Graff into court and fight
and Houdini brought suit against Schutzmann Werner Graff and the Cologne police for criminal libel. In fact Houdini had
Mittel Strasse. During the two months of his stay in Berlin, Houdini spent from six to ten hours a day working in this
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H I S L I F E - S T O R Y locks. In order that Houdini might familiarize himself with the locks used on police chains
would later exchange them for others. Before he left Berlin, Houdini felt pretty well assured that there was not a
difficulty. When Houdini's suit came to trial in Cologne, the police officer stated that he could prove Houdini a fraud
could not escape. Accordingly Houdini was very solemnly chained. After a glance at the lock, Houdini stated that he was
The court was cleared, and standing in front of the judge, Houdini whisked his chains off so quickly that none of the
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even with its own key. With this contraption locked on him, Houdini was allowed to retire to a room selected by the
legal argument. Houdini, the Schutzmann admitted, had indeed opened certain cell doors and handcuffs, but Houdini
contended, the libel should be dismissed. Houdini's attorney ridiculed this argument. Houdini, he said, had opened all
settling the dispute. If Houdini could open it, obviously Werner Graff had lost his case. If Houdini failed to open it,
open it, there was merit to the Schutzmann's contention. Houdini was in a dilemma. He had never tackled a German safe,
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ready." Then he closed the door and Houdini was alone in the room. For a minute or so, Houdini dared not take a step
the Kaiser," in all the principal German newspapers, and Houdini was permitted to insert notices of the verdict in all
judges had a sense of the realities. Thereafter in Germany Houdini was more than a handcuff king and distinguished
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XI HOUDINI'S career through this period resembled a dream of an inspired press agent. Each engagement was a fresh
special knowledge of steel restraints in Sheffield, but Houdini walked out of the steel box a few minutes after [158]
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Before locking Houdini behind the bars, the chief of police confined him in heavy chain-gang manacles. Houdini was out
advertising, Houdini's earnings were jumping. At Leeds, playing on a percentage basis at the close of 1902, Houdini's
These were exceptional weeks. But only three years before, Houdini had looked on an engagement at sixty dollars (twelve
Halifax, a local magician insisted on fastening Houdini with ropes and chains. Houdini was a bit doubtful about this
the man was really an expert, but after a severe struggle Houdini freed himself as usual. "First time it was a
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H O U D I N I Houdini surpassed by forty pounds the record attendance drawn to the theater by Sandow the Strong Man. At
Strong Man. At Blackburn a local Strong Man, who challenged Houdini, manacled his arms behind his back with six pairs
furnished with clanking chains and heavy padlocks. In trussing Houdini, the man twisted his arms into such an unnatural
that they were soon blue from lack of circulation. When Houdini asked that the bonds be eased, the Strong Man retorted:
"Get out or give up." After nearly two hours of struggle, Houdini emerged free, with torn clothes and bleeding arms. On
Wilson insisted on locking Houdini in a cuff which he refused to let him inspect beforehand. Houdini insisted on
witness that Houdini was a quitter, started to walk off the stage while a hostile gallery booed the performer. Houdini
not yield to any key. After ten minutes of frantic work Houdini freed himself, and, walking to the front of the stage,
to do so. The audience, however, cheered Wilson and booed Houdini; yet the magician smashed all records for attendance
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H I S L I F E - S T O R Y At Bradford in Yorkshire, Houdini was offered his first bribe. James Berry, a former public
make wagers of several thousand dollars that he could tie Houdini and hold him and agreed to split his winnings if the
didn't know how I was brought up," was Houdini's comment in the diary. By 1903, Houdini was such a success that
managed to pick up some of Houdini's secrets. Whether they were charlatans or genuine imitators, Houdini followed their
occasionally one or another of them failed to come up. In Houdini's diary in the spring of 1909 he pasted a brief news
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failed in the attempt and was drowned." Below this grim item Houdini wrote: "Failure meant a lingering death." Some of
had worsted the great Houdini in a public contest and wrested his laurels from him. Whenever Houdini heard of one of
Holland with the Circus Corty-Althoff in the summer of 1902, Houdini received from a friend in Dortmund the
described how he had escaped from all of Houdini's handcuffs while he had left Houdini standing helpless on a public
on a public stage, securely fastened in Kleppini's cuffs. Houdini wangled a leave of absence from Herr Althoff, and
the midst of Kleppini's speech telling how he had defeated Houdini, the latter leaped on the stage, tore off his false
beard in the dramatic manner he loved, and cried: "I am Houdini. I dare you to [162]
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to call on Houdini at his hotel and discuss terms for a challenge. Incidentally he insisted on inspecting Houdini's
indifference, asked what combination of letters opened the cuffs. Houdini, seemingly falling into the trap, first
triumph. "I will open these cuffs," he shouted. "I challenge Houdini to lock them on me. I'll show him tonight that we
Germans lead the world." Such was the man's eagerness that Houdini had difficulty in getting the cuffs away from him,
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few seconds. "Ladies and gentlemen, you may all go home," Houdini said. "I do not lock a cuff on a man merely to let
before another hour was up, he sent his wife to Houdini to beg his release. Houdini refused to go to him until
combination out on the stage when you handed me back the cuffs?" Houdini said. "Look. The letters now spell a good
open. That was the end of Kleppini. In the spring of 1903, Houdini determined to add Russia to his conquests and
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various other papers required by Tsarist red tape. Mrs. Houdini filled out the religious certificates for both,
Tsar's domain. Whenever he appeared in a foreign country, Houdini always made his opening address at each performance
secured an interpreter who taught him his Russian speech. Houdini had it pat, but after his arrival at Moscow, in order
accent, which makes the offense much worse." Accordingly Houdini had to memorize his little blurb all over again,
parks, absorbedly declaiming the lines for practice: "I am Houdini, the greatest of jail-breakers and handcuff kings.
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H O U D I N I After a time, Houdini observed a pair of tall loiterers watching him with intent curiosity. Thereafter
following him discreetly, but with his usual single-mindedness Houdini continued his practicing as he paced to and fro.
Tsar. When he did not get back to the hotel for dinner, Mrs. Houdini, greatly disturbed, sought out the manager of the
confined in Europe from which Houdini had not freed himself by his own prowess. After a few days Houdini returned to
restraints. First the officers demanded some tricks j so Houdini demonstrated three-card monte and the old American
None of the various officers could pick the queen among Houdini's three [166]
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transporting his Majesty's very special prisoners to Siberia. Houdini declared that he would take a chance at it, and
and searched, and as soon as they started searching him, Houdini realized that he had never really been searched
was searched in the same meticulous manner, and finally Houdini was locked in. It was not until the door had been
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Moscow. "It would be a cold trip," remarked Lebedeff politely. Houdini had stipulated that the carette be backed
the window. Through the awkwardly barred window aperture Houdini had to do his work. For half an hour he struggled with
door swung open. Houdini was utterly exhausted and streaming with sweat despite the intense cold. As Houdini stepped
and searched. Lebedeff had promised Houdini a certificate if he escaped, but Houdini was unable to secure this. No
permitted to witness the test, but the story got about, and Houdini became a popular hero; for every one hated the
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young mage from the Far West. That is, they all idolized Houdini except the domestic magicians. These gentlemen
competition. The attacks culminated in a satirical interview on Houdini, by Robert Lenz, the dean of Russian
smart magazine called Diversion. Magician Lenz asserted that Houdini had nothing new; he was "merely warming over old
fat, while Houdini's wife was but a mite of a woman. As for handcuffs, Lenz solemnly warned the public that Houdini
concluded, Houdini had only one extraordinary quality, and that was his impudence. The crowds continued to flock to Houdini
the American to give a special exhibition at his palace. Houdini performed there before a distinguished company. At the
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building a chest for him which could not be unlocked. If Houdini really had power over locks, he could demonstrate it
corner of the hall and revealed a formidable steel casket. Houdini said he would make the trial under three conditions
seconds when he tackled the box. The conditions were accepted. Houdini examined the lock system while a guard of
Years later, recalling the incident to a friend in New York, Houdini was asked to explain the miracle. "There is one
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they could never find anything." On later occasions, when Houdini was being stripped and searched for one of his
of concealing something, that was not the hiding-place. Houdini's earnings for the week in which he gave the private
He was only twenty-eight years old. Returning to England, Houdini continued his triumphal progress. In every town
magicians poured on him a succession of handcuff challenges, and Houdini escaped from their restraints with increasing
piece of mechanism. With this backing the Mirror challenged Houdini. At a matinee, before a highly excited audience of
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representative of the Mirror snapped his "darbies" over Houdini's wrists, and the performer retired to his "ghost
house" to wrestle with the strange lock. After half an hour Houdini emerged, his collar broken and water streaming down
and procured a pillow himself. Twenty-five minutes later, Houdini appeared again, still handcuffed, and apparently
refused. Houdini had seen the cuffs locked, but not unlocked, and the challenger sidestepped giving him that advantage. Houdini
yielding a particularly handsome tribute. Within a few days Houdini was signed for a tour of sixteen weeks at a salary
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obscurity to a foremost position among European entertainers, Houdini decided to tackle his own country. His diary for
traveling on the same steamship with Houdini this trip, offered to pay the extra expense if Houdini would move into the
was curtly rejected. "Pd rather travel as I am," commented Houdini, noting the offer in his diary. Thereafter, for
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X I I DURING his first trip to Europe, Houdini developed an avocation from which, for the remainder of his life, he got
literature and memorabilia bearing on the art of magic. Houdini in fact inherited from his father the patient fury of
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friends among these crusty old bookworms. In this period Houdini laid the foundation of his various collections, which
century were to reach truly monumental proportions. Thanks to Houdini the collector, the Library of Congress in
dating back to the earliest literature on these subjects. Houdini had gathered 5200 of these books, some of them of
days and newspaper clippings describing their performances. Houdini left some 40,000 such items, including mementos of
of rival collectors spurred him to greater effort. In all Houdini's thirty years of keeping a diary, his greatest note
famed throughout the world, admitted after looking over Houdini's books that they were a more complete collection than
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historical collection of programs had no rival anywhere. Some of Houdini's most spectacular jail-breaking stunts are
self-congratulations. In later years the zeal for collecting led Houdini into fields other than magic. Lincoln was one
the signers of the Declaration of Independence except six. Houdini immediately went gunning for these immortals, from
writing-desk used by Edgar Allan Poe. For several months after Houdini's death, rare books, pamphlets, playbills, and
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loitering about old book-stalls. During his first European trip, Houdini's search for first-hand sources and mementos
man whose name he had appropriated and who was his model. Houdini, then in his twenties, conceived the ambitious idea
master. Houdini's quest led him into some strange adventures and contacts. While poking about for sources, Houdini
year, and living in retirement near Dresden. Highly excited, Houdini wrote to the old man from Cologne in the spring of
but two words: "Herr verreist"�"The master is on tour." Houdini took a week off to run down his man. He arrived at
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H O U D I N I In the village Houdini learned that Frikell had lived the life of a hermit for many years. In his youth
annoyances, until he had withdrawn from society. At a later date Houdini learned that Frikell assumed that the
him had come for purposes of blackmail. Later in the day Houdini returned to the house. He posted a photographer across
merely poked her head out of an upper window. For hours Houdini pleaded with her, telling her of his projected book, of
cheeks, but she refused to open the door. Near her, unseen by Houdini, the aged magician listened grimly behind a
Late in the afternoon the visitor yielded and went away. Houdini's week of leisure was not wasted, however. Near
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He lived to amaze Europe for many years with his feats. Houdini found that the leasehold of Bosco's grave was about to
over half a dozen graves of magicians that Houdini purchased during his life. Houdini did not give up Frikell because
to receive from Houdini a package of a certain brand of Russian tea, of which he was very fond. Houdini shipped the tea
came a gracious letter inviting Houdini to call next time he was near Kotchenbroda. Houdini made the earliest possible
have his photograph taken. One thing and another prevented Houdini from visiting Kotchenbroda until the end of the
the door. "You are being waited for," she said, and led Houdini into a room where Frikell lay�dead. The old man,
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excitement had proved too much for him. About an hour before Houdini arrived, he had suddenly clutched at his heart and
was Houdini's meeting with Henry Evans Evanion, an entertainer and collector for over half a century, from whom Houdini
collection which he left to Evanion, his friend and rival. While Houdini was playing at the London Hippodrome in 1904
bills which Houdini had picked up and which were strewn about his bedroom. The day the article appeared, Houdini
stating that he had some articles in which Houdini might be interested. Houdini replied at once, asking Evanion to call
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portfolio. "I'm sick and dizzyj so you'll have to be quick," said Houdini. "What is it you want?" "I have brought only
he slipped open his portfolio. With a cry of amazement, Houdini drew the old man to a settee beside him. Before him
next morning, without asking permission from his physician, Houdini had himself driven to the dark, littered basement
two enthusiasts drank together. It was past midnight when Houdini's brother Theodore, accompanied by a thoroughly
back to his hotel. Bit by bit, during the ensuing months, Houdini pur- [181]
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Wigan, Houdini received word that Evanion was dying in London of cancer of the throat. After the evening show, Houdini
fortnight later he made another trip for Evanion's funeral. Houdini's diary for that day reads: "Poor Evanion. He
nieces, with Mrs. Evanion. Paid funeral expenses." Before Houdini had been many months at his researches, he realized
inventor of all the principal feats of magic in use. As Houdini traced Robert-Houdin's miracles to their sources, he
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Robert-Houdin as in many respects a mediocre performer. Houdini dug up press records covering occasions when
tricks set forth in them were in most cases wholly romantic. Houdini, now with a reputation of his own making,
a sad blow. The more Houdini uncovered his hero, the more the sawdust leaked out. For a time Houdini assumed that his
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own valuation, and his lofty pedestal seemed secure. When Houdini toppled him off and sought to restore to their proper
classical-minded persons resented the revaluation. To them Houdini seemed impertinent�and not a little ungrateful.
as a deep passion for justice and truth. In The Unmasking Houdini was really clearing his own name of what he now knew
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X I I I HOUDINI'S stay in the United States during the summer of 1904 lasted only eleven weeks. He soon found that
skeptical about risking fat contracts on a magician. Accordingly Houdini cabled Harry Day to get bookings for him in
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qualities on Houdini. "If you are afraid to try this in public, will you try it privately?" the manager concluded. Houdini
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offers to furnish the box and have their men nail him up. Houdini began to combine his stunts, for greater variety.
needle trick aroused great enthusiasm everywhere, and while Houdini swallowed (or appeared to swallow) successively the
silence, which would presently change to wild applause. Houdini had practiced this trick privately ever since he ran
trick was first introduced in Europe by K. Kraus in 1816. Houdini first saw it in his dime museum days, when he was on
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At one place, where he was working on a percentage basis, Houdini's earnings were for one week $2150 clear. On several
sat on the roofs of the boxes. By the beginning of 1905 Houdini received a cable offering him six weeks in the larger
midsummer. The conquest of America began in the fall of 1905 when Houdini opened at the Colonial Theater, New York, as
occasion for nearly fifteen years. Within the next few months Houdini's feats carried his name all over the country.
first days of his brief engagement at Keith's in Washington, Houdini broke out of several of the police jails of the
performer j so he invited Houdini to test his skill against Uncle Sam's system of restraint. Houdini elected to be
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five tumblers. After being stripped and searched, as usual, Houdini was locked in this cell, and his clothes were
officials, retired to his office to await developments. Houdini was out of his cell and in the corridor in two minutes.
Houdini opened the cell of each in turn and hustled him into another cell, where the man was tightly locked up. Houdini
nor made any attempt to escape. Twenty-one minutes after Houdini had been locked up, he entered the Warden's office
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Washington correspondents. In Boston, two months later, Houdini repeated this stunt with variations. Superintendent of
another section of the prison. Twenty-three minutes later Houdini called Superintendent Pierce on the telephone from
up, and the drive to the theater took seven minutes. When Houdini capped this feat, a few nights later, on the stage of
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accompanied by the whole city administration, watched while Houdini was encased in this barbaric apparatus, and over
presenting keys to Houdini had not been obviously superfluous. Boston, a one-week town for vaudeville acts, kept Houdini
Boston engagement, Houdini's ambitions led him to get a troupe together and go on tour with his own show. Houdini was
close and his business cares were ended. About this time Houdini performed an ingenious bit of magic, which, in the
of a social organization in the upper part of Manhattan. Houdini borrowed three handkerchiefs, tied them together, and
person in the audience. The handkerchiefs, being placed by Houdini under a email glass bowl, immediately disappeared.
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cards in a hat, each card folded to hide the writing, and Houdini shook them up and then dumped the lot on a huge
audience. They supposed the test would be too difficult, but Houdini expressed the opinion that the handkerchiefs would
trick was about a century old. Houdini had learned it personally from Henry Evanion. After Houdini borrowed the three
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cover deftly extracted the real handkerchiefs from under Houdini's waistcoat and was off for the Statue of Liberty
carefully timed so that Houdini's assistant could catch the four o'clock boat for the Statue. Meanwhile Houdini,
When the cards were collected and dumped upon the platter Houdini added at the top of the pile three designating the
of careful preparation, sleight of hand, and showmanship. Houdini's first venture in authorship had made its appearance
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U D I N I under the title of The Right Way to Do Wrong. Houdini probably had assistance in the literary composition,
publicity advertised Houdini in fresh channels. During the next two seasons, 1906-07 and 1907-08, Houdini made tours of
crews who sought to restrain him, on successive evenings, Houdini appeared at the home of J. S. Foy, Jr., an amateur
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H I S L I F E - S T O R Y loose. Mr. Foy wound Houdini from head to feet with heavy silk fish-line, using a coarse
coarse needle and a marlinspike to knot and mesh the cords. Houdini's throat was muffled in the cords, and his wrists
cords. Mr. Foy took forty-five minutes to complete his job, Houdini an hour and thirteen minutes to get free. His body
padlocked on the outside with two-tumbler locks. Apparently Houdini had no difficulty in seeping through without
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midnight for New York." Through the spring and autumn of 1907 Houdini added to his repertoire of escapes. At Toledo,
him. The bag was left intact, as it had been sealed with Houdini inside. In Los Angeles, shortly afterward,
on the outside with a rotary lock. In twenty-five minutes Houdini appeared carrying the pouch, which he returned
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man jumped after him, shouting, "Well, good-by, Harry." Houdini, as he flashed into the water, was worried about the
Pittsburgh, a fortnight later, forty thousand persons watched Houdini leap, handcuffed, from the Seventh Street Bridge.
record crowd for that day. On a later visit to Pittsburgh, Houdini met with his only serious accident. He had promised
don't come up, you will make a good story for the press." Houdini miscalculated, and his head smashed into the cement
of his life. In addition to these labors and recreations, Houdini [197]
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editor and business manager. The magazine was started after Houdini had had a serious quarrel with Dr. A. M. Wilson of
American Magicians. After his return from Europe in 1905, Houdini suggested that The S-phinx should devote some
attention to him. Dr. Wilson retorted that The Sphinx would run Houdini's photograph at advertising rates. Some heated
as both men were hot-tempered, a bitter feud developed. Houdini started his rival magazine. Dr. Wilson countered by
attacks on both The Conjurer's Monthly and its editor, and Houdini repaid the attacks with interest in his own
men were hard hitters, and they spared no epithets. Though Houdini had to abandon publication of The Conjurer's
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with the Houdinis and was presented with a latchkey to the Houdini house in New York. Thereafter a room was always
had been in their enmity.1 Before he left Europe in 1905, Houdini had resolved to work up a new show, so that he could
handcuff act on the stage. So many imitators had sprung up that Houdini sought something in which would-be rivals would
performers. One of the most successful regular performers was Houdini's brother Theodore, who, under the name of
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first two seasons after his return to the United States, Houdini had too many irons in the fire to make much progress
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cups or other tokens at the end of riotous engagements. Houdini had at last invented a new trick to replace the
itself that aid from hidden confederates was impossible, Houdini would spirit himself out in about a minute, leaving
under-water endurance, and complete equanimity of spirit. Houdini had to practice it carefully for months before he
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in every city came forward with similar challenges, and Houdini was at last able to abandon the handcuff act to his
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X I V HOUDINI'S second continental tour, begun in the fall of 1908, lasted until the spring of 1911, with a break in
manager, Houdini meant Standing Room Only, and often not even standing room. If the house was not filled, Houdini
himself and passed handbills on the street. At this time Houdini was thirty-four and weighed somewhat under one hundred
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for an opportunity for a bit of self-advertisement; but as Houdini did nothing with handcuffs they departed in
in the summer of 1909 one man insisted that he could beat Houdini in escaping from a strait-jacket, but after a few
cut out of the canvas in a fainting condition. Thereupon Houdini was strapped in an identical jacket and got free in
that they could remain under water in the can longer than Houdini. The performer delighted to take them on, and he had
managed to remain in the can two and a quarter minutes, while Houdini, on the same occasion, stayed three minutes,
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interesting by challenges from rope-tying experts who would tie Houdini in a chair with all sorts of complicated knots.
who responded was drunk and in a nasty humor. He twisted Houdini's wrists in the handcuffs so that any movement was
nailed up Houdini in a chest made of the timber which was being used in the construction of the Titanic. Houdini
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harbor in northern France, Germany, or England into which Houdini did not dive manacled during this tour, and thousands
thereafter no boats ventured out. The harbor authorities advised Houdini to postpone his attempt, but he insisted on
out in a tug to look things over. Once out in the channel, Houdini refused to yield to the tug-men who tried to
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H I S L I F E - S T O R Y On October 23, 1908, while Houdini was playing in Berlin, he celebrated the twenty-fifth
patrons. Houdini strolled into the place for supper, and when the Chinese came to his table and showed his skill, Houdini
Prince Frederick Leopold invited Houdini to give a private performance at his palace. Houdini and his wife, with their
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H O U D I N I Houdini was enjoying life to the full. His enjoyment glows through the terse notes in his diary during
several young women in under-water feats, and he and Mrs. Houdini acted as managers for them with varying success.
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time. She was on the same bill with Houdini and elected to make a confidante of Mrs. Houdini. She was a rare dark
peasants of several countries. "I think must be a bad woman," Houdini confided to his diary, and speculated as to
when "the two mothers"�Houdini's and his wife's� arrived from America for a two months' visit. Houdini paid their
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occasion. Employees of the Government Dock Yard had challenged Houdini to escape from a packing-case made of one-inch
smashed and the police reserves had to be called. After Houdini got out, leaving the case intact, the crowd carried him
Southampton. The night before they left, after the show, Houdini hired a motor car at Plymouth and drove all night long
good-by. During the visit the Houdini dog Charlie died, and during Charlie's brief illness, Houdini's diary is
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entry, in the fall, gives a glimpse from another angle of Houdini's sentimental tenderness. Though there is no evidence
hundred and sixty francs. Also bought some old-time tricks." Houdini, however, was not the sort of person to remain a
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hour in British Gallery. What marvelous paintings!!!" Mrs. Houdini was not altogether comfortable about this new
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It is a very good one. Gave it to her when I came home." Houdini conceived a great admiration for the works of W. P.
about the last of the important Victorian Academicians. Houdini had purchased two Friths, or two paintings supposed to
Frith's nurse that the painter was too old to receive any one. Houdini had a way with him, especially with old people.
old man surrendered and invited Houdini to visit him at his house at St. John's Wood. Houdini took his two paintings
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Teniers, etc." The diary records that after three hours, Houdini had to hurry away to be rope-tied to a chair by
the beginning of November, 1909, while playing in Hamburg, Houdini went out to the race track and saw his first
and came rather clumsily to earth. As soon as he alighted, Houdini sprinted madly across the field and collared the
controls. After a fortnight of high winds came a calm day. Houdini was out almost at dawn. He insisted on trying the
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XV FLYING-MACHINES were rarities when Houdini bought his Voisin plane in 1909. There were only about two dozen aviators
landing without breaking his neck, it was a successful flight. Houdini had trouble finding a place to do his flying
the regiment stationed there in the mysteries of the art. Houdini went to the field almost every morning for several
the plane, and these made excellent publicity material for Houdini the showman. In 1917 he destroyed all these
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voyage of twenty-nine days all was decidedly not well with Houdini. He was seasick virtually all the time, except
columns long and almost lyrical with enthusiasm. A few of Houdini's spectacular water jumps contributed to the
the Yarrow apparently disturbed a corpse. Shortly after Houdini vanished in the muddy water, the corpse floated to the
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first whether or not this lifeless body was Houdini. A minute later Houdini came to the surface a few feet from the
away. His attendants speedily hauled him into a boat. All Houdini's spare time was spent with the airplane. At Digger's
motor refused to work properly. Each morning at five o'clock Houdini motored out to the flyingfield, and he remained
Each day an expectant crowd assembled at the field, and Houdini insisted on playing host to every one. His wife [218]
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and washing an endless succession of dishes. After a time Houdini began driving out to the field at night and sleeping
Three weeks elapsed, however, before Brassac would permit Houdini to try his luck. That was March 18, and he made three
the next few days, apparently every one who had not seen Houdini on the flying field attempted to get a glimpse of him
later, in order not to disappoint a Pathe photographer, Houdini flew two and a half minutes in a gusty wind, much to
renewed ardor. A new flying-field was secured, and sometimes Houdini would get up as early as 2 A.M. to go out to his
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a skilled mechanic halfway around the world. All in all, Houdini had flown about twenty times, spending possibly an
was smoother and easier than the voyage out to Australia. Houdini was sick only part of the time. He was able to give a
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shark-infested waters for coins and bring them up in their mouths. Houdini at once saw through the simple trick. The
of the passengers disputed this, and to settle the matter Houdini suggested that he and the best native swimmer be
dusky natives, but Houdini would be in great danger. The man-eaters, it appeared, preferred blonds. Houdini insisted on
to have his hands tied with a bit of rope. This was done, Houdini had his hands manacled behind him, and the two coins
overboard. The native was over after his coin in a flash, before Houdini was even set for his spring. A full minute
still tied and no coin in his mouth. Fifteen seconds later Houdini popped into view, feet first. He was still manacled,
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the coins in my mouth and snapped the handcuff on again." Houdini was back home in time for his mother's sixtyninth
sight. Houdini sailed on the Mauretania August io to resume his tour in England. The trip was unusually smooth, and Houdini
pants pressed, cost fifty cents." For the next nine months Houdini moved from city to city in England. He was already
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his earlier successes. To Britons with a mechanical twist, Houdini had now become a standing challenge. They were
hidden confederates. In fact, never in any of his escapes did Houdini employ confederates. At Chatham, on the town
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novel plan to hold Houdini. First he laced together three stout building ladders to form a tripod. Houdini's neck was
and his wrists drawn forward over the bar and handcuffed. Houdini got himself out in less time than it had taken to
complicated apparatus. At Leeds, for the first time in his career Houdini had to call for help. He had accepted the
Yorkshire brewer to escape from the water-can filled with ale. Houdini was a teetotaler, and the fumes of the ale in
how near the performer had come to drowning. By this time Houdini had developed a high sense of professional
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apparently the abuse was permitted to go on by default. Houdini decided to tackle it single-handed. While playing at
his services were not required for the Thursday matinee. Houdini replied in writing that he agreed to that arrangement.
that his name still topped the bills in front of the hall. Houdini then sought out the manager and told him that since
request. Between two acts of the afternoon performance, Houdini stepped in front of the curtain, stopped the orchestra,
manager appeared on the stage and attempted to explain away Houdini's argument, but the audience booed him heartily.
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good for another performance during the week. Thereafter Houdini was never again requested to omit a matinee. Moreover,
audiences would no longer submit quietly to such curtailments. Houdini's demonstration was a triumph, if not for
fellow players. Shortly before the conclusion of his tour, Houdini was saddened by the tragic death of his friendly
great illusionist nor a great conjurer. He and Houdini were old friends. Houdini had given Lafayette, some years
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years ago than they are today. Fountain subsequently told Houdini that he and Lafayette stood alone on the stage as
requested, and his ashes placed between the paws of Beauty. Houdini, in his usual large fashion, sent to Edinburgh a
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XVI HOUDINI enlarged his repertoire during the season of 1911-12, touring American cities in the East. He carried two
always in vain. During his engagement in Boston in the fall, Houdini was attracted by newspaper accounts of a strange
performance the carcass was sterilized with chemicals, but after Houdini had been lowered into the water in this dark,
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Diets, X. Y � :!,,:J,,,:. /�;�.,.-., hy 1',,-t:, X. i . C, Houdini. Left: ENTERING THE PACKING-BOX, NEW YORK, I 9 1 4 .
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H I S L I F E - S T O R Y carcass. By that time Houdini recovered his presence of mind, got free of his shackles, and
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H O U D I N I Dr. Wholly of Mercy Hospital informed Houdini that he had ruptured a blood vessel in one of his kidneys.
yourself to the fact that your strenuous days are over." Houdini laughed at him. "How long do you give me?" he asked.
within a year," replied the doctor. "You don't know me," Houdini shot back. He said nothing to his wife or his
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over his eyes, as the least ray of light would awaken him. Houdini kept the Pittsburgh physician in mind, and at the
death, in the fall of 1911. Meanwhile, in the spring of 1912, Houdini was preparing even more difficult feats, of which
Hammerstein's roof in July and August, 1912. In New York, Houdini could always fill a theater, but the newspapers still
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treated his spectacular stunts with cynicism and reserve. When Houdini announced early in July that he would try to
did, however, send reporters to cover the story. They found Houdini with a stout-looking packing- box weighted with two
case. They also discovered a squad of policemen who informed Houdini that no one was permitted to commit suicide from a
and he must gather up his box and his cuffs and clear out. Houdini then hailed a tug, and, inviting all the newspaper
affair seriously. They were enlisted to put the irons on Houdini. Then he insisted that they superintend the nailing up
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fifty-seven seconds, there was a splash beside the box, and Houdini bobbed into view. He swam to the tug, and the box
metropolis took Houdini seriously. A fortnight later, when the manager of a skyscraper then in construction had Houdini
on a narrow scantling twenty stories above the street and Houdini wriggled out of a maze of clove hitches, Flemish
One incident of Houdini's long run at Hammerstein's escaped the attention of the press at the time. Houdini's weekly
Hammerstein, after some chaffing, acceded to the odd request, and Houdini departed with a heavy bag of coins. He drove
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he poured the gold in a glittering stream into her lap. Houdini always described this incident as the greatest thrill
exaggerate. It was both good sentiment and good theater, and Houdini reveled in both. He clinched the conquest of New
Hammerstein's press agent suggested to the captain that he challenge Houdini to escape from one of the ancient teakwood
as a result the captain and Houdini exchanged some alluring defiances by radio while Houdini was still on the ocean.
captain had chained Houdini to ringbolts in a cell below the water line, this record was broken. Houdini got out, dove
massive door was left locked behind him. At the roof garden, Houdini treated his audiences to an [234]
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one in Europe and one in Australia, and as early as 1910 Houdini determined to devise a trick which no one would have
iron-bound wooden chest, and into this doubly-sealed prison Houdini was lowered, head downward, his ankles encased in a
of the audience was permitted to furnish if he suspected Houdini's locks. The trick was spectacularly effective and
more were to elapse before the trick finally evolved into Houdini's Water Torture Cell, in which the walls were of
days. Persons at the pier beheld a curious sight. They saw Houdini clinging to a little old woman in black silk, em-
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seventy-two and no longer felt any certainty about time. Houdini apparently could not leave off reassuring her and
his affection for her. Finally she had to order him to go. Houdini, turning to the bystanders, said: "Look, my mother
clothing, and they took a train back to Germany, leaving Houdini's first broken contract behind him. In Denmark, breach
contract is a criminal offense. The police arrested one of Houdini's assistants, whom [236]
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plea that we should be good human beings." For many months Houdini was moody and distracted. For the first time in his
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capitals. During the last ten years of the diary, references to Houdini's mother are less frequent. In the last year
could be found), on the anniversary of his mother's death, Houdini pasted in the page a copy of Masefield's poem "To
But through the death of some of her. According to Mrs. Houdini, her husband was never quite the same after his
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years, into a stern crusader against quackery and fraud. Houdini's adult life is divided into two periods. His mother's
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XVII A T the beginning of 1914, Houdini was touring Eng- JLJL land and Scotland, somewhat recovered in spirits. He
which he had founded with Will Goldston the year before. Houdini was the center of the event, and he enjoyed it. Among
declared that he would not leave the hall until he had learned Houdini's secrets, as he might need them to escape from
sentenced to five years in jail for misappropriating funds. Houdini's diary of April 14, 1914, dated in Edinburgh,
"Arrival of Summer," "Calico Conjuring," "Metamorphosis." Houdini loved magic, and he found [243]
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it was Roosevelt's last visit to Europe, and it was to be Houdini's last trip until 1920. In a sense, during the
was to be remodeled by the sword. Theodore Roosevelt and Houdini had many qualities in common. Both were daring,
morning exercises together�if Houdini was well enough to appear at all. One morning while Houdini was walking with
a performance at the concert the next night. "Go ahead, Houdini!" Roosevelt exclaimed eagerly. "Give us a little
(They had been talking about spiritualism.) In the evening Houdini began with some card sleights in which Roosevelt was
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Photo by Dicta, N. �. Hoiidini. Above: HOUDINI EXECUTING DR. LYNN'S "PALIGENESIA" ILLUSION, 1924. Below: THE NEEDLE
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H I S L I F E - S T O R Y was amazed," said Houdini, "at the way he watched every one of the misdirection moves as I
"spirits" may write. Roosevelt took great pains to see that Houdini had no opportunity to read his question. With his
at the result obtained. In the morning as soon as he saw Houdini, he exclaimed: "H~>w did you do it last night? Was
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H O U D I N I Houdini grinned. "It was just hocus-pocus," he replied, but he would give no further explanation. As a
lucky coincidence. In one of the autobiographical fragments Houdini left behind, he gave a complete elucidation. Here
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turned out, blind chance played a large part." The story of Houdini's astounding demonstration was of course sent by
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containing HOUDINL The box will then be THROWN INTO THE RIVER. Houdini will undertake to release himself whilst
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across the stage on either side, were two seamless rugs. Houdini, with a long white smock over his clothes, in which he
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similar screen was placed on the opposite side of the wall. Houdini would wave his hands above the screen. "Here I am,"
"Now I'm on the other side." The screen which had hidden Houdini would be removed. He had vanished. Immediately the
screen on the opposite side would be taken away, revealing Houdini smiling his serene smile. New York was pretty
startling developments in Europe, but it puzzled a bit over how Houdini got through that brick wall. Obviously he could
about the wall in a semicircle at every performance. Beneath Houdini was the seamless rug, thoroughly pulled and
trick began. It was an unusually stout, substantial rug. Houdini could not have slipped through that, through some
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astoundingly simple. While he was mystifying and amusing New York, Houdini found time to attend a meeting of his old
associates remarked. "The trade does not look so good to me," Houdini comments in the diary. "They are earning
that time his weekly stipend was twelve hundred dollars. To Houdini's former fellow-craftsmen, doubtless, such an
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years in which Europe was attempting to exterminate itself, Houdini perforce remained in the United States, and his
City had their curiosity aroused by an announcement that Houdini, then playing at a local theater, was to be strapped
that neither Houdini nor any one else could escape in such a position from their vise-like contraption} Houdini
persons," according to the Post, pressed about the building. Houdini and the detectives mounted a platform, and the
pinioned in closed sleeves. Trussed up in this fashion, Houdini's heels were fastened to a block and tackle, and he was
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far into the crowd. Seven thousand persons cheered wildly. Houdini, breathless and smiling, was lowered to the
"I'd like to know how you did it." Houdini did not tell. Thus a new feat was added to Houdini's repertoire. It was
person who saw it talk "Houdini, Houdini, Houdini" to his friends and neighbors for several days. Houdini performed the
Those who saw it once were eager to come again next time Houdini visited their city and to bring their friends. As time
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undertaken by Houdini which made a press agent a superfluous animal. At Salt Lake City, just after Christmas, 1915, Houdini
short order. In Los Angeles some inventive challengers dared Houdini to let them bury him alive, manacled, under six
Santa Ana, where, as Houdini knew, the surface vegetation was merely bearded bristle on sandy soil. Houdini had no
far enough. Houdini, however, insisted on proceeding. Accordingly the extra foot of soil was dug up, Houdini was
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blew the smoke and flame into the face of the prisoner. Houdini never worked faster than he did in the ensuing minute
to burn by the time he broke loose. On various occasions Houdini was challenged to escape from safes of various sizes
two or three minutes the steel door would swing open and Houdini would jump out. His profound knowledge of locks was at
tumblers�there may be two or twenty tumblers�which free the catch. Houdini would manipulate the apparatus until all the
him. Houdini was aware of these chances. In his opinion, being locked in a safe was his most dangerous hazard. Houdini
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for a minute, and when they were flung open he was gone. Houdini was smilingly evasive about this trick. "Even the
but Houdini had worked over the construction of the cabinet many months. During the same season at the Hippodrome, Houdini
Hippodrome stage. Large delegations of surgeons came to inspect Houdini's mouth, as well as the thread and needles, but
days of the war period, December, 1915, in Los Angeles, Houdini had a curious encounter with Jess Willard, at that time
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his own right. The encounter made a profound impression on Houdini, and it echoed over the country in booming newspaper
much to the discomfiture of Mr. Willard. The incident moved Houdini to write a full account to his sister Gladys. It is
a few terse lines. In. it, like a triumphant small boy, Houdini obviously reveled in the opportunity for a bit of
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you one thing, and don't forget this, that i WILL BE HARRY HOUDINI [263]
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the papers, he was not only hissed out of the theater, but Houdini struck him a blow that knocked him out of the
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streets as 'Hello, Champion' and 'How is the Champion?'" Houdini had no fear in defying the mammoth Willard, but after
nerve weakened at the idea of facing his diminutive wife. Houdini's hot temper not infrequently plunged him into
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H O U D I N I party, brought Houdini another harvest of newspaper encomiums. Bernhardt was touring the States. It was
the humiliating story slipped into the newspapers. When Houdini read the story, he was greatly distressed. With
Bernhardt gladly accepted the offer. Within a fortnight Houdini had received from clipping [266]
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reading-matter rate of a dollar a line, calculated that Houdini secured publicity worth $56,340 for an outlay of $350.
$350. As soon as the United States entered the World War, Houdini began cutting down his engagements in order to give
Incidentally he sold a million dollars' worth of Liberty Bonds. Houdini also sought in other ways to enlist his talents
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invention for naval purposes. Toward the close of the war, Houdini plunged into motion pictures with the same
Players-Lasky Corporation. In the course of the filming, Houdini performed in dramatic fashion many of his most
feats and many others were all performed without subterfuge. Houdini went about his work [268]
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and went hurtling to the earth. Luckily no one was killed. Houdini's plane fell into a swamp. His wife and his
look of ghoulish triumph on their faces �and on Houdini's�made Mrs. Houdini resolve that if she could get her husband
a week after this harmless tumble of four thousand feet, Houdini slipped in a prison-breaking scene, fell three feet,
nasty fracture of the wrist. In "Terror Island," again, Houdini had a narrow escape wholly unconnected with the risks
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head to heel. Houdini's directors were greatly troubled by their hero's casualness in the love scenes. Houdini's
persuade Houdini to embrace the heroine as if he were not submitting to a painful duty, as a last resort entreated Mrs. Houdini
by glancing anxiously at you." Mrs. Houdini thoroughly enjoyed this situation. Houdini, conscience-smitten over the
osculation. At one period in the course of the filming, Houdini complained that through some false motion on the part
on to repeat a number of the kissing scenes. Later Mrs. Houdini confessed to him that she had explained the five-dollar
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the first time in his twenty-five years of married life Houdini enjoyed a protracted period with free evenings to spend
been moved to investigate the solitary light burning in the Houdini bungalow, would have seen the handcuff king and
finding it overcrowded with the work he wanted to do. Despite Houdini's heroic efforts, none of the pictures proved a
was so accustomed to fabricated thrills in the movies that Houdini's genuine feats, his hazardous risks in air and
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Although the pictures did not make a fortune for any one, Houdini's name did find a reasonable market for them, and
countries. After the work on "Terror Island" was ended, Houdini returned east, filled with enthusiasm and with plans.
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led him to organize his own producing organization, the Houdini Picture Corporation, in which he was to serve as
a gentleman contemporary with the War of 1812. At first, Houdini planned to have professional assistance in preparing
held up by rain. Houdini had his feet frozen. There was an interlude at Niagara for the episode where Houdini swims out
a steel wire, not visible on the screen, was fastened to Houdini's body from a reel on the shore, in the event of
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Finally, after eighteen weeks of labor, the film was done. Houdini had visions of making his fortune. The managers who
miscasting, and there was not enough love interest. For Houdini the love interest was merely a thread on which to
auspiciously at the Times Square Theater in New York. Thereafter Houdini appeared with it in person in a number of
Service," was simply a failure. He lost money on it, and the Houdini Picture Corporation made no more ventures. By that
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X I X WHEN Houdini sailed for England in 1920 to fulfill contracts made seven years before, he had become an
sermons under such titles as "Life's Strait-Jackets" and "Houdini and the Art of Getting Out of Things." Funk and
Standard Dictionary, issued in 1920, contained the following: "HOUDINI, HARRY (1874- ). American mystericist, wizard,
Houdini" had become a common expression for vanishing, breaking away. Through the length and breadth of the land Houdini
beginning a serial entitled "The Amazing Exploits of Houdini�Written by Houdini Himself," which was to run for seven
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up by Houdini; but the term "amazing" was wholly justified. By directors of the American vaudeville business, Houdini
of press agentry. The managers had come to know that once Houdini was signed to a contract�in which he could virtually
figures�there was no further need to worry about the box office. Houdini could be counted on invariably to "pack them
around the circuit. After that the public grew weary of him. Houdini smashed this dictum by filling his houses in the
Each time they looked for fresh and greater thrillers, and Houdini never disappointed them. He took his art with the
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from swollen ego. A wrong appraisal was natural enough. Houdini had worked at his calling nineteen or twenty hours a
masters in comedy introductions, were masters of ceremonies. Houdini,1 awaiting his turn, listened with growing
ceremonies had a chance to weave any smart cracks about him. At Houdini's last benefit performance, that of the Jewish
until Houdini was being tied up in a strait-jacket, whereupon he started a satirical introduction, asserting that Houdini
Gus Sun contract or from the traffic jam at Forty-Second 1 Houdini's chef d'ceuvre of the occasion was escaping- from a
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proceeding merrily, all at Houdini's expense, when he was stopped by a tremendous kick in the shins. Houdini, tied up,
see if his ankle was broken. As soon as the act was over, Houdini rushed to him, all contrition and apologies: "I just
profound Houdini enthusiast. He was always chanting Houdini's praises. The house physician, as a joke, disparaged Houdini
and to wear them until Houdini opened them, and also to wager a hundred dollars on the result. Houdini fell in with the
Whenever possible he waylaid Houdini, begging him to try again. At the last encounter, Houdini merely drew his hands
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Houdini, what can I do?" pleaded the worshiper. "Perhaps if you look at them steadily they will fall off," said Houdini
the cuffs�to find that the cuffs lay open on his wrist. Houdini was not always an easy player for managers to deal
the prerogatives that went with that position. Once when Houdini was playing at Hammerstein's in New York, he agreed to
discourteous manager had photographs made of the signs, erased Houdini's name, and in all the theatrical papers cuts
principal apparently heading the Hammerstein bill. When Houdini saw the cuts he smashed the furniture in the offending
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who came after Houdini, for there was always an exodus from the house after he took his curtain. Houdini, aware of the
behind the scenes after one of these post- Houdini acts. It would be Houdini, clapping until his hands ached to comfort
colleague for a sadly thinned-out house. In vaudeville circles, Houdini had few close friends and no intimates. He was
virtually nothing about his personal affairs. "For thirty years Houdini worked for me under one contract and another,"
never knew how he did a sirgle trick." Mr. Martin Beck, Houdini's first mentor in showmanship and his friend for a
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H I S L I F E - S T O R Y Houdini had a delightful professional friendship with Harry Keller, and the two men
could hardly be called intimates. After his mother's death, Houdini's only confidential associate besides his wife was
president of the Society of American Magicians. To Mr. Ernst, Houdini entrusted his business affairs, and he consulted
controversies. When the lawyer would veto one of Houdini's rash proposals, Houdini would storm and threaten, but in the
his own. Mr. Ernst, for his part, frequently complained of Houdini's. habit of calling him on the telephone for
from whatever part of the country he happened to be in. Houdini's excuse was that he had no time to think of important
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his child for Houdini. James Collins and James Vickery served him for eighteen years. All three adored Houdini. They
such incidents, and Houdini would have forgotten by the next day all about the angry dismissal. Houdini never raised
make out the weekly check with the desired increase. Mrs. Houdini, who included the roles of treas- [282]
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the swelling pay roll and would complain to Houdini. Almost invariably Houdini refused to listen to her. "Of course
would cry impatiently. "Think of the high cost of living." Houdini's most beloved subordinate was John Sargent, his
the collections and to attend to other personal matters. Houdini and Sargent would be in constant communication, and as
other, they would become involved in a violent quarrel. On Houdini's return the quarrel would culminate in a scene of
John Sargent on our arrival home," Mrs. Houdini says. "He was a gentler man than Houdini, and of course he had the
their beloved magic." One of the most curious characters Houdini associated with himself was the aged Alfred Becks, who
of 1925. Becks was seventy-four years old when he came to Houdini from the dramatic library of Harvard University on
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dramatic literature. While with Houdini, save for his sleeping-hours in a small bedroom of the Houdini house, Becks
morning, he would enter the library dressed in a suit of Houdini's old clothes. His meals were served to him there, as
of his own clothes, which were even more threadbare than Houdini's frayed and baggy cast-offs. The change symbolized
the evening. Becks assisted in Houdini's buying for the library, and when he and Houdini had a streak of enthusiastic
enthusiastic collecting, they not infrequently fell foul of Mrs. Houdini, the family treasurer, who was faced with the
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again and ring the basement bell. Almost invariably Mrs. Houdini detected him in this maneuver, but she never had the
his cache, and smuggle it into the library. One day Mrs. Houdini's brother John was pressed into service to assist
Becks in moving some heavy boxes. John, in the words of Mrs. Houdini, did not know a Garrick autograph from a Barnum,
boxes mixed, Becks flew into such a violent rage that Mrs. Houdini had to spirit John out of the house. They never
up for auction, he informed Houdini that he intended to buy those books for himself. Houdini also coveted the set, and
reporting that some stranger had overbidden him. Thereupon Houdini was so ashamed of his smart trick that when the
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H O U D I N I When Becks died in 1925, Houdini was smitten with grief. According to the old man's instructions, the
to the home of some relatives in the city. It appeared to Houdini that his old friend was to have a shabby funeral j so
he returned to his chair, and Mrs. Houdini heard him groan. "Poor old Becks!" Houdini cried, and was weeping again.
Teale, who assisted Houdini in his investigations of spiritualism and in his literary work. Houdini never wearied of
in which there was more than mere showmanship. Each week Houdini's mail would contain scores of letters from old
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for them. Once, playing in a provincial city in Canada, Houdini nearly broke his contract when the manager refused to
minutes he was treated to the full force of the Houdini vocabulary. Houdini finished out his week, but he would never
found a sort of semi-professional appreciation of his skill. Houdini's love for children was a by-word among managers.
would return from an exhibition at some asylum to tell Mrs. Houdini of some child he had almost brought home to her,
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dozens. Playing in Edinburgh, Scotland, in cold weather, Houdini was shocked at the number of boys and girls on the
remained a considerable surplus of children without shoes. Houdini gathered together the disappointed ones and rushed
open. Houdini also trained an American eagle to fly about and fetch and carry at his command. According to Houdini,
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much to Houdini's annoyance, crying: "Mon dieu, it is Houdini!" As Houdini drew back, the man exclaimed: "M. Houdini,
years!" One down-and-out performer, smitten with tuberculosis, Houdini assisted to reach Colorado j he supported him
had but one thing to will to his benefector5 so he left Houdini his body. The first intimation the Houdinis had of the
shipped. "Poor old Blank!" Houdini sighed decorously. "We'll give him a swell funeral." Mrs. Houdini, more
She recalled that Blank had never been a close friend of Houdini's, merely an acquaintance whose plight had enlisted
concerned if Blank's "swell funeral" were held in Colorado. Houdini was shocked, and there was an argument; but in the
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H O U D I N I end Mrs. Houdini had her way, and her husband dutifully went out to send the telegram that would head off
send the telegram that would head off the strange bequest. Houdini's interest in cemeteries and graves seemed to
flowers on graves of all mother's friends that I knew." Houdini also never seemed to tire of visiting insane asylums.
misery. 2 Harry Day was Houdini's English manager. 3 Ralph Johnston, an aviator, was a friend of Houdini's. He was
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Angeles, a friendly detective took him to a local asylum, where Houdini wished to borrow a straitjacket for his show.
said: "Here comes the head physician} I'll introduce you." Houdini's note of the encounter, found among his papers,
said: 'Dr. Swindon, allow me to introduce my friend Mr. Houdini, the world-famous handcuff king, the man who escapes
shook hands with me and said: 'I am pleased to meet you, Mr. Houdini. I hope you are well.' "I said, 'Oh, yes, very
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H O U D I N I Though Houdini devoted the last years of his life to a crusade against fraud and superstition, he
telegraph-like tapping was plainly audible. The practical Mrs. Houdini, however, soon discovered that the spirit
and broke. Houdini, all excitement, exclaimed that Lafayette might be trying to give him a "sign." Mrs. Houdini had
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BOBBY, ALSO A HANDCUFF KING; HARDEEN AT LEFT, HIS SON HARRY HOUDINI HARDEEN, AND OFFICER JIM MORF1TT OF BRADFORD,
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knocking it over. He remained agitated for several days. Houdini was a great reader for a person so engrossed in active
Guiteau cell in the Federal prison at Washington, which put Houdini on the front pages of newspapers throughout the
illness, Mrs. Houdini's grief, and how they buried the pet in a corner of the garden. In regard to money matters, Houdini
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drivers in the larger American cities became used to having Houdini hop out of the car and vanish, leaving behind only
bootblacks in his neighborhood learned by experience that Houdini carried no change, but his wife would pay. He never
and wished to borrow five hundred dollars on no security, Houdini immediately made out a check, and he spent the next
spilt ink on the envelope and a stamp was wasted. Once when Houdini was playing in London, a command [294]
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George and Queen Mary. Through friends at Scotland Yard, Houdini procured for his wife one of the first-tier boxes
bit of exhibitionism cost Houdini eight hundred dollars, but he thought nothing of that. Houdini was as careless about
in order to have the original pressed. Houdini never noticed the change. Mrs. Houdini similarly had to steal his soiled
go out wearing one black sock and one tan sock. When Mrs. Houdini presented her husband with a dozen pairs of fine silk
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I came around, Mrs. Houdini stole back the silk socks and gave them as his birthday present. Houdini, never suspecting
the gift away in his drawer. Once Mrs. Houdini was ill in New York while Houdini was playing a week in Cincinnati. She
virginity�Houdini had never changed. On an occasion they were invited to a smart houseparty up the Hudson River. Mrs. Houdini
frock, etc. Houdini duly appeared with a huge bag, but when they reached their destination and Mrs. Houdini started to
similar impedimenta. Houdini had completely forgotten the clothes. On another similar occasion Mrs. Houdini carefully
carefully packed the bag herself. On the way, however, Houdini met Edwin Markham, the poet, and struck up one of his
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Mrs. Houdini, glancing through the window, observed her husband standing near the center of activity: "I see Mr. Houdini
verdict. "I'm afraid I'm not much of ladies' man," declared Houdini to a newspaper interviewer when he was at Hollywood
an air of portentous confession, he would remark: "Mrs. Houdini, you are a modern woman of liberal ideas. You will not
six-thirty. I shall be home very late." This would be Mrs. Houdini's cue to dress herself up [297]
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O U D I N I in her best frills and keep the assignation. Houdini would pick her up with the air of a grand cavalier and
champagne, for the lady was fond of that beverage, though Houdini drank only water. Many an innocent waiter was fooled
non-connubial atmosphere of these visits. "That guy in No. 5 is Houdini�with a woman." The old vaudeville gag� "Who was
written seriously about these romantic escapades of Houdini. Houdini's puritan habits made him a jealous husband. He
to guard his wife against objectionable contacts. In Mrs. Houdini's view, some of the contacts he shooed away were
warded off none the less. At one time, in the earlier days, Houdini even attempted to supervise his wife's reading. Her
that time ran to Laura Jean Libbey and Bertha M. Clay, and Houdini was so distressed by this that he took to writing
magicians figured in plots of impeccable morality. Young Mrs. Houdini read them with appreciative delight, and in [298]
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and Clay. Once and once only did Mrs. Houdini venture in a small way to put Houdini's personal jealousy to the test.
those they commonly attended. A certain colonel invited Mrs. Houdini to sit on his knee and drink a glass of champagne
had no attraction for Mrs. Houdini, but she was seized with a whimsical desire to see how Houdini would react to such a
performance. A few minutes later, when Houdini entered the room, the scene was set. Mrs. Houdini was sipping her
roguishly up at the colonel, and his arm was about her waist. Houdini stopped sharply in the doorway with an expression
knees sagged as if he had received a knockout blow. Mrs. Houdini rushed to him and helped him to a chair. He could
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what the colonel would say?" ' At the words "the colonel," Houdini pushed aside his knife and fork and an expression of
gloom overspread his face. His evening was ruined. Mrs. Houdini had to take him home before he spoiled the occasion for
isolated incident. There were plenty of compensations, for Houdini never ceased to be a romantic lover. He was never
death in 1926, until she sold the house and moved away, Mrs. Houdini continued to discover them at intervals.
were compounded in the unusually fascinating human being, Houdini, who was at once self-sufficient, quite boyishly
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such things. "Had one noticed any lack of education about Houdini," remarked a woman who herself had all the education
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XX WHEN Houdini's mother lay on her deathbed in 1913, her last moments of consciousness were consumed in a desperate
effort to convey to those about her a message for her son, Houdini, then several thousand miles away. Facial paralysis
she had received certain information, as yet unrevealed to Houdini, which she knew would cause him prolonged anguish
than it did him. The blocked message never ceased to fret Houdini. A breaker of all mundane barriers, he seemed to
was foremost in his thoughts. Almost since his boyhood, Houdini had been keenly [302]
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two-bit pieces to sit gaping before the Houdini wireless to the other world. Houdini's incursion into this spectral
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stooped to the pious trickery. As a result of his studies, Houdini became so proficient in the art of producing spooky
him in its fly-like perambulation. "It was just a trick," Houdini explained to the shivery group when the lights went
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his place. Some of Houdini's effects were not so easily explained. Not long before his death, Houdini and his wife paid
the talk turned to spiritualism, as it usually did when Houdini was present in those days. "Let's have a seance!"
exclaimed Mrs. Ernst. Others of the company echoed the request. Houdini said a table would be needed�any table�and one
company sat, making a circle of their hands on the table. Houdini's hands were touching one of Mrs. Ernst's hands on
magician, this was understandable. He assumed that Houdini at one end and Mrs. Houdini at the other were manipu- [305]
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together, keeping our hands clasped in the magic circle," came Houdini's solemn voice. "Perhaps the spirits will give
Houdinis, rose slowly from their places, still clasping hands, Houdini's feet still held to the floor, and to every
"Abracadabra!" Houdini exclaimed, with a mysterious gesture into space. After his mother's death, Houdini's interest in
optimistic. Says Mrs. Houdini: "Even after our numerous disappointments, whenever we visited a new medium, Houdini,
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usual spook tricks that Houdini could do with his hands tied. The rapt look would fade from Houdini's face. At his next
operative. Each week Mrs. Houdini has fulfilled all the conditions. There has been no result. Mrs. Houdini has been
six months of his tour in England and Scotland in 1920, Houdini declared that he attended over one hundred seances. The
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in producing the spirit of Dante. Cumberland related to Houdini how at one seance, after he had thoughtfully sprinkled
the inferno with a series of thoroughly uncelestial yells. Houdini also visited Sir Arthur and Lady Conan Doyle at
lively correspondence developed. While playing in Bristol, Houdini caused a sensation by escaping in seven minutes from
marks of his exit. When Sir Arthur heard of the feat he sent Houdini a long telegram, insisting that he had
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Property of B. M. L. Ernst. HOUDINI S LAST STAND IN CHICAGO.
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talking, but you know this is all very vital to me." Since Houdini knew every step of his thoroughly material process
Sir Arthur's plea. The correspondence continued, however. Houdini was interested in alleged spirit photographs and
advertise its night lights. During his stay in England, Houdini searched for every possible book on spiritualism and
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more strenuous feats for a time he would endanger his life. Houdini went to a nursing home for a week and then opened
In his regular work Houdini found himself conquering England all over again: "As an entertainer Houdini is in a class
the general verdict of the theatrical press. Somewhat to Houdini's astonishment, he found that in England his work in
younger generation. They packed the performances to see "Houdini
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peculiarly British organization kept reflecting the Yankee Houdini up to the time of his death, over a period of nearly
that time he was able to make only two tours in England. In Houdini's heavy and growing correspondence an increasing
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years. According to Margaret's later statements, accepted by Houdini, she was eight years old at that time, but her
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manacled and tied. Ira, in his later years, explained to Houdini that they never specifically asserted that spirits
Maysville, New York, Ira liked to go over the old days with Houdini and tell a fellow craftsman how he and his brother
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seventy years after the first rappings at Hydesville, when Houdini was preparing, at the age of forty-six, to undertake
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year after his return from England in the summer of 1920, Houdini was busy with his work in motion pictures. He gave no
further advanced in England than in the United States, and Houdini retained agents to visit the principal celestial
fine assortment of specters in the background. Meanwhile Houdini's book, Miracle Mongers and Their Methods, a volume of
was doubtless whipped into literary shape by John Sargent, Houdini's secretary, the scholar -
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H O U D I N I ship was Houdini's, and the painstaking record gave an evidence of how widely, in some of his interests,
from the routine business of vaudeville and showmanship. Houdini's terse note in the diary on the publication reads:
first copy." Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, still troubled over Houdini's skepticism about the spirits, was lecturing in the
Atlantic City. On the afternoon of June 17, Sir Arthur asked Houdini to permit Lady Doyle to give him a seance. Lady
Arthur. "I walked with Sir Arthur to the Doyles' suite," wrote Houdini, in A Magician Among the Spirits. "Sir Arthur
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page, Sir Arthur tore the sheet off" and handed it to me." Houdini read: "Oh, my darling, thank God, thank God, at last
soon be opened. Good-by again�God's blessing on you all." Houdini had never any doubt of Lady Doyle's sincerity, so at
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to remove Houdini's doubts. Thereafter the study and exposure of fraud in mediumistic practice absorbed Houdini more
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craze or from dabbling overmuch with mediums. In the spring Houdini threw down his first challenge to the mediums,
his own mother to win Houdini's five thousand dollars. Sir Arthur rushed to the theater where Houdini was playing, to
he stayed to see his friend's act. The next evening Mrs. Houdini reciprocated by attending Sir Arthur's lecture on
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H O U D I N I mine." Apparently Mrs. Houdini peeked at this modest entry, for below, in her hand, is written an
Naturally newspapers through the West played up Doyle and Houdini as the storm-centers of the spiritualist controversy.
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Research} Dr. Hereward Carrington, psychic investigator} and Houdini. J. Malcolm Bird of the staff of the Scientific
contestants for the prize during the first few months, while Houdini was on tour in the West, but their phenomena
manifestations of the dignity of existence in the higher spheres. Houdini, playing in Little Rock, Arkansas, in
him to return for an observation of this plausible medium. Houdini cut his engagements and hopped on a train for New
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through Pecoraro's lips, that the young man was uncomfortable. Houdini pointed out to his fellow committeemen that the
unproductive, and Pecoraro passed ignominiously from view. Houdini returned to his performances in the West. By this
having a vaudeville showman address the students, for when Houdini appeared he warned him that he was to speak only
the signal to withdraw. The fingers were never snapped. Houdini spoke for an hour. In January, 1923, he addressed the
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X X I I HOUDINI raced through his fiftieth spring with youthful zest and his usual manifold activities. He was
scientific mind. She told Houdini that never at any time had she pretended to believe in spiritualism. Houdini's book,
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H I S L I F E - S T O R Y comments, noted that Houdini's activities had swung far beyond the range of a public
public entertainer. Meanwhile, in his warfare against fraud, Houdini ran across a young Spaniard, Joaquin Maria
man reading the time of day through a gold watch-cover, Houdini noticed that the young man moved the watch about for a
palm of his hand, ostensibly to focus his X-ray glance. Houdini, with a theory that the Spaniard slipped the watch open
X-ray eyes failed on that occasion. At a later demonstration Houdini maneuvered to stand behind the Spaniard while he
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H O U D I N I Houdini then studied the boxes which yielded their enclosed messages to the X-ray eyes. In the case of
performer's naive and innocent manner furthered the hoax. Houdini liked Argamasilla personally. He admired his
fraud-hunter. He agreed to a public test before Houdini, but when Houdini appeared with a metal box with the lid
lid soldered and wired in place, he refused to operate. Houdini then published a full explanation of the young man's
performances in 1923, but she first came prominently to Houdini's atten- 1 Walter Franklin Prince in American Journal
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reiterated this to Houdini later, expressing the opinion that Margery was "50 to 60 per cent, genuine." When Houdini
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soft place, in his heart at least, for dark-room miracles. Houdini, with these facts in mind, arranged to go to Boston
preceded them and was ensconced as a guest at the Crandon home. Houdini and Mr. Munn stayed at a hotel. One of the
must be Margery's husband. At Houdini's first seance, held in the Crandon home, July 23, Houdini sat on Mrs. Crandon's
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H I S L I F E - S T O R Y tween Houdini's feet. He held the medium's left hand, and his right leg was pressed against
completely dark, as it was during every seance attended by Houdini. Houdini had prepared for the occasion by wearing a
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suddenly called for "control" [Fig. �]. What followed, in Houdini's language, was this: FIG. I "Mrs. Crandon placed her
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L I F E - S T O R Y " 'The megaphone is in the air. Have Houdini tell me where to throw it.' " 'Toward me,' I replied,
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Comstock's hotel. The circle formed around a table, with Houdini holding Mrs. Crandon's left hand, his foot pressed
the "touch and tactics" system to detect her movements. In Houdini's words: FIG. 3 "Before going to the seance, Mr. O.
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this session the members of the committee met and discussed Houdini's findings. It was decided to return to New York
Crandon that Houdini had seen through her. This precaution of secrecy, however, was apparently futile, as Houdini
outburst of headlines such as "Boston Medium Baffles Experts," "Houdini the Magician Stumped," "Psychic Power of
Between the two series of sittings, persons who talked with Houdini found him for once with a single-track mind.
drama. They found a singularly unreceptive host, because Houdini soon switched the conversation to bogus spirits and
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wholly unproductive for their purpose. For the next seances Houdini constructed for the committee a cabinet-box to
medium had leaned forward and rung the bell with her head. Houdini asserted that Mrs. Crandon had done exactly that,
cabinet-box was fastened with heavy staples and padlocks. Houdini, on guard lest the medium squeeze some implement
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After a time, however, "Walter" broke in sharply and accused Houdini or his assistant of hiding a ruler in the cabinet
sister's refinement, bestowed a vulgar and emphatic epithet2 on Houdini and bade him "get the hell out of here and
folded to a six-inch length was indeed found in the cabinet. Houdini charged that Mrs. Crandon had brought it in order
occurred, the committee withdrew. "Fraud my verdict," wrote Houdini in his diary.3 Mr. Munn, hastening back to New
been no proof of supernormal powers by Mrs. Crandon. Hou- 2 Houdini, with characteristically nai've delicacy, described
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hand to excoriate Margery and the spooks or to defend them. Houdini, on a lecture tour to the Pacific and back,
Crandon issued a statement accusing the committee of trickery. Houdini, back in New York, in reply offered to pay five
mysterious origin appeared in the Boston press to the effect that Houdini had been removed from the committee, which
prize to Margery. This evoked denials from both Mr. Munn and Houdini. The next day Margery's former husband, a grocer,
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the authority of the spirit world that Houdini would die within the year. Houdini hastily called the world to witness
their evenings sticking pins through wax images to cause Houdini's death. On December 22 it was reported in Boston that
prove the contrary." Dr. Carrington wrote to the. press that Houdini had no standing as a psychic. On Christmas morning
indorsement burst on Boston's front pages about a month later. Houdini managed to take the time to give his annual show
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Mr. Bird immediately replacing him as chief investigator. Houdini thereupon had his name erased from the membership
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it would seem a fair conclusion that in the Margery case Houdini's quick wit and his magician's intuition were
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XXIII SHORTLY after his exposure of Margery, Houdini, in the full heat of the crusading spirit, turned his back on the
gives no indication of it. Crusader Houdini by no means impaired the powers of Houdini the showman. More and more the
the lecture merged into a fascinating performance in which Houdini managed to give the spectators all the thrills
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L I F E - S T O R Y facing the audience, about a table, Houdini's neighbors oiv either side holding his hands and
so that Houdini could not see what was written. When the slates were held under the table, by the writer and Houdini,
were weirdly inexplicable. Those who sat on either side of Houdini were willing to swear that he could not move either
the processes of the bogus spirits at every turn. They saw Houdini slip his foot out of a trick shoe and sock, leaving
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novel, uproariously successful, and everywhere it served Houdini's purpose of striking a mighty blow at fraud. The
of newspaper crusades against local mediums. By the time Houdini returned to New York in December, he was ready to try
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S T O R Y friendly newspaper office was his real secret. Houdini did the trick with the cooperation of the New York
less impressed because he revealed the trick. If either Houdini or the management had any doubts about the introduction
vaudeville," "the most remarkable and interesting act of Houdini's career." The showman had effected a successful
seemed to invoke more enthusiasm than any of the other feats. Houdini, before he was fastened in the trunk, was not
unstrapped and unlocked and the paper bag cut open, Mrs. Houdini would be found
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H O U D I N I securely fastened in his place. Houdini's incursions among the spirits obviously had lost him nothing in
Hippodrome was extended to six weeks. During the last two weeks, Houdini doubled at an earlier show at the newly-opened
exciting week�plenty of work," the diary reads. One day Houdini got into a dispute with Mr. Ralph Pulitzer, proprietor
Pulitzer believed the tests indicated supernormal power. Houdini declared that he could duplicate the demonstrations by
the editors of The World, and other guests assembled at Houdini's home to put him through his paces as a mind-reader.
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investigators devised. The guests assembled in the Houdini sittingroom, while Houdini was locked in a small bedroom two
Houdini's wife and brother were in the room, but were not permitted to repeat the words. Of three test thoughts Houdini
Payne Whitney." Houdini described Buffalo Bill and his activities without giving his name. In another test Houdini
Barrymore's portrait done by Zuloaga." As soon as he came down, Houdini said, "You have been thinking of Mrs. John
test thoughts were of such a nature as to exclude guesses, Houdini's high percentage of hits caused much speculation
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H O U D I N I the Houdini home in New York was a trick house from cellar to roof. It had an intricate nerve-system of
before existed outside of fairyland. In that magician's lair Houdini could apparently twist natural laws into grotesque
ordinary mortals into confusion. The fact that he and Mrs. Houdini could communicate by slight changes of the position
discarded in favor of a new spectacle, that of medium-baiting. Houdini would send advance agents to each city to pose
more than Houdini, and the attendant publicity made every press agent along the route burn with envy. Houdini combined
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fruitful afternoon at the State Hospital and Insane Asylum, Houdini attended a seance at the home of George Renner, who
medium kept at hand for this purpose. At the seance where Houdini and his confederates seated themselves among the
room, eventually drifting to the table in front of Renner. Houdini stole from the mystic circle and unostentatiously
When the spirits began delivering, a few minutes later, Houdini turned on his flashlight, revealing Renner with his
caption "Houdini Traps 'Spirit' Medium." Mr. Seltzer, con mo to: " 'Mr. Renner, you are a fraud.' "I heard Houdini say
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forty years and I have never been exposed.' " 'Well,' said Houdini, 'you are now.' "Perspiration gleamed on Renner's
" 'Who are you?' he demanded. " 'My name, Mr. Renner, is Houdini,' said the magician. "Renner half rose in his chair,
speechless." Renner was promptly removed to the calaboose, and Houdini rushed to the theater just in time to take his
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A week later Renner's trial opened, with Houdini as the chief witness. Houdini missed a matinee, but the general
suffer from his performance in the court room. For six years Houdini had been gunning on the trail of Pierre Keeler of
known as the last of the slate writers. Finally, in 1925, Houdini's niece, Miss Julia Sawyer, succeeded in obtaining
Bill suddenly whisked off his long white beard, revealing Houdini, who cried, "I've got you, Keeler." He reintroduced
slate writer was greatly upset: "Houdini, let me down easy," he said, according to Houdini. "We're both in the same
hump, and accompanied by two detectives and a reporter, Houdini attended a session at the W. T. Stead Memorial Center
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I offspring from the shades for a fee of one dollar. As Houdini professed a slight deafness, the apparition had to
After the spirit had chatted a while through his megaphone, Houdini suddenly turned a flashlight on the medium,
had killed her, while the true believers, milling about Houdini, cried: "You've killed our medie!" The pastor, still
times their "spirits" discovered and told the world that Houdini was a drunkard, a drug addict, that he kept a secret
was at home placidly engaged in her housework at the time. Houdini denounced the Rev. Mr. Wiggin from the stage, and
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were still pending when Houdini met with his fatal accident. The tour was strenuous, and Houdini needed his splendid
The house was crowded all summer with invited relatives of Houdini [359]
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H O U D I N I and Mrs. Houdini, but through the entire season Houdini slept in it only about ten nights. The art of
preliminary work for which involved him in a thousand details. Houdini had many reasons for wishing to book his own
scope for their efforts. Doubtless it was highly pleasing to Houdini to have a full opportunity at last for the more
403

