original Fragments of Houdini’s Water Torture Cell display
Original Houdini fragments of Houdini’s famous Water Torture Cell. The illusion consisted of three parts: first, the Houdini's feet are locked in stocks; next, he is suspended in mid-air from his ankles with a restraint brace; finally, he is lowered into a wood and metal framed glass tank overflowing with water and the restraint is locked to the top of the cell. After Houdini's death, the cell was willed to his brother, Hardeen and despite Houdini's instructions for it to be "burned and destroyed" upon Hardeen's death, his brother gave the cell to Houdini collector Sidney Radner in the 1940s. The cell remained in the Radner basement until 1971 when it was put on display at The Houdini Magical Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls, Canada. In 1995, the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame burned to the ground. It was initially reported that the cell was completely destroyed, but parts of the wood and metal frame survived. Professionally enclosed in the shadowbox are some of those surviving pieces. It is displayed, consisting of two pieces of charred wood and two nails, and a chunk of broken glass from Houdini’s original Water Torture Cell. Display 25" x 31”. Phenomenal Houdini treasure.
1915 Houdini daring dive playbill
Houdini "Daring Dive" Theatre Handbill. Circa 1915. Playbill describing Houdini’s escape attempt as he is handcuffed, leg ironed in a heavy secured box and thrown into a river. Houdini will undertake to release himself while submerged under water. Playbill states Houdini appearing at Hammerstein's Victoria Theatre and Roof Garden. The Victoria Theatre (1899–1915) was a prominent American vaudeville house during the early years of the twentieth century. Theatre mogul, Oscar Hammerstein opened it in 1899 along New York City's Longacre Square. The theatre was closely associated with the Paradise Roof Garden above it, and the two venues came to be known collectively as Hammerstein’s. A great and interesting Houdini antiquity.
1920 houdini Annual S.A.M. Banquet Photograph
1920 S.A.M. Annual Banquet Photograph. New York: Drucker & Co., 1920. Panoramic sepia tone photograph of the Society of American Magicians’ annual banquet, with each table featuring a photograph of Houdini, the magicians in attendance including Hardeen, Francis Martinka, S. Leo Horowitz, Walter Floyd, Dorny, Adelaide Herrmann, and many more. 12 x 19 ¾”. Provenance: passed by a descent from the family of Houdini’s brother, William Weiss.
Houdini posing with his dog photograph
Photograph of the legendary Harry Houdini posing in his chair with his dog. A delightful photo of Houdini. Black and white. 8'" X 10".
1908 houdini signed The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin poster
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Houdini signed The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin poster. [New York], 1908. Poster advertising the publication and sale of Houdini’s book of the same name. Classic ¾ length photo of Houdini with the book in the upper left. A beautiful Houdini professionally framed, matted and signed antique. Measuring 28" X 21”.
1921 HOUDINI SIGNED LETTER ON HOUDINI's personal LETTERHEAD
Extremely rare and original typed letter on the personal letterhead of Houdini. Hand signed by Harry Houdini in New York and written to Will Goldston on March 21, 1921. Houdini writes to Mr. Goldston regarding the “friendship between the S.A.M. and the Magicians Club,” and mentions that he has “been on location for my next picture, and am therefore, very busy.” Inscribed and signed, “As always, Houdini.” A very special piece of Houdini and magic history.
1920 some daring stunts of the handcuff king - boys cinema publication
February 21, 1920. Boy's Cinema Magazine, Volume 1, Number 11. "SOME DARING STUNTS OF THE HANDCUFF KING." An extremely rare edition featuring the four-page spread of Houdini demonstrating his stunts and skills. They include Houdini in locked in chains, padlocks and heavy weights. Houdini tied up and suspended over an acid bath. Houdini teaching the famous producer film Cecil DeMille a demonstration in knot tying. Houdini climbing to the top wing of an aero plane flying at a high speed, and several more interesting stunts and photos. Boys Cinema ran every week from December 1919 through May 1940. A very rare hard and to find example!
1922 houdini suspended from new york skyscraper newspaper photograph
Original 1922 newspaper article and photo of Houdini. The article is from January 17, 1922. It reads "A DARING GAMBLE. - Harry Houdini the "Handcuff King" of the music-halls suspended upside-down from the cornice of a New York skyscraper, a feat which won him a thousand-dollar bet".
1920 HOUDINI FELSMAN'S MAGICAL REVIEW PUBLICATION
Original Houdini edition with bust of Houdini on the cover of Felsman's Magical Reiview, Volume 1, No. 12, October, 1920. Felsman's Magical Review was a popular magic periodical from Arthur Felsman of Chicago, Illinois. The publication ran from October, 1919 to July, 1924. It was distributed and the house magazine of Felsman's magical supplies company and consisted of editorials, biographical articles, shop notes, news notes and some effects. At one point, Arthur Felsman owned the Blackstone Magic Shop in Oak Park, Illinois, with legendary magician Harry Blackstone. Their catalogs with covers by Harlan Tarbell were prized by collectors. An exceptional 100 year old Houdini collectible.
1926 houdini beats fakir in stay underwater
August 6, 1926. New York Daily Mirror. Headline reads "HOUDINI BEATS FAKIR IN STAY UNDERWATER." The event unfolded like this, In July of that year, magician Rahman Bey performed a stunt that rivaled any of Houdini’s. Bey was enclosed in a metal box, which was submerged in a swimming pool in New York’s Dalton Hotel. After an hour, assistants pulled him out, alive. Bey directly challenged Houdini to replicate the stunt. According to Harry Houdini: Death-Defying Showman by Rita Thievon Mullin, Houdini practiced for weeks to regulate his breathing, taking shallow breaths in the hopes of conserving oxygen within an airtight container. On August 5, 1926, Houdini performed the stunt in front of journalists at the Hotel Shelton in New York. He entered a metal casket, which his assistants lowered into a swimming pool. The metal casket was equipped with a buzzer, Houdini finally buzzed to be let loose after 91 minutes. Incredibly beating Bey's time by over thirty minutes. A remarkable Houdini history piece.
