Spirit of America Bookstore
Harry Houdini
[1874-1926]
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short profile
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"Anyone who believes in magic is a fool."
"Magic is the sole science not accepted by scientists, because they can't understand it."
"I am a great admirer of mystery and magic. Look at this life - all mystery and magic."
"It is my wish that each and every one of you experiences a little bit of magic in your lives, every day."
— Harry Houdini
Ehrich Weisz was born in Budapest, Austria-Hungary in 1874 and immigrated with his family to the U.S. in 1878. By age 18, he had channeled his drive and a love of performing into magic, choosing the stage name Harry Houdini in homage to master magician Robert-Houdin. Lalicki effectively underscores the tandem guiding influences of Houdini's mother and his wife, Bess Rahner, who also acted as his assistant, in describing a career that spanned from 1892-1926. The author also puts Houdini's success into perspective at a time when people had little money and media coverage was scarce. He attributes Houdini's breakthrough, in large part, to his 1899 introduction to Martin Beck, who backed him and encouraged Houdini to drop the more banal magician's tricks in favor of innovative escapes, which he mastered through intense physical exertion and practice (e.g., he spent more than three years perfecting the Chinese Water-Torture Cell escape before performing it in 1912). Unfortunately, the design of the biography resembles a textbook more than a volume befitting its dazzling subject. However, photographs and memorabilia documenting Houdini's superhuman feats (including escapes from jail cells and hanging upside-down in a straitjacket, suspended over a crowded Washington, D.C., street) inject excitement into the pages.
t e x t
h e r e
Some time around 1897, Harry Houdini witnessed toddler Joe Keaton VI fall down a flight of stairs without injury; Harry bestowed the name 'Buster' upon the child and the name stuck for the rest of Buster Keaton's life.
In a posthumous ceremony on October 31, 1975, Houdini was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7001 Hollywood Blvd.
Harry Houdini entry at Wikipedia
browse books at the Harry Houdini Store at Amazon
Harry Houdini credits [since 1909] at Internet Movie Database
Works by Harry Houdini
browse books at the Harry Houdini Store at Amazon
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 | "Houdini: The Adventurous Life of A Versatile Artist" [1900 and later] 64-page promotional/souvenir booklet, much revised over the years, thru 1922 Kindle Edition from unknown [5/2014] for $2.99 Forgotten Books pb [4/2018] for $9.57 Forgotten Books 9x6 hardcover [4/2018] for $25.38 1922 edition available as free online flip-book at Internet Archive |
 | "The Right Way To Do Wrong: A Unique Selection of Writings By History's Greatest Escape Artist" [1906] by Harry Houdini, Introduction by magician Teller
Kindle Edition from Melville House [10/2012] for $9.99 Melville House/Neversink Library 8x5 pb [10/2012] for $12.39 1906 edition available as free online flip-book at Internet Archive |
 | "Handcuff Secrets" [George Routledge & Sons, 1907] by Harry Houdini
94-page Kindle Edition from A. Datta [1907 facsimile] for $6.50 |
 | "The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin: The Truth About Magic - with 200 Superb Illustrations" [1908] by Harry Houdini, The World-Famous Jailbreaker and Handcuff King Kindle Edition from (unbranded) [5/2013] for $2.99 CreateSpace 9x6 pb [9/2014] for $6.99 Outlook Verlag 9x6 hardcover [8/2020] for $64.90 {sic} 1908 edition available as free online flip-book at Internet Archive |
 | "Magical Rope Ties and Escapes" [Will Goldston, Ltd. UK, 1920] by Houdini 92-page Kindle Edition from Amarketer [7/2012] for $4.99 |
"Miracle Mongers and Their Methods" [1920]
http://www.archive.org/details/MiracleMongersAndTheirMethodsByHarryHoudini/ 1920
 | "Houdini's Paper Magic: The Whole Art of Paper Tricks, Including Folding, Tearing, and Puzzles" [orig 1921]
Kindle Edition from Dragon Publns [4/2013] for $2.99 Kindle Edition from Dover Publns [5/2017] for $9.99 Dover Publns 8x5 pb [5/2017] for $12.95 Kessinger Publng 11x8½ hardcover [9/2010] for $31.96 1922 E.P. Dutton edition available as free online flip-book at Internet Archive better 1922 E.P. Dutton edition available as free online flip-book at Internet Archive |
Harry Houdini wrote several short stories in the early 1920s, some of which were ghost-written by H.P. Lovecraft [1890-1937];
Houdini also wrote eight short film treatments during this time.