show devoted to the exposure of mediums. On every program Houdini printed a list of the rewards offered to any medium
The new show started in the fall and was a great success. Houdini employed a dozen or more agents who moved ahead of
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juxtaposition of the letters in the name, Rev. F. Raud. Mrs. Houdini also did much detective work among the mediums,
infrequently the mediums spoke of Houdini, usually in terms of objurgation. Mrs. Houdini heard one medium in Boston,
cents, advanced a novel theory about Houdini: "I'll tell you a secret about that guy Houdini," he said. "Do you know
He's got four or five rich women keeping him." Mrs. Houdini and the Houdini agents present shrieked with laughter. In
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H I S L I F E - S T O R Y Houdini agents would go severally or in pairs to a single seance. When John Slater brought
questions to Carnegie Hall, Houdini sat in a box with Dr. A. M. Wilson, editor of the Sphinx, and Mrs. Houdini and
"That's Bess. It's her maiden name," Houdini exclaimed excitedly to Dr. Wilson. Mrs. Houdini had written: "Will my trip
will be your first trip to California," Slater said. Mrs. Houdini had visited California a dozen times. He added: "My
from the members of the Houdini "gang" in the gallery, and Dr. Wilson guffawed. By the time Houdini came to a town, he
show, and Houdini's spotters would duly note the numbers of their seats. In the course of his exposure, Houdini would
406

