Houdini Phone Calls - ABOUT, Not From

I just wanted to share this because I find it interesting and revealing at the same time. I have a couple friends who call me about Houdini. But one friend in particular is writing a book on Houdini. In fairness, he has been researching this book for most of his life and has gathered a crazy amount of information. We speak fairly often. But recently, within the last 5 days, we have talked 3 times, a total of 7 hours and 45 minutes, all on Houdini. 

YES, you read that correctly, nearly 8 hours and I expect to get another call this week. What on earth could two people discuss for that long ? ? ? ? Well, much of the time we were both going through our files to look up information on the topic we were discussing. Things we covered, his death, the punch, 278, the airplane, Library of Congress, various collections that are known, a few that are unknown, some of Houdinis vague associates, and more. 

Usually with Houdini, there are more questions when we finish talking than there were things uncovered. Its amazing that one person could be so interesting that new information comes out on him, all the time! Here is a tiny fact that I never knew and is nothing in the bigger picture. But from a magicians point of view its kind of cool. Houdini performed the Egg Bag at one of the SAM Parent Assembly meetings. Never pictured him as an Egg Bag guy. Of course, my natural nerdy magic disposition arose and wondered what type of bag he used. More than likely he just used the classic Egg Bag which was already old in Houdinis time. 

Here is a fun note. As a teen ager, I hand sewed an Egg Bag out of an old shirt. I still have it around here somewhere. I had to use glue over the seems as I wasn't confident of my sewing ability. It was rectangular in shape like the classic bag. I wish I had made it more like the one that Max Malini had because his was square in shape. I dont recall, but looking back, I probably didnt have enough fabric to pull it off. 

Anyway, Houdini doing the Egg Bag is fun news. Houdini doing the Blooming Rose Bush was also something I remember learning and finding quite interesting. I learned that from Ken Klosterman, who owned one of the two Houdini Blooming Rose Bushes. Those would have been in the 3 in One Show.

In the case of Houdini, he wrote hundreds, maybe even thousands of letters. Often in those letters, he will make reference to something that will send a researcher on a wild goose chase. For example, he may mention a persons name that is unfamiliar. He may mention a particular event, that is not recorded in the usual Houdini narrative. So looking up this 'new' info can be quite the diversion, and sometimes it delivers huge results and other times, virtually nothing. 

This weekend I learned a bit of Houdini information I never knew. It was so eye opening, and yet, there had been bread crumbs there for a long time. But this one comment from a letter, revealed a key to something Houdini had been doing. MORE on what that was exactly in the future. 

I think the big lesson, you cant do all the research alone. Other people know things you dont. They may have had access to information you could never get. Case in point, my Grandfather met Houdini. He told me a story about him, when I was a kid. I honestly thought he was just making it all up. But imagine my surprise to learn later that story was true. My Great Great Grandfather may have helped to strap Houdini into a strait jacket in Minnesota. I say, may have, because there is no way to 100% prove family lore....except for a newspaper article I uncovered that had his name listed as one of the people who put Houdini in the jacket! The one snag is whether or not my GGGrandfather was in this part of Minnesota at the time. I did learn his son Charlie was there. So, that is a good sign. But beyond family lore, and a mention of his name in the paper, I dont have definitive proof, in other words, no photos, no back story on how he was chosen to put Houdini in the jacket, etc.. Sure makes for an interesting story.

And now I need to leave you because the phone is ringing......hour 8 is just moments away!

Limited Edition Print #3 of Houdini for Houdini Centennial

 

Ive now released the third limited edition high art print of Houdini for the Houdini Centennial, the Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Houdini's Death. This particular piece began 20 years ago. I created more than a dozen pieces in this style before I moved on. Each of the Houdini paintings that will be featured this year is quite unique in style. 

To date I have offered two different caricatures, and one in a more modern style. Coming later in the year there will be some abstract images, expressionists images, cubist, and surrealistic styles as well. To date, all the original paintings have been done in acrylics. However, I may offer a water-color print at some point. None of that matters really as I am only offering the prints. If I sell the originals, it won't be until 2027 and that is IF, I decide to sell them. 

You can see them and purchase the prints here: https://carnegie-magic.myshopify.com/products/houdini-blue-limited-edition-fine-art-magic-print-by-dean-carnegie

Hocus Pocus Closing!

 

At this moment, no idea what caused this abrupt closure. But one of the most popular modern magic shops is no more. This is a major blow to the magic community. HP was putting out some very clever 3D printed items and looked to have a great future going forward. But that is no longer the case. A sad day for sure.