"A One Night Engagement"
"Bahl Yahn, The Strong Man"
"Cupid Presents The Bullet-Catching Trick"
"Dan Cupid - Magician"
"The Hoax of The Spirit Lover: The Astounding Expose of Fraud Mediums" [Weird Tales 1924]
by Harry Houdini & H.P. Lovecraft {see below}
"Imprisoned With The Pharaohs" [Weird Tales 1924] by Harry Houdini & H.P. Lovecraft - reprinted in the June 1939 issue {see below}
"The Magician's Christmas Eve"
"The Spirit Fakers of Hermannstadt: The Most Miraculous True Story Ever Written" [Weird Tales 1924]
by Harry Houdini & H.P. Lovecraft {see below}
"Yar, The Primeval Man" short film treatment [1921]
12-page self-publd brochure [1921] out of print/scarce
 | "A Magician Among The Spirits" [1924] by Harry Houdini - co-authored with C.M. Eddy, Jr. [1896-1967], who was not credited Kindle Edition from Corner Office Books [1/2020] for $8.95 Corner Office Books 9x6 pb [1/2020] for $14.70 Cambridge Univ Press pb [5/2011] for $56.33 {sic} Ayer Co. Publrs hardcover [5/72] out of print/used Ayer Co. Publrs hardcover [5/72] out of print/used Harper & Brothers 1924 edition available as free online flip-book at Internet Archive |
"Houdini Exposes The Tricks Used By The Boston Medium 'Margery'" [1924]
   | The author Howard Phillips 'H.P.' Lovecraft [1890-1937] lived in near-poverty for much of his life; he wrote many stories printed by the magazine Weird Tales, and also worked as a ghostwriter; these three stories were likely written by Lovecraft; the magazine also published an 'Ask Houdini' column
"The Spirit Fakers of Hermannstadt: The Most Miraculous True Story Ever Written" "The Hoax of The Spirit Lover: The Astounding Expose of Fraud Mediums" by Houdini "Imprisoned With The Pharaohs" short story by Houdini {actually H.P. Lovecraft} |
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"How I Unmask The Spirit Fakers" aka "Houdini's Own Story" article for Popular Science Magazine (November 1925) by Harry Houdini
Kindle Edition from all-about-psychology.com [2/2011] for $2.99 |
"How I Do My 'Spirit Tricks'" article for Popular Science Magazine (December 1925)
"Conjuring" (1926) article for the Encyclopædia Britannica's 13th edition
 | "Houdini's Big Little Book of Magic: Fascinating Puzzles, Tricks, and Mysterious Stunts" [1927]
Kessinger Legacy Reprints 9x6 pb [9/2010] for $19.96 Kessinger Legacy Reprints 9x6 hardcover [9/2010] for $31.96 Whitman hardcover [1927] out of print/used |
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"The Great Houdini's Book of Magic Tricks, Puzzles, and Stunts" [1976] Introduction by Walter Brown Gibson 'A collector's classic, out of print for 50 years!'; fully illustrated Pinnacle Books mass pb [9/1976] out of print/scarce Pinnacle Books mass pb [9/1976] out of print/scarce |
  | "Houdini's Strange Tales" [1992] Compiled & Edited by Patrick Culliton & T.L. Williams A collection of fiction by the legendary Harry Houdini: 7 short stories, 3 one-act plays, and 8 short film treatments in 96 pages {see index page to left} Kieran Press pb [1992] out of print/used Culliton also produced a limited edition CD with voice actors reading four of these tales, not available on Amazon, try eBay or Etsy |
 | "The Book of Houdini: Three Works On The Magical Life of Harry Houdini" [2017] Edited by Nevetz Azraz contains three public domain works by Harry Houdini: 1922 edition of the promotional brochure "Houdini: The Adventurous Life of A Versatile Artist", "The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin" book [1908], and "Miracle Mongers & Their Methods" book [1920] CreateSpace 11x8½ pb [5/2017] for $19.99 |
Movies by Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini credits [since 1909] at Internet Movie Database
 | "Houdini: The Movie Star - Three-Disc Collection" DVD Box Set [2008]