married nor had a child." If the medium denied the accusation, Houdini turned a second flashlight on his agent. If the
in denying that she had ever entertained such a sitter, Houdini would point out that his agent had left a mark in
the medium home to verify or disprove this. By the time Houdini got that far, the medium usually made a hurried exit.
the committee investigated, they always found the marks. Houdini for a time adopted the method of posting in the
employed by Houdini had investigated Breadlove and had played their parts so well that when Breadlove summoned Houdini
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court before any witnesses could be called. Each evening Houdini drew the attention of all mediums in his audience to
the Record in Philadelphia were running daily articles by Houdini telling of his adventures among the spookmongers. In
shrewd and attractive young woman medium coolly invited Houdini into a partnership. If he would manage her and
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reads the diary. "What a fool to think I'd be crooked." Houdini continued his practice of tracking bogus spirits to
Margery's tricks, from ectoplasm to her whistling spirit guide, Houdini vaulted on the stage and talked the spirit
the photograph hit the front pages the next day. In June, Houdini bearded John Slater, "the millionaire medium," at a
that his alleged messages from the dead were not genuine. Houdini, accompanied by a committee of newspaper men,
written. The chairman of the meeting refused to deliver Houdini's challenge to Slater. That worthy kept in the
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H I S L I F E - S T O R Y Early in 1926, Houdini made a pilgrimage to Washington to enlist the aid of President
grief-stricken people with alleged messages from the dead." Houdini asserted that there were about two hundred mediums
purveying synthetic messages from the shades. As a result of Houdini's effort, Senator Copeland and Congressman Bloom
inquiry by a committee of Congress and not by a committee of Houdini. The crusader dominated the sessions. He described
410

near-by points, all in a state of combustive indignation. Houdini had prepared for them by having his agents, led by
411

of the Houdini espionage apparently disturbed greatly the assembled mediums, but they put up a brave show. Houdini was
original Houdini" had not stepped out of that Arabian Nights locality. At one stage of the proceedings Houdini found it
HOUDINI. My character has been assailed. I would like to have as witness here Mrs. Houdini. Step this way, Mrs. Houdini
Mrs. Houdini has been my greatest friend. Have I shown traces of being crazy, unless it was about you? "MRS. HOUDINI.
NO. "MR. HOUDINI. Am I brutal to you, or vile? "MRS. HOUDINI. NO. "MR. HOUDINI. Am I a good boy? "MRS. HOUDINI. Yes.
412

H O U D I N I "MR. HOUDINI. Thank you, Mrs. Houdini. [Applause.]" The assembled psychics protested severally the
guides could pick the winners at the races. On the record, Houdini had the better of the argument. The members of the
reported. Back in New York, at the end of his strenuous season, Houdini was moved to undertake what was probably the
cataleptic trance, permitted himself to be shut 1 After Houdini exposed Rahmen Bey, the Brooklyn Eagle sent an Egyptian
413

were giving quite a lift to the stock of local spookery. Houdini at once determined to spike the claim to supernatural
nineteen minutes. Houdini predicted that he could do an hour. The fakir was in his twenties and Houdini at the high
that do for fifteen minutes at most. "If I die," remarked Houdini, before the lid was hermetically sealed, "it will be
414

Not until an hour and thirty-one minutes had elapsed did Houdini signal to be released. He was in a state of great
trickery about the test, and no possibility of trickery. Houdini arrived home from the Shelton in the latter part of
upstairs and lie down for a while? It will do you good." Houdini jumped up restlessly. "If I'm tired, the best way to
417

XXIV THE vigor and sincerity with which Houdini conducted his crusade had won for him an unusually large measure of
are complacently contemplating their growing waistlines, Houdini was working harder than ever, over longer hours, and
418

with feats that strained his physique to the utmost. Both Houdini and his wife were commonly at the theater from 10:30
performance. Their work-day ended toward midnight. In addition, Houdini personally conducted a traveling corps of
419

picture, "The Man From Beyond," in 1921. In the screen drama Houdini, the hero, is discovered by arctic travelers who
camera a dummy was used in the cake of ice, but thereafter Houdini kept up a restless investigation for a method of
420

H O U D I N I and as a showman, Houdini seemed to surpass himself. In the propagandist portion of his show, the manner
Mrs. Houdini was stricken with ptomaine poisoning. A trained nurse was called in, but on Friday, October 7, Mrs. Houdini
was the last day of the run, and it was midnight before Houdini finished supervising the packing of the paraphernalia
were to open Monday night. He had arranged to have Mrs. Houdini go direct to Albany with the nurse, and shortly after
to the country for the day and had not yet returned j so Houdini went to the living-room and lay down on a sofa. It was
sixty hours. In about twenty minutes the family arrived, and Houdini leaped up, all animation. "Aha, Cornelia," he ex-
421

girl. "Aha!" said Houdini, with a mystical gesture into space. As the maid had not conversed with Houdini and there was
apartment to give any hint of the composition, the source of Houdini's knowledge was a matter of bewilderment in the
talked with Houdini on the telephone that Sunday morning and had mentioned the bit of writing. Presently Houdini called
eight o'clock Mr. Ernst reminded his guest of the train, but Houdini said he had forgotten some additional affairs he
422

the stock-like cover of the Chinese Water Torture Cell, Houdini felt one of his ankles snap and a sharp pain shot up
hospital at once," the surgeon declared. "Nothing doing," said Houdini. He waved his hand toward the auditorium, packed
the ankle was broken. The surgeons reset it and advised Houdini to lay off for a week. He insisted on returning to his
423

17. Dr. Hannock, in Albany, had given Houdini a card to a surgeon in Montreal. Houdini went to him for an inspection of
are in the most perfect physical condition." On Tuesday Houdini delivered a lecture on spiritualism before the faculty
taking courses in art made a sketch of the lecturer, and Houdini was so pleased with it that he invited the young man
student called on Friday morning with a friend. The two sat in Houdini's dressing-room while he lay on a couch,
physical endurance. The newcomer asked if it was true that Houdini could withstand heavy blows without inconvenience.
up some letters. The student said something about testing Houdini's ability then and there. [379]
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H O U D I N I Houdini, absorbed in a letter, was not paying attention and gave an absent-minded reply which the boy
reply which the boy interpreted as consent. The next instant Houdini was startled by receiving a series of sharp blows
jumped up in protest.1 The boys left shortly afterward, and Houdini finished his mail. He felt some discomfort from the
so bad that at two o'clock he called Mrs. Houdini and the nurse. Mrs. Houdini massaged him. He could not sleep that
sleep that night. 1 In the course of a curious article on Houdini in the Strand Magazine for August, 1927, Sir A. Conan
Detroit deposed, for the life insurace company in which Houdini was insured, that death resulted from a gangrenous
gave the blows admitted them in a signed statement. The Houdini family naturally was somewhat reticent about the
man's feelings. Sir A. Conan Doyle's intimation is that Houdini died as the result of a mediumistic prophecy, from an
fraudulent mediums had, with evident pleasure, been predicting Houdini's death. Sooner or later one of them was bound
"psychics" of Detroit, that Houdini before the end conversed with the spirit of Robert Ingersoll. Houdini was never
425

Detroit, where the show was due to open the next evening. Houdini was so ill on the train that his attendants wired for
appendicitis, and an immediate operation was imperative. Houdini, informed that the house was sold out, doggedly
work, he fell down on the stage. At one point on his program Houdini produced four girls from a vacant cabinet. Before
426

out of the ether, Houdini grimly set himself to fight. He sensed the doctor's decision, but he was Houdini, he had
427

H I S L I F E - S T O R Y thing of a miracle. Houdini never lost consciousness, and he never ceased fighting. Once a
bad shape. Twice a day the physicians posted a bulletin of Houdini's condition which was flashed all over the
about the antagonist than did Houdini. At the end of seven days�it was Sunday, October 31 �Houdini said to his brother
long moment before his head fell back on the pillow. The Houdini properties had already been shipped back to New York,
ended. Among the paraphernalia was the metal coffin in which Houdini had performed in the Shelton pool his last great
428

Cemetery, Cypress Hills. Among his personal effects Mrs. Houdini found his last letter: "Sweetheart, when you read this

Houdini unmasks spiritualism [electronic resource] modern magician who laughs at locksmiths denies occult communication
by Clarence I. Freed (June 13, 1924)

Details

1

Houdini Unmasks Spiritualism Moderp-Magieian Who Laughs at Locksmiths Denies Occult Communication � L <tf the h H
have Horace Golden, the vtltknown illusionist, and Harry Houdini, generally known as the Handcuff King but perhaps the
of our time. A WIZARD AT HOME WHEN 1 called to interview Houdini in his quiet home in West Harlem, I was prepared for
pressed the button a second tune more courageously, whereupon Houdini himsth* came to open the door for me. A moment
the By CLARENCE I. FREED A MAGICIAN AMONG SPIRITS I ASKED Houdini about his latest book, recently brought out by Harper
I replied that I looked forward to doing so. Thereupon, Houdini arose and secured a copy from a remote corner. No, he
circti^-performer ' -at there m h^ study, clad in a nong r a y neater. Houdini strangely belied Zr ? posters that
vaudeville T* � Can m a k e him5elf heard in the largest HARRY HOUDINI In His New Book, "A Magician Among the Spirits,"
ably written. It tells the truth about Spiritualism 'as Houdini sees it. He is an impartial investigator who approaches
wanting. In a former book. "Miracle-mongers and Their Methods," Houdini exposed the "modus operandi" of fire-eaters,
that there is such a thing as communication with the dead. Houdini has revealed a thousand secrets But has he revealed
thin<r And so I tried to set Houdini to talk pbout himself T didn't have to try very hard HOUDINI'S FIRST THE
"It was a tight-rope walker, Weitzmaa, wfw 4*4 it,*' began Houdini smiling reminiscent!*. "If tamponed in Appleton,
but hfck*fr tl^r grew back again." At this recollection Houdini aitnott doufcW �? with* laughter and I couldn't help
******* vou know him. He's a well-known Jk*�*i- � � � ister." Houdini tried in vain to rrrsil ?*v n*m* U was no use.
2

AMERICAN HEBREW V Houdini Unmasks Spiritualism (Concluded from page 173) fl� ilAH WHO LAUGHS AT LOCKSMITHS HOUDINI then
reference to the performance of these dare-devil exhibitions, Houdini said: "I believe I'm somewhat of a fatalist. And
opening. I never tried to repeat that experiment." v I asked Houdini if lie was a believer in miracles to which he
aside from his hair-raising exploits on and off the stage, Houdini is a master of black art. There is hardly a trick or
mystified even his fellow conjurers. "Sometimes I wonder,'* said Houdini with a touch of sentiment, "whether I am truly
did seem a mystery to me." 1 Now the question arises:" Is Houdini himself a mystery? Sir Conan Doyle thinks he is and,
a mystery to every one. But I hardly think so. Whatever Houdini does, no matter how marvelous or in explicable it may
beyond our powers. But what is there mysterious in that ? Houdini is no more mysterious than was Caruso with his

Houdini could not break death's chains [electronic resource]
(November 25, 1936)

Details

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Houdini Could Not Break Death's Chains To prove spiritualism a fraud, Houdini promised his wife to return after death
messages which he claims come from the dead to the living HARRY HOUDINI is remembered today less as a great magician
death if he could. Ten posthumous birthdays have now passed; Houdini has not communicated with his wife, and she has
this work. In America Duke University is pioneering. While Houdini crusaded with dramatic revelations, the laboratory
telepathic aptitude, but only one in a thousand is aware of it. Houdini demonstrating one of the tricks used by
Harry Houdini, the magician's widow, after her tenth and last attempt to contact the spirit of her husband. Only Houdini

Houdini Unmasked: Code Message Received, By Beatrice Houdini; Records of Two Decades on the Houdini-Ford Controversy, By Lydia Emery
by Lydia Emery (1947)

Details

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nmasked CODE MESSAGE RECEIVED By BEATRICE HOUDINI * * RECORDS OF TWO DECADES ON THE HOUDINI-FORD CONTROVERSY By LYDIA
5

IST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Page Arthur Ford 3 Houdini Sits for Spirit Photography 6 Houdini's Spirit Picture 7 Psychic
Walter Photographed 13 Houdini tricks Margery; The Deadly Parallel 14 Beatrice Houdini 16 Harry Houdini; A late
Franklin Prince 24 Houdini Attempts to Trick Margery 25 Fletcher; Arthur Ford's spirit collaborator 28 Houdini's
's master, Alex Martin 36 Hereward Carrington 36 Beatrice Houdini's Signed Statement 37 Walter Winchell 40 Denis P. S.
6

Page 36), spirit photographer, Houdini is seated; his assistant stands behind him. Houdini never did explain away the
proofs that Houdini has manifested, shows a Denver woman standing with her right hand on the chair to the left. Houdini
Y. MENTAL MEDIUM FRUSTRATES HOUDINI It is interesting to note that, during the time Houdini was trying to expose
RANDOLPH CHAPMAN. Thinking he would not be recognized, Mr. Houdini asked for a reading. HE GOT IT and was flabbergasted
to incriminate the medium by putting a $5 bill in a vase. Houdini was, however, laughed to scorn by the medium and made
7

HOUDINI SITS FOR SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHY (See explanation Page 5)
8

HOUDINI'S SPIRIT PICTURE (See explanation Page 5)
10

once and for all time the GREAT CONTROVERSY . . . 'Did Mrs. Houdini receive the code message from her husband?" and "If
. . only Mrs. Houdini could know. The facts in the case arc: Fourteen years before her passing, Mrs. Houdini began to
of a Hollywood Hotel and, without a medium, tried to call Houdini "back"; for ten years, not missing a year, the
to the contrary, the wide adverse publicity given to Mrs. Houdini's tale, could not be overcome. Lydia Emery The true
but they would not print it. And so, with this booklet "Houdini Unmasked," it is hoped that the greatest hoax ever
this fiasco came with the passing of Beatrice (Mrs. Harry) Houdini, February 18th, 1943. The wife of one of the
11

compensation works in devious ways. Even before the end, Mrs. Houdini was a broken woman. In her effort to reach New
she had ever received the code message from Harry Weiss (Houdini's real name), she broke down; was rushed to an oxygen
on by The Houdini's in their effort to discredit Spiritualism, may never be known. Suffice to say, Mrs. Houdini did
statement. SHE NEVER DENIED IT. She did deny that she ever beard Houdini's spirit voice and that she ever saw his
1 R. G. Pressing 1 he irony of it all was the tact that Houdini was able to have his name before the public every year
tried to follow Houdini's footsteps have been laughed to scorn. Why they hardly had time to bury Mr. Houdini when
12

"Taken from 'Houdini Unmasked� or Records of two decades on the Harry Houdini, Arthur Ford, Beatrice Houdini
cannot be used without special permission. SON OF A RABBI Houdini was born in 1874, son of a Hungarian rabbi who
13

"catching up" with the trickery Houdini tried to play en his sister, Margery, when he (Houdini) hrcught rulers and
15

HOUDINI TRICKS MARGERY (DswudJuL 0 Below Foot Conto1 as t h e camera showed it. Above: the drawing Houdini employed to
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UNMASKED RECORDS OF TWO DECADES On The HARRY HOUDINI, ARTHUR FORD BEATRICE HOUDINI CONTROVERSY By LYDIA EMERY Compiled
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OhouL ihsL jMck&Jt&A, HARRY HOUDINI The following data appeared on page 213, The Encyclopaedia of Psychic Science by
Hcrcward Carrington, many interesting letters are published on Houdini's strange adventures in psychic realms. After
aid, I do not know." The medium was Arthur Ford. Some of Houdini's American colleagues made sweeping concessions. David
19

HOUDINI FEARED HIM SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE called Houdini s blutt many times, both publicly and privately. 18
20

EMERY ' Records of two decades on the Harry Houdini-Arthur Ford-Beatrice Houdini Controversy And ye shall know the
free.�John VIII. 32. Erich Weiss, known to the world as Harry Houdini, American magician and writer, famed for his
21

was for Houdin that Erich Weiss selected the name Harry Houdini; a name which was destined to become linked with one of
controversies in history; the Truth of Surt'iicil. Born in 1874, Houdini's childhood dreams were centered around
group of assistants. It became a common sight to see Harry Houdini tightly bound with ropes, locked in a heavy chest
24, 1924 It was not until the early 1920*5 however, that Houdini received national attention, and this was accomplished
25

of the American Society for Psychical Research; and Harry Houdini, stage magician and escape-artist. There was one
group of seances to be conducted by "Margery-" Although Houdini had accepted the post as an investigator, he did not
until his arrival. It was one of these seances attended by Houdini which apparently decided the judges in favor of the
26

HOUDINI TRIES TO TRICK MARGERY I Hy courtesy of the British College of Psychic Science.) The picture (above) shows
The picture (above) shows Margery in boxed cage devised by Houdini. It was used during a "Scientific American"
is held by Dr. Prince; her left by Houdini. At the first sitting, Walter caught Houdini putting rubber eraser under
27

were gripped on either side by members of the committee. Houdini was chosen to sit at Mrs. Crandon's right and to hold
interrupted by asking what the entity meant by such a remark. Houdini's "Pink Pamphlet" According to the recorded
to ring it. Shortly after the committee's findings, Harry Houdini published his notorious rrPink Pamphlet"
28

Houdini passed away. The Houdini messages were confused by numerous persons for many years. The mother of Harry Houdini
received by the magician, who disbelieved in Spiritualism. "The Houdini Messages," an outstanding booklet on the
Carnegie Hall, New York City, announced he had a message from Houdini's mother, and that the key-word was "Forgive."
the minister a fraud. According to one reporter, Beatrice Houdini had spoken of this message in an interview with the
29

Spiritualist Church in Carnegie Hall. At the time of the first Houdini message, the noted medium and lecturer had
30

which took place in Ford's hotel room, some miles from the Houdini residence at No. 67 Payson Avenue. "The first word,"
The first word relayed to Fletcher by the spirit, Harry Houdini, was "Rosabelle." It was not until two weeks later that
of the ten complete words in the sequence. Speaking for Houdini, Fletcher continued, "He tells me that he has put the
31

seance took place, at which time the last word of the second Houdini message was given. It was "Tell." The time was
written in longhand and delivered to Beatrice Houdini from her husband. "Harry Houdini ^uhose real name was Erich
wife, Beatrice Houdini, the ten tuord code luhich he %voidd do if it were possible to communicate. Houdini says you-
follows: "That last is the message which is to go to his (Houdini's) wife. He wants it signed in ink by each one
32

Stafford, both strangers to Mrs. Houdini, called at the Houdini home where Beatrice Houdini lived with her mother, Mrs.
33

called at No. 67 Payson Avenue, where they met Beta-trice Houdini and two of her friends. The Roman Catholic wife of
She Deny? Relaxing in a chair that had belonged to Harry Houdini, the medium, Arthur Ford, again went as if into deep
Bess, sweetheart," the entity smiled, speaking for Harry Houdini, and repeating the ten words of the code. "This code,"
to tell him whether or not they are right." "Yes," Mrs. Houdini nodded, "they are." Fletcher hesitated, then continued.
them what Rosabellc means." With deliberate movements, Mrs. Houdini slipped the band from her left hand and sang:
34

"Rosabelle" were to spell one word in the Houdini mind-reading code. Quoting Houdini, Fletcher explained the second
35

seances, that Harry Houdini, dead world famous magacian, talked through a medium with Mrs. Beatrice Houdini, his
36

R. G. Crandon, the Boston medium known as "Margery," whom Houdini had attempted to expose, said, in a statement to the
the message had not been received in the presence of Mrs. Houdini; and while certain phases of telepathy were possible
Code While newspapers were hailing this phenomena, Mrs. Houdini, accompanied by those who had attended the seance at
and withdrew a sealed envelope that had been locked in the Houdini vault. Before the witnesses, she broke the seal and
while Arthur Ford was in trance! Even the request that Mrs. Houdini remove her ring and sing "Kosabelle" had been set
a part of the test. Following this disclosure, Beatrice Houdini worded a dated statement on her own stationery,
37

* HOUDINl'S MASTER In the picture above, taken in 1925, Houdini is consulting with his close friend, Alex Martin, noted
acquaintance, Mr. Houdini sat with Martin many times (see picture Page 6). At no time, by word or pen, did Mr. Houdini
39

concerning the mindreading angle had been removed. Mrs. Houdini herself had not knotvn the sequence of words which had
Charles Williams, Mrs. Houdini's press agent, had asked her for the code, as well as other Houdini secrets, to include
articles for the "Evening Graphic," detailing Mrs. Houdini's memory of Houdini's exposes of the physical,
said that he could have produced the "spirit message" from Houdini, which 38
40

Mrs. Houdini proclaimed to be genuine, caused the controversy to wax more violently than ever between the believing and
offered $25,000 for the reproduction of a conversation between Houdini and himself held in the dressing-room of the
these offers were made public, it was pointed out that Mrs. Houdini herself had previously offered a $10,000 reward to
January 19th, 1929, to a letter written him by Mrs. Beatrice Houdini, a copy of which appears: (See Page 40) 39
41

{BJwadwatf anxL By Walter Winchell MRS. HOUDINI EXPLAINS Dear Mr. Walter Winchell:� This letter is not for publicity. T
admit the truth. When the real message, THE message that Houdini and I agreed upon, came to me, and [ accepted it as
42

It's all so confusing. In conclusion may 1 say that God and Houdini and I know that I did not betray my trust. For the
this letter. Forgive it- length. Sincerely yours, Beatrice Houdini At this point in the controversy, the same highly
envelope, containing secret messages entrusted to him by Edison, Houdini, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and that each
45

and 56th St., in New York City, Cat Harris, formerly Harry Houdini's press agent and manager, chose to sit in a seance
46

Spiritualism's Pictorial Journal. During the seance, Harry Houdini related two instances that no one but Harris knew
nature, proved conclusively that, aside from the voice of Houdini, there were additional irrefutable evidence of
that of Harry Houdini and am satisfied that the medium was not speaking or trying to imitate Harry Houdini's voice at
the press agent and manager declared, "I swear that it was Houdini's voice."
48

Spiritualism were a turn-back to the Fall of 1938, when Mrs. Houdini, with the promise of making a million dollars, had
its debut. A Bluff Is Called Within the picture, Beatrice Houdini declared flatly that she had never received a Spirit
Delaware Ave. apartment to present the statement signed by Mrs. Houdini in 1929. Mr. Pressing, however, was greeted
49

A wire was immediately sent to Mrs. Houdini's manager, Dr. Edward Saint, asking for a denial. No denial came.
Racketeers" was a costly error on the parts of Miss Royer and Mrs. Houdini who acted without realizing that A SIGNED
again head-lined as the famous Houdini case was revived in print. Energy Never Dies! Mrs. Houdini was correct in her
Mrs. Houdini was not a medium, and therefore it was impossible for her to either see or hear her husband. Beatrice Houdini
50

playright, whose article, ('Houdini�the Trickster," was based on the Spirit manifestations of Harry Houdini to her
return of Harry Houdini, who played several tricks in order to reveal his presence and identity. Mrs. Houdini Passes
Passes Axvay On February 18th, 1943, Beatrice Houdini died, bringing to a close one of the greatest debates in history.
that J actually got the Houdini tnessage, 1 could not do so except on the basis of Mrs. Houdini's statement, and I
and I cannot do more." Yet many persons have continued the Houdini controversy for almost two decades. Perhaps they

Houdini Magical Hall of Fame
by Butterfield & Butterfield (1999)

Details

1

Houdini Magical Hall of Fame November 15,1999 in Los Angeles BURIED ALIVE/ EGYPTIAN FAKIRS OUTDONE Master Mystifi THE
3

Houdini Magical Hall of Fame To be offered at auction: Los Angeles Sale 7053B Monday, November 15, 1999 Lots 100 - 465
8

850-7500 Ext. 5436 The Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and Other Magic Memorabilia The original Houdini Magical 1 lall of
of Fame was opened in May ot 1968. It consisted of Harry Houdini's personal collection ot handcuffs, pics, keys and
these items were bought by "The Amazing Dunninger" after Houdini's death in 1926 from his widow Bess and then stored in
Dunninger, Servais Leroy, Alexander Herman, Blackstone, Robert Houdini and Jarrett among others, plus many other unique
the display at the Houdini Magical Hall ot Fame in Niagara Falls. These three collections; Harry Houdini's personal
the Great Harry Houdini. No other person in the history of show business evoked the fascination that Houdini did. No
unparalleled in the annals of magic collecting. Unfortunately, Houdini's famous Chinese water torture cell was burned
& Butterfield. I am sure that being the showman he was, Houdini would have been proud to have his collection end up in
to be immortalized forever. Henry Muller Owner, Curator Houdini Mairical Hall ot Fame
9

Houdini Magical Hall of Fame Monday November 75, 7999 1:00 p.m. Lots 100 - 465 100 Maurice Raymond 1931 Scrapbook A
13

Comprising approximately <xy hooks written by Gibson including Houdini on Magic inscribed by Gibson, Magic Handbook,
14

dust jacket, / loiidim's Book oj Magic, 1927 by Beatrice Houdini, Malini and His Magic, circa 1962 by Dai Vernon and
16

Illustration Estimate 2,000/3,000 j o ^ ^ >45 Houdini Picks and Key From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and the I
teeth on both sides and looped handle. All items are from Houdini's personal collection. Together with photograph and
Curator, Houdini Historical Centre. Framed in a shadowhox. 12 inches by -'/'v inches Estimate 2,000/3,000 146 Houdini
Picks and Keys From the Houdini Magical Hall o/ Fame and from the Houdim-Hardeen Collection Consisting of four small
Consisting of four small metal keys and a single round pick from Houdini's personal collection. Together with a
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, The Houdini Historical
111/' inches b\\> 2i'A inches Estimate 2,000/2,500 '47 Houdini Ball and Chain With Ankle Cuff A 20 pound steel ball
17

148 Houdini Neck and Finger Restraint Device Metal contraption comprising a neck cuff connected to a thick long pole,
JJ inches See Illustration Estimate 4,000/6,000 �� ' 149 Houdini Leg and Waist Restraint A one piece restraint
not included. Estimate 4,000/6,000 150 Houdini Plug "8" Neckband From the Houdini Historical Center Flat metal neckband
to Harry Houdini, the Native Plug "8" was used on the slave ship Success. This neckband was brought to Houdini on stage
in Australia and presented to him as an escape challenge. Houdini successfully escaped and kept the restraint. Together
of authenticity from Sidney Radner, I lonorary Curator, Houdini Historical Centre. Framed in a shadowbox. {$J/>
Thumb Cufts From the Houdini Historical Center A small pair of Spanish thumb cufts with key that Houdini claimed to be
a letter of provenance signed by Sidney H. Radner of the Houdini Historical Center. / / ' / ? inches /�)' / ? & inches
18

153 l57 Hardeen H & R Handcuffs hrom the Houdini Historical Center Flat metal cuffs joined by two small interlocking
of provenance signed by Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini I Iistorical Centre. Framed in a shadowhox. IJ inches
Estimate 4,000/6,000 � . _ L o 1 ^ 5i Collection of Five Houdini Handcuffs Comprising: a Lily iron, Ratchett cuff, a
by j j inches See Illustration Estimate 25,000/^0,000 '54 Houdini Pick and Key From the lloudnu Magical Hall oj Fame
authenticity signed by 1 lenry Mullcr, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary
l>\\< _>/'// inches Estimate 2,000/^,000 155 Houdini Key From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame aiul the
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
19

56 Houdini Keys From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen Collection Two metal keys from Houdini's
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
2,000/3,000 <� 160 158 lS7 Houdini Lock From the Houdini Magiciil Hall of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen Collection
shaped padlock with horse shoe shaped latch closure from Houdini's personal collection. Lock is severely rusted with
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
4,000/6,000 158 Houdini Maltby Hand Cuffs Pair of metal hand cuffs manufactured by the Maltby company from Houdini's
throughout. See Illustration Estimate 4,000/6,000 Y^� J59 Houdini Leg Iron With Key Pair of metal leg irons with a
5,000/7,000 T.XT) 163 160 Houdini Bockin Handcuff Silver colored metal Bockin handcuff from Houdini's personal
collection. Sec lllustdtion Estimate 4,000/6,000 jClOo � 161 Houdini Collection of Handcuff Parts Various types ot
all used by Houdini in various acts. / anous Sizes Estimate 20,000/30,000 Cj <jQ0 162 Card Frame From Houdini's
Estimate 1,500/2,000 163 Set of Three Interlocking Rings From Houdini's Display of Small Magic Three large metal rings,
20