LIKE HOUDINI Book Event

 

There is another book on Houdini coming out in a few days. There is going to be an onslaught of Houdini books this year. This time my friend Kent Cummins is the author and he's written a book called I WANT TO BE LIKE HOUDINI. The launch of the book will be Feb 17th at the Texas Magic Center. 

The book is described as "a tribute to Houdini 's life and the inspiration he sparked in a generation of magicians". Kent Cummins is a full time magician, a businessman, a marketing genius and an entrepreneur, and now author. 

The event on Feb 17th will be hosted by Kent, and will include a magic show, there is a Houdini museum display, close-up magic, and more. Im sure its going to be an exciting event. To learn more, visit likehoudini.com

Houdini and Chase's Polite Vaudeville House and More

 

I have been searching for a long time for a photo of Chase's Vaudeville house. A fellow historian told me it was actually Keith's Theater, but he was slightly incorrect. Chase's began on Pennsylvania Avenue and later moved to 15th and G Street. Later, B.F. Keith's bought that location. But the original was on Pennsylvania Avenue, in view of the Capital Building. 

In 1906 Houdini played Chase's Theater. In fact, I wrote all about it in 2014.But I never knew what it looked like until now. I recently discovered a photo that includes Chase's theater. And just by coincidence it contains a whole lot more related to magic as well. I'm going to share them all with you.

First, Chase's Polite Vaudeville Theater, it was located at 1424 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. In the photo above, Chase's is on the right hand side #3. Here is a close up of the theater. Houdini was there from September 16th to September 29, 1906. He was heavy into his Challenge Act Days, and each day provided a new and exciting challenge for DC audiences to enjoy. I will have more on Houdini in DC in an upcoming future project. But for now I want you to see, the outside and possibly the inside.

The reason I say possibly the inside is, this location really doesn't look big enough for the auditorium for which I have a photo. Looks can be deceiving and the building may be much larger than the facade out front, which was not uncommon with theaters. But there are two things that make me think this like was in fact the right place. One, it says 'Chases Theater' at the bottom of the picture, though this could be the second location. But the other thing is that Chases was originally the Grand Opera House and this auditorium sure looks like it should be an Opera House!

That's not the end of the story. If you move left on the upper most photo you see a tall building marked with a red #2. This was the Post Office Pavillion. Built in 1892, it was originally Barton & Logan's Dime Museum. This was pre-vaudeville. In 1880, Imro Fox, the magician who would later be one of the Bosco's in LeRoy Talma And Bosco, worked at Bartons. He was working as a chef at a local hotel about a block away. The manager of the Dime Museum had hired a magician who was showing up drunk and then not showing up at all. Word reached him that there was a chef who was an amateur magician. He approached Imro Fox, the chef,  who at first said no. Then he offered to pay him $50 and he said yes. Fifty dollars in 1880 had to be like crazy money. 

Back to the photo at the top of the page. The red #4 is the Nation's Capital, where in 1902, a 29 year old Max Malini, bit the button off the coat on Senator Mark Hanna on the steps of the Capital, and then immediately restored it. Word reached the White House and the next day, Malini was performing for President Teddy Roosevelt!

However, there is another incident. In 1926, Houdini testified before Congress, twice, about an Anti-Spiritualism bill, which was actually an Anti-Fortune Telling Bill. I covered those exploits on this blog and also on two episodes of my podcast, one which has yet to air. 

Finally, we get down to the last red number, #1. It is obscured by the trees, but it is iconic to both the magic world and DC residents. It would be the future location of Al's Magic Shop, run by Al Cohen and his son. Originally it was a gift shop that he and his father ran. Slowly, Al started adding magic tricks to the items sold and eventually the magic took over. 

In 1980, Al got word that the area was going to be redeveloped and his building would be torn down. So he moved the shop. Al would move the shop from 1205 Pennsylvania Ave NW to a couple different locations, eventually ending up on Vermont Avenue, which is only a few blocks from this location. 

Al's served as the go to place in the DC areas for magicians to gather and buy tricks and meet up. I remember bumping into David Williamson there once, and the Amazing Randi, and even Patch Adams. But the most ironic part of all this to me, and I didn't realize it until today. Long after the shop had been torn down, my good friend Ralph and I went down to a festival in DC that was on Pennsylvania Avenue. We went down there busking and if I might add, made quite a bit of money. Fortunately we didn't get thrown out, at least not at that one. But the spot we set up at, was the exact spot of the old Al's Magic Shop! I never realized it before, but looking over the old photo and checking locations, sure enough we stood in front of Al's location. Wild.

And I'll leave you with a bonus. Houdini was at Chase's earlier in 1906 too. Again, I'll have more on all that soon. But here is a newspaper article from his January appearance! This is from The Washington Star Newspaper, January 2nd, 1906.