Kino Intl. DVD set [4/2008] 3 disks orig for $19.48 - out of prodn/used Contains one movie serial and three feature films: "The Master Mystery" color-tinted silent movie serial [1919]; "Terror Island" b&w silent feature [1920]; "The Man From Beyond" color-tinted silent feature [1922]; "Haldane of The Secret Service" color-tinted silent feature [1923]; special features include fragment from "The Grim Game" [1919]; 1914 audio recording of Houdini; film of escape performances by Houdini, Hardeen, and others [circa 1907-23]; records from the New York Censor Board; and the 1910 short French spoof "Slippery Jim" watch official promo - silent with music [6/2010 upload; 1:39] online at YouTube |
 | Harry Houdini triple bill DVD set: "Terror Island" [1920], "The Man From Beyond" [1922], "Haldane of The Secret Service" [1923] There was a 3-movie set of Harry Houdini's films produced by The Miracle Factory on DVD in 2015 that cannot be found on the Amazon website; what shows up instead is a 3-movie set from Alpha Video produced on DVD in 2013 Alpha Video b&w DVD [7/2013] out of prodn/used watch 5/2015 official Miracle Factory promo [2:02] online at YouTube |
 | "Disappearing Tricks: Silent Film, Houdini, and The New Magic of The Twentieth Century" [2010] by Matthew Solomon Univ Illinois Press 9x6 pb [1/2010] for $27.00 |
"Houdini Defeats Hackenschmidt" short film [1904]
Estonian wrestler George Hackenschmidt [1877-1968] was the first professional heavyweight champion; he was based in England, where he was filmed with
Harry Houdini; the short film is described as George putting manacles on Harry, who proceeds to escape • {this film is considered lost}
"Merveilleux Exploits du Célébre Houdini à Paris (Marvellous Exploits of The Famous Houdini In Paris)"
short film [Cinema Lux 1909]
 | First filmed in 1901 on a stage at Pathé Studios in Paris, France; the 9-minute remake was filmed in 1909 on the streets of Paris and other locations; story has Harry Houdini mistakenly jailed, so he escapes . . . • {both films are considered lost} • starring Harry & Bess Houdini bare credits at IMDb |
 | "Animated Weekly, No. 5" short [Gaumont/Motion Picture Distributors April 1912] early newsreel includes footage of: the flood in Memphis, TN; hurricane damage in New Jersey; a beauty pageant in Paris, France; Easter crowds in New York and Atlantic City; and lastly, escape artist Harry Houdini • {this film is considered lost} bare credits at IMDb |
 | "Mutual Weekly, No. 24" short [Gaumont/Mutual June 1913] early newsreel includes footage of: Woodrow Wilson; Britain's King George V & Queen Mary; a train wreck; collapse of a grandstand in Long Beach, California; crowds in Venice, California; fashion in Paris, France; the British slave ship Success with Harry Houdini betting $1,000 that he can release himself from the prisoners' cell; Spain's King Alfonso XIII in Paris • credits at IMDb |
"The Mysteries of Myra" 15-chapter silent serial [Wharton/Pathé Exchange March 1916]
 | Houdini’s consultant credit on "The Mysteries of Myra" is erroneous and thus it is mistakenly considered his first real foray into Hollywood cinema; innocent Myra is assaulted by members of The Black Order using occult methods – Harry would not approve; filmed in Ithaca, New York; Chapter Titles: 1. The Dagger of Dreams; 2. The Poisoned Flower; 3. The Mystic Mirrors; 4. The Wheel of Spirit; 5. The Fumes of Fear; 6. The Hypnotic Clue; 7. The Mystery Mind; 8. The Nether World; 9. Invisible Destroyer; 10. Levitation; 11. The Fire-Elemental; 12. Elixir of Youth; 13. Witchcraft; 14. Suspended Animation; and 15. The Thought Monster • only three episodes are known to exist, owned by The Library of Congress; Serial Squadron digitally restored the film, using existing footage and incorporating still photos taken during filming, in accordance with the original script • Produced & directed by Leopold & Theodore Wharton; story by occultist & technical consultant Hereward Carrington; screen-play by Charles W. Goddard; starring Jean Sothern, Howard Estabrook, Allan Murnane, M.W. Rale, Bessie Wharton, Shino Mori, Elsie Baker, Leroy Baker, Aleister Crowley, F.W. Stewart, Robin H. Townley •