164 Houdini Show Steamer Trunk Vintage, deep sepia toned steamer trunk with "ft white stripe down center and Houdini
inches in depth See Illustration Estimate 1,000/1,500 .65 Houdini Khaki-Colored Straight Jacket A khaki-colored
Illustration Estimate 8,000/10,000 166 Various Ephemera from the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame Collection includes a
21

i67 Letter from Proctor & Gamble to Harry Houdini T_\\y>ed letter on Proctor &. Gamble letterhead dated September
See Illustration Q -. ___ Estimate 1,000/1,500 � 168 Harry Houdini Signed Letter to Walter Gibson Single page ftped
yours, Houdini signed in black ink. 5% inches by H'/2 inches . � See Illustration ^1 Estimate 1,500/2,500 169 Harry Houdini
of Varieties featuring European and American Vaudeville. Houdini was the ioth act in the line-up and performed the
Box Mystery. Together with a small portrait photograph of Houdini and an image of him in the glass box from a book.
� � - ��-*&>-�? J A I N . 2 9 The World Famou. HARRY HOUDINI The Creator of the Handcuff King Act and Only
170 Harry Houdini Program 1922 program trom the B.F. Keith's Theatre Amusement Center of Cleveland, Ohio. Houdini was
$1,000 reward to anyone who can prove that it's possible for Houdini to obtain air from the upsidedown position in
photograph of Houdini climbing out of a box. Glue marks on back of photograph. Estimate 500/1,000 ^rjo - 171 Harry Houdini
Victoria Theatre for Houdini's week long engagement starting January 29th. Portrait image of Houdini on front and he is
on front and he is billed as The World Famous Hairy Houdini The Creator of the Handcuff King Act and Only Legitimate
article and images of Houdini as well as back cover. Together with black and white photograph of Houdini laying upon a
22

Stage Attractions * PARAMOUNT ON THE BOAKDWALK ASBUKY PARK "HOUDINI ....Technicolor ft VI Kits" Hill pri-iriil n new
Aslmry P.'irk 176 172 Collection of Photographs of Harry Houdini Four black and white photographs or 1 larry I loudini.
is a picture of Kcllar, Houdini and the Psycho dummy. The fourth is a portrait photograph of Houdini and his wife
Photographs of Houdini's First Flight Consisting of five original black and white photographs of Houdini as he became
Report of Harry Houdini Bithplace Four page photocopy of the final report and recommendation of the Houdini birthdate
date of Houdini was March 24, 1874 in Budapest, Hungary. Together with a copy of the press wire in regards to Houdini's
present on back ot press wire copy. Estimate 300/500 75 Harry Houdini Letterhead Single sheet of letterhead depicting
black with photographic portrait of Houdini 011 upper right. Lettering reads: Houdini World's Greatest Mystery Man and
H'/j inches See Illustration Estimate 200/250 JAJOO � 1 7 6 Houdini Paramount, IQ^J One Scene Card, Extremely Poor
23

Mannequin Torso of Harry Houdini From the LIoudini-Hardeen Collection The modeled torso of Harry Houdini with shackled
178 Life Size Figure of Harry Houdini Lite size static plaster mannequin ot Harry Houdini with shackled hands, feet and
chains, a pair of handcuffs and six types of locks from the Houdini-Hardeen Collection. Arms have deep cracks and
Together with two black and white photographs, a booklet on Houdini and other reproduction photographs. ,_ _ Estimate
consisting of The Adventurous Life of a Versatile Artiste by Houdini, c. 1910, two versions with yellow and red wraps,
1,200/1,500 179 The Right Way to Do Wrong -An Expose by Houdini, 1906 From The Library of Walter B. Gibson First
Houdini From The Library of Walter B. Gibson Selection of tour books including Magical Rope Tics and Escapes by Houdini
Belief edited by Carl Murchison with articles by Houdini, 1927 and Houdini and Conan Doyle by Bernard M.L. Ernst, 1932,
condition. Estimate 600/700 182 Collection of Books By or About Houdini From The Library of Walter B. Gibson Seven
compiled by Hardeen, 1910, Magical Rope Ties and Escapes by Houdini, c. 1920, together with four other volumes. Good to
Written by Houdini From The Library of Waller B. Gibson Lot includes A Magician Among the Spirits by Houdini, 1924, a
edition, and The Adventurous Life of a Versatile Artist by Houdini, c. 1920 , a pitchbook with orange pictorial wraps.
24

wus fully enclosed with no openings jor the head or feet. Houdini felt that total enclosure of the subject would cause
33

reading: Doug Henning Performing His Favorite Illusion: Houdini Metamorphosis. I arwus sizes Estimate 500/1,000 241 243
34

244 Harry Houdini Collection of Wrist and Ankle Shackles Used in Escape Acts An outstanding collection of twenty-one
(plus two padlocks) and a variant of the Lilly Iron that Houdini used in many of his fantastic escape acts. All
display, created from Houdini's actual artifacts, was used as set dressing in the 195} biopic Houdini, starring Tony
sequences: the New York livingroom scene where Curtis as Houdini is miffed because the press failed to greet him after
See Illustration Estimate 50,000/70,000 245 Houdini Thumb Cuffs From the Houdini Historical Center Metal thumb cuffs
United States. Together with black and white photograph of Houdini and letter of provenance from Sidney Radner. Framed
in this form. Houdini altered these cuffs tu suit his needs. Together with portrait photograph of Houdini and letter of
the Houdini Historical Center. Framed in a shadowbox. I^'/J inches by jj'/t inches Estimate 5,000/7,000 247 Houdini
From the Houdini Historical Center Small metal cuffs held together by a thirteen link chain used by Harry Houdini. The
of provenance signed by Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini I listorical Center. Framed in a shadowbox. IS'/I
three iron claws or 'come alongs' are from the collection of Houdini's brother, Hardeen. They would be utilized when a
a letter of provenance signed by Sidney H. Radner of the Houdini Historical Center. /?'/} inches by 20 inches See
35

249 Alamo Cuff From the Houdini Collection This single cuft, made in England and used in 1836 during the Texas War or
later found buried in the sands at the Alamo and conic from Houdini's personal collection. Housed in a shadowbox
ot The Houdini Historical Center. 11V2 inches l>\\ /f inches Sec Illustration Estimate 5,000/7,000 248 250 Houdini
See Illustration Estimate 12,000/15,000 251 Houdini Leg Irons From the Houdini-Hardeen Collection Metal leg irons
chain and used by Harry Houdini. Together with a black and white portrait photograph ot Houdini and a certificate ot
and a certificate ot authenticity trom the Houdini-Hardeen Collection signed and dated Sidney Riidncr, May 10, 7999 in
36

otudinc Show HARDEEN 255 Houdini Lock /VWM //v Houdini Magical Hull of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen Collection Thick
family crest and the letter (,' in center. I he lock is from Houdini's personal collection. Together with reproduction
authenticity signed by Henry Midler, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical 1 hill of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary
21 inches See Illiislration Estimate 4,000/6,000 252 252 Houdini Large Letter Lock From the Iloiidiw Historical Center
and waited outside Houdini's dressing room for over an hour, though, truth be told, it only took Houdini fifteen
wait. Needless to say, Houdini kept the lock as a souvenir. Together with reproduction portrait of Houdini and letter
Illustration Estimate 20,000/25,000 253 Houdini Picks and Keys From the Houdini Magical I lull oj Fame and the
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical I hill of Fame, and Sidney Radner, 1 lonorary Curator, Houdini Historical
Estimate 5,000/5,000 254 Houdini Pick and Key/�><?/>/ The Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
j/'/> inches Estimate 3,000/5,000 256 Houdini Stutz Leg Iron From the the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and the
Miller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall ot Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
Estimate 4,000/6,000 257 Houdini Picks and Keys From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen
37

2S8 Houdini Keys From the Houdini Magical Hall of Faun- and the Houdini-Hardeen Collection The first is a thick rounded
metal key having two jagged teeth and loop handle. Both from Houdini's personal collection. Together with photograph
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical 11 all of Fame and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
1,000/1,500 259 Collection of Seven Houdini Keys From the Houdini Alagical Hall of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen
handle. All are from Houdini's personal collection. Together with a reproduction portrait of Houdini and certificate of
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
1,500/3,000 260 Houdini Tower Double Lock Leg Iron From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen
inserted. Cuffs are held together by a metal chain and are trom Houdini's personal collection. Together with photograph
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall ot Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
Estimate 4,000/6,000 260 261 Houdini Pick and Key From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen
pick having a hollow center and flat handle. Both are trom Houdini's personal collection. Together with reproduction
authenticity signed by Henry Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall ot Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary
Estimate 1,000/2,000 262 Houdini Picks and Keys From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen
flat, the other round. All have looped handles and are from Houdini's personal collection. Together with black and
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall ot Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
Estimate 3,000/5,000 264 263 Appearing Canary Cage From Houdini's Display of SmallMa^ic Small wooden cage with copper
inches Estimate 1,000/1,500 264 Disappearing Card Trick From Houdini ALigical Display Nickel plated stand having a
38

Canister From Houdini s Display of Small Magic Small canister with a false interior used by Harry Houdini to create the
1,000/1,500 268 Harry Houdini Billboard Poster Used on the Road A huge eight sheet billboard that Houdini used to
1920s. Mounted on two separate boards, this image depicts Houdini "Buried Alive" in an Egyptian casket with the Sphinx
overlooking. Verbiage on the poster reads Buried Alive - Houdini - Master Mystijier - The Greatest Necromancer of the
269 Group of Houdini and Hardeen Billboards Four billboard posters mounted on one display including Houdini at
at Wintergartcn, Germany; Houdini at a Circus in Germany; I Iardeen at Proctors Vaudeville Show, and at Miles Theatre.
inches Estimate 600/800 270 Houdini Posters Circa ig-jo 's Five color posters of Harry Houdini with an image of the
acts to the left and right. Poster title at top, reads: HOUDINI SEE DEATH DEFYING FEATS BY THE MASTER OF ESCAPE! Each:
Also included are two 2 6 7 . Ornate Triangular Table from Houdini Museum An ornate triangular shaped pedestal
300/500 Original Portrait Painting of Harry Houdini Depicting a grinning Houdini in dark red |acket, white collared
39

to Houdini Oil painting constructed out ot sewn small canvases, mounted upon black felt, created by an admirer of Houdini
reads: Dedicated to Sid Radner and Henry Midler/For Keeping Houdini Alive/igj^. Estimate 500/1,000 273 Scrapbook
40

Pretended Miracles published by Carlton & Porter, 1S48 and Where Houdini Was Wrong by Maurice Sardina, 1450. Condition
44

VERSATILE ARTIST H 0 U D I N I 66 9 tine Medieimi Exposed Harry Houdini Signed Booklet Orange and black 64 page
Adventurous Life of a Versatile Artist Houdini having a portrait image of Houdini on the cover. The books contents
photographs and illustrations. Signed on front cover middle right Houdini in pencil. Together with a copy of the
Circuit News and Program from the Majestic Theatre, in which Houdini was scheduled to perform. Front and hack cover
page Houdini in pencil. Together with unsigned copy of booklet. Estimate 2,500/3,500 316 Mannequin Head of Harry Houdini
The modeled head of Harry Houdini constructed of painted foam rubber with realistically modeled plastic eyes and brown
throughout; eyes asymmetrically angled. Estimate 500/700 313 Harry Houdini Signed Document Three page typed document
meeting between Houdini and Dunninger in which Houdini discounts Dunninger's mind reading ability. In Houdini's
place. The statement is signed on the first page, upper left Houdini in black ink. Edges are torn and frayed. .S'i'i'
Initial pencil-drawn study tor a lithograph depicting Harry Houdini upside-down in the infamous Chinese Water Torture
possible to obtain air in the "up-side-down" position 111 which Houdini releases himself pom this water filled torture
45

3i8 Houdini Water Torture Cell Poster A large three-sheet poster depicting Houdini suspended upside down and chained in
used by Houdini to promote his daring escape acts while traveling the world over. Captions on the poster boast Houdini
by j8 inches Estimate 10,000/15,000 3*9 Block Trick From Houdini's Display of Small Magic Three piece illusion device
See Illustration Estimate 200/500 320 Wooden Box From the Houdini Collection of Small Magic Small wooden box with
Illustration Estimate 200/300 322 Locked Wooden Box From Houdini's Display of Small Magic Small wooden box with carved
Illustration Estimate 200/300 323 Copper Flower Pot From Houdini's Display of Small Magic Small copper pot tilled with
46

324 v-\\ Houdini Needle Trick Consists <>l a small brown leather case with maroon velvet and satin lining
Circuit News dated November 14, 1915 with a photograph of Houdini performing the needle trick otherwise referred to as
Masterpiece." See Illustration Estimate S,000/10,000 325 Houdini Leg Irons From the Hoiidiiii-Hiirdeen Collection Black
center of links. Together with black and white photograph of Houdini and certificate ot" authenticity horn the
friends from that day forward. 1 ogether with photograph of Houdini and letter ot provenance dated June 27, 1937 a n c
by 20 inches Estimate 8,000/10,000 327 Large Houdini Lock From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and the Houdmi-Hardeen
rectangular shaped flap obscuring the keyhole on front, from Houdini's personal collection. Together with photograph
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
47

328 Houdini British Plug and Cuffs From the Houdini Magical Htill of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen Collection Consisting
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, 1 lonorarv Curator, Houdini Historic.il
by i'1/; inches See Illustration Estimate 4,000/6,000 329 Houdini Billboard Poster From the Theatre Royal in Dumfries,
is a special notice that states how it is impossible tor Houdini to appear in Dumfries as he is scheduled to appear in
produce Houdini that week. Mounted on board with a varnish coating. j o inches by 20 inches Estimate 500/700 Houdini
Pick and Keys From the Houdini Magical I hill oj Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen Collection Comprising two keys with
center and square hook bottom. All three items are from Harry Houdini's personal collection. Together with photograph
Curator, Houdini Historical Centre. Framed in a shadowbox. 12 inches by 2i'A inches Estimate 1,500/2,000 331 Houdini
Rankin Leg Iron From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen Collection Smooth metal leg iron
authenticity signed by Henry Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary
See Illustration Estimate 4,000/6,000 33* Houdini Federal Bar Cuffs From the Houdini Historical Center Set of thin
shadowbox. IJV-I inches by 24 inches Estimate 6,000/8,000 333 Houdini English Bar Handcuffs A regulation pan of English
hands apart so that he could not make use ot duplicate keys. Houdini easily escaped and was presented with the
shadowbox with a small photograph ot Houdini and a signed letter of provenance by Hardeen, Houdini's brother. JQ inches
48

Secrets or trie Handcuff TrlcR 334 Houdini Pick and Key From the Iloudini Magical ILill of Fame ami the
center and the letter /, engraved on each plug. Both are from Houdini's personal collection. Together with photograph
authenticity signed by Henry Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall <>t lame, and Sidney Radner,
2i'/> inches Estimate 1,000/2,000 335 Houdini Pick and Key I'yf/in the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame ami the
Hoiidini-flardccn Collection One key and a single pick from Houdini's personal collection. Both are flat and long with
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
Estimate 1,000/2,000 336 Houdini Picks and Keys From the Hoiuhni Magical Hall of Fame ami the Houdini-Hardeen
authenticity signed by Henry Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical 11 all ot Fame, and Sidney Radner, 1 lonorary
shadowbox. 12 inches by 21V4 inches Estimate 3,000/5,000 337 Houdini French Torture Thumkin While playing the
"Keeper of the Bastille" challenged Houdini to escape trom thi*. device. If Houdini could escape in plain view of the
Of course, he did, and thus this item became part of the Houdini collection. This type of toiture device was used on
a small photograph of Houdini and a letter of provenance signed by Sidney 11. Radner ot the Houdini Historical Centre.
49

games, pu/./les, and magic trick illustrations, edited by Houdini. The pages are severely worn and brittle. See
50

Miracle Mongers and Their Methods -A Complete Expose by Houdini, 1929 second edition and The Secrets ofMahatma
51

Harry Houdim, contains eleven typed p-iges of secrets to Houdini's handcuff escapes. Both have a cardboard cover and
approximately 77 books including such important works as Houdini's Spirit Exposed by Dunninger, M128, The Marvelous
53

2,000/4,000 374 Houdini Providence Tool Co. Handcuff From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fiime and the Houdini-Hardeen
included is a key that fits the lock. Both items are from Houdini's personal collection. Together with photograph and
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
Estimate 4,000/6,000 375 Houdini Picks and Key From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen Collection
-Hardeen Collection Three picks and a single key from Houdini's personal collection. The first pick is flat and
authenticity signed by Henry Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall ot Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary
Estimate 2,000/3,000 7 Houdini Judd Leg Iron From the Houdini Alagical Hall of Fame ami the Houdini-Hardeen Collection
fit. The cuffs are connected by a metal chain and are from Houdini's personal collection. The Judd leg iron was named
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
Illustration Estimate 4,000/6,000 3 7 7 Houdini Tower Double Lock Cuff on Bar From the Houdini Magical I lull of Fame
bar cutt was manufactured by the Tower Company and is from Houdini's personal collection. Together with photograph and
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical 11 .ill of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
54

�HlJ�..r.nJ.L. 378 378 Houdini Early Screw Cuff From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame ami the Houdini-Hardeen
cuff was manufactured during the 1800's and was used by Houdini. Together with reproduction portrait and certificate of
Owner and Curator of the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator of the Houdini Historical
Illustration Estimate 4,000/6,000 379 Houdini Keys From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen
-Hardeen Collection Two flat long metal keys from Harry Houdini's personal collection. Both have triple looped handles
Owner and Curator of the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator of the Houdini 1 listoncal
Estimate 1,000/2,000 380 Houdini Picks and Keys From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen
portrait of Harry Houdini and certificate of authenticity signed by Henry Muller, Owner and Curator of the Houdini
of the Houdini Historical Centre. Framed in a shadowbox. 12 inches by 21V2 inches Estimate 1,000/2,000 381 Houdini
Picks and Keys I'rom the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen Collection Comprising two small flat keys
Harry Houdini bound in shackles and certificate of authenticity signed by Henry Muller, Owner and Curator of the Houdini
of the Houdini Historical Centre. Framed in a shadowbox. 12 inches by 21V2 inches Estimate r,000/2,000 382 Houdini
Picks and Keys From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen Collection Comprising three small keys and
Harry Houdini's personal collection. All five items have loop handles and are rusted. Together with photograph of Houdini
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
55

THE HOUDINI HISTORICAL CENTER ictl willi IIK L'M.'U|H: ih:it the.) removed I tic lock and prc^-nlal il lo Moiuhiit tor
tell lock thai h:id in Ins clk-ciiun. 383 Houdini Mattatuck Handcuffs From the Houdini Magical Hall 0/ /unne and the
photograph ot Houdini and certificate ot authenticity' signed by Henry Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical 1
Curator, Houdini Historical Centre. Framed in a shadowbox. K)3/4 inches by z6Vt inches Estimate 4,000/6,000 384 Houdini
white photograph of Houdini and certificate of authenticity signed by Henry Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical
See Illustration Estimate 5,000/7,000 385 Houdini Prison Cell Lock From the Houdini Historical Center Actual prison
included is a large skeleton key belonging to the lock. Harry Houdini escaped from the cell in London, England to which
ot provenance trom Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator ot the Houdini Historical Center. Framed in a shadowbox. IJ'A inches
56

Magic by Houdini, 1922, Miracle Mongers and their Methods by Houdini, 1920 and The Unmasking oj Robert-Houdm by Houdini
59

good condition. Estimate 600/700 410 Production Kettle From Houdini's Display of Small Magic Copper production kettle
Illustration Estimate 1,000/1,500 Ornate Phantom Tube From Houdini's Display of Small Magic Large metal tube painted
Estimate 500/750 412 Harry Houdini Photograph Vintage black and white photograph of Harry Houdini standing in front of
with eighteen other men in Australia. It is believed that Houdini was one ot the first men to fly the Australian
Keith's Theatre Newsletter with a poem paying homage to Houdini's amazing escapes. Photograph has pinhole marks and is
500/1,000 4 '4 413 Harry Houdini Signed Photograph tage sepia toned photograph mounted onto cardboard of Houdini's
's hands and forearms performing a card trick. Signed Houdini King of Cards in white on lower center. Inscription is
by 4'M inches See Illustration Estimate 2,000/^,000 414 Houdini Straight Jacket Moor length burlap straight picket
60

4'5 I larry Houdini Collection of Ancient Padlocks Used in Kscape Acts An amazing collection ot twenty-five padlocks
two keys from ancient twelfthcenrury European castles that Houdini used in many of his daring and death-defying escape
with red velvet lining and decorative headings that read Houdini in brass letters on either side ot the top border,
display, created from Houdini's actual artifacts, was used as set dressing in the 1955 biopic Houdini, starring Tony
61

416 Houdini Collection of Handcuff Parts Six handcuff parts, sonic incomplete. Consisting of'a single small wrist cuff,
to a neck band). Various sizes Estimate 3,000/5,000 417 Houdini Slave Neck Band From the Hoiuhm Historical Center
pounded metal with large eyelets on each end from Harry Houdini's personal collection. Formerly used during the time of
thick chain through the eyelets, this piece was used by Houdini tor one of his daring escape acts. Together with letter
provenance signed by Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator of the Houdini Historical Center. Framed in a shadowbox. 75%
inches by 21 inches See Illustration Estimate 5,000/7,000 418 Houdini Egyptian Leg Irons Leg irons constructed of thin
in handing over to you a set of Egyptian Leg Irons, that Houdini gave me in London about iyoj. Guess they are the only
22 inches See Illustration Estimate 10,000/15,000 Pair of Houdini's Lilly Leg Irons Pair of leg irons manufactured by
62

4 2 I 420 Two Pair of Palmer and Baldwin Leg Irons from Houdini's Collection Two pair of leg irons manufactured hy
.S'lV Illustration Estimate 4,000/6,000 421 Houdini Chinese Garotte From the Houdini Historical Center The Chinese
notch at a time, thus making tor a slow and agonizing death. Houdini easily escaped from this choker by using a simple
button hook. Together with a black and white phtograph ot Houdini hound in shackles and letter of authenticity from
2^/1 inches See Illustration Estimate 8,000/10,000 422 422 Houdini Berliner Belt and Cuffs Worn by a German prisoner
for a brutal murder, this belt and cuff set was given to Houdini in HJOI by Captain Waterkemph, and were subsequently
by Hardeen, Houdini's brother. 2i'/2 inches by 2j inches See Illustration Estimate 20,000/25,000 423 Houdini Picks From
each ot a different size and having looped handles from Houdini's personal collection. Together with reproduction
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, The Houdini Historical
63

world premiere of the Dutch Opera Company's Circus Opera, Houdini, at the Theatre Carre in Amsterdam, Holland. Framed.
65

inches by 2- inches See Illustration Estimate 3,000/5,000 439 Houdini Mail Bag Escape LJ.S. Government issued blaik and
the most genuine challenge he ever had to accept. In igoj Houdini made his fust mail bag escape in Los Angeles. There
66

THE HOUDINI HISTORICAL CENTER Special l)fc fin k o making Used by Houiiini lu niiikc flat keys 10 III pudkicks,
liowcvci no instructions arc available Sidnc) H. 44O 441 44O Houdini Die for Keymaking From the Iloiitlim Hi\\toru,il
protruding off the right side. The special die was used by Houdini to make flat keys to fit padlocks. Together with a
provenance signed by Sidney Radner, 1 Ionorary Curator of the Houdini Historical Center. Framed in a shadowbox. /5-JO
nj '/J inches See Illustration Estimate 8,000/10,000 44' Houdini French Bastille Belt and Cuffs Constructed ol steel,
possibly unique, Houdini believed this to be the only set in the world. The devicewas secured by padloks which Houdini
frame with a photograph of Houdini and a letter of authenticity by Sidney H. Radner of the Houdini Historical Society.
67

442 443 442 Houdini Thumb Cuffs From the Houdini Historical Center Metal thumb cuffs having serated edges on inside
the West Coast. Together with reproduction photograph of Houdini and letter of authenticity signed by Sidney Radner.
ib'/i inches See Illustration Estimate 15,000/25,000 443 Houdini Thumb Cuffs Small metal pair of thumb cuffs with a
Estimate 3,000/5,000 444 Houdini Cobb Leg Irons From the I loinlmi Magical Hall of Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen
cuffs, held together by a sixteen link chain. Used bv Harry Houdini. Together with reproduction portrait of Houdiui and
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical I lall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
68

445 445 Houdini Romer Leg Iron From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fume and the Hoitdim-Hardeen Collection Romer leg
Muller, Owner and Curator, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical
inches I'v rj'h inches Estimate 4,000/6,000 446 Houdini German Lock From the Houdini Historical Center Small smoothed
reproduction photograph ot Houdini and letter ot provenance signed by Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator of the Houdini I
See Illmtratioii Estimate 6,000/8,000 447 Houdini Tower Cuff From the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame and jrom the
inner-workings ot locking mechanism, used by Harry Houdini. Together with photograph ot Houdini and certificate ot
Magical I lall of Fame, and Sidney Radner, Honorary Curator, Houdini Historical Center. I'rained in shadowbox. n'/i
Estimate 3,000/5,000 448 Houdini Picks and Keys From the Houdini Magical Hall 0) Fame and the Houdini-Hardeen
one fl.it, two round, and two small flat picks trom Harry Houdini's personal collection. Kach piece has a looped handle
portrait ot Houdini and certificate ot authenticity signed by I Ienry Muller, Owner and Curator of the Houdini Magical
69

Estimate 1,000/2,000 449 Mannequin Head of Harry Houdini Head of Harr)' Houdini constructed out of painted foam rubber
throughout. See Hustration Estimate 300/500 45O Collection of Houdini Programs tour Harry I loudini programs from
original blue, red and black flyer reading: First Time Here Houdini The Genius of Escape, trained. 24V2 inches byjo'/t
1,000/2,000 451 Harr\\' Houdini Program March 1922 program from B.F. Keith's Riverside Theatre in New York. Houdini was
inches See Illustration Estimate 500/1,000 HOUDINI 45� 45 < 452 Bust of Harr}' Houdini From the Hoiuhm Magical I
Hoiuhm Magical I lall 0/'Fame Plaster bust depicting a stoic Houdini wearing a bowtic above a base reading I/an-\\i
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Issues of (Jcnii Magazine The first is the October 1945 Houdini Memorial issue featuring a portrait ot his brother
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SALE 7053B - HOUDINI MAGICAL HALL OF FAME Corrigendum All items in this sale are sold as is. Please do not bid if you
151,152.245.246.247.252.332.385.417.421.440.442 and 446 are not consigned by the Houdini Historical Center. Lot 109 -
eked. Lot 164 - Houdini Show Steamer trunk - estimate should read $10,000- 20,000 Lot 168 - Harry Houdini Signed letter
estimate should read $2500-3500 Lot 178 - Life Size Figure of Houdini - estimate should read $1000-1500 Lot 214 -
Toy Collection - estimate should read $1000-2000 Lot 250 - Houdini Pillory Cross Escape - item is gimmieked'and does
. ca. 1860. Lot 418 - Houdini Egyptian Leg Irons - photo does not match Lot 419 - Pair of Houdini Leg Irons- item is
not Lilly. Lot 442 - these are Hardeen thumb Cuffs, not Houdini - estimate should be $2,000-3,000
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APPRAISERS SINCE 1865 Prices include buyer's premium PRICES FOR HOUDINI MEMOR., NO. 7053B, OF 15 NOV 1999 103 105 107
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APPRAISERS SINCE 1865 Prices include buyer's premium PRICES FOR HOUDINI MEMOR. # NO. 7053B* OF 15 NOV 1999 406 407 408

Houdini: The Man Who Walked Through Walls
by William Lindsay Gresham (1960)

Details

2

his way to fame and the friendship of the great. He was Houdini, the most famous professional mystery man of the
methods. The book answers once and for all the question: "Did Houdini work his escapes by some supernormal power?" He
5

HOUDINI The Man Who Walked Through Walls
7

HOUDINI The Man Who Walked Through Walls BY WILLIAM LINDSAY GRESHAM HENRY HOLT AND CO. NEW YORK; C SCHOOLS 1
11

permission to check through his collection of five hundred Houdini letters; Mrs. Laura Abbott Dale, research officer of
sources; Joseph Dunninger for personal recollections of Houdini, as well as for his contribution of photographs from
dealer, old friend of Houdini's; Martin Gardner, who contributed his entire collection of Houdini clippings; Walter B.
clippings; Walter B. Gibson, authority on Houdini and escape magic from whom, years ago, I got most of the carnival
Escapist; Lewis Goldstein, last surviving member of the original Houdini company, for his many anecdotes of the Prison
12

Escape from Flames; Dr. Stanley Jaks for Hungarian sources on Houdini's birth; Fred Keating for his many helpful
pamphlets from his collection; Michael Miller, authority on the Houdini house; David Moffett for research on underwater
disputed points in Houdini letters; Sidney Hollis Radner for the time given me in showing his Houdini collection as
many odd bits of information; The late Audley Walsh for Houdini anecdotes; Dr. Morris N. Young for his ready
13

Gaslight 8 2. The Book of Revelations . 13 3. The Brothers Houdini 20 4. Magic Island 24 5. A Crowded House 32 6. A
15

HOUDINI The Man Who Walked Through Walls
18

2 Houdini Longfellow described as being "by the shining big sea water." The Anishinabeg (other tribes called them
20

4 Houdini a single long coil. Volunteers agreed to do the tying "so that the young men cannot possibly be accused of
22

6 Houdini has, since the dawn of history, been considered an absolute impossibility. I shall endeavor to walk through a
shall endeavor to walk through a solid brick wall." Harry Houdini did just that. Or seemed to. The wall was of solid
envision. Now there was nothing. Speculation was simply torment. Houdini had done the utterly impossible. Where would
23

the grave. This legend died in the public mind only when Houdini again held the headlines. He had come back from the
Houdini denied that it was a spirit message known only to herself. The legend grew. It is still talked about, as Houdini
even the gods. This book is an effort by one who remembers Houdini in the days of his glory to preserve the fascination
meaning for us? The author wrote with that conviction. Harry Houdini began with nothing�nothing, that is, but courage
presidents, and the entertainer of monarchs. This was the Houdini who stepped out of the wings as a legend in his own
of the man hidden by the legend? For all his crotchets, Houdini had one great source of power. Courage was that power,
26

10 Houdini He knew the record of his early life was obscure. Later, when he had fallen out of love with his first hero,
souvenir-program biographies, which tells us that the performer called Houdini was an amazing infant who never cried
locksmith employed him. The legend adds that at the age of nine Houdini was discovered by Jack Hoeffler's Five Cent
28

12 Houdini simple tricks but had taken him down to the Bowery where professional apparatus was glitteringly displayed
this. An "i" added to the name of his hero, Houdin, produced Houdini. (It was many years before Ehrich realized that
then the biggest "name" in magic, Ehrich Weiss became Harry Houdini. Perhaps the choice had been inevitable since the
29

Revelations N<IOW THE BOY who was Ehrich Weiss by day and Harry Houdini by night found direction and challenge in
30

14 Houdini was, he probably had been a professional "physical phenomena" medium�a producer of voices, spectral forms,
copy somehow came to the hands of the newly named Harry Houdini. At that moment he was disinterested (he would not
example, explanations in minute detail of the way a medium�or Houdini� might get out of ropes with which he had been
31

he was helpless. The trick itself delighted the youthful Houdini. He was particularly excited though, by Kellar's
Kellar handled so commandingly. But years separated Harry Houdini from realization of the full dramatic power of the
its most effective presentation. The story will grow with Houdini's growth. For he made the challenge a device
kinds of variety entertainment, and, most important for Houdini, a master of rope escapes. The rope-tie effects have
32

16 Houdini and amusement-seeking crowds. In fact, this form of escape antedates organized entertainment. Ojibwa
the performer. Here is a presentation typical of the ones Houdini must have watched: The crowd, idly sauntering along
33

trick"�as old, probably, as the invention of handcuffs. Houdini's genius did not lie in invention of new effects from
key, seldom really plays it for drama. And for a long time Houdini, after he had acquired a pair of cuffs from some
are of the same make and model, one key often frees him. Houdini early learned this about manacles, but he was slow to
34

18 Houdini in current use in any city, he could safely challenge police officers to manacle him. In every city he could
out from the shoulder, a sixty-pound dumbbell. Jarrow and Houdini worked for "throw money"�that is, they put on their
of slicing, has been in the hands of a spectator)�whereas Houdini, the sleightster, grew to be something of a
in 1892, the support of their mother and sister was up to Houdini and his brothers. Harry thus had one more motive for
35

genuine miracle. Houdini was agile, and his kid brother Dash was willing. With Harry's box the Houdini brothers had an
their money. Many observers thought it was too much. But Houdini was on his way!
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3. The Brothers Houdini IN 1893 the Midwest erupted with a skyrocket burst of outdoor show business. Nothing like the
memorable season, and so did Harry Houdini with his new partner, Dash. The boys, billed as the Houdini Brothers, took
37

The Brothers Houdini 21 Many had been engaged because of some deformity or natural anomaly�the midgets, the
stunts that mystified or startled crowds, and these captured Houdini's professional interest. The sword swallowers, he
heat away from the soft tissues of the roof of the mouth. Houdini admired these acts. His bete noire of the Dime
achievement, since admission here was a dime extra. When Houdini approached Goldin on a one-master-of-mystery-
That makes me six times as important around here as you." Houdini boiled. It was twenty-five years before he forgave
tender scolding and fussing of Mother Weiss. For the Brothers Houdini, reunited and playing around New York, times were
38

22 Houdini stately (Kellar set the style). Houdini was neither. He was short �only about five inches over five
39

The Brothers Houdini 23 gave out with such volume of song that they drowned out the gabble of drunken conversation. The
beams, foggy with smoke and acrid with stale beer�young Harry Houdini would step out "to show youse a few experiments
Berlin, Jimmy Durante and Vincent Lopez all played here. The Houdini Brothers came now to Coney's Bowery cabarets and
with the braid, was the Houdini who originally had been outside! These were the last days of the Houdini Brothers as an
40