credits at IMDb
Serial Squadron b&w DVD [10/2015] for $14.95 + shipping/tax |
 | "The Mysteries of Myra: An Inspiring Novel and Motion Picture Drama" [1917 & 2010] the original serialization by Charles Goddard & Eustace Hale Ball was later published as a book; the recent book reconstruction by Serial Squadron includes over 200 photographs {LULU website may require different browser} Serial Squadron 9x6 pb [7/2010] available from LULU.com for $25 Serial Squadron hardcover [7/2010] available from LULU.com for $40 British Burma Press hardcover [orig 1917] long out of print/SOLD OUT ! at Amazon |
"The Marvelous Adventures of Houdini, The Justly-Celebrated Elusive American" film treatment
written in 1916 by Harry Houdini {bored from not being able to tour Europe}; not produced, described as 'rollicking']
"The Master Mystery" 15-chapter silent serial
[Octagon Films 1918-1919]
  | 15-chapter color-tinted silent serial; federal agent Quentin Locke investigates a criminal cartel using an automaton and poison gas; Chapter Titles: 1) Living Death; 2) The Iron Terror; 3) The Water Peril; 4) The Test; 5) The Chemist's Shop; 6) The Mad Genius; 7) Barbed Wire; 8) The Challenge; 9) The Madagascan Madness; 10) The Binding Ring; 11) The Net; 12) The Death Noose; 13) The Flash of Death; 14) The Tangled Web; 15) Bound At Last or The Unmasking of The Automaton; at present, 13 chapters exist at the U.C.L.A. Archive, chapters 4 & 10 are considered lost. • Produced by B.A. Rolfe; directed by Harry Grossman & Burton L. King; written by Arthur B. Reeve & Charles Logue; starring Harry Houdini, Marguerite Marsh, Ruth Stonehouse, Edna Britton, William Pike, Charles Graham, Jack Burns & Floyd Buckley {as Q the Automaton} •
credits at IMDb •
serial entry at Wikipedia
http://www.archive.org/details/MASTERMYSTERYA clip 8.04 |
 | "The Master Mystery: The Great Houdini Serial" [Grosset & Dunlap May 1919] Novelization by Arthur B. Reeve [1880-1936] & John W. Grey, with illustrations from the B.A. Rolfe production starring Harry Houdini Federal agent Quentin Locke investigates a criminal cartel that is using an automaton/robot and poison gas Kindle Edition from Amazon Digital Services [5/2012] for FREE {sic} CreateSpace 9x6 pb [3/2014] for $7.19 BiblioLife 9¼x6 hardcover [8/2008] for $26.09 |
"The Grim Game" (story) [1919] starring Harry Houdini /tt0010195/
After many years of trying, they finally got him to agree to sell the film to Turner Classic Movies who restored the complete 71-minute film
THE GRIM GAME Silent Harry Houdini slide show & clips
http://www.archive.org/details/THEGRIMGAMEHarryHoudiniClipsSilent 4.02
"Terror Island" b&w silent feature [1920] starring Harry Houdini /tt0011753/
The movie was filmed in large part on Catalina Island
http://www.amazon.com/Terror-Island-Harry-Houdini/dp/B00KXFR9MO/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCYaZfvsjUE
released as seven reels, reels 3 & 4 do not exist; standard restoration practice: scenes and intertitles are replaced with still photos per the shooting script
"The Soul of Bronze" [1921] /tt0165949/
written by Georges Le Faure & Henry Roussel
Although often listed as a 'lost' Houdini film, this was actually a 1918 French production that Houdini's company picked up for U.S. distribution;
beyond creating new intertitles, Houdini had no creative involvement and did not appear in, direct, write or produce the film.