Beatrice Houdini, Houdini, His Life-Story by Harold Kellock, from the Recollections and Documents of Beatrice Houdini
the story of the Houdini's meeting, whirlwind courtship, and marriage is given in detail. While Houdini was playing a
way things at Coney Island were run. An amusing glimpse of Houdini's life at Coney raises other doubts. In his earliest
is a curious and interesting newspaper story pasted among Houdini's earliest press clippings. It is dated June 22,
character, apparently got a classic answer to his heckling of Houdini. The headlines give the flavor of the incident.
41

Hall Stage The story, with a spectacular misspelling of Houdini and with much topical reference that is obscure today,
42

26 Houdini crowd's derision. The reporter's overblown prose declines to a final gnomic understatement: "Risey," he
worth of beer would agree to go along with any gag. Just why Houdini clipped this journalistic curiosity about the
man and Beatrice Raymond, born Wilhemina Rahner, met Harry Houdini, born Ehrich Weiss. This has the ring of truth.
Dash's story is an item pasted on the following page of Houdini's scrapbook. Taken from the Clipper, a New York weekly
theatrical news, the story is dated July 28, 1894: The Brothers Houdini, who for years have mystified the world by
Raymond, the petite soubrette, who was married to Mr. Harry Houdini on July 22 by Rev. G. S. Louis of Brooklyn. Harry
43

marriage lasted until Houdini's death, thirty-two years later. Jerry Anderson, an Illinois collector of Houdini
in the ground-floor apartment on East 69th Street. Bess Houdini claimed that Mrs. Weiss was like a mother to her. Bess
44

28 Houdini somewhere in between. In any case, Bess must have known how to adjust to a large family; she had nine
inspected by a Committee selected from the Audience Mons. Houdini's hands are fastened behind his back, [he] is
strapped, the box is then rolled into a small cabinet, and Mile. Houdini draws the curtain and claps her hands three
of her hands the curtain is drawn open by Mons. Houdini and Mile. Houdini has disappeared, and upon the box being
her hands tied in precisely the same manner as were Mons. Houdini's when first entering the bag. Just think over this,
45

soubrette" actually gave the turn more appeal. Few accounts of Houdini's life fail to mention the advice that
it was the fabulous Sam Gumpertz, who plays hero in two Houdini legends) called the young magician aside one day and
had a background of truth. According to reliable reports, Houdini never used the expression again. He never was a
toughest, the proceeds of this pitch kept the newlyweds eating. Houdini never slept more than five hours a night. The
46

30 Houdini problems the new day might bring. Always the first of these was to provide breakfast, sometimes only a
later, when he could afford to eat at Delmonico's or Jack's, Houdini still enjoyed snacks cooked by Bess on their
although he had to skimp on food and other necessities, Houdini saved enough to back up his "challenge." He offered one
money could be protected. If a challenger tried freak cuffs, Houdini would ask to see the color of his money. The
smallest of small-time "vaude" when thr telegram came that made Houdini jubilant, and Bess ecstatic fo*- him. It was
48

ten-thirty. The opening act on any bill, and this was the Houdini's spot, was usually a "silent," tumblers or jugglers.
often missed it entirely or filtered in while it was on. But Houdini was on a Pastor bill� even if his name was in the
In his mind's eye Houdini filled it; he saw the rear of the theater jammed with standees. He was Houdini, the greatest
paying customers gave the trunk trick a good reception, Houdini's smile was that of a conquering hero. Years later Bess
49

mystery, fast and inexplicable. It was the one trick in which Houdini's pace perfectly fitted the routine. Perspiring
50

34 Houdini venture. They made their way to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, winter quarters of the Welsh Brothers' circus,
where they "joined on" by signing an impressive contract. Houdini was to do his card tricks and handcuff escape, Bessie
menagerie, but it could boast that it traveled by rail. Houdini used to tell a story that gives an amusing description
years survived by thinking fast in emergencies. He yelled to Houdini: "Hey, kid�you with the mop of hair�throw some
51

to eat cigars. Spectators at once tested this statement. Houdini, by sleight-of-hand, seemed to put the cigars in his
a troupe of Japanese acrobats, one of whom, Sam Kitchi, Houdini endeavored to teach English. In return, Sam prevailed
with frogs, goldfish, watches, coins, and even live mice. Houdini never tried it with any frogs or mice, but the feat
away from him it would be digested without harmful results. Houdini enjoyed, and learned from, these unconventional
52

YEARS the fact that he had spent a night behind bars was Houdini's most closely guarded secret. Then, as in many other
done nothing reprehensible or dishonest did not matter to Houdini. A son of Rabbi Weiss had spent a night in jail! He
kill her. Like many passionate, overly sentimental men, Houdini underrated the toughness of mothers. What he finally
did with the incident gives a true insight into the man. Houdini made it an exploit, one of the adventures of his
ending: after the jailer had shut them all in the bull pen, Houdini borrowed a hairpin from Bess, picked the lock in a
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38 Houdini quently praised by the editors of small-town papers as being "clean, wholesome entertainment, fit for the
1895, generally is regarded as Houdini's first publicity break. This is not quite correct. Houdini's scrapbook contains
55

Worcester Daily Star; SLIPPED THEM ALL�Fall River Daily Globe; HOUDINI SURPRISES POLICEr�Patterson Guardian. But the
It was turmoil all right. The Gaiety Girls were through. Houdini certainly was not. With the unquenchable optimism of a
Harry this was doctrine, a tenet of absolute faith. And the Houdini luck did seem to take a turn for the better when he
56

40 ' Houdini professional help, however, and he signed Harry and Bess for the show's tour. For his stage name Dooley
introduce my daughter [Bess, of course] and her husband, Houdini, who as my successor will do my famous handcuff act!"
57

proprietor had either a perverse sense of humor or a bad memory. Houdini got a frisky, half-broken animal that started
the horse had all the fractiousness "rode" out of him and Houdini could concentrate on getting out of the ropes, he was
episode. Houdini was always much too vain to clip unfavorable notices. But the local paper must have kidded him. To Houdini
Hartford, Connecticut, and his organ. Beginning in Halifax, Houdini and Bess plugged away, playing it "blue sky"�going
what Bess and Houdini did is about the most discouraging operation in show business. In St. John, Houdini made the
58

42 Houdini the director of a large asylum for treatment of the mentally ill. The doctor asked the young magician to
doctor asked the young magician to visit the institution. Houdini was always to be fascinated by prisons and other
former position for inspection by the medium's "sitters." Houdini wondered whether if he were placed in a strait jacket
59

overcome the massive indifference to the name of Marco. Again Houdini used a device from the asylum�the "crazy crib."
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44 Houdini it, violent mental patients were sometimes held immobile by straps at the ankles, wrists, and waist. The
61

passed the hat and Bess finally got something to eat. But Houdini was not interested in food. He lay on the deck, his
62

his favorite advertising medium, handbills�that Professor Houdini would accept a few students in the art of magic. Nor
63

the World's Fair of 1893" was priced at $5.00. Professor Houdini would, another entry promised, teach anyone the "great
taken two ways. It was, without a doubt, the act with which Houdini originally started. That he originated the act is
court on the grounds that he is an orphan�that is hudspeh." Houdini seemed to have enough hudspeh for a half-dozen men.
64

48 Houdini only a seed through the tough, beer-hall years, it grew, and grew until it seemed to distort his sense of
Lucifer, and a thirst for glory that amounted to an obsession, Houdini took the knocks of mischance with an optimism
until none of your friends can borrow any money to lend you. Houdini would seem to have gone beyond this point. He went
65

little need of a card manipulator and rope-tie artist. (Houdini had temporarily abdicated as the Handcuff King. The
66

50 Houdini At the end of their week's rent Houdini refused to panic. He set out in the morning, as always filled to
revealed himself to the manager not as a comedian but as Houdini, the King of Cards and Handcuffs! The manager bleakly
67

pitch that extolled the unique virtues of "the remedy." Houdini passed among the crowds distributing the bottles. The
had a bouncy young son, still iij the diaper stage, whom Houdini immediately called "Buster." Even with the California
68

52 Houdini Concert Company he made a contribution to theatrical history. For Harold Kellock's biography of Houdini,
California Concert Company was not entirely dreary. Even for Houdini (when he could look back from success) their
69

ANNOUNCEMENT EXTRAORDINARY Opera House: SUNDAY, JAN'Y 9 HOUDINI THE GREAT Will give Sunday night A SPIRITUAL SEANCE in
Seance in Public Ever Given by HOUDINI except in large cities and then at advanced prices. HOUDINI'S work the past week
Sunday School card. "You won't disappoint us, now, Harry." Houdini's eyebrows drew down into his habitual frown of
70

Minnie Williams, whose heavy-footed specters had filled Houdini with a mixture of wonderment and disgust, Harry had
71

power whatsoever." Hill's eloquent introduction gave Harry Houdini's first Sunday a proper setting. Galena had stayed
brass; and it is likely that, before the curtain went up on Houdini's first performance as a spirit medium, Bess was on
"medium" would get all he needed to give an impressive reading. Houdini had all the equipment necessary for a raucous
cabinet. While it soared, the curtains would part to show Houdini still firmly encased in the sack. But the "message"
skeletons in the town's closets to enable the young medium, Houdini, to "slaughter 'em!" A few performances of this
72

56 Houdini see the spiritualistic phenomena, and receive the messages; the other acts were only being patiently
his life and might conceivably concern him even in death? Houdini had found out about Uncle Elijah from a visit to the
details that make messages from the "happy summerland." Houdini's manual of operations, Revelations of a Spirit Medium,
73

divided the performance into three parts. In the first, Houdini did handcuff and rope escapes but presented them in
and the Chevalier Pinetti in 1784�had featured it, as had Houdini's early idol, Robert-Houdin, in France through the
but also transmit to her the initials engraved inside it. Houdini had taught Bess his own version of the old Robert
74

58 Houdini impish sense of humor, felt an uncontrollable urge to "do a Brodie on it"�mind reader's slang for taking a
fashion, and went on into the theater. During the performance Houdini also decided to "take a Brodie." He got a spirit
75

audience wept tears by the gallon, then brightened when Houdini�divested of mustache and the paper wads that had
76

horizontal bar brought forth an enthusiastic response from Houdini. It gave him an opportunity for dramatic display of
commercial product in which he had the slightest interest�and Houdini was tempted to leave show business. Other
77

a spectacular publicity stunt gave Harry his next boost. Houdini had often been dismayed by press indifference. His
by walking into headquarters and announcing, "I'm Harry Houdini, the Handcuff King. I'm playing over at the Bijou
78

62 Houdini tive, this sometimes worked. But it was not the approach to take in Chicago. Harry set up his challenge by
and they, in turn, took Harry to the great Andy Rohan. In Houdini's previous jail stunts, police had fastened handcuffs
right-angle shape will often bypass the wards and shoot the bolt! Houdini got a good look at the cell locks, then
79

newspapermen were "alerted" to the fact that something was afoot. Houdini, they learned, was challenging the Police
Big Andy was in a better mood on the day of the challenge. Houdini looked doubtful and apprehensive when Rohan put
relations of the times, which Houdini had learned. In a short time, a very short time, Houdini strode triumphantly
thunderstruck. "Andy Rohan was just telling us," they informed Houdini, "that you've been nosing around the jail for a
lock with a key blank covered with paraffin or something." Houdini spoke softly, but there could be no doubt as to what
was something new, even for Chicago in the year 1898. And Houdini was speaking, perhaps for the first time, with the
80

64 Houdini new challenge to puzzle about. For the very word naked was disturbing enough. It was sometimes printed n d
searched. It is all but impossible to tell exactly what Houdini did on any particular occasion. Given the effect, one
only speculate on the causes and rely on a knowledge of Houdini's methods. In this instance it would seem obvious that
and leg irons and the pick that unlocked the cell door, Houdini hid these minute objects somewhere within easy reach
Houdini was given a chance to perform the feat again. This time, he freed himself even more quickly than before. Houdini
the story was featured on a page near the theatrical ads, Houdini rushed to buy up copies of the paper. He and Bess
which he duly pasted in the front cover of his scrapbook: HOUDINI the undisputed King of Handcuffs was stripped STARK
81

week. Death had taken the headliner off the bill. This was Houdini's second chance to break into big-time vaudeville.
Without her there was no trunk trick; without that, no closer. Houdini knew the act would be thin. Yet he could not
however, agreed�star billing at eighty-five dollars a week. Houdini was desperate. He tried still another excuse.
hundred dollars. At this price, relayed hurriedly to her by Houdini in whispers, Bess leaped out of bed. "Just get me
82

66 Houdini a couple of weeks. But after the glories of the Hopkins Theater, Houdini had a humiliating experience in
the story. Its headline read: WAS AN UNFAIR TEST; MAGICIAN HOUDINI SAYS SERGT. WALDRON PLAYED A JOKE ON HIM. The
83

and unlock their cuffs first." It had never occurred to Houdini that anybody would have so little respect for
patronized him, the "lightning illusionist" Horace Goldin. Houdini was trying to cram a halfhour's act of magic into a
wonders�asked them to have supper with him. When they were settled, Houdini expanded in the presence of this cultured
84

Houdini "I would say," remarked the stranger, "that you are securing the pigeons from standard loading pockets." Houdini
for me, doing just those effects. . . ." "Work for you?" Houdini had the scalding realization that the well-mannered
the name," Houdini faltered. "Naturally, son. I didn't give it. I'm Martin Beck. Orpheum Circuit." For once Houdini was
85

five dollars. In view of the cost of meals along the way, Houdini loaded a hamper with food and he and Bess shared an
Albuquerque. There they had a couple of hours' wait and Houdini, always restless, got off the train to 69
86

70 Houdini stretch his legs. Bess remained aboard, prostrated by the heat. The train had started to roll and Bess was
The train had started to roll and Bess was in a panic when Houdini appeared, lugging a large package. He had come
the dime museums again. Martin Beck's instructions that Houdini was to put away his cards, silks, and pigeons and
which Beck insisted on calling an "escape"� had surprised Houdini as much as the offer of sixty dollars a week. To him
proud challenge to confine him so that he could not escape. Houdini, preparing for his stint with Beck, realized that
87

conquer under any conditions and with no difficulties at all. Houdini had found that his challenge to the audience to
88

72 Houdini In his first police tie-in in San Francisco, Houdini was introduced to the men of the detective bureau by a
cops laid out all the cuffs and leg irons they had, and Houdini added to them from his own satchel. He explained that
belonged to Houdini. The detectives who put them on him tested them by locking and unlocking them, as Houdini always
newsmen were simply after a good story and good pictures, and Houdini was fast learning to give them both. Nor was he
long way to make his path smooth with press and police. Houdini learned the way to handle cops�to infer that the boys
different�or were different in the year 1899. And Harrry Houdini found that most of them were uncooperative unless
accompanied by a five and the winning Houdini smile, could do wonders in getting Houdini a good look at the key to a
89

small dark-red metal trunk on which, stenciled in white, is Houdini's name. Inside the trunk are mystery and wonder, a
plug of an English "Plug Eight" cuff. Another, typical of Houdini's collection, is a double-end skeleton key possibly
bear tags or labels�Houdini knew them by sight and touch. The question arises unavoidably�how did Houdini, in the
keys? And how did he use them? Sometimes, we may be sure, Houdini had his keys hidden under the carpet or in the
was, of course, invisible to the audience. It was one of Houdini's early discoveries that the more cumbersome and
90

74 Houdini easier it is likely to be on stage. As an example, audiences found among the most dramatic stunts in his
audiences found among the most dramatic stunts in his repertory Houdini's escape from handcuffs, leg irons, and a mass
wondered, did the chained man get free? It was not, as Harry Houdini rated effort, a very difficult job. Unlike
91

Houdini. Totally different from the traditional vaudeville artist who relishes his brief leisure between shows, Houdini
92

76 Houdini and shivering in the alley, he seldom resisted bringing it back to their lodging under his coat.) And,
was in his own mind and was spelled in capital letters: HOUDINI.) Bess had married an eccentric, but a genius. If she
93

There was no follow-up of this attempted bridge jump in Houdini's scrapbooks, so it is likely that at the last minute
94

78 Houdini a rehearsal for his first manacled dive from a bridge, which was also forbidden by the minions of the law.
But that was to occur far away and in another country when Houdini, lawabiding by choice and training, did actually
tradition-bound managers to appreciate. Or so it seemed to Houdini. The year which had started so ignominiously in
hoped, would be a turning point. Early in 1900, however, Houdini had another humiliating defeat� something which, to
conversation piece for a time, but no more. To a man of Houdini's tender ego, it was an unbearable attack on his
allowed as how he'd fix the feller as gets out of handcuffs. Houdini had entered a telephone booth, one that amounted
The hammering, kicking, and screaming which followed when Houdini found himself a prisoner were terrifying to hear. The
95

79 confederate finally "found" the key and let Harry out. Houdini went looking for the malefactor and would probably
his rage had subsided a little under Bessie's sympathy, Houdini fell into a pit of the blackest gloom. Again, as in
in a phone booth? It was years before anyone ever caught Houdini in the same trap again. Then it was a group of fellow
have his legend tested by practical jokers at every turn. Houdini remained cagey and watchful. And he quietly let it be
otherwise; vaudeville actors were inveterate pranksters. Houdini also took care to carry a little gimmick which
himself with his constant barrage of autosuggestions: "I am Houdini. I am great. I am famous. I am on my way to riches
96

Bess: "We're going abroad! They never seen nothing like Houdini over there. Never saw, that is." To Bess' unspoken
She set about making a list of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Houdini was now twenty-six. He and Bess had scraped up just
97

oung Samson 81 tion, shared by both of them, that Harry Houdini was a genius whom nothing could stop. On May 30th the
their great adventure. When the ship got past Sandy Hook, Houdini's troubles began. As he had learned on the trip from
generation previous, who had also claimed supernatural powers. Houdini was in need of a manager. He had never had one,
True to the old vaudeville slogan, every bad break brought Houdini just that much closer to the good one waiting for
Day. In addition to being very young, even younger than Houdini, Day was not prejudiced against Americans. He was quite
98

82 Houdini to the world of show business and hence did not suffer from that atrophy of the imagination which is said to
to regret playing his hunch�only a few years later he and Houdini were partners in the Crouch End Empire Theatre and
back as 1871. What caught Slater's attention, however, was Houdini's challenge to members of the audience to bring
in signing you on for a fortnight." This was a challenge, Houdini's meat. "Come with me to Scotland Yard right now," he
they'll be the real thing and we'll not give you the key." Houdini frowned intently and demanded, "Go on, handcuff me.
way into the corridor. "Here," he announced, while pulling Houdini's arms around a pillar, "is the way we handle
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Harry said, handing Melville the handcuffs. Then he smiled. Houdini knew, by experiments he had made before he ever
Superintendent Melville, who admired pluck and ingenuity, Houdini was duly signed by Slater for a fortnight at the
darbies" of Scotland Yard spread all over London. Harry Day, as Houdini's manager, began burning up the wires with
carrying signs advertising "HOUDINI" fore and aft, paraded the London streets. At the end of August, Houdini was still
have been too much for almost anyone's composure, let alone Houdini's. For years he had fought desperately to keep his
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84 Houdini spring. Now, with the economic pressures suddenly removed, his ego responded like a spring suddenly
removed, his ego responded like a spring suddenly released. Houdini's vanity uncoiled at an alarming rate. As his own
over, and believed every word. Toward the end of summer, Houdini gave Mr. C. Dundas Slater a renewal for the month of
famous variety theater refused to do. They, too, wanted Houdini. Almost overnight, from an act nobody would buy at
sold out six days in advance. Much has been written about Houdini's distinctive act and its implications�the buried
almost everything not compulsory was verboten. When Harry Houdini, the American "outbreaker," stepped quietly from his
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newspaper editors were of a different breed. With them, Houdini had several strikes against him from the start�he had
became Houdini's assistant during those first hectic months and stayed with Harry for many years thereafter. Houdini
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86 Houdini carefully manacled so that escape would make for sure-fire publicity, and come up free? When Houdini asked
herd on German cops. The official passed the word along for Houdini to go ahead and do his publicity jump�they couldn't
another, Houdini cooked up challenges the German papers could not ignore. The unbeatable trio finagled Houdini into a
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order in the Reichl The local papers printed the story, and Houdini now had an official precedent which other cities in
Waldmann of Vienna trying tcr get the Wintergarten to release Houdini; then pleading with the Alhambra to let him start
his contract called for. With managers fighting over him, Houdini gleefully clipped newspaper stories from the papers
demand and booked solid. Europe was going escape-crazy and Houdini grew frantic at the thought of how much he could
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88 Houdini made for Her Majesty. He persuaded the shopmen to sell it to him�his mother and the late queen were
what it was now worth. Never one to quibble about money, Houdini plunged ahead, intoxicated with the sight of people in
planned, in dreams, for his mother. And in things like this, Houdini was never to grow up; or, at least, not while
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HOUDINI. In a few moments the housemaid returned with the disturbing news that Madame knew no one by the name of Houdini
Frauds! Held over a month the first spot I play over here; Houdini is turning them away in Hamburg, in Berlin, in
sudden? I'll fix 'em. I'll do 'em something; they won't forget Houdini. They want to play dirty, so I'll play dirty."
was refusing to see. The protocol, it seemed, would be for Houdini to make contact with some highly-placed figure in
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90 Houdini "Respects, nothing," Harry had caught his breath. "I'll write a book exposing the old fraud, the old mumzer.
Kukol excused himself, bowing sharply from the waist to Frau Houdini, and made his exit. Finally Harry retrieved his
he couldn't play in their yard. . . . Seven years later, Houdini published at his own expense a book called The
his life story had been written by a professional writer. Houdini, who at the start wanted to pattern his own life
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Kaiser A,.FTER PLAYING the Paris date to record houses, Houdini hurried back to Germany. He was suing a German police
25, 1901. The general drift of Graff's article was that Houdini was "misrepresenting his talents" and the German people
to the Schutzmann, nobody could get out of everything and Houdini was, therefore, guilty of "misrepresentation" in his
that they could inflate almost any claim and make it stick. Houdini scurried around until he found a lawyer, Herr
German official in a German court, and the fight was on. Houdini's case against Werner Graff for slander was brought to
took the stand and explained to the judge and jury that Houdini was a vaudeville illusionist capable only of releasing
appointed officers of the Reich who were experts at such things. Houdini's counsel maneuvered it so that Graff's
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92 Houdini became a challenge. As a result, Graff consented to having Transport Policeman Lott confine Houdini in a
fixtures of American vaudeville and musee performers and that Houdini had started his act with it in the dime museums.
and Schutzmann Graff was ordered to apologize publicly to Houdini "In the Name of the Kaiser." Graff and his colleagues
trouble to make an effectual key to fit it. This time it was Houdini v. the lock�no confining devices being imposed.
an accurate account of what happened, we may suspect that Houdini had on his person a drill which he applied to the
be opened. The court was sufficiently impressed to give Houdini the verdict again. Graff and his colleagues now took
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and he is also fined to pay all costs of the three trials. Houdini has the right to publish the verdict one time in the
make the public's attitude change from mere enthusiasm for Houdini to positive hysteria. And it gave Harry one of his
the request of the judges. In recounting this adventure, Houdini would describe in dramatic style the fear and
somebody had crossed him at the last minute, in which case Houdini would really have had a fight on his hands if the
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94 Houdini who would assume that the artist had paid for the trophy himself. In April of 1902 Houdini made a quick trip
way and dumped him from a height of nearly fifteen feet. Houdini was badly shaken up but not injured. His exploits in
little to lose by Houdini's beating his device, but Houdini could lose everything. Along the way, Houdini had also
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In the Name of the Kaiser 95 horses. Houdini had never foreseen this explanation of his feats and hastened to forestall
true�his head was in full view but not his hands and feet. Houdini kept this small half-cabinet in the act as long as
up and swept through the front curtains to take his bow. Houdini had found, at last, the way to "sell" the handcuff
cautious in his claims while in Germany, to avoid trouble. Houdini met trouble in head-on collision, and made it pay
issue public apologies to Houdini "In the Name of the Kaiser." No one ever dared "slander" Houdini in the public prints
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The Impregnable Box DURING HIS German tour, Houdini developed a challenge gimmick which was to help determine the
escape. It doesn't sound very dramatic in bald outline, but Houdini brought to it all the know-how of challenge and
Then, later in the week, at the close of the evening show, Houdini entered the box onstage while carpenters from the
waited, breathless with empathy for the ausbrecher. When Houdini emerged from the cabinet after the tension had mounted
of the committeemen on the stage. We must not forget that Houdini's first large piece of magical apparatus, acquired
the substitution trunk, working on a different principle. Houdini's first challenge box in Germany was probably a very
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97 and the size of the nails. That the box should be in Houdini's possession at the beginning of the week for display
dressing room, just before the big challenge performance, Houdini had time to knock out the nails holding one of the
was crashing its way through "The Chariot Race," one of Houdini's favorite numbers whenever sounds within the "canopy"
"canopy" needed to be drowned out. In performing this trick, Houdini's reputation as a Handcuff King stood him in good
packing case depended on entirely different principles. Houdini had been doing magic, with or without an audience,
trick several times but each time by a different method. Houdini began, with the first of his packing-box escapes, to
suspect that he hammered out boards and replaced the nails, Houdini varied his technique.
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98 Houdini He had the box constructed onstage, plank by plank, with nails that were unusually long. Then he used a
got to give. In the case of piano boxes (always a favorite Houdini challenge device, since he could make a tie-in with
driven home and the cabinet placed around the structure, Houdini was already well on his way out. The manacles were
orchestra blasting away at "The Storm King" (as many repeats as Houdini needed), he lost no time in disassembling the
leaving all shipshape. A steel-banded box, according to Houdini's notes as edited by Walter Gibson, offered no
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faked." While the notes do not mention it, since they were for Houdini's own use, the staples in the steel band which
straps around the box, hammering in very short staples which Houdini could pull loose by tugging in on the secret panel
attempt to figure out the method of escape. But no matter. Houdini would not offer it to them until he and his
self-liberator, HOUDINI, got out of at the Palace Theater. . . ." When word began to get around that Houdini opened
the canvas bag at all. In this escape, which was one of Houdini's early triumphs, the trick board in one end of the box
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100 Houdini When Houdini was inside, having the canvas cover laced on by the committeemen, he was already at work with
long screws. The tying finished and the cabinet in place, Houdini pulled in the trick board and began untying the
listen to the local band playing in a kiosk. So here, with Houdini in the box and bag, they got a concert while they
applause. But when it came to tricks, that spring of 1903, Houdini did not limit himself to the box escape. In London
a near-by town where the warders were more cooperative. Houdini played it up big, always insisting that they confine
or whoever was in charge, was always part of a successful Houdini jail break. Such officials more than once were
when Houdini had made good his escape only minutes before. The handbills had been printed ahead of time, and Houdini
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The Impregnable Box 101 Harry Day had booked Houdini into the Establishment Yard of Moscow, so in May the doughty
locks�whether of trunk or prison cell� were pretty crude. Houdini needed a worthier challenge. He decided on a bold
was a good three feet above the lock which, according to Houdini, was built so that the key locking it in Moscow would
scribble down when talking to Houdini. Of one thing we can be sure, since it is so typical of Houdini's known methods:
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102 Houdini The escape violated one cardinal rule of the successful challenge�" never publicize any escape that you
Apparently, Kukol was supposed either to pass them to him after Houdini had been searched or leave them lying where he
Boss was getting. When the Russians were satisfied that Houdini had no gimmicks concealed on him anywhere, they kept a
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prevented him from having Houdini grabbed and searched. No reporters had been present, but Houdini was nonethe
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104 Houdini less gleeful as he made his way back to the hotel by droshky. He had swallowed the gimmicks during the
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three weeks at the great Nischni-Novgorod fair. All his life Houdini had heard of this fair, then the largest and
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106 Houdini marveled in their turn at a man who could slip off handcuffs and chains and miraculously escape, apparently
Kukol hurried to Holland and the Circus Carre. In Drodrecht Houdini escaped from an old prison. The director of the
in the mighty Hippodrome yesterday afternoon when Harry Houdini, the "Handcuff King," stepped into the arena and
of the Mirror had stepped into the arena, in response to Houdini's challenge to anybody to come forward and
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possible by challenging Mr. Houdini to be manacled with the cuffs. Like a true sportsman, Mr. Houdini accepted our
he did not like the look of the lock. MIGHTY AUDIENCE Mr. Houdini's call was for three o'clock yesterday, but so
by the arena steps, the Mirror representative watched Mr. Houdini's entrance and joined in giving his opponent-to-be in
ovations mortal man has ever received. "I am ready," said Houdini, concluding his address to the audience, "to be
fair play, and Mr. Houdini asked his friends also to step into the arena and watch his interests. HOUDINI HANDCUFFED
HANDCUFFED This done, the journalist placed the handcuffs on Mr. Houdini's wrists and snapped them. Then, with an
being satisfied as to the security of the handcuff, Mr. Houdini said;� "Ladies and Gentlemen:�I am now
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108 Houdini locked up in a handcuff that has taken a British mechanic five years to make. I do not know whether I am
them, in the center of the arena, stood the little cabinet Houdini loves to call his "ghost house." Restlessly pacing
placed its reliance on the work of a British mechanic, and if Houdini succeeded in escaping in the first few minutes it
sped. Still the band played on. Then, at 22 minutes, Mr. Houdini put his head out of the cabinet "ghost house" and this
strong electric light. The band broke into a dreamy waltz as Houdini once more disappeared within the canopy. The
shame!" gave Houdini an encouraging clap, and the journalist resumed his stride. At 35 minutes Mr. Houdini again
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no desire to submit Mr. Houdini to a torture test," said the representative, "and if Mr. Houdini will permit me, I
audience. For 20 minutes more the band played on, and then Houdini was seen to emerge once more from the cabinet. Still
Mr. Houdini, but I cannot unlock those cuffs unless you admit you are defeated." The reason was obvious. Mr. Houdini
request than appeared on the surface. FROCK COAT SACRIFICED Houdini evidently does not stick at trifles. He maneuvered
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110 Houdini The novelty of the proceeding delighted the audience, who yelled themselves frantic. The Mirror
action loudly. Grimly, however, he looked on and watched Mr. Houdini once more re-enter the cabinet. Time sped on, and
finishing a stirring march when, with a great shout of victory, Houdini bounded from the cabinet holding the shining
and the committee, rushing forward as one man, shouldered Houdini, and bore him in triumph around the arena. But the
be made, and asked Mr. Houdini's permission to present this to him at no distant date. Mr. Houdini told the audience
play in any contest he had been called upon to enter. Mr. Houdini's wife was present at the performance, but just
was so overcome that she had to leave the Hippodrome. Mr. Houdini called his charming wife his mascot. "Eleven years
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ever since. I never had any before I married her." Mrs. Houdini is a fair, cultured, beautiful American lady, petite,
fascinating, and clever. A SPORTSMAN'S TELEGRAM Last night Mr. Houdini sent us the following telegram:� EDITORS MIRROR,
HARRY HOUDINI" The full text of the Mirror account of this famous challenge has been given so that we may study Houdini
day reported it. But much can be read between the lines. Houdini's correspondence with the London magic dealer Will
his American friend but always professed his admiration of Houdini's good traits while refusing to whitewash his memory
characteristics. In December of 1929, three years after Houdini's death, Goldston published a book, Sensational Tales
containing a number of recollections of Houdini. In one chapter, titled "Did Houdini Fail?" Goldston brings up the
case. He makes an addition to the newspaper story; after Houdini had taken the pillow for his knees into the cabinet,
water. This she did, placing it on the edge of the cabinet. Houdini took the glass between his hands and drained it.
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112 Houdini and flung the handcuffs on the stage." Goldston goes on to say that a friend (unidentified) whose sources
but a story for his paper, soon to be forgotten, it meant Houdini's professional life. Then, the tale goes, the gallant
was one way out of the Mirror cuffs it was just this way. Houdini's violent sobs, while the delighted spectators were
story, praising Bess as attractive and clever. And there is Houdini's special telegram, which seems to be saying
something more than merely a "fair test." However it happened, Houdini got out. And typically, a few years later, he
challenge in a wellprinted booklet of sixty-four pages, Harry Houdini, the Advert
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on his staff sold in the theater lobbies. So hectic was Houdini's life and so filled with the setting up of challenges,
to some anonymous pit in one corner of the grounds. But Houdini forestalled this by buying the plot and deeding it to
Martinka's Palace of Magic on Sixth Avenue, New York City. Houdini at first held himself aloof from his brother
the organization for a number of years until his death. Houdini's first grave-restoring efforts�in the
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114 Houdini in hand, standing by the grave. Placing flowers on the grave of some old-time great of magic was something
from them in competition. He was an odd little guy, that Houdini. There was one sure-fire way to get along with
There were magicians whose egos were just as inflated as Houdini's and with these he had frequent and violent clashes.
came away empty-handed. When he died, it was learned that Houdini had been supporting over a score of people by
never breathed a word of these charities to anyone. Many of Houdini's secrets were secrets of the heart.
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tumblers from inside. The widespread ignorance about safes Houdini decided to exploit early in 1904. Here, again, much
observation and deduction. The challenge, publicized by Houdini, was that he could escape from "any bank safe in
a new model they were proud of and wished to publicize. Houdini specified that the safe, a mammoth affair, should be
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116 Houdini audience that there was a very small quantity of air in the safe and that he would be forced to make his
inside. When the three men emerged, the doctor, prodded by Houdini, told the audience that he would testify in any
concealed about his person. The other spectator agreed. Houdini then thanked the doctor and the "umpire" for their
The representative of the safe company informed them that Houdini had agreed to knock on the safe wall if he was
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Collection The earliest known professional photograph of Harry Houdini, probably taken around 1893. On a pillow to the
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From the Dunninaer Collection One of Houdini's favorite photographs, displaying his muscular development and some of
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Actually Jim is waiting for the "all clear" signal from Houdini, announcing that the secret catches holding the escape
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Service As the hero of a film melodrama, Terror Island, Houdini is bound with chains by the "bad guys" while they plot
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In this crowded study of the house on West 113th Street Houdini planned new illusions and collected material for books
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Courtesy of Brown Brothers A dream come true: Houdini and Collins (second from left) build props for the big magic and
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the theater manager should order the performance stopped; Houdini might already be dead. By the forty-five-minute mark
reached its highest point, one of the screens moved. Then Houdini, his bathing suit plastered to him with sweat, calmly
remained a mystery.* The trick really begins with an idea in Houdini's mind, possibly gained in the middle of the
with friends in magic about the advisability of revealing Houdini's secrets such as this one of the bank-vault escape.
intriguing mystery is performed, it loses respect for (a) Houdini (b) all magicians. I do not agree. If magic were a
any harm at this date in revealing the modus operandi of Houdini with the famous bank vault.
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118 Houdini papers of every lock patented in the United States, Great Britain, France and Germany, and he knew more
locksmith of New York, Charles Courtney, always insisted that Houdini was far from being a lock master. From Courtney's
concerning the installation, servicing, and repair of locks which Houdini did not know and didn't care about. His
papers of a challenge safe with more than usual care. When Houdini was sure of his way out of the vault, he went ahead
When the safe was delivered and installed at the theater, Houdini really got to work. He took off the plate of the
The gimmick was fastened to Goldston's finger ring. When Houdini shook hands all around, Goldston's was the last hand
outside, while the audience slowly went mad with tension, Houdini was sitting on the stage behind the screens, quietly
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this sensation. It took a peculiar form of genius which was Houdini's alone. Once his secret became known there was a
In the spring of 1904, while "packing 'em in" in London, Houdini began to feel "seedy." His shirt was drenched with
that if he did not get to bed and stay there he would die. Houdini reluctantly went to bed; he must have been
the first of April. In some- biographical notes written by Houdini he says that he spent the months of June, July, and
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120 Houdini Dramatic Mirror. His column was tightly packed with accounts of the leading European acts and Americans
editors it was not so overburdened. The home front knew Houdini had been playing to record houses. But still the big
far ahead as he could. "So over here they never heard of Houdini yet, outside the trade papers!" he stormed at the air
London they carry Houdini around the hall like a general, he just won a war! And here they don't know if Houdini will
begging for me. On their knees they got to come begging to get Houdini." Harry had brought home a mountain of magical
Evans Evanion, who had turned up, old, ill, and broke, at Houdini's hotel while the Escape King was recovering from his
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cellar. The house also had an outsized bathtub in which Houdini later practiced staying underwater. It was not, as
tells it, a swimming pool�it was just a big tub in which Houdini could stretch out completely submerged. That he
bridge jumps into rivers in midwinter. On this voyage home Houdini also made a flying trip to the old home town of
special strait jacket designed for a private mental asylum. Houdini spent fifty-five minutes making his escape while
rival escapologist had secured bookings in competition with Houdini by advertising his escape from "an unprepared
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122 Houdini Harry blew up at the audacity of his competitor and loudly proclaimed that he would, on a certain date
by the dastardly charlatan and short screws substituted. Houdini showed how it was done and then got into the coffin
of impostors who substituted short screws for long ones (Houdini's original method with packing cases), he invited the
doubt that they penetrated the wood of the coffin's sides. Houdini then had all screws replaced and tightened, got in
stamps on the crack between the coffin lid and the sides. Houdini was now hidden from view by his cabinet, which was
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and there was the coffin, apparently untouched but with Houdini outside it. In reading accounts of wonders worked by
everything you would have seen, had you been in the theater when Houdini did his coffin escape. How did he get out? It
childish is ever simple. But be that as it may, the secret of Houdini's coffin was far from childish. It was
heads could be sealed� even those of the bottom�yet when Houdini was inside and the curtains of the cabinet drawn, he
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124 Houdini outside the stage door of an evening to cheer the great man (or, in all fairness, to lead the cheering) and
triumph and wait outside, keeping the excitement going, until Houdini had appeared and made a little speech from a
and Triumphs and Autobiography had been closely studied by Houdini. Barnum, in giving Soprano Jenny Lind the big
great fanfare and consequent newspaper space. It was during Houdini's long run in London that Bess, in a mood of impish
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returned home after the triumphal season of 1905 in Europe. Houdini opened in New York on October 2, 1905, as the
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Last 127 of the stage were shifted and bore the single word HOUDINI, the crowd stirred in anticipation; they had heard
toughs of Broadway and their "skirts." The music stopped. Houdini, with the faintest trace of a commanding smile at the
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128 Houdini lights like a bolt from a crossbow, he held them silent, absorbed in what was about to happen. He wore, for
collar. The assistants in livery who proceeded to buckle Houdini into the strait jacket of brown canvas were the
wisenheimer shouldn't try to louse up the act." The sight of Houdini, his long hair flying, throwing himself violently
jacket from his arms and tossed it into the wings. While Houdini was struggling with the jacket, the handcuff
pressing in. They had been quietly approached by one of Houdini's boys and asked if they would like to assist in the
spontaneous challenger� he was immediately singled out and Houdini was warned. The challengers were seated in chairs
plants, bearing Houdini's own cuffs or leg irons. With five pairs of cuffs already on his wrists, Houdini could then
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locks and when such were brought up during a performance Houdini had his own system for handling them. First of all he
customers to come to the show a second time, but also would give Houdini and his boys a good chance to study the cuffs,
United States ever brought their own special cuffs to test Houdini�that is, without his having quietly encouraged them
hostile challenger can do to a handcuff king to embarrass him; Houdini knew them all. Cuffs jammed with shot were the
unlocked with their proper key or anything else. Hence, Houdini�and any other performer who was wise�always insisted
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130 Houdini treme precautions. In Harry's youth, when Minnie Williams was holding forth in her spook parlor on 46th
an impression on Ehrich Weiss and it remained with Harry Houdini. After Harry was rich enough to hire a staff of
cases. When a stranger came onstage and loudly demanded that Houdini submit himself to the challenger's cuffs or some
up with surgical thread or another form of ligature which Houdini could not match easily if he had to cut himself loose
he was quietly slugged and laid to rest out in the alley. Houdini continued to play in and around New York and was home
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work. Houdini's Christmas ad began with the typical statement: I TOLD YOU SO !!! WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT HOUDINI,
NOW BEEN POSITIVELY PROVEN BEYOND ANY CONTRADICTION THAT HOUDINI IS THE HARDEST WORKING ARTIST THAT HAS EVER TRODDEN
Year to All." The year 1905 closed with another triumph for Houdini, but of a much more personal nature than telling
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132 Houdini ful reunion of mother and daughter, and Mrs. Rahner and Harry became fast friends. Harry also had plans for
himself and for years the Houdini-Wilson feud raged, much to the amusement of everyone except Houdini. It was fifteen
their quarrel: "There never was a man as good at a fight as Houdini." When Harry hated he hated all the way; he never
the Houdini house on 113th Street and whenever he was in New York, that was his home. The end of the year saw Houdini
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D. C, January 6, 1906 This is to certify that Mr. Harry Houdini, at the United States Jail today, was stripped stark
until the day on which he was executed, June 30th, 1882. Mr. Houdini, in about two minutes, managed to escape from the
positively no chance for any confederacy or collusion. Mr. Houdini accomplished all the above-mentioned facts in
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134 Houdini than five tumblers in the lock. One key opens all the doors in the corridor." In the collection of Sidney
Guiteau cell itself or somewhere outside of it within reach of Houdini when he was incarcerated. It would be a delicate
they had never encountered before, while Houdini was perfectly at home. Houdini and his company would arrive in the new
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offered any danger once Houdini had learned to have all the angles covered. We must remember that Houdini always gave
anyone. But this was not true. Somebody�better if it was not Houdini�had to examine the lock of the cell door and,
hide the picks and keys. In later years this was done by Houdini's trusted assistant, Jim Collins. Sometimes a bit of
corridor floor by an assistant�or by Houdini himself�concealed in a bit of scrap paper. Houdini's foot, planted firmly
cork uppermost. One of the most ingenious devices Harry Houdini ever used was developed on his first jail-breaking tour
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136 Houdini doctor before the examination and secured afterward when giving the doctor a friendly clap on the back. To
find anything as small as a lock pick or a handcuff key on Houdini would have required special knowledge�of where to
did not have. So successful was his vaudeville season that Houdini was encouraged to do something he had long wanted to
such an elaborate production was more of a headache than Houdini cared for and at the end of the season he gave up the
it for two decades. The year also saw the publication of Houdini's first book, The Right Way to Do Wrong, a
show was valued at $10,000 a year. In September of 1906 Houdini published the first issue of The Conjuror's Monthly
appear until August of 1908, when booking abroad forced Houdini to suspend publication. In this thirty-two-page monthly
magic partner whose suggestion had resulted in the name Houdini, was now a professional playing the music halls and
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humiliated him�in his own eyes�by refusing to see him. Yet while Houdini the editor was ripping into Robert-Houdin's
Frenchman claimed to have invented were known before his time, Houdini the magician was trying to emulate his boyhod
given for a social organization of which he was a member, Houdini caused three borrowed handkerchiefs to vanish; they
The working of the trick depended on careful timing and Houdini's willingness to go to considerable trouble. In the
handkerchiefs. The mystery lay in the choice of place�and there Houdini had recourse to a well-known magic principle.
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138 Houdini But the trick was one which Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin had used to good advantage when performing before the
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great. This kind of poetic imagination applied to magic Houdini lacked. But Harry didn't need delicacy. In doing a
needed elegance? A dog wouldn't need it! In the fall of 1906 Houdini was playing in Detroit, Michigan, and there, in
after years the story of this famous jump grew and grew, as Houdini retold it to newspaper feature writers. It appeared
fictitious, detail. The traditional story goes like this: Houdini had two weeks in Detroit and, wishing to give the
ice? I am Houdini�that will be good enough for me." Accordingly (so the tale runs) the hole was chopped and Houdini
reporters hurried back to their papers with the news that Houdini had perished. At this point one of the performer's
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140 Houdini face of the black water, quickly followed by Houdini's head, gasping for breath. He was helped out and
Newspapermen believed it, as did all the world. It became Houdini's most famous single outdoor exploit. But in time
air between ice and water.* But somehow, it seemed unlike Houdini to take as uncalculated a risk as jumping into a
ice without proper safeguards. The date always given by Houdini for this exploit was Sunday, December 2, 1906. The
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"HANDCUFF KING" JUMPS MANACLED FROM BRIDGE Handcuff King Houdini Performs Remarkable Feat and Comes Out Safely Had a
nerved by the confidence of a lion in his own powers . . . Houdini, the wonder worker at the Temple theater, leaped
clambered aboard. In other words, the river was not frozen over, Houdini had a rope tied around him all the time, he
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the strip. This was tough competition. It was obvious to Houdini that, if he was to remain on top, he would have to
historic. In his notes for a book on the art of escapery, Houdini later wrote, regarding a "challenge" in the form of a
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box had a deep cover, reaching nearly to the floor. After Houdini was inside it, ropes were tied around it and knotted
matching paper and a tube of library paste for making repairs. Houdini followed the paper box with a number of
riveted together and was fitted with an end like a lid. When Houdini was inside, two steel bars were thrust through
had, of course, been built according to plans furnished by Houdini ahead of time, with the thickness of the * This
edited by Walter B. Gibson, as Houdini's Escapes, under the imprimatur of Beatrice Houdini and the nihil obstat of
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144 Houdini iron specified, the size of the rivets and the dimensions of the locking bars. The security of the boiler
hidden in the cabinet which concealed the escape. Once inside Houdini set to work on the duplicate bars which were of
by rye chasers. Next day, at the afternoon performance, Houdini introduced a giant football cover constructed by a
way, when the knots were elaborately sealed, would be for Houdini to cut the cord near the knots, make his escape,
the fact that the seals had not been tampered with. Next Houdini showed the Boston crowds how he could get out of a
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important in this history for another reason�it was the first of Houdini's "prepared" escapes (though presented as a
head, a minute indentation. That was all. Once in the box Houdini would produce a tool hardly larger than a dime, a
entirely smooth This was, from an artistic standpoint, one of Houdini's masterpieces. Once he had mastered all the
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146 Houdini He played his final week in Boston in mid-February, and the next jump was New York. He had made a
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tearing it or leaving signs of the mode of egress. By fall, Houdini had worked his way down to Los Angeles where he
an element of officialdom connected with the escape which Houdini played to the hilt�having the Superintendent of Mails
challenge of the rotary lock as a special event for which Houdini was duly prepared, as always, but about which we have
have too few details to make a guess at his method. When Houdini had to deal with padlocks he either used one of his
design and eminently pickable. We have already seen how Houdini could get an impression
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148 Houdini of a key�on a bit of kneaded rubber in a tiny, rectangular metal pan concealed in the palm of his hand.
a postal official until the evening of the performance, Houdini would be forced to get a secret impression of the key
anything to chance. Once inside the bag and padlocked securely, Houdini lost no time in getting out his duplicate key.
in an effort to discover Houdini's secret, only to yell in frantic, if muffled, tones for Houdini to release him before
than Houdini and the mail sack but they never guessed the true solution. It was a perfect example of something Houdini
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a stage performer, is not enough. It was not enough for Houdini to rack his brains and ransack his notebooks and files,
in its seat with the conviction that nothing could hold Houdini, and that was that. Its attitude: "All right, so you
you can get out of anything. Now show us something new." Houdini began to play to houses where there were a few empty
entrance. He was slipping and no one knew it quicker than Houdini. On January 20, 1908, in St. Louis the theater
Harry told himself, is the End. But the challenge drew from Houdini his characteristic response: get in there and fight
meet this requirement, and play it for the maximum drama, Houdini and his assistants, early in 1908, built a device
vary too much from his other inventions with one exception: Houdini proposed to escape from the locked can while it was
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riveted to the sloping shoulder, one handle on each side. Houdini exits while they are rilling the can with buckets of
are six hasps which fit over staples riveted to the neck. Houdini is raised by the assistants and is lowered feet-first
Great agitation, apparently kept under rigid control by Houdini's assistants. Three minutes. The audience is almost
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tension becomes unbearable. Three and a half minutes�� and Houdini parts the curtains and steps out, streaming water.
apparently unchanged. The sensation this produced quickly brought Houdini's name back on the theater marquees in larger
had a miraculous effect, not only on the spectators but on Houdini's career. He had given them something brand new in
standing room where he appeared. As he continued to tour, Houdini worked out other angles and built the presentation
audience insisted on trying to hold their breath as long as Houdini was presumably entrapped, he played this up. Before
breath as long as he did. One by one they gave in before Houdini again stood up, his barrel chest heaving, shaking the
big clock at one side of the stage ticked off the seconds. Houdini could actually hold his breath for three minutes and
can," as Houdini called it in his notes, was diabolically ingenious. Constructed in Chicago, according to Houdini's
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152 Houdini measured about thirty inches, the slope measured about five inches and the straight neck another seven. The
theory that the can was really two cans in one and that when Houdini was inside he had but to stand up and lift the
them with his fingers. Yet when the cover was locked on, Houdini had but to stand up, pushing hard against the lid, and
thing together. Once the can had been filled with water and Houdini stepped inside, he stayed only for a moment
the top on too tightly. Even if the shoulder had stuck, Houdini, by placing his lips near the top of the domed lid,
the performance. But the year was an historic one in the Houdini saga for another reason than the milk can. In 1908
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assistant, a man who soon became his chief aide and on whom Houdini depended more and more as time proved his worth.
rehearse the orchestras for the cues, he was no mechanic. And Houdini very much needed a master mechanic�someone who
preserve the secret, fit all parts together, and produce Houdini's basic idea in practical form- Such a man was
learned as much about locks as he was likely to need as Houdini's chief assistant. He could go along on a prison break
in truth, the right arm of the great Self- Liberator. The Houdini company now consisted of Collins, Kukol, Jim Vickery
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154 Houdini needed extra money she played poker with them, betting wildly on weak hands. The company traveled in two
continent), one of which carried the baggage, props, and Houdini's special traveling library, designed by Jim Collins
built to hold a hundred books. Being an assistant on the Houdini payroll was no sinecure. The boys supervised unloading
the theater. The act occupied three dressing rooms�one for Houdini, one for the boys, and a third for the
challenge devices which Houdini still featured even after the milk can. The stage, during Houdini's act, was always
were permitted within the confines of special screens which Houdini's boys placed around the stage area while the act
antidote for this exclusiveness, on closing night�Saturday�Houdini would send out for sandwiches and beer, flats would
wooden "horses" on the stage after the final performance, and Houdini would play host to the other acts, the musicians,
vigilant union. They were little more than laborers, and Houdini's including them in his farewell party was regarded as
as an act of great kindness. Other acts on the bill held Houdini in awe for two reasons� the driving force of his
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commemorating the boss's latest jail break or bridge jump. Houdini would distribute a stack himself when business
signs of slacking off. When one of the boys made a mistake, Houdini fired him on the spot�and was highly offended if
often something a lot stronger. The strain of working for Houdini required some form of quick relaxation, but although
show, he was always bright and chipper the next morning. Houdini himself would drink his token glass of beer at the
handcuff key, whether the theater was on fire, or whether Houdini had just had a revolutionary new idea, such as
padlocks, and they were eating into the potential bookings of Houdini and making the handcuff trick commonplace. Harry
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156 Houdini jacket escape. One thing he tried, with fair success, was an "insane blanket." This restraint was employed
hurting himself or anybody else. As used on the stage by Houdini, this restraint was increased by having a belt
regulation fashion. It required a considerable struggle before Houdini could release his hands, unbuckle the straps
Brunswick, when he had visited the hospital in St. John, Houdini had haunted mental institutions in his search for
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wholesome exercise which they would not take otherwise. When Houdini first saw a patient encased in a wet sheet pack
type of audience and flop dismally before another. Finally Houdini made it more strenuous by having bandages secure his
was the most difficult, in terms of energy expended, that Houdini ever tried. And after using it both in Europe and at
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158 Houdini banquet tended him by the management of Circus Busch. At this affair there were a number of congratulatory
them, the uprights fixed firmly to a platform at their base. Houdini began by having his wrists tied, his hands crossed
pretty problem to think about while the curtains shielded Houdini and the gallows from view. In a very few minutes,
his wrists with his teeth. When the last rope gave way, Houdini would triumphantly toss the ends of rope out into the
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answer was simplicity itself. The solution is to be found in Houdini's old "bible," The Revelations of a Spirit Medium.
knots had already been tied in an intricate pattern. As Houdini stepped out of his cabinet, gnawing away at the wrist
many magicians, Houdini's handling of the finale of the gallows escape was one of his finest moves. As Houdini himself
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Quick Study Connoisseur VvHEN HOUDINI shifted his public challenges from packing boxes and iron boilers to official
OXFORD Mgr Mr. Blyth-Platt London, November 6, 1908 Mr. Harry Houdini Dear Sir: Having heard that Steward Martin of the
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Jewish Hospital 3, Tottenham (3 years at Cane Hill Asylum) Houdini has accepted the above challenge and will attempt to
was just the old crazy-crib escape�the one, in fact, that Houdini had tried to sell in his magic catalogue eleven years
but was well received by audiences. The rest of the season Houdini carried his own "Lunatic Attendants" with him as a
Davenport. The game old showman proposed a world tour for Houdini and himself, he to lecture on the growth of
by his late brother and himself in its popularity, while Houdini would tie it in with his own escapes, thereby
and died in 1911. In April a death occurred which caused Houdini mixed emotions. He pasted a brief notice of it in his
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162 Houdini Ricardo, who has been appearing at a music hall here, sprang this morning heavily manacled, from the
failed in the attempt and was drowned." During the summer, Houdini grew lonely for his mother. So he sent for her to
Plymouth, and he arranged a special treat for them in proper Houdini fashion. He set up, through Collins, a challenge
mother-in-law together. But something always seemed to darken Houdini's greatest hours of triumph. During the visit of
taken to a veterinary and then brought home again to die. Houdini and Bess, having no children, were fiercely fond of
Europa. Will Goldston used to tell of his first meeting with Houdini, whom he had known by correspondence several years
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went up to him, excusing himself and asking, "Are you Harry Houdini?" The shabby man bristled slightly: "Yes�who are
and took him to a shop where he was fitted with a pair. Houdini then turned to his English friend, demanding, "Take me
the urgent matter was�other acts on the same bill had told Houdini that at this bar the proprietor was making up a
purse for the widow of a magician who had just died, broke. Houdini made himself known to the publican and handed over
Day had first booked him were, naturally, quite small. But Houdini never hesitated to empty his pockets in a charitable
supervised the publication of Houdini's book, Handcuff Secrets. Regarding strait-jacket escapes, Houdini wrote somewhat
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164 Houdini child could make its escape. He has it made of pliable white canvas with very long sleeves and short body,
sleeves and short body� was actually an excellent idea and Houdini later used such a jacket himself in doing the escape
encyclopedia illustrations. I mention this not to discredit Houdini�he may have copied out the text and the pictures
mitzvah and, according to Houdini's code, must be done quietly. In the autumn of 1909 Houdini was playing in Oldham,
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that Mamma would be pleased when he wrote to her about it. Houdini had never paid the slightest attention to current
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166 Houdini old engraving of a mountebank doing the cups and balls; such a picture had no great artistic merit and
and have to borrow. One evening during his "art period," Houdini was having dinner in the London home of Will Goldston
small but exquisite water color he had recently acquired. Houdini looked at it sharply; his face drew into lines of
"Impossible, old chap. I bought it at a reputable auction." Houdini came closer, trembling with rage and frustration.
to me than any picture. Don't let's have words over it." Houdini nodded decisively. "That's right. Nothing should come
bedroom wall, in the house on 113th Street in New York. Houdini never mentioned it again. But art was soon on its way
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of box kites. Before he learned to fly it he had the word HOUDINI painted proudly on the rudder and had his picture
kill him. Which may well be the only reason it did not. Houdini was a true adept at the "magic of believing."
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period, it was as nothing compared to what came next. When Houdini first saw the flying machine that day at the Hamburg
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he had lost on the voyage. There is perhaps no period of Houdini's life about which there is so much controversy as the
force caused a sunken corpse to rise to the surface; when Houdini, having cast off his manacles, swam up and looked
under" a stranger called on him in the dressing room and told Houdini quietly that there was enough work in Australia
Australia, who was there at the time, says this tale is fiction. "Houdini played the four weeks of his contract," he
Houdini out of the country I would have heard about it. I think the story is pure fiction. Also, I don't believe Houdini
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170 Houdini cially, to make a successful airplane flight on the Australian continent and land without damage to the
holding between them a panel with Houdini's name and the date�March 16, 1910. Houdini later claimed that he made
continent, one of six minutes, thirty-seven seconds. In Sydney, Houdini hunted up the grave of William Henry Davenport
Houdini never flew a plane or drove a car again. His passion died down as quickly as it had arisen. The story of Houdini
down after a coin and bob up with the coin in the mouth. Houdini was in good shape, the sea having been calm, and he
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away from handcuffs, but Houdini found one who would let them tie his hands with rope. Houdini, naturally, was
being thrown, and when the islander came up without his coin Houdini shot up feet first shortly after with both coins
in the sea was no great task for a swimmer as expert as Houdini. Coins do not plummet toward the bottom, they "side
spent his last strength demonstrating the famous rope-tie to Houdini, or so the Mysteriarch claimed. Bookings in
crossing. But the ship had hardly passed Sandy Hook before Houdini was hard at it with pencil and paper, figuring out
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172 Houdini they read in the papers. At Chatham, Houdini set up a stunt which was a "stem winder"�he had himself tied
it. To do many of the things which became routine for him, Houdini had to play the part of a superman who could slither
of "method" acting and inner-dynamics on the stage, but Houdini had already discovered that if you want "them" to
invulnerability to the common ills that flesh is heir to. Houdini drove himself hard and kept in good physical shape,
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crates of books and historical pieces of magical apparatus. Houdini had yet to make newspaper headlines in his own home
hinged boards which formed one end of the underground box. Houdini was always fascinated by cemeteries, graves, head
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174 Houdini stones, burial plots, and vaults. The heroic and persistent efforts he put into developing his "buried
least one inmate who could wriggle out seems to have galled Houdini no end. The truth was, of course, that the asylum
inmate had all the time in the world. On November 20, 1911, Houdini wrote from New York: My dear Goldstone: Just a line
wishes, I remain, Sincerely yours, Dictated "B" (signed) Harry Houdini* * A photostat of this letter was given to the
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was a time, as in the bout with pneumonia in London, when Houdini would go to bed and take care of himself. That time
hemorrhaging kidney was not courage� it was obsession. And as Houdini's fame increased and his competition grew
crash the New York papers which had always shied off from Houdini stunts. This time he and Collins cooked up a dilly.
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couple of brads, just enough to keep it from floating away. Houdini was preparing his assault on the hitherto
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got only $850 a week and that was tops for serious drama. Houdini was offered eight weeks at Hammerstein's at $1,000 a
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178 Houdini lie meanwhile had not exactly been kept in ignorance of what Houdini was planning to do. The docks near by
wade a minute! What's goin' on here? C'mon, break it up!" Houdini expostulated eloquently. No dice. Nobody was allowed
triumphant. He was good for at least a paragraph all by himself. Houdini was missing no bets this time. It was a hot
cold. When they got well away from the minions of the law, Houdini's brink-of-death intensity sobered the scribes. He
helping Houdini aboard. The box was hauled in by the rope and the boys left off getting their story from Houdini long
the manacles. How? This time the editors could not ignore Houdini. It was a
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stunt, sure. But what a stunt! It forced its way into print. Houdini had won. The New York press was his. Every night
Houdini to a bare girder twenty stories above the Broadway pavement. It was a standard rope-tie escape, just as Houdini
used to confine him. No editor in the world could resist Houdini now. At the end of his first week at Hammerstein's he
shining up the fifty "double eagles." When the hoard shone to Houdini's satisfaction he lugged it out to a cab and
And he poured the shower of gold into his mother's lap. Houdini always claimed that it was the happiest moment of his
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180 Houdini The underwater packing case now supplanted the bridge jump. Houdini referred to it as "My challenge to
it was swung over the water by a crane, and he waited for Houdini's signal from inside that all was well before
ordering the box lowered away. The presence of Collins gave Houdini a powerful psychological advantage�in Collins he
temperament. Jim was literally worth his weight in gold to Houdini and though the relationship was always "master and
Richelieu, and Will Chiffinch his King Charles, so Collins had Houdini. They were an unbeatable combination for
Collins been in the dressing room that fateful day in 1926, Houdini might well be with us yet. He closed at
the Kaiser Wilhelm II to meet his engagements in Britain. Houdini's embarkation was always a scene of excitement,
mother who stood tearfully on the dock, last minute rushes by Houdini back again
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down the bay and out of sight. The voyage was calm, and Houdini and Collins got down to work the first day out. They
position upside down, was another idea which blossomed in Houdini's mind during this period. The idea of being put into
decreasing size, to see how small a can could be and still enable Houdini, lowered into it head first, to turn right
But as he continued to devise plans for future escapes, Houdini's mind dwelt more and more on tanks filled with water,
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featured "The Doublefold Death Defying Mystery, in which Houdini is Locked into an Air-Tight Galvanized Can Filled with
other performers by now were featuring milk cans, and in Houdini's opinion, even though these artists of evasion were
would be gaffed to release Houdini, who could turn right side up inside the water-filled can. Houdini's Hammerstein
seemed to be feeling the oppressive weight of the years. Houdini was to open at Copenhagen on the 18th of July. He
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recounted by Beatrice Houdini, was a disturbing one: Persons at the pier beheld a curious sight. They saw Houdini
seventy-two and no longer felt any certainty about time. Houdini apparently could not leave off reassuring her and
his affection for her. Finally she had to order him to go. Houdini, turning to the bystanders, said, "Look, my mother
there, suffered a stroke. Dash immediately cabled Houdini at Hamburg. Houdini was still at sea when his mother died on
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184 Houdini On July 30th Houdini stood by the grave in Cypress Hills while his mother was laid to rest beside Rabbi
placed in the coffin with her. During the month of August, Houdini spent nearly every day at the grave, speaking to his
message for Ehrich. But they could not understand the words. Houdini, on hearing this account of his mother's death,
tell him. But he could never be sure. It had to do with Houdini's forgiving a relative in a situation which caused
again sailed for Europe to pick up his interrupted tour, Houdini paid a final visit to his mother's grave. In the years
could ask, yet for once the cheers fell upon deaf ears. Houdini took his bow and hurried to the dressing room, where he
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when ever convenient as ever your brother (signed) Harry Houdini This letter, now in the Radner Collection, is
indicates that Houdini did not know the real date, and hints that Mrs. Weiss knew of the family discord before Houdini
relationship he had with Hardeen. It is interesting that Houdini did not mention the Water
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186 Houdini Torture Cell, which he always referred to in his notes as "Upside Down" or simply "U.S.D." It may be that
of the top with its sliding stocklike panels which held Houdini's ankles imprisoned as he was hoisted into the air,
"seal," and the bolts with which the cell is assembled. When Houdini had been lowered into it, bronze hasps were
fastened through hasps for good measure. The audience saw Houdini hanging head down in the water by his ankles.
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orchestra played "The Diver," the crowd waited�and then Houdini appeared, streaming water, smiling as if exhausted. How
the rubber, assembles the cell as it was put together for Houdini's performance, and fills it with water to within six
reaches a certain level. However, the cell was built for Houdini to the fraction of an inch; Radner himself, though an
the Water Torture Cell will keep its secret forever. As Houdini presented it, after the curtains were closed, Collins
would have to rush in and smash the glass window to save Houdini from drowning. The row of slender steel bars covering
eardrums. At the bottom of the tank, within easy reach of Houdini's hands, were two circular valves which open with a
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188 Houdini Houdini had but to reach for these valves and twist them to let the water out. The metal bars probably
out. The metal bars probably served another purpose�to give Houdini something to help him in turning right side up, for
famous device works, it is quick, simple, and foolproof. Houdini devised a great many elaborate structures but when it
anything to chance. During the fall and early winter of 1913 Houdini went through the motions on stage but the old fire
Harry Day could have booked him solid through December but Houdini was too sick at heart to work. He took the month off
gambling, either. Their first evening at the casino ended with Houdini five hundred francs ahead. He was listless and
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temples; Bess thought it made him look more distinguished and Houdini thoroughly agreed. He had a new set of
audiences would no longer wait for an hour and a quarter if Houdini found himself in difficulties behind the cabinet
out. The times were ripe for the Water Torture Cell, but Houdini had an even more startling illusion in store. Along
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Wall .HE DEATH of his mother worked deep changes in Harry Houdini. In April of 1914 he celebrated his fortieth birthday
Mother was not there to give him her blessing. Actually, Houdini had been a boy until that dark summer when he rushed
gesture of fraternal interest. Houdini and Goldston founded the Magicians' Club of London, with Houdini as its
themselves in show business. Their sincere admiration for Houdini was sweet; in his bitter loneliness after his
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Magicians' Club meeting at which Houdini was to preside. When the lights in the hall blew out, Houdini and Will went
protected by a padlock of simple make but heavily rusted. Houdini worked and sweated away at the stubborn lock with his
anyhow. But Houdini alternately boiled and simmered. Later, when some magus with more nerve than brains teased Houdini
slunk away; no one else ever dared mention the incident to Houdini again. To bolster his self-portrait, Harry always
Dowager Empress of China. Thurston was five years older than Houdini, had gone to the Dwight L. Moody Bible School, and
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192 Houdini Houdini and Thurston eventually got to be friends, but Houdini always envied the illusionist. Both had
the extra touch which Houdini's hard-driving personality could never equal. Now, in 1914, Houdini determined to beat
that she had never worked better. One of the tricks, which Houdini gave a hard sell, was "The Rain of Gold," his own
Kolta's Marvelous Cube," one of the legendary tricks of magic. Houdini apparently used it only once�and did this to
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Goldston stated in his memoirs of Houdini that the London show folded in a week, but Houdini played the provinces with
before he finally gave in and went back to escapes. The name "Houdini" meant thrills and death-defying stunts to the
Josolyne, had sold Houdini a trick: /, Joslyne [without the second "o"], for �.1 received from Harry Houdini have given
Harry Houdini �3 in all regarding my Walking through Wall of Steel Illusion. S. E. Josolyne." The idea which Houdini
properly-staged illusion show, all the feats are puzzling. Houdini set about adding his own touches to the principle
Hammerstein's in July. On his way home aboard the Imperator Houdini was in top form. He had been told by a friendly
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194 Houdini of the fraudulent mediums. When the officer approached and asked Houdini if he could, as usual, be depended
bully and asked Houdini to give them a mock seance. All was going according to plan. During the show, Houdini called on
on it, and wrote. When the questions had been collected, Houdini suddenly changed the routine and put them aside,
sparking its way to the news services in New York so that Houdini sailed into the harbor sharing the honors with
mysterymongers, from Daniel Dunglas Home to Houdini. In his preliminary patter, Houdini had suggested the sort of
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paper dustjackets pasted inside the covers. Before the show Houdini had slipped a piece of writing paper, topped by
books and when T.R. was looking for a hard writing surface, Houdini simply handed him the nearest book. On taking it
seance the installment about Christmas Day had not appeared. Houdini, on the other hand, had heard about the articles
good magic. The lucky break of Roosevelt's question, which Houdini allowed him to place between the slates himself,
to witness another miracle. They were not disappointed. Houdini announced that he would present his latest invention.
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196 Houdini larger sheet of seamless muslin which was carefully examined by a committee. At one side of the stage a
The committee was placed around the wall, being asked by Houdini to take care to stand on the muslin sheet "to prevent
Several feet of wall was visible on each side of the screens. Houdini stepped behind one screen, waved his hands above
am." There followed a drum roll from the oiohestra. Cymbal. Houdini calls from the other screen, "And now I'm here!"
which it deserved�the people were struck dumb with wonder. Houdini quickly followed this with his East Indian Needle
Hammerstein advertised "Complete change of bill every week" so Houdini changed his act or at least its main features.
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Champion Walker on the 20th Century Walking Machine, and Houdini doing his underwater escape from a steel-bound box:
concerned, Houdini might just as well have done his escape in a pool of ink. During this stay at Hammerstein's, Houdini
lights on the marquee was fierce. One young woman persuaded Houdini, who usually demanded the marquee all to himself,
agent had the theater front photographed, retouched to leave HOUDINI out and used the fake photograph in advertising
trade papers, where she seemed to be heading the bill, with Houdini not mentioned. Harry stormed into the agent's
portion of the furniture. After he closed at the Victoria, Houdini never used the Brick Wall again. Ordinarily, during