"The Man From Beyond" color-tinted silent feature [Houdini Pictures 1922] produced and starred
Restored https://www.amazon.com/Houdini-Man-Beyond-Restored/dp/B001M0NITM/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm-njiAhwXg [1.15.54]
"Haldane of The Secret Service" color-tinted silent feature [1923] produced and starred
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgytY83LDG0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9UcJ4b8mW8 = [1.23.42]•Nov 20, 2019
http://www.archive.org/download/HaldaneOfTheSecretService_399/HALDANE_OF_THE_SECRET_SERVICE_1923.mp4 = 1.23.40
http://www.amazon.com/Haldane-Secret-Service-Classic-Houdini/dp/B01G6608UI/
http://www.amazon.com/Haldane-Secret-Service-Silent-Houdini/dp/B00BL3TQWS/
"Marvels of Motion, Issue C" documentary short
[Novagraph/Red Seal Pictures March 1925]
 | The patented Fleischer-Novagraph process provided unique images in slow motion, reverse motion, and freeze-frame; subjects include athletics, dancing, dogs, cows, and the card tricks of Harry Houdini Produced by Max Fleischer; dialogue & narration by Allan McDonald {sound!} • DVD/Blu-ray not available • bare credits at IMDb |
Department of Magic Tricks
While Harry Houdini did indeed write several books about magic tricks from 1920 to 1925 {as above}, there are many books since then with his name attached that may or may not be based
on one of his books from the Twenties; in the interest of clarity, later books about magic tricks are being listed or coded here until such time as each book can be reviewed as to origin.
 | "The Conjurer Unmasked: or, La Magie Blanche Dévoilée (White Magic Exposed) - Being A Clear and Full Explanation of All The Surprizing Performances Exhibited By The Most Eminent and Dexterous Professors of Sleight of Hand" [1783] bby Henri Decremps [1746-1826]
Harry Houdini often referred others to the work of Decremps, although usually specifying 'in five volumes' 1785 English edition Gale Ecco 9¾x7½ pb [6/2010] for $18.75 1790 English 3rd edition Gale Ecco 9¾x7½ pb [6/2010] for $21.75 1785 English edition Gale Ecco 9¼x6¼ hardcover [4/2018] for $21.95 1790 English 3rd edition Gale Ecco 9¼x6¼ hardcover [4/2018] for $22.95 available as free 132-page online flip-book at Internet Archive 1792 supplement is available as free 287-page online flip-book at Internet Archive |
 | "Secrets and Mysteries Now Revealed For The First Time: A Complete Guide and Reliable Authority Upon All Tricks" [1908?] by imposter magician 'Oudini' Handcuffs, Iron Boiler, Mail Bag, Glass Case, The Iron Box, The Coffin, The Band Box, The Paper Bag, The Iron Bottle, The Roped Chair, Tramp Chair Escape, The Packing Case, Straight Jacket 80-page Kindle Edition from Dabney Press [3/2011] for $6.49 80-page Read Books 8½x5½ pb [3/2009] for $36.38 "Secrets of The Great Mysteries: Now Revealed For The First Time (Illustrated)" [1909] by imposter magician 'Oudini' same as above but with addition of The Cabinet and The Bean Giant Handcuffs 67-page Kindle Edition from {unbranded} [10/2011] for $2.99 |
 | "Houdini's Book of Magic and Party Pastimes: Fascinating Puzzles, Tricks, and Mysterious Stunts" [1927]
Stoll & Edwards, NYC 8¼x10¼ hardcover [1927] out of print/quite scarce |
"Houdini's Escapes" [Harcourt, Brace 1930] by Walter Brown Gibson [1897-1985]
"Houdini's Magic" [Harcourt, Brace 1932] by Walter Brown Gibson [1897-1985]
http://www.amazon.com/Houdinis-Magic-First-Walter-Gibson/dp/B003OFIFUA/ hc
"Book of Magic: Fascinating Puzzles, Tricks, and Mysterious Stunts" [1933]
[cover title] Houdini's Big Little Book of Magic: 100 Magic Tricks by Houdini and Other Magicians
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Magic-Fascinating-Mysterious-Magicians/dp/B01JVPPXDI/
 | "Houdini On Magic (Dover Magic Books)" [ages 10 & up; 1953] Edited by Walter Brown Gibson & Morris N. Young 'original' Dover publication that combines "Houdini's Escapes" [Harcourt, Brace 1930] and "Houdini's Magic" [Harcourt, Brace 1932] and additional illustrations from John J. McManus Dover Publns 8x5½ pb [6/53] for $13.89 Yoakum Press 8½x5½ pb [8/2013] for $29.99 1953 edition available as free online flip-book at Internet Archive |