glimpse of Houdini's props. But this was impossible with the Wall. The trick had this defect, a deadly one in Houdini's
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198 Houdini everybody else on the show knew how he did it! For he went under the wall. The rug and floor cloth
When Houdini stepped behind one of the screens, an assistant below the stage opened a trap door on cue. This gave Houdini
talk of the stagehands soon spread the secret of the wall, Houdini dropped it like a hot latka. After Hammerstein's, he
and others�without Houdini's "permission" or advice�were soon to follow. Notably, Harry Blackstone. Houdini, casting
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Elephants and Eagles WlTH EUROPE in the agony of World War I, Houdini began to mine the rich vein of the home
a crowd of five thousand watched from the street below, Houdini was buckled into a strait jacket by members of the
to get his arms above his head and strip off the jacket. Houdini was such a master of all variations of the strait
the right fashion, it would be easy to break a bone. Also, Houdini had once had an uncomfortable i 199
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200 Houdini time of it aloft when a high wind began slamming him into the cornice of the building. Ever afterward, he
pull him inside in the event of wind. There is no record of Houdini ever having to give up a suspended jacket escape
escape, at high altitude, was an exciting thing to watch, for Houdini's violent twistings and archings of his body as
hall days, its bottom held on by tight-fitting plugs. Once Houdini had his publicity snowball rolling, everything he
"actors and actresses of America." Bernhardt was one of Houdini's idols, not only for her heartwrenching portrayal of
the Palace with a tab version of the famous tear-jerker. Houdini was glad to hear of the bronze presentation. But a
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statuette and a blistering letter from the great diva. When Houdini read the story he blew up, raged at the cheapskates
the name of America's vaudeville artists. It was a typical Houdini gesture, impulsive, generous, and explosive. Within
about $56,000. Ever searching for new sensations, in 1916 Houdini began experiments in being "buried alive"�without a
crushing that he might well find the grave a real one, so Houdini abandoned the trick, compromising with being buried
patriotism on its entrance into the same war. On June 11, 1917, Houdini gleefully wrote to Goldston: "I register
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202 Houdini The recruiting officers, however, gave him a bitter blow by insisting that a forty-three-year-old man was
by machine gun fire, and suffocated by poison gas, left Houdini choked with emotion. He began to produce five-dollar
never surfaced again, but the boys had done their best. Houdini, in 1917, entered his last phase in his relationship
parent assembly of the S.A.M. could meet rent free. Actually, Houdini and Thurston were the two names that spelled
organizer that Houdini was in bringing the magic clubs of the West and South under the banner of the S.A.M. Houdini was
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magician of "dubious loyalty" to Houdini asked to be allowed to do a trick. He went to Houdini's table, saluted the
magic word, the penny and the dime would change places. Houdini, always wary, suspected treachery and tried to slip off
puzzle, probably well known in the wine shops of Pompeii; if Houdini had kept his head he might have turned the tables
dime and penny into two of his beloved gold pieces. But Houdini reacted in exactly the way the practical joker knew he
him!" But the prankster had taken off for parts unknown. Houdini, it has been observed, would never take an
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204 Houdini nized today. Preceding the grand tableau was an event chronicled in the souvenir program as follows:
accepted a challenge from the Officers of the U. S. Tank Corps, Houdini will attempt to make his escape while submerged
restraint suit, now in the Radner collection, was one of Houdini's own inventions. It is made of thin brown-and-white
down into a sack. The leather cuffs are only an inch wide. Houdini was put into it in strait-jacket fashion and
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lephants and Eagles 205 It was an ideal setup for a spectacular Houdini "one shot," for among Jim Collins' many talents
dragged him up and out, and unbuckled the suit, whereupon Houdini took it and swam back, emerging on the public side of
unlike Houdini to have missed a bet like this in a tank so constructed. But it would have been equally unlike Houdini
even Collins. It was on this same Hippodrome stage, where Houdini appeared throughout the entire 1918 season, that he
When this did not materialize, he got Houdini to vanish an elephant for him, which Houdini did. It was not much of an
since an elephant lying down flattens out considerably. Houdini did not care whether anyone guessed the modus operandi
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206 Houdini formance. Millions read of Houdini, the "man who made an elephant disappear," and that was what he wanted.
"first" in magic; it was also a "last." On July 16, 1918, Houdini bought from the famous bird-importer George H.
for which he paid $200. Usually impetuous in his spending, Houdini in this transaction displayed one of his occasional
signed, whereby if the eagle proved unworkable in the show, Houdini could bring it back and Holden would keep it for
Harry the conjuror used the eagle in a typically startling Houdini fashion. In a magic routine in which a glass
production during wartime no magician would believe, but Houdini did it�by producing the live eagle which sat on his
according to Houdini, the first tame eagle since historic "Old Abe," a mascot of the Union Army during the Civil War. Houdini
once. The eagle and Houdini's pet dog both traveled in similar boxes and on one occasion, when Houdini was setting up
was forgotten and never referred to again. It was rare for Houdini really to blow up at members of his own company.
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never again referring to the matter. By the end of the war, Houdini had more serious competition to worry about than
art, Houdini could read the death sentence of big-time vaudeville. His response to this challenge was typical Houdini.
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t A Grim Game XT WAS UNLIKE Houdini to go for long without some allconsuming enthusiasm. Once he had made a stab at
bitterness, waiting for vaudeville to "come back." Such was not Houdini's way. Something had to be found to replace his
afternoons at neighborhood theaters throughout the land. One of Houdini's collaborators on the script was Arthur B.
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was working against a great handicap�he had Houdini as a collaborator and Houdini had his own ideas about what he
and killing them; Houdini was a great admirer of T.R. The ideology seems of clear derivation.) Houdini played the part
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210 Houdini of ruffians identified on the film's titles as "the emissaries of the Automaton." They were a patient and
eliminate Houdini, only to have him come back slugging the following week. In a dank subcellar below a Chinese opium den Houdini
Automaton kicks over several carboys of acid; close shot: Houdini struggling madly. Subtitle: "Like writhing snakes the
elevator which is slowly descending to crush him. . . . Next, Houdini�or Quentin Locke�is nailed in a packing case and
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211 As serials went, it was not very much worse than most. Houdini was fairly stiff and unconvincing before the camera,
Fighting Marine a few years later. And in the various episodes Houdini really did many of the things which he had
made of clay and brought to life by cabalistic magic. In Houdini's serial, the monster was so ludicrous that it had a
horror film it was a success, though not quite in the way Houdini intended. The picture had two profound influences on
were being utilized by boys in tying each other up, playing Houdini. There was one corollary effect on schoolwork�
signed Houdini for two features which were released as The Grim Game and Terror Island. In both of these Houdini had a
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212 Houdini to keep Houdini within logical grounds in his struggles with the , deadly Automaton. The writers were
from one airplane to another in mid-air. All of these deeds Houdini actually did without benefit of doubles or stunt
"Who you going to get for a stunt man that's better than I, Houdini?" The airplane jump was the big scene of the
and, to serve as consultant for the airborne sequences, Houdini sent for Brassac, the mechanic from his aeronaut days.
gimmick but it gave the performer a big psychological assist. Houdini rehearsed his plane jump carefully, then both
plane carrying the cameras. The cameras started rolling. Houdini got the signal and stood ready to make his jump when,
and both managed to land safely, though the plane carrying Houdini came down in a swamp and nearly buried the escapist
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213 South Seas cannibals, tying up Houdini approximately twice to the reel. While Houdini was working in pictures, he
clippings, playbills, programs, and general miscellany. Houdini began to write a book on the wonder workers of the side
first defiers of fire he could uncover. In this section Houdini quotes from Hocus Pocus, one of the earliest books on
had at the druggists' . . ." This formula, according to Houdini, was the secret which enabled Richardson, the first
found in Houdini's old guidebook to escapery, Revelations of a Spirit Medium but without credit to Hocus Pocus. Houdini
heat-resistant purposes it is absolutely useless. Like many laymen, Houdini was sometimes overly credulous of what he
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214 Houdini concerned strength phenomena and "gravity resisters," such as Lulu Hurst, the Georgia Magnet. The book was
it actually exposes very little. As a motion-picture star Houdini lacked one important talent�acting ability. Audiences
on their adventure stories well spiced with romance and Houdini was much too bashful to kiss his various leading ladies
directors gave up on him. Romance before the camera was for Houdini a Grim Game indeed.
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2 9 . The Knight's Tale Hou'di-ni, 1 hu'di-nl; 2 hu'dT-ni, Harry (4/6 1874� ) American mystericist, wizard, and expert
new verb houdinize, and insinuated it into the dictionary. Houdini was immensely proud of this fact and used a
the War. Without the plaudits of the young men, how would Houdini go over? He soon found out. His films, which had not
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216 Houdini safe outside a moment later. England once again took Houdini into a warm embrace. He had left at home a
theater. In Houdini's brownstone castle of mystery on 113th Street he found a happy refuge. The "working library" Houdini
when opened. But no bookcase could expand to keep up with Houdini's book-buying; particularly now that he was
mediums. It has been claimed that after his mother's death Houdini spent many hours with various psychics, attempting
nothing but platitudes and assurances that they were "happy"� Houdini raised a storm of bitterness. However, as he was
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closed all doors to him in psychic circles, and it was not Houdini's wish to alienate his sources of research. Although
friends, had died several years before in a theater fire. When Houdini opened in Edinburgh, Scotland, in February, one
footstone. It fell off even though no wind was blowing. Houdini frowned and Bess could see that he was deeply stirred.
unseen presence of the eccentric magician. A great deal of Houdini's later violent denunciations of mediums undoubtedly
one to die would try to identify himself to the survivor. Houdini had started his British tour with a broken ankle and,
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218 Houdini luctantly spent a week lying on a couch, getting caught up in his correspondence, which by this time was
who were barefooted. Once an idea had taken possession of Houdini, it rode him like an Old Man of the Sea. Now it was
were gone, there was still a crowd of disappointed kids. Houdini herded them all together and led the way to the
store. At last every child in the crowd had a new pair. Houdini had the merchant send the bill to him at the theater.
the rest of the week. While trying to "favor" his ankle, Houdini used up some of the time allowed for his act by
visits to the graves of dead magicians. To Houdini, anything which interested Houdini ought to interest everybody else.
he could tie in with local diving-and-salvage companies. Houdini gleefully sent a clipping of his Hull diving suit
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correspondence, Houdini and Conan Doyle; the Story of a Strange Friendship, edited by Bernard Morris Lee Ernst, Houdini
historical novelist and the creator of Sherlock Holmes when Houdini was still a lining cutter. In the Boer War of 1900
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220 Houdini ever at the service of the wrongfully accused and the imprisoned innocent. Since 1887, Conan Doyle had been
occasion on which the author, under strict test conditions, saw Houdini demonstrate his powers of dematerialization,
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The Knight's Tale 221 Houdini was placed, the water completely covering his body. Over this was placed an iron lid,
immediately over it. Without disturbing any of the locks, Houdini was transferred from the tank directly to the back of
weight in the materializing seance room. While in this state, Houdini was transferred from the stage to the retiring
possible in the materializing seance room. Not only was Houdini's body dematerialized, but it was carried through the
agreed to be his best book, A Magician Among the Spirits, Houdini spent many paragraphs denying his supposed
was President of the British College of Psychic Science. Houdini winds up by saying: Regarding the personally conducted
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222 Houdini his misguided and misdirected vision by rational application of his conscious intelligence. Had he brought
really had him beatin' his brains out!" Nothing pleased Houdini more than when some double-dome with a string of
this he was well within his rights; no one knew better than Houdini the years of labor, trial and error, and
again. Conan Doyle, early that spring of 1920, wrote to Houdini: "Yes, you have driven me to the occult! My reason
and skill avail you." Such was the knight's tale of how Houdini worked his wonders. Nothing the Self-Liberator could
convinced the distinguished physician and man of letters that Houdini could not "dematerialize." Finally, on the 14th
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cannot explain them they must be supernatural." Yet, as Houdini's pal Joe Rinn pointed out years later, such an
could never explain its actions. What had earlier begun in Houdini as a normal curiosity about the psychic
substance from her mouth which the psychists called "ectoplasm." Houdini was not impressed, though in his letters to
knight until he had more data. In his private journals, Houdini recorded his true impressions� that the mediums were a
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224 Houdini him and also her young niece, Julia Sawyer, who acted as his secretary. Julia became an expert at detecting
out of her teens�made her a valuable undercover agent when Houdini opened up on the American mediums. But before he set
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� Movie Star or Bust .he Grim Game, Houdini's first feature-length picture, had grossed less than $150,000 domestic,
a vengeance, Houdini prepared to conquer the new medium. By the beginning of 1921 he had formed The Houdini Picture
greatgranddaughters. This idea was probably suggested to Houdini by a story which appeared in The American Weekly about
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226 Houdini a crowded den overflowing with books, old playbills, and letters, Houdini worked day and night for ten days
The tougher the difficulties grew, the more discouraged Houdini got. Finally, after his feet were badly frozen, he
airplane crashes were called for, real planes were used. Houdini, in his big Niagara rescue, decided to do it "for
inventions which confronted him on his release! This was a detail Houdini had lost sight of in setting up his scenes of
happen to a dog show. Audiences were not overwhelmed by Houdini's films. In an attempt to put his pictures across, he
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to sell a picture�the elephant ate up the profits in hay. Houdini found a serious condition prevailing in his bank
quick. Vaudeville tempo had changed mightily during the time Houdini was away, selling Liberty Bonds and making motion
getting out of handcuffs under water created no hysteria. Now Houdini realized that he couldn't do it alone�"alone" for
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228 Houdini mailing list, gave the Elusive American the lion's share of its space, and included in the Houdini material
material a "poem": TO HOUDINI Oh, wizard of handcuffs, of bolts, bar and cell, How he glides from thy clutches nobody
passed; There is nothing can hold him�the marvelous elf� Houdini, the mystery, to all but himself. Straight jackets in
escapes without effort and smiles in disdain. �J. E. H. Houdini knew that the specter of oblivion was haunting him more
Houdini in the "next to closing." They were tough acts to follow. With the jacket, the needles, and Upside Down, Houdini
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and bigger type than Houdini and his Water Torture. And at Keith's Orpheum in Brooklyn, in March, Houdini was spotted
were guests of the Houdinis at "278" and the men went over Houdini's spiritualism library together, Sir Arthur
vacationing in Atlantic City, Lady Conan Doyle suddenly asked Houdini if she could try to provide evidence of his
through her recently "developed" powers of automatic writing. Houdini agreed and the good lady did her best, in
console a bereaved son. There was not one "evidential" word. Houdini was, according to the Conan Doyles, "greatly
knight needed that the message was highly "evidential." Houdini was moved all right, but not by awe or overwhelm
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230 Houdini ing belief and conversion. He was, in all probability, boiling mad. Before he had gone upstairs to the
didn't speak English, and June 18th was her birthday, a day Houdini always kept holy. The lengthy inspirational ramble
his wife were embarrassingly sincere and were his friends, Houdini could not let go with the explosion which was
He introduced the Conan Doyles to the audience and asked Houdini to favor them with a little something. Harry made a
bit, ever changed the routine of a Broadway production. Houdini's association with Conan Doyle only gave the creator of
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investigation, were not trained in the field of conjuring. This Houdini tried to make him realize in many conversations
occurred. Back to the three-a-day for the rest of the season, Houdini found himself devoting more and more time before
stake and piled faggots around him, then applied a match. Houdini had to slip from the ropes before the fire got him.
with bow drills but with a can of kerosene! By the time Houdini was out of his bonds his pants were on fire. More
"miraculous" than the escape was the fact that he was not injured. Houdini next settled on a completely safe-and-sane
darkness of the seance room. The idea was not original with Houdini�his old friend Joe Rinn had been doing this sort of
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232 Houdini it, there was a certain degree of interest and it made good copy for newspapers. In Houdini's hands it
table-lifter, Eusapia Palladino, to America in 1910; and Houdini. McDougall and Prince
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mind. But the hot spot in the committee, to the mediums, was Houdini. This famous committee would be the center of one
editor of the Scientific American�J. Malcolm Bird. He and Houdini were to lock horns more than once and, in the end,
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Actually, Houdini most likely talked the professor into inviting him. In any case they made an agreement that Houdini
speech and sit down. The professor's signal was never given. Houdini spoke for the full hour. He was so full of his
anecdotes kept tumbling out�not always in any particular order. Houdini sometimes left stories unfinished, for he was
chiselers pure and simple. In January of the new year, 1923, Houdini was polishing up his lecture technique by trying
psychic phenomena which its experts could endorse as genuine, Houdini made headlines by posting $5,000 of his own money
to any psychic who could produce physical phenomena which Houdini could not "duplicate by natural means." Now there is
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"Spooks�a No Come!" 235 argument, if argument it is: Houdini might have been able to reproduce by trickery anything
this would have absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Houdini could have "reproduced the phenomena" by sticking a
religion. In Denver, Colorado, he was "day and dating" with Houdini; Sir Arthur visited Harry's matinee at the
knight. By December, while he was playing in Little Rock, Houdini had gotten word from O. D. Munn, publisher of the
puzzled the committee, which had been functioning minus Houdini, who was away on his vaudeville tour. This medium was a
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236 Houdini Conan Doyles. Sir Arthur commented in one of his books on the startling and irrefutable quality of Nino's
with picture wire, Dr. Hereward Carrington doing the tying. Houdini canceled his bookings and hurried to New York to
Nino up like a mummy with seventy-five feet of clothesline. Houdini exploded. "Seventy- five feet! Don't you know that
commissioned to sit with the full committee and this time Houdini supervised the tying, which was done with short
him sufficient spending money.* * In 1928, two years after Houdini's death, there was a total of $21,000 offered in
genuine phenomena�$10,000 by Joe Rinn, $10,000 by Beatrice Houdini, and $1,000 by the Scientific American's rival,
Pecoraro again into the orbit of the investigators. With Houdini dead, Nino felt safe. But at the 1928 seances he had
wily antagonist in Joseph Dunninger, who had taken over Houdini's post as unofficial ghost-breaker in chief. Dunninger
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"Spooks�a No CorneT 237 As Houdini's attacks on the slate messages, the trumpet voices, and the apparitions in luminous
biography, commenting on the association of Conan Doyle and Houdini, says, ". . . The men had too much affection for
the author meant "to the end of the year." For in February Houdini wrote Conan Doyle for some information and received
some way against me or my cause... ." Another letter from Houdini was unanswered and the friendship came to an end. But
feeling toward each other; this is easy to believe, for Houdini considered Conan Doyle as deceived but utterly honest.
called Edge of the Unknown, gives a long description of Houdini and pays tribute to his courage, his cheery manner, his
eye, figuratively speaking, Sir Arthur writes concerning Houdini's vanity: "I can remember, for example, that when he
me, he did it by saying, 'This is the brother of the great Houdini.' This without any twinkle of humor and in a
full confession of his trickery. In all his investigations, Houdini admitted that there were two fraudulent psychics
sleight-of-hand in switching paper billets was undetected by Houdini even though he knew, in principle, what was going
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238 Houdini Here it is probable that Sir Arthur's memory misled him. Houdini would hardly have said, "This is the
brother of the great Houdini." He never used the adjective great in reference to himself. To him, Houdini was
was, "This is the brother of HOUDINI!" He was one of those who speak in capital letters. Houdini might never have
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of a swing around the vaude houses in February of 1924, Houdini decided to take the plunge into a brand-new field. The
twenty-four lectures through the Middle West. This meant, to Houdini, playing one-night stands. Well, he and Bess had
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240 Houdini had booked into Ford's Opera House in Washington, D.C., only to find that an equally great and witty magus,
prohibited all forms of Sunday entertainment or sports. When Houdini got back from his lecture tour, in the spring of
picture taken with her in the garden of her home. She told Houdini the story of her "tests" with the famous British
very high order, and the secret methods she revealed to Houdini were useful anecdotes for his lectures. Whenever a
England's most distinguished chemists of the nineteenth century. Houdini would point out that toward the end of his
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by fraud or mummery the sacred subject of spirit return. Houdini, a veteran of the circus side show and the dime musee,
William Crookes' own laboratory, with the door safely locked?" Houdini had the answer to that one, for he could point
King managed to manifest so corporeally. In other words, if Houdini could get an impression of a key and make a
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242 Houdini In the Victorian age there was a potentially "invisible man" in every wealthy household�the butler. If Dan
"invisible man" Houdini knew only too well by long practice�with Jim Collins in such a capacity. Houdini was convinced
famous Italian medium Eusapia Palladino had been caught by Houdini's pal Joe Rinn while levitating her table in New
privately and lying on the floor, watching Eusapia's feet. As Houdini insisted in his lectures, it does no good to
"controlled." This was such an elementary and self-evident fact that Houdini's wrath boiled over when serious
"genuine" phenomena. Again and again, in public and in private, Houdini insisted that a distinguished career in one
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when faced with a tricky, professional wonder-worker. In Houdini's day the grande dame of psychic fakery was Anna Eva
by being able to see through the covers of metal boxes. Houdini showed that the lad's own boxes had loose covers
of the contents. But this boy was small fry compared to Houdini's next psychic opponent. Called by Walter Franklin
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244 Houdini she did not perform for money; unlike him, she did not perform for jewelry either. She was a young Boston
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Spook Puzzles Investigators By Variety of His Demonstrations Houdini let out a roar which might have been heard all the
And J. Malcolm Bird, as secretary, had failed to invite Houdini to a single one. Some word of his rising wrath must
Bird finally wrote Houdini a letter, asking him to confer with Mr. O. D. Munn, the publisher. When Houdini stormed into
giving Margery the prize. Houdini kept his temper, and offered to forfeit $1,000 if he, Houdini, could not detect
, could not detect Margery in trickery. Accordingly, Houdini and Munn set off for Boston on the 22nd of July. The
had kept a grocery store. Crandon was a year older than Houdini. He claimed descent from a score of signers of the
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246 Houdini operative care and frequently contributed papers to scientific journals and symposia on psychic research.
fourflusher" to be kissed off lightly or frightened easily. When Houdini came up against Crandon, psychic believers
is no way of confirming or denying such rumors now. When Houdini appeared on the committee and demanded to be allowed
if Margery were proved genuine; if she were a fraud, as Houdini had taken pains to point out to him privately before
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purposes," as he once described it and as Houdini gleefully quoted him. When Houdini and Orson Munn got to Boston, they
This Houdini flatly refused to do, and he and Munn, after having dinner with the Crandons, checked into a hotel. Houdini
this made Crookes' observations suspect, to say the least. Houdini was not taking any chances that the bewitching, Mina
observation by her fascinations. On the 23rd of July, 1924, Houdini had his first sitting with Margery. One of the
well-publicized guest, the famous bell box was placed between Houdini's feet. This was a small, rectangular box made of
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248 Houdini this flap was depressed slightly, the metal contacts joined and the bell rang. It was explained that the
ectoplasm extruded from the body orifices of the medium. Houdini was given Margery's left hand to hold and, as a
distinguished in academic fields. It was not enough for Houdini. He knew, and had known for many years, the old trick
delicately enough to tell when one of the hands has been removed. Houdini, as in the impromptu act at Hitchcock's show,
by sliding her leg against Houdini's, she accompanied the action with conversation. But Houdini's attention was focused
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surface. Malcolm Bird got up to get it and Walter shouted for Houdini to control the medium. She gave him both her
announced that the trumpet was floating in the air and asked Houdini where he should throw it. There could be but one
Mysteriarch: "Toward me!" Whereupon it fell at his feet. Houdini suspected that Margery had simply picked up the
hotel suite. This time, with Margery again controlled by Houdini grasping her left hand, they sat around a table. By
opposite end. But Houdini suspected what she was going to do. As Orson Munn was holding his left hand, Houdini let go
After this manifestation the bell was again put between Houdini's feet. And this time his garter clasp got hooked in
in Margery's stocking. When she claimed that it hurt her, Houdini obligingly took off the garter. Then the
before until Margery could reach the bell with her toe. Houdini whispered to Munn, "Shall I expose her now?" and the
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250 Houdini against immediate exposure and denunciation, suggesting that the committee wait until it had returned to
New York before issuing a statement to the press. Munn and Houdini went back to New York that night, but Bird stayed on
the Crandons. As was learned later, he told them all about Houdini's "discoveries" and what the exposer intended to do
anyone. Houdini insisted to Munn that Bird's forthcoming article in the magazine be carefully read by him (Houdini)
was "fifty percent genuine" be assumed to be issued with Houdini's consent. When Munn got to New York he stopped the
"EXPERTS VAINLY SEEK TRICKERY IN SPIRITUALIST DEMONSTRATION. HOUDINI THE MAGICIAN STUMPED." It was all Harry needed to
life's work demolished, and his career made a shambles. Houdini's firm ally in all this fire and counter-fire of
member of the committee, Dr. Walter Franklin Prince. Had Houdini resigned from the committee, it might easily have been
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology, agreed with Prince that Houdini should design some form of cabinet or box which
and feet. Jim Collins got busy on this project and he and Houdini built such a cabinet. It was shaped something like a
Charlesgate Hotel in Boston, the Crandons met with the committee. Houdini and Collins were on hand with the cabinet.
which had held the cabinet's lid in place had been moved. Houdini pointed out that Margery could easily have stood up
but in this case the brother was dead. After the seance Houdini found the Crandons missing and followed them into the
now came to the hotel and asked why he was being kept out. Houdini informed him that
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252 Houdini he wanted the proceedings of the committee kept secret. Bird finally admitted that he had intended to keep
the committee insisted that Houdini take one hand of the medium and Dr. Prince the other. Houdini, watching Margery as
any circumstances. Margery retaliated by asking why, and Houdini bluntly told her that in case she had "smuggled
held. Soon the personality of Walter took over and snarled, "Houdini, you are very clever indeed but it won't work. I
the cabinet by Houdini's assistant in order to discredit the medium. Walter then cut loose, shouting, "Houdini, you
out of here and never come back. If you don't, I will." Houdini insisted that this remark be allowed to stand in the
might well have fallen accidentally from someone's pocket. Houdini urged Munn to step out and ask Jim Collins if it was
carried it. Houdini made Collins swear a mighty oath that he knew nothing about the rule. This done, Houdini swore a
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cheap two-foot ruler which folded to six inches in length. Houdini had his own theory, which he strenuously voiced, as
The next night Dr. Comstock, in all probability briefed by Houdini, asked for a special control�he brought a small box,
Margery, while at dinner with the committee, said softly to Houdini (as he later told it) that she was afraid he would
beating. Houdini was not frightened. Similarly, Dr. Crandon, before the seance of August 27th said jovially that if Houdini
Crandon, would gladly give $10,000 to any charity Houdini would name. Houdini was not to be persuaded by $10,000, which
"control" Houdini's left hand and swear on his word of honor not to release it under any circumstances. This control of Houdini
shortly afterward left the employ of the magazine, when Houdini said in a radio interview, "I hereby publicly denounce
there something wonderful happens." That fall Houdini published a pamphlet, Houdini exposes the tricks used by the
did her faking, according to Houdini, and also contained a number of photographs of Houdini and the famous cabinet. The
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254 Houdini tators watched delightedly as he maneuvered a two-foot rule up through the neck hole, held it in his teeth,
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The Blond Witch of Boston 255 have pointed out that Houdini never exposed Margery�it was merely his word against hers
hers and it was hinted by those who knew them both that Houdini was not above threatening a blackmail type of operation
the columns of newspapers, particularly in Boston. When Houdini played the city, demonstrating his "Margie Box" as he
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committeemen blindfolded with special strips of black velvet, Houdini would ring the dinner bells and tambourines with
drawn from a shoe on which a committeeman held his own foot�Houdini's shoe had a firm shell built into it for the
vaudeville audience. At times, when he felt the need of a rest, Houdini would change the act entirely, opening with the
as slim as a match stick. On this final vaudeville tour, Houdini was preceded by his own undercover squad of psychic
voice" trumpet mediums or materializing psychics in a town, Houdini was all set to appear in his favorite disguise�a
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a message or a shade purporting to be the mythical son, Houdini would pull out his powerful flashlight, focus it on the
boorish skeptic, Houdini would dramatically whip off his wig and beard, and thunder, "It is I, HOUDINI. I hereby accuse
rights." Reporters had a fine time with these exposes and Houdini found that they were much better publicity stunts
the summer, intending to take it easy. It was too late for Houdini to take it easy. After a few days of swimming and
'em in. While he bided his time for such a show to begin, Houdini gave a series of lectures on the tricks of mediums
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258 Houdini and he began casting about for something to replace it when it was worn out. Houdini was an inveterate
own cards," the police were often at a loss to explain. Houdini laid plans, which he confided to very few of his
most difficult moves in made* Like so many of his exploits, Houdini's thoughts on a possible gambling expose were not
there was gold in the hills of spook fakery. In the words of Houdini's friend Al Jolson (with whom he founded a club of
ain't seen nothin' yet!" In the fall the dream came true. Houdini put his full-evening * Many years later the
exposing of gamblers' tricks had been one of the specialties of Houdini's old idol, Robert-Houdin, and the latter's
Trickeries des Grecs, is still one of the handbooks of the art. Houdini was again trying to surpass his deposed hero.
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where there were no big-time vaude theaters, and where, Houdini was sure, the people were starved for sensational live
took it out in the fall, played two hours and a half with Houdini on stage nearly every minute. In the first act he did
their reappearance, all ringing lustily. For the second act, Houdini opened with the strait jacket, did a couple of
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260 Houdini dini's private eyes. The mediums seemed fascinated by what Houdini was going to say about them; they would
come to the show. When he spotted them in the audience, Houdini would have a spotlight turned on them while he
Brooklyn in the best of health. The mediums, so confronted with Houdini's invective and the spotlight, would retire
the "medium" so attacked from the stage was really one of Houdini's spare relatives or in-laws pressed into service, it
all in good clean fun. It has been suggested that some of Houdini's best publicized "ghost grabbings"�at seances where
faith of their firm believers, were willing to be exposed by Houdini for a consideration. This seems likely enough, but
made good newspaper copy. A typical quiet week with the Houdini show in town can be observed from the headlines in the
November 3, 1925. The front page carried this banner headline: HOUDINI TO EXPOSE BALTIMORE FRAUDS The News Will Help in
Baltimore mediums, fraud spiritualists and fortune tellers by Houdini, psychic investigator, lieutenant in the New York
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the same identical head: HOUDINI TO EXPOSE BALTIMORE FRAUDS This time the story was under Houdini's by-line! The
's by-line! The picture, two columns wide, showed Houdini tied and chained to the drive-wheel of a locomotive. The next
proclaimed: HOUDINI ON TRAIL OF BALTIMORE SEERS The picture showed him in handcuffs and chains. November 6: HOUDINI TO
TO ANSWER MEDIUM QUESTIONS The story concerned Houdini's many pacts with friends who had died and his failure to get
emissaries tying Houdini up. November 7: HOUDINI ON WARPATH AGAINST SEERS (with a two-column picture of Houdini being
(when the show finally opened): HOUDINI BEGINS HIS WAR ON MEDIUMS Story: account of how Houdini's agents constantly had
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62 Houdini Illustration, two columns: a movie still of Houdini being tied to an old water wheel. Next evening: HOUDINI
EXPOSES DARK SEANCE SECRETS Wednesday, November 11: HOUDINI CHALLENGES MYSTICS TO TEST (first time the story carried no
MEDIUMS SILENT ON HOUDINI'S OFFER Friday, November 13: HOUDINI'S OFFER STILL UNCHALLENGED For ten days, Houdini
which was not publicized in the foofaraw about mediums, was Houdini's invitation to the Baltimore magicians of the
best tricks before the citizens of their own home town. Houdini was now serving his eighth term as president of the
eve of one of the S.A.M.'s annual banquets in New York, Houdini got a frantic phone call from a teen-age magical
funds were not available. He called the Great Man: "Mr. Houdini, I hate to trouble you, but . . . well, I've got to get
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nothing of it, my boy. You'll sit at my table with Mrs. Houdini and my own crowd. Just give your name to the fellow
of Houdini which made him devoted friends by the hundred. At the end of the season with the ghost-breaking show, Houdini
and downcast. Houdini asked him what the trouble was and Keating told him� he had lost his mother. Houdini's eyes
mother through one of the more reputable mediums. At this Houdini smiled his faint, sweet faraway smile as from
he had to give it a try. Houdini frowned. "But my dear boy�how can you say such a thing? I, Houdini, have told you that
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said witness, on being asked his full name, replied, "Harry Houdini." When asked his occupation: "I am an author; I am
Some mediums had shown up for the hearing, too, and these Houdini challenged to read the words of a crumpled telegram
conspiracy took the form of fortune telling or not. At one point Houdini was questioned about the claim of
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266 Houdini psychics that he himself did his marvels by supernatural powers. He emphatically stated that he did NOT
learned gentlemen threw him a real poser: "Can you prove it?" Houdini stated again that he did not possess such powers,
query successfully. When asked if he believed in astrology, Houdini shot back: "I do not believe in astrology. They
me." One of the witnesses called by Congressman Bloom was Houdini's chief investigator of mediums, Miss Rose
advice. This was getting the hearing into deep waters�and Houdini promptly created a diversion by demonstrating to the
religion and by inference accused Houdini of attacking the right of freedom of worship. Houdini introduced a reformed
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revealed that the day before, when she had come into the room, Houdini had been walking in front of her and had heard
really expert medium when in a tight spot. She attacked Houdini's investigator, Rose Mackenberg, in a dozen subtle ways
that the bill, as presented by Sol Bloom with the advice of Houdini, would make it illegal for spiritualists, in the
until Houdini burst upon them with advice on how to run their fair city. In this kind of parliamentary rapier-play, Houdini
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268 Houdini explained that it was due to the greater spiritual development of mediums, who take time to bring out the
Flammarion, and Hereward Carrington. At the mention of Carrington, Houdini was on his feet. Pouncing on the name like a
When he finally got off the subject of Hereward Carrington, Houdini went back to an earlier point of attack: the sale
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hearing were nonetheless gratifying to all concerned. It got Houdini on the wire services for several days. The
simmered down from the strenuous session in Washington, than Houdini went into eruption again. Some time after midnight
the fakir could do. The detonating charge which set off Houdini's wrath was a trial performance Carrington had secured
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270 Houdini Rahman Bey himself, to build the act, began with a number of typical carny side-show stunts, "stopping his
Tricks�a book which, incidentally, is more informative than Houdini's Miracle Mongers. For his "living burial," Rahman
center of the stage and covered up with shovelfuls of sand. Houdini's old friend Joe Rinn had come forward as one of
his interment lasted only a few minutes. What concerned Houdini more, and caused his outburst over the telephone to
Self-Liberator with a vengeance. For years�since 1911, in fact�Houdini had been experimenting with just such an effect.
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relays of men standing on the box to keep it submerged. Houdini did not attend the demonstration, but he was
Rinn, who took careful notes so that Houdini could "expose the faker." Then Houdini issued a blast in the press to the
the swimming pool of the Hotel Shelton in New York. For Houdini's test, Joe Rinn was appointed timekeeper. Among the
occult arts in the best ghost-breaker tradition, a friend of Houdini's and an admirer of the Master's methods,
Except for a committee chosen to remain beside the pool, Houdini shooed all the observers up into the spectators'
the years, beat Houdini's newspaper-space record in publicity. He would be the first to give credit to Houdini as a
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272 Houdini Then, in the gallery, he spied a familiar face and shouted, "What's that man doing here? He's got to get
fide reporter for a magazine, which was perfectly true. Houdini decided to allow him to stay�in the gallery. The casket
also a telephone. Collins remained in communication with Houdini throughout the test by this telephone, speaking to the
accidentally slipped off and the coffin shot to the surface, but Houdini reported that he was not hurt and the casket
Houdini every minute. Still he did not get the command to raise the coffin. Fifteen minutes after the hour mark, Houdini
every thirty seconds. When an hour and a half had elapsed, Houdini told Collins, "I guess I had better come up; I'm
diastolic blood pressure, which had been 84, was down to 42. Houdini looked shaken and haggard but he made a bold
about the famous water burial years afterward, hints that Houdini had a "gaff" in the coffin�some de
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of Psychic Research (1931), makes much of the fact that Houdini's pulse and blood pressure were all askew after his
also points with suspicion to the mysterious batteries of Houdini's alarm bell which were inside the coffin, hinting
One of the things not generally recorded was the size of Houdini's famous coffin. According to Frank Sanchez of the
duplicate it. Much research has been done in this field since Houdini's battle with Rahman Bey; and interested parties
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274 Houdini But the feat captured the imagination of the country; Houdini was in the headlines again, his name on
sheet" in four colors, proclaiming that The Master Mystifier HOUDINI�The Greatest Necromancer of the Age, Perhaps of
an elaborate bronze coffin with a cut-out section to show Houdini inside it, leaning against an Egyptian tomb,
Lovecraft which appeared in Weird Tales Magazine and concerned Houdini's supposed escape from an Egyptian tomb in which
while on a fictional visit to Egypt. In the wake of the Houdini-Rahman Bey controversy, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle got
in five minutes. If you keep calm and breathe gently, as Houdini did, you can live quite a time, while signaling and
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and help would soon arrive. He had remembered the story of Houdini in the Hotel Shelton pool!
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The Final Challenge HE REST of the summer Houdini spent getting ready for the coming season with his
Washington hearings had shown that whatever else he was, Houdini was no courtroom orator. This stung him; he was always
about Houdini in the final act of the melodrama which was his life. "Like many geniuses," Dunninger says, "Houdini was
almost invariably concerned with that person's relation to Houdini. Because he never slept more than four or five hours
always knew who it was. One morning I received such a call; Houdini was wildly excited. 'Joe�Joe, come down here right
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see.' I got dressed and drove to the house on 113th Street. "Houdini let me in, obviously in the grip of some
into the library where, on a table, I saw plaster casts of Houdini's hands. He was choked with emotion. 'There they
headed back home to try to snatch a few hours' more sleep. Houdini's vanity had such a strange, childlike quality that
annoying. "There is no doubt in my mind whatever but that Houdini at first had a desperate hope that communication with
to our study of the mysteries of the human mind. But to Houdini it was a 'fraud' and that ended it. I could never
'flash.' He had been at sea when his mother died and Bess Houdini often told the story of his waking in the night and
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278 Houdini o'clock one morning in October, 1926,1 got a phone call from Houdini. He said, 'Joe�I just got in town
car?' I told him I was on my way. When I got to 113th Street Houdini was waiting for me in the doorway. It was raining
alarms. Houdini had some bales of paper and magazines to take out and the Holmes man helped us stack them in the car. Houdini
had pastrami sandwiches. We came back, got in the car and Houdini said, 'Drive through the park, Joe.' When we got to
time it was raining even harder, if that was possible, but Houdini ignored it; he got out of the car, took off the
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Challenge 279 ing how many other 'presentiments of death' Houdini had before, which did not come true. But this one I
for I was there." So Dunninger contributes to the Houdini legend. Houdini's plans for the future, in more optimistic
friend, Dr. A. M. Wilson, editor of The Sphinx. Between them, Houdini and Wilson worked out a whole curriculum for
Science, proceeding to the History of Magic (always one of Houdini's enthusiasms), the Philosophy of Magic (Prof.
the Psychology of Magic (which would reveal to the student Houdini's own vast fund of experience in misdirection, the
other spectacular stunts), the Ethics of Magic (on which Houdini had passionate convictions regarding the use of
Magical Entertainment, Advertising for Magicians (at which Houdini was a pastmaster), and last and all-embracing,
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280 Houdini coffin, and in Worcester, Massachusetts, he used it in a publicity stunt. The strain of managing a show of
of magic, escapery, and the spirit expose. This was, for Houdini, two hours and a half before the audience, selling it
attack diagnosed as food poisoning. She was so ill that Houdini got relays of nurses to look after her. The following
midnight he and Collins took a day coach for New York City. Houdini had a list of chores for them both and on the train
ends preparatory to heading west. When pressed for time Houdini would stir a dozen ee�;s into a quart of milk in place
returned from a weekend in the country. The maid let him in and Houdini lay down on a sofa in the living room and slept
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had taken over Martinka's Palace of Magic shop. Finally Houdini got a train for Albany which arrived there at seven in
Torture Cell to his ankles at the close of the second act, Houdini was obviously suffering from extreme fatigue if not
tank, Houdini gasped. Collins hurriedly motioned for them to lower him to the stage and released his feet. Houdini sat
bone in the ankle was broken and advised immediate X-rays. Houdini grinned. "But, doctor�I've a show to finish!" The
head, and put on an emergency splint. He had done his best. Houdini did his needle trick in place of Upside Down,
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82 Houdini diagnosis�there was a fracture of the ankle. The bone was set and put in a cast. Back at the hotel Houdini
knitting well; a doctor in Montreal confirmed this and advised Houdini to give it complete rest for a few weeks. To
a typical dose of good-natured scorn from the superman. Houdini was used to minor injuries�cuts, bruises, abrasions,
the folks a show. At Montreal's famous McGill University, Houdini had arranged to give a lecture on spiritualism and it
undergraduates, an art major, made a sketch of Houdini and showed it to him after the talk. Houdini admired the drawing
friends, one of whom was a college boxing star. By this time, Houdini's mail had risen to staggering proportions. His
part consisted of letters from believers denouncing him. Houdini was lying on a couch in the dressing room, going
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importance. The young boxer referred to a statement which Houdini had made in his lecture that by clean living and
portion of his body above the belt except the face. "Mr. Houdini�could you let me throw a punch at your midriff with
asked. "No 'Mister'�just Houdini. Yes, certainly." "Could I try it�right now?" "Sure." Houdini started to get up from
let fly a punch to the midsection with everything he had. Houdini gasped and clutched his middle. The boy fell back,
this time Houdini's midsection felt like an oak plank. The lad was duly impressed. When the students had gone, Houdini
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284 Houdini The next day, during the matinee, fatigue seemed to sweep over him in waves; the stage, the glittering
When they pulled into Detroit, they were met by a doctor. Houdini's temperature was one hundred and two degrees. He
unanimous�Houdini had appendicitis and needed an operation at once. Bess wept and argued all day when Houdini was not
settled it. "Help me up. They've paid their money to see Houdini. By God, they're going to get a show." His temperature
and four. There is such a thing as too much courage and Houdini showed it now. From the front, the audience could
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The Final Challenge 285 a supposedly empty cabinet, Houdini's "business" called for him to walk around to the rear of
his guts had paralyzed him. Collins hurried on stage and Houdini grabbed hold of him to steady himself. When he came to
was the end. Houdini had collapsed in the wings. The operating room of Grace Hospital was alerted. As Houdini was
peritoneal cavity was a death sentence; survival was a miracle. Houdini regained consciousness with drains in his
bed in the same hospital. She was wheeled in once a day to Houdini's bedside. The battler of handcuffs and strait
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286 Houdini sage: Rosabelle, believe. When you hear those words . . . know it is Houdini speaking. . . ." Nurse Sophie
hours. Finally, a little after one o'clock on October 31st, Houdini muttered, "Dash . . ." His brother gripped his
them again. Dash took over the show and finished the tour. Houdini returned to New York in the great bronze coffin of
there was Joe Rinn, Houdini's boyhood friend, and old Oscar Teale, who had done illustrations for Houdini's books;
buried beside his father and mother rises a monument to Houdini, surmounted by a stone bust of the great escapist. It
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TORNADO was still, the maelstrom had ceased its spinning. Bess Houdini could sleep the whole night through, without
challenges, no more tender love letters left under her pillow. Houdini's death found his affairs in their habitual
books on magic�5,200, many of them rarities�was left, by Houdini's will, to the Library of Congress. That will was a
stormy client patched up old feuds and started new ones. Houdini added codicils and struck out beneficiaries as passion
said to be the largest private collection in the world. Houdini had, also, autographs 287
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288 Houdini of all but two of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. As fast as these were sold, Bess received
as these were sold, Bess received shipments, ordered by Houdini, from dealers all over the world. In the end she paid
since she was nineteen her main concern had been to keep Houdini well clothed and fed as often as he would take the
the show at the end of the week and meet their payroll; Houdini, in an auction room, could run wild when a treasure
about money�she had money. There was no more waiting for Houdini to get out of a box underwater or untie himself from a
he often explodes when the pressure is removed. Beatrice Houdini did not exactly explode but she drifted. She tried
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spirit medium who could produce the secret code message which Houdini had arranged with her and of which he had
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290 Houdini "as sheep in the midst of wolves": ". . . be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves." Wise as
was planning a lecture tour with Bess. Presumably Beatrice Houdini would uphold the beliefs of her late husband and
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ground for the makings of good stories. When she met Bess Houdini she began boring in to find out if her long married
had portrayed it in Houdini: His Life Story from the Recollections and Documents of Beatrice Houdini. The author of the
thing, beautfully formed and with mocking green eyes. Knowing Houdini's prudishness and ultraconservatism in his
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292 Houdini several torrid love letters just to see what would happen. Houdini never threw away any scrap of paper
by Rea and signed by Bess�called "The Life and Loves of Houdini." Bess interrupted this project by being taken sick.
appeared at the hospital as a specialist, sent for by Mrs. Houdini for a consultation. When he got to her room,
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spirit "David Fletcher," a message purporting to come from Houdini's mother mentioning the key word Forgive. Or so it
and told him that a big story was about to break involving Houdini and Bess. She refused to go into details. On January
From the depths of the great unknown, the voice of Harry Houdini came back today to allay the feverish suffering of his
bed in her home. . . . Although near death herself, Mrs. Houdini has not the slightest doubt that the voice from the
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294 Houdini Slowly, the words, nine in all, fell from the lips of the medium, who, with a party of spectators, were
answer�look�tell�answer, answer�tell�" And, according to the code devised by Houdini some four years ago, the mystic
his control spirit Fletcher, given out with a message from Houdini containing the code words. That this had actually
using Ford's vocal chords, again reported a message from Houdini, containing the nine words and explaining how they
from Houdini, and Bess signed it. Then, on January 10th, the Graphic exploded with another front-page headline: HOUDINI
found on page 19.) The story on page 3 carried the head: HOUDINI MESSAGE BIG HOAX! Ford Admits He Got Secret Code From
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public�the purported communication from the spirit world of Harry Houdini to his widow, Beatrice. Evidence gathered by
to its "premiere." The GRAPHIC further reveals that Mrs. Houdini, who professed only a slight acquaintance with Arthur
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296 Houdini her a bribe, then tried to appease her in other ways, to no avail. When asked point blank by the "girl"
reporter if he had gotten the message from the spirit of Houdini, Ford allegedly replied, "You know, Rea, I could never
informed reporters, Nurse Sophie Rosenblatt, who attended Houdini during his last hours, had heard him murmur the two
to declare that Daisy had learned the secret message from Houdini before he died. The story in the New York Telegram of
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"I receive many messages that are supposed to come from Houdini through mediums and strange seances but they never mean
often I go to seances, hoping and praying that the signals Houdini gave me will be heard. No message comes to me while
"Rosabelle" was not a pet name of Houdini's for Bess, as was believed. She said later, "Houdini would have called me
mentalist from California, and a psychic researcher in the best Houdini "ghost-breaker" tradition. Saint was a dapper
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298 Houdini a large "cat's eye" stone in the head, held by a golden bird's claw.* Time eventually took its toll of the
"blond witch" Margery followed him three years later. Bess Houdini suffered a fatal heart attack on February 11, 1943,
so has ever-faithful Jimmy Collins. All that remains of Houdini now are the files of letters, the trunks of handcuffs
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parents. Athlete and showman, collector and pamphleteer, Houdini lives on in legend noted for but one thing: To the
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magical history in the United States with a section on "Harry Houdini and the Escape Legend," drawn apparently from the
his anecdotes of the Boss. CANNELL, J. C.�The Secrets of Houdini. Hutchinson & Co. London. 1932. The author, a British
journalist and amateur magician, writes with devotion to Houdini's memory. Some of his explanations, notably of the
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swordsman, is the ideal biographer. The book makes no mention of Houdini. DUNNINGER, JOSEPH�Inside the Medium's
York. 1935. Excellent firsthand account, by the successor of Houdini in exposing psychic fraud, of Nino Pecoraro and
"Houdini message" mtngue. ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, 11th Edition, "Conjuring." Article signed "H.H." written by Houdini
recent years; namely, the challenge escape illusions of Houdini. ENDORE, GUY�Methinks the Lady . . . Duell, Sloan and
brief reference to Houdini from a Freudian standpoint. ERNST, BERNARD M. L., and CARRINGTON, HEREWARD�Houdini and Conan
the spiritualism controversy. According to collectors of Houdini letters, the correspondence has been extensively
Heller mind-reading code, used in the Houdini message. FAST, FRANCIS R.�The Houdini Messages (pamphlet). Privately
at which the first Houdini message came through. The pamphlet is a defense of Ford and Beatrice Houdini. FORD, ARTHUR,
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302 Houdini ways, Ford's life story is charitable, plausible, and in spots deeply moving, as in the section dealing
and success in every honest endeavor. GIBSON, WALTER B.�Houdini's Escapes and Magic. Blue Ribbon Books. New York. 1930.
of Houdini in handcuff escapes, challenges, and prepared devices. GIBSON, WALTER B., and YOUNG, MORRIS N., M.D.�Houdini
editors have performed a valuable service in collating many of Houdini's own writings which appeared in pamphlets and
convinced spiritualist, Goldston was probably bitter about Houdini's slam-bang denunciations of all spiritualism as
in the columns of Variety. There are only two mentions of Houdini, the first, regarding his "jumping out of airplanes
provides fascinating reading for all devotees of the art. HOUDINI, HARRY�The Adventurous Life of a Versatile Artist.
performances. Biographical material contributing to the Houdini legend but also useful for checking dates and
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pinionated Bibliography 303 �Elliott's Last Legacy. Edited by Houdini, compiled by Clinton Burgess, illustrated by
manipulators and magical inventors. Interesting as a side light on Houdini: in his introduction he states that he
early morning hours. The account of this concert reveals Houdini's lively sense of humor. The boyish self-praise of the
suitable for various magical moods, tricks, and routines. �Houdini Exposes the Tricks used by the Boston Medium
history of the spiritualism movement from the Fox sisters to Houdini's own activities in exposing frauds. It contains a
illustrated by reproductions of old engravings and handbills from Houdini's collection. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
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304 Houdini February 26; May 18, 20, 21, 1926. Government Printing Office. Washington. 1926. JARRETT�Magic and Stage
illusion inventors of all time. Guy Jarrett's opinion of Houdini was not flattering. While he gives the weight of Daisy
KELLOCK, HAROLD�Houdini/ His Life-Story by Harold Kellock from the recollections and documents of Beatrice Houdini.
Magazine, this is the authoritative volume for the chronology of Houdini's life. Except for an explanation of the map
the slate which so mystified Theodore Roosevelt, it keeps Houdini's secrets intact. LAMBERT, R. S.�Exploring the
American Indian magic and one on magical greats, including Houdini. Mulholland was a close friend of the Escape King
Mulholland will someday produce a book devoted entirely to Houdini. He has much to tell. PRICE, HARRY�Leaves from a
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material the author gives credit to Miss Rose Mackenberg, Houdini's chief investigator of psychic frauds. The chapter
Mediums" gives the experiences of the author in performing Houdini's milk-can escape with the aid of Jim Collins, and
Mystery. Grosset & Dunlap. New York. 1919. Novelized from the Houdini serial and illustrated with stills from the film.
clippings from Rinn's scrapbooks, many of them dealing with Houdini.
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306 Houdini SARDINA, MAURICE�Where Houdini Was Wrong. Translated and edited with notes by Victor Farelli. George
1950. A reply by a French engineer and amateur magician, to Houdini's Unmasking of Robert-Houdin. To this project M.
takes Houdini's blast at the great French conjuror seriously. WILLIAMS, BERYL, and EPSTEIN, SAMUEL�The Great Houdini.
. Julian Messner. New York. 1950. Lively "story of Houdini" for young readers, following the legend as told by Kellock.
respects an addition to Houdini lore. Other sources used in the present work are clippings from Houdini's own
Invention Magazine of April 1929, Houdini letters in the Christopher Collection, Houdini receipts and miscellany in the
the collection of Jay Marshall, the author's own files on Houdini, augmented by material from the archives of Martin
Grossman, and the invaluable correspondence on the subject of Houdini and escapery in general with The Amazing Randi.
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material has never appeared in print, such as the truth behind Houdini's adventure of being lost under the ice of a
"spirit message" from Houdini beyond the grave. William Lindsay Gresham has been collecting material on Houdini for
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(from the Dunnni^er collection) Houdini in one of his publicity photographs