"Houdini's Fabulous Magic" [Chilton Books 1961] by Walter Brown Gibson [1897-1985]
http://www.amazon.com/Houdinis-fabulous-magic-Chilton-books/dp/B0007DO7CM/
 | "Houdini's Book of Magic: The Master of Magic Reveals His Secrets" [1982] Compiled by Ben Hamilton, Illustrated by Raymond Turvey Puffin Books mass pb [1/82] out of print/used Penguin Books 5x7 pb [7/82] out of print/used |
 | The Great Houdini® Magic Set - over 101 magic tricks [6 years & up; circa 1990] contains cards, rope, dice, sponge balls, and other props in a red hard plastic case - with secret instruction manual and DVL access to online instructional video Houdini's Magic 101+ tricks in hard plastic case [undated] for $39.99 |
 | "The Great Houdini's Puzzle Vault: A Collection of Mystifying Puzzles - Inspired By The Astounding Escapologist" [2017] by Tim Dedopulos illustrated conundrums & teasers inspired by Houdini's work, and describing many of his most famous stage routines SevenOaks 9¾x7¼ hardcover [2017] for $9.99 SevenOaks hardcover [2017] for $14.98 |
This section kept finding non-Houdini magic books and other wonderful material which quickly grew the section,
so that content was cut to its own page in October 2020; it kept growing and was then split in two, then three, then four, then five!
top of page 1 • short essay • wizards & magicians
top of page 2 • fictional characters • magic props & sets • image gallery • links
top of page 3 • books about magic, 1783 to 1999
top of page 4 • books about magic, from 2000 • authors of the genre • magicians in fiction • stageplays, other media
page 5: movies & TV about magic
This Houdini page grew very large very quickly, so the Works About Harry Houdini Section
escaped to Page 2 in October 2020.
top of page + non-fiction books + fiction books + movies & TV
Vaudeville, Stageplays, Other Media
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 | "Houdini Magical Review" show in May, 1914 one-night performance by Harry Houdini advertised routines are: The Crystal Casket; Goodbye, Winter; Money For Nothing; The Arrival of Summer; Calico Conjuring; and Metamorphosis; this Palace Theatre is probably a cinema in Kingston Upon Hull, Yorkshire, England 12"x16" poster from Amazon for $11.49 |
"Cheer Up" musical revue at the Hippodrome Theatre, NYC [456 performances August 1917 to May 1918] – cast included Harry Houdini
http://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/cheer-up-7858
"Harry Houdini" at the Hippodrome Theatre, NYC [1918 - closing date unknown] – starring Harry & Bess Houdini
http://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/harry-houdini-13109
"Everything" musical revue at the Hippodrome Theatre, NYC [461 performances August 1918 to May 1919]
book & staging by R.H. Burnside; music by John Philip Sousa, Irving Berlin & others; lyrics by
John L. Golden, Irving Berlin & others; cast included Harry Houdini
http://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/everything-8722
"Harry Houdini" at the National Theatre, NYC [Jan 1926 - closing date unknown] – starring Harry & Bess Houdini
http://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/harry-houdini-13110
"The Great Houdini" Australian musical [Willis Twins Ent. 2010, rev 2020]
 | 'original Broadway musical spectacular'; music & lyrics by Geoff Willis, book by David Willis • official website 
|
one-man show "A Regular Little Houdini" [2013] written & performed by Daniel Llewelyn-Willams
official stageplay website
DLW credits at IMDb
"Houdini" a 2014 play about the life of the Brothers Houdini
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houdini_(play)
one-man show "Harry Houdini" [2016] written & performed by actor Duffy Hudson
official stageplay homepage •
watch 1/2016 short excerpt [1:30] online at YouTube
"Houdini: The Impossible Man" magical musical [in development 2019]
 | The story opens in Detroit, Michigan, USA at magician & escape artist Harry Houdini's last perform-ance and tells his life story thru song and vaudeville performance, including 20 different illusions; the original plan was to preview in Detroit and proceed to Broadway and then West End, London but that was messed up by the 2020 pandemic • Producer Karl Sydow; director Federico Bellone
official stageplay promo site 8/2019 English-language commentary on Spanish-language blog watch 8/2019 song 'Hold Your Breath' [1:05] online at YouTube watch 8/2019 song 'Your Special Son' & slideshow [3:21] online at YouTube |
"Arts in D Minor / Harry Houdini" song by the Kon Kan band
single from their June 1989 debut album "Move To Move"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvxECxwswaY 6.43 - vocal begins at 3:17 + 2/2017 upload
"Houdini" [1962] sung by WALTER BRENNAN with the Johnny Mann Singers
the story of a largemouth bass fish who escapes the hook
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA6_LqLJM-c 2.24 + 2/2013 upload
 | "Houdini" animation software [1996] Houdini is a 3D animation software application developed by SideFX, based in Toronto; the Houdini software was adapted from the PRISMS suite of procedural generation software tools and released in 1996 official homepage • entry at Wikipedia |
 | "Houdini On the Spot: Power User Tips and Techniques" [2007] by Craig Zerouni author was a professional CG artist for over 25 years before writing this book Kindle Edition from Routledge [10/2012] for $29.19 {sic} Focal Press 7½x9¼ pb [7/2007] for $36.95 Routledge 7½x9¼ hardcover [8/2016] - overpriced |
 | "Houdini 6 Pro Chess Playing Software Program Bundled With Chess Masterpieces Ebook" on CD-ROM [2017] includes Houdini 6 Pro processing engine, Fritz 15 user interface, Henry Bird's timeless "Chess Masterpieces" [1875] in ebook format, 6-month premium member- ship for PlayChess and the ChessBase multi-language website in Germany [est. 1986]; and online access to “Let’s Check”, the world’s largest chess analysis database with over 200 million deeply analyzed positions ChessBase software, ebook & membership [10/2017] 2 disks for $93.95 |
 | "Houdini·Opoly" board game [2017] from The Houdini Museum in Scranton, PA Kickstarter offering was fully funded in just 17 days; limited release of 1,000 units game in ?x? box [2018] for $48.98 + s/h via Amazon & Houdini Museum official game website |
 | "Houdini Action Figure" [2005] from Accoutrements 'Comes With Straight Jacket, Rope, Chair, Handcuffs, and Leg Irons' - figure is 5¼" tall in unopened 10¼x6¾-inch bubble pack [2005] for $97.69 {sic} available from Amazon third-party sellers for around $50, may also be found on Etsy or eBay |
 | "Houdini Cologne For Men" [ages 13 & up; 2020] from Zanadu
Zanadu 30ml spray bottle [2020] for $39.06 "Maître du Mystère: A Magical Cologne Inspired by Houdini" |
 | "The Final Houdini Seance" [Hallowe'en 1936] Mrs. Houdini and her advisor & business partner Dr. Edward Saint rented the roof of the Knicker-bocker Hotel in Hollywood, California for the tenth and final attempt to connect by séance with the spirit of the deceased magician Harry Houdini; the annual event took place at Midnight on Hallowe'en; notable guests included Judge Charles Prickey {sp?}, and magician Caryl S. Fleming; recording narrated by Conjurors' Magazine publisher William Larsen, Sr. listen to audio recording with slideshow [11/2017 upload; 27:23] online at YouTube |
± ±
"d'Illusion: The Houdini Musical" Audio Theater Experience [2020] 
 | The COVID-19 pandemic ruined plans for a Broadway run in 2020, so cast & crew reinvented themselves as an audio performance, created by the logistical nightmare of individuals recording their parts in several dozen countries; further media options will be made available just before the U.S Thanksgiving holiday • Music and book by Bálint Varga, lyrics by Lia Barcellona Tamborra; narrated by Rick Roemer; starring Julian R. Decker {as Harry Houdini}, Quiana Holmes, Rico LeBron, Ben Toomer, Laney Allan, Adam B. Shapiro, Alex Kidder, Kayla Dixon, Samantha Gorjanc, Pieter Van Nieuwenhuyze, Tiziana Turano, Pilar Martin, Marina Vishnevskaya, with archive footage of Harry Houdini, Bess Houdini & Hardeen •