Houdini and the future of spiritualism [electronic resource]
by William Elliott Hammond (April 1, 1926)

Details

2

slow an ideal rule the *s will be THE NATIONAL SPIRITUALIST HOUDINI AND THE FUTURE OF SPIRITUALISM (Continued from Page
I spoke and who comes also from Wisconsin calls himself Houdini, although that is not his real name. And my stars�but
a passion. But the passion of this man who calls himself Houdini is of the wrong kind. It is destructive, not
him ten thousand dollars ? Not the man who calls himself Houdini! But the thing which I wish especially to emphasize is
Spiritualists� and they are honest in their belief�who feel that Houdini is our friend, that he is merely trying to
between Houdini and Rev. Cotton, the latter a minister of the Unitarian Cr the Register, an Unitari; pie," said Houdini
had never heard oi Christian fanatic, a mem So it is. In Houdini's in his newspaper articles, he reveals that he is not
3

I spoke and who comes also from Wisconsin calls himself Houdini, although that is not his real name. And my stars�but
a passion. But the passion of this man who calls himself Houdini is of the wrong kind. It is destructive, not
him ten thousand dollars ? Not the man who calls himself Houdini! But the thing which I wish especially to emphasize is
Spiritualists� and they are honest in their belief�who feel that Houdini is our friend, that he is merely trying to
attacking I quote the following from an interview between Houdini and Rev. Cotton, the latter a minister of the
Register, an Unitarian Magazine. "Tell the people," said Houdini, "that what I am trying to do is to save them from
country. Let us examine some of these effusions from the pen of Houdini. Here is one published under the caption Ghosts
Christian fanatic, a member of the Baptist church [ So it is. In Houdini's challenge to our mediums, in his newspaper
4

(V Page Six THE NATIONAL SPIRITUALIST HOUDINI AND THE FUTURE OF SPIRITUALISM (Continued from1 Page 3, Col. 3) diumship?
they have led! I defy any critic, whether he calls himself Houdini or by any other name, to produce evidence that
Lily Dale. But he still wore the name that is not his own�Houdini. He walked out upon the stage and began telling the
criminals! When I had heard enough, I rose and said: "Mr. Houdini,�just a word !" "You are a stranger coming into our
first man, woman or child to be put in an insane asylum! Mr. Houdini, judge a church by its fruits !'? There is not
been true we should have heard of it long ago. In reply Houdini scratched his head and said, "Well, that is covering a
Spiritualism I will begin with Houdini's own remark. Follow some genuine religion! Houdini is attacking us as a
So, the first principle of true religion is freedom. When Houdini said, "get some genuine religion" what did he mean?
trying to free themselves from this control. There is in what Houdini calls "genuine religion" a terrible restlessness.
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first man, woman or child to be put in an insane asylum! Mr. Houdini, judge a church by its fruits!" There is not
been true we should have heard of it long ago. In reply Houdini scratched his head and said, "Well, that is covering a
Spiritualism I will begin with Houdini's own remark. Follow some genuine religion1 Houdini is attacking us as a
So, the first principle of true religion is freedom. When Houdini said, "get some genuine religion" what did he mean?
trying to free themselves from this control. There is in what Houdini calls "genuine religion" a terrible restlessness.
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Washington. Comment i:> reserved. IN REPLY TO HOUDINI The statement of Mr. Houdini that we are careless in the
flake as it fell cried out, 'What are you going to say about Houdini?" Clippings from newspapers criss-crossing the
what do you think it contained? The report of the visit of Houdini and his spies to Mr. Keeler at Lily Dale. So far
oneself down to the level�the only level�on which one can meet Houdini. We were not brought up by a gentle, refined
one to hurl them at�women' What, then, shall one say to Houdini? At the United States Military Academy at West Point
either to kill c give Mr. Houdini Tt pardon us if, like Br< "laffin' place " For he HOUDINI US If there is among oi
presided, a cant. She writes: The meeting was call stay of Houdini and hi itualism. The theatre before the hour of
reside in Philadelp we are not in the least ing was called Houdini was invited He declined, saying tl on the Saturday
the Investigati Research Society of 1 unknown to the latte Houdini has repeat reads his ballots. Mr not. He had m hand
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Naitwell, President. a snow storm had 3 it fell cried out, t Houdini?" Clipssing the country le State of Wash- �rida
one to hurl them at�women! What, then, shall one say to Houdini? At the United States Military Academy at West Point
Philosophy and a Religion need lose no sleep over the antics of Houdini. To amuse an unthinking public is his job. His
persecution have ever added to their growth and influence. Houdini's attacks can have but one result. They will bind
attempt either to kill or to capture it! So we shall give Mr. Houdini THE SILENCE. And he will pardon us if, like Bre'r
our "laffin' place." For he who laughs last laughs best' HOUDINI IN PHILADELPHIA If there is among our many splendid
The meeting was called because of the three weeks' stay of Houdini and his constant tirade against Spiritualism. The
opening. Hundreds were on the outside trying to get in. Houdini had said so often during his three weeks here that the
not in the least afraid of him So the meeting was called. Houdini was invited to be present and take part He declined,
this city He took up, point by point, the statements which Houdini had been making against us during his stay here,
answering them in every detail, showing beyond question how Houdini was so juggling" his words as to make the False
unknown to the latter, and how Mr Slater made ,.' good. Houdini has repeatedly charged that Mr Slater reads his
solved itself m for itself H( seances where Bird had been t Houdini had invited to the when he reache< to correct
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read and answer this question as Mr. Slater did." NEITHER HOUDINI NOR ANY OF HIS ATTENDANTS EVEN REFERRED TO THIS
variety of phenomena. Mr. Bird said also that inasmuch as Houdini would probably tell them how he (Bird) had been FIRED
itself into a simple statement which speaks for itself. Houdini had been dropped from the seances where Marjorie was
tested but Mr. Bird had been retained' There we have it. Houdini had been sitting in a box. He was now invited to the
ABOUT HOUDINI From the Evening Bulletin PSYCHISTS PASS LIE IN STAGE MEETING Society Official Accuses Harry Houdini in
meeting enlivened by cheers, applause, hisses and boos, Harry Houdini and J. Malcolm Bird, New York, an official of the
reply from Houdini. Mr. Munroe, who is chairman of the Psychical Research Society of Philadelphia, declared Houdini's
kind of lie because it was only half truth." He declared Houdini was obsessed with the idea that all mediums were
limits to attempt to establish this as a fact. He declared Houdini assiduously avoided interviewing some of the best
concerning the famed Boston medium, Marjory, that brought Houdini to the stage with a leap and his passing of the lie
Mr. Bird no less than twenty times. Among other things, Houdini made charges that Bird was a confederate of Marjory.
insinuations made by Mr. Bird. Some of the high lights of Houdini's speech found the audience on its feet and at times
order. After the meeting, which lasted until 11:30 p. m., Houdini declared he had never engaged in "so heated a debate
Philadelphia, who presided, stayed calm during the verbal clash. "Houdini had been invited by our committee to attend
gentle- From the Inquirer SPIRIT DEBATE PUTS THEATRE IN UPROAR Houdini and Foes Booed and Cheered by Throng at Mass
Down Barrage of Personalities The dynamic declaration of Houdini at a meeting of spiritualistic leaders and
Spiritualism into some detail in �o Houdini's arguments, �as that "spiritualism is the Houdini had assiduously mediums
Bird was one of th who insisted that Marjorie genuine. Mr. Houdini was tee, as was also an executi tific periodical
gesture that bore its fu Houdini to take the stage. In full justice to all concei that Houdini was hardly g\\i'< as
whom it was directed sat qui uneasily in his chair and in Houdini accused him of viol magazine of whose editorial s �of
was a whole lot mo lasted until 11:30 o'clock�bi audience, Houdini, Mr. Bird- Mrs. Goetz�had forgotten co ualism, and
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improved methods :reased variety of phenomena t inasmuch as Houdini would he (Bird) had been FIRED erican he would tell
OF PHILADELPHIA ^Y ABOUT HOUDINI he Evening Bulletin JS LIE IN STAGE MEETING ccuses Harry Houdini in Fight Over Medium
reply from Houdini. Mr. Munroe, who is chairman of the Psychical Research Society of Philadelphia, declared Houdini's
kind of lie because it was only half truth." He declared Houdini was obsessed with the idea that all mediums were
limits to attempt to establish this as a fact. He declared Houdini assiduously avoided interviewing some of the best
concerning the famed Boston medium, Marjory, that brought Houdini to the stage with a leap and his passing of the lie
Mr. Bird no less than twenty times. Among other things, Houdini made charges that Bird was a confederate of Marjory.
insinuations made by Mr. Bird. Some of the high lights of Houdini's speech found the audience on its feet and at times
order. After the meeting, which lasted until 11:30 p. m., Houdini declared he had never engaged in "so heated a debate
Philadelphia, who presided, stayed calm during the verbal clash. "Houdini had been invited by our committee to attend
gentle- From the Inquirer SPIRIT DEBATE PUTS THEATRE IN UPROAR Houdini and Foes Booed and Cheered by Throng at Mass
to each other last night in a The dynamic declaration of Houdini at a meeting of spiritualistic leaders and
Munro, who threw down the first gauntlet at Mr. Houdini's feet. Houdini had been scheduled to speak at a large up-
Regard to Houdini's "Speedy" Return Mr. Munro, in a rather fervent manner, outlined the case of Spiritualism vs. Houdini
in Mr. Houdini's arguments, as well as to his pretensions that "spiritualism is the bunk." He declared that Houdini had
meeting would have continued on its even course'�doubtless Houdini would not have leaped upon the stage a raging lion,
insisted that Marjorie's seances were absolutely genuine. Mr. Houdini was also one of the committee, as was also an
personalities. They were not outright in their condemnation of Mr. Houdini, but they were just the kind of insinuations
scorn, asked Houdini to take the stage. In full justice to all concerned, it must be admitted that Houdini was hardly
somewhat uneasily in his chair and interjected not a word. Houdini accused him of violating his trust to the magazine
lasted until 11:30 o'clock�but by that time the audience, Houdini, Mr. Bird�all but Munro and Mrs. Goetz�had forgotten
completely about spiritualism, and were either cheering or booing Houdini in his verbal onslaught. Mrs. Goetz observed

Houdini as magician [electronic resource] his evidence as a witness
(January 29, 1927)

Details

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LIGHT JATOARY 29, 192?. HOUDINI AS MAGICIAN. His EVIDENCE AS A WITNESS. Let us take a hypothetical case. Suppose that a
out to fight the tedious battle, pro or con as to whether Houdini possessed occult powers Or not. He may possibly have
valid testimony when some dear old lady asserts, "I know Houdini was a medium, because when I Saw him escape from the
of the soldier�"not evidence." It is generally known that Houdini disclaimed psychic powers, and claimed that his
20th, and 21st, 1926. From this it will be seen that Mr. Houdini is quite emphatic that he does not possess supernormal
are, in his opinion, either charlatans or degenerates. MB. HOUDINI : . . I am not attacking a religion . . I respect
is possible to have a genuine clairvoyant, is it not? MB. HOUDINI: It is impossible, I claim. I will give $10,000 to
that will do one test. A little later we find this:� MB.HOUDINI : I have had more mediums arrested in two years than
have never tried to catch them on a test, have you? # MB. HOUDINI: On a test? [Turning to the audience.] Tell me the
me the pet name my father used to call me? [No response.] Houdini's disclaimer, as regards the possession of
don't claim to be able to do anything by divine power? MB. HOUDINI: NO, sir; I am human. But mediums are trying to say
MB. BLOOM : Everything you do is just as a magician? MR. HOUDINI: Yes, sir; I call it "mystification." But I do tricks
MCLEOD (interposing); You claim you have psychic power. MR, HOUDINI: They say 1 have. No one has; we are all born
point that completely eludes me, Of course one know& what Houdini intended. He was not an Englishman, so that his
tongue, whicli appears to differ somewhat from our own. MR. HOUDINI: . . Give me the medium, and I willprove that they
MR. HOUDINI: Conan Doyle is not an outstanding authority. MR. MCLEOD : He is accepted as one of the best. MB. HOUDINI
powers^ which I deny. MR. MCLEOD: HOW can you prove it? MB. HOUDINI: I admit that I do not mediumistic powers. They
is Hewitt McKenzie. MR. MCLEOD : How do you do it ? ME. HOUDINI : I do it like anybody else would do it, There is
alike. I will, for the present, leave the matter there. Mr, Houdini may have been a powerful medium; he may, in spite

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