official website
watch 5/2020 official trailer [0:59] online at YouTube listen to 8/2020 audio recording [2:24:30] online at YouTube |
 | Highlights From "D'illusion: The Houdini Musical" [2020] Varga+Tamborra MP-3 soundtrack album download [9/2020] 26 tracks for $8.99 track 1 is Act 1 [1:24:44], track 2 is Act 2 [59:36], followed by 24 song tracks |
 | "The Magic Behind d'Illusion: The Houdini Musical - Audio Theater Experience" [Nov 2020] A special behind-the-scenes look at the making of the audiobook edition of "d'Illusion: The Houdini Musical" Produced, directed & edited by Max Hechtman; featuring the primary actors as above, plus Bálint Varga, Lia Barcellona Tamborra, Max Hechtman, and two dozen other individual participants full credits at IMDb |
Image Gallery
Family & Friends
Erik Weisz (later Ehrich Weiss or Harry Weiss) was born in March 1874 in Budapest, Austria-Hungary; the family moved to Wisconsin in 1878; his magic career began in 1891,
and he joined the Orpheum vaudeville circuit in 1899; he toured Europe & America with his family as 'The Handcuff King' from 1900-1920; he died of acute appendicitis
on the afternoon of Hallowe'en 1926 in a Detroit, Michigan hospital.
father Rabbi Mayer Sámuel Weisz [1829-92]
mother Cecília Steiner Weiss [1841-1913]
half-brother Herman M. Weisz [1863-85]
brother Nathan J. Weisz [1870-1927]
brother Gottfried William Weisz [1872–1925]
Erik was born fourth in 1874
brother Ferenc Dezsö 'Dash' Weisz [1876-1945] was a Hungarian/American magician known as Theodore Hardeen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Hardeen
brother Leopold D. Weisz [1879-1962]
sister Carrie Gladys Weisz [1882-1959]
wife Wilhelmina Beatrice 'Bess' Rahner Houdini [1876-1943] married June 1894, widowed October 1926
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bess_Houdini
"Houdini loved only two women, his mother and Daisy White." -- biographer Maurice Zolotow
mystery author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle [1859-1930] - friends circa 1916-24
mystery author Sax Rohmer [1883-1959] - pals from 1914-26
not to be confused with Tennessee jailbreaker Christopher Daniel Gay, nicknamed 'Little Houdini'
L i n k s
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Houdini
http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/
http://www.thegreatharryhoudini.com/
http://www.harryhoudinicircumstantialevidence.com
http://www.houdinifile.com/
The House of Houdini is a museum and performance venue located at 11, Dísz square in the Buda Castle in Budapest, Hungary;
it claims to house the largest collection of original Houdini artifacts in Europe.
The Houdini Museum of New York is located at Fantasma Magic, a retail magic manufacturer and seller located in Manhattan;
it contains several hundred pieces of ephemera, most of which belonged to Harry Houdini.
The Houdini Museum in Scranton, PA
here on the Harry Houdini [1874-1926] Pages at Spirit of America Bookstore
on page 1: top of page • short profile • works by Harry Houdini • movies by Harry Houdini •
stageplays, other media • image gallery • family & friends • links
on page 2: works about Harry Houdini •• top of page + non-fiction + fiction + movies & TV
˜ ˜
on Spirit of America Bookstore's Wizards, Sorcerers, and Magicians Pages
top of page 1 Ñ short essay Ñ wizards & magicians
top of page 2 Ñ fictional characters Ñ magic props & sets Ñ image gallery Ñ links
top of page 3 Ñ books about magic, 1783 to 1999
top of page 4 Ñ books about magic, from 2000 Ñ authors of the genre Ñ magicians in fiction Ñ stageplays, other media
page 5: movies & TV about magic
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