1923 original Houdini Production Still - Haldane of the Secret Service
An original 8"x 10" production still featuring the world-famous magician/escape artist, Harry Houdini. This rare treasure is from one of the few films Houdini starred in, the 1923 film, "Haldane of the Secret Service." Haldane of the Secret Service is a 1923 American silent film, directed by Harry Houdini. The film stars Harry Houdini, Gladys Leslie, William J. Humphrey, Richard Carlyle, Edward Boulden, Jane Jennings, and Charles Fang. The film was released on September 30, 1923, by Film Booking Offices of America. Photo is in excellent condition. Hollywood Provenance: Salvatore Falcone Collection.
1924 a magician among the spirits: HARRY HOUDINI
Harry Houdini: A Magician Among the Spirits, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1924. First edition. Blue cloth stamped in gilt. In the 1920s Houdini turned his energies toward debunking psychics and mediums, a pursuit that inspired and was followed by latter-day stage magicians. Houdini's training in magic allowed him to expose frauds who had successfully fooled many scientists and academics. He was a member of a Scientific American committee that offered a cash prize to any medium who could successfully demonstrate supernatural abilities. None was able to do so, and the prize was never collected. The first to be tested was medium George Valentine of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. As his fame as a "ghostbuster" grew, Houdini took to attending séances in disguise, accompanied by a reporter and police officer. Possibly the most famous medium whom he debunked was Mina Crandon, also known as "Margery". Houdini chronicled his debunking exploits in his book, A Magician Among the Spirits, co-authored with C. M. Eddy, Jr. (uncredited). These activities cost Houdini the friendship of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle, a firm believer in Spiritualism during his later years, refused to believe any of Houdini's exposés. Doyle came to believe that Houdini was a powerful spiritualist medium and had performed many of his stunts by means of paranormal abilities and was using these abilities to block those of other mediums that he was "debunking". This disagreement led to the two men becoming public antagonists and led Sir Arthur to view Houdini as a dangerous enemy.
1914 HOUDINI ESCAPE CHALLENGE HANDBILL
1914 original Harry Houdini Escape Challenge Handbill. Newing & Gibbons Printing Works, Dover. Handbill printed in red, issued by a committee of Marine Porters, challenging Houdini to “escape from a lashing we propose to give you, after the system used years ago on slave and sailing vessels,” with Houdini to be secured “in a network of cords and ropes” and tied by the neck and ankles. A very special Houdini artifact. Original handstamp from the Harry Houdini Collection/Houdini. Incredible!
1919 Houdini Lobby Card - the grim game
Original 1919 Houdini Grim Game Lobby Card. New York: Famous Players-Lasky, Monochrome lobby card advertising Houdini’s silent film serial, The Grim Game, and picturing the famous magician at its center restrained by four policemen as he steps from an automobile. Caption below reads “Thwarted – but only for a moment!” 11" x 14”. Rare!
1920s harry Houdini & bess houdini signed greeting card
Rare and original hand signed Harry and Bess Houdini best wishes greeting card. Circa early 1920s. Covered bust photo of Houdini and Bess Houdini on the front and back of the card. The interior of the card reads - "With Best wish from Mr. And Mrs. Harry Houdini." Hand signed by Houdini himself and states from Days' Agency, Arundie Street, Strand, London, Eng. An awesome and interesting Houdini antiquity.
ORIGINAL HOUDINI SIGNED LETTER ON HOUDINI STAIONARY LETTERHEAD
Original and a very rare typed letter on the Houdini personal stationary letterhead and signed by Harry Houdini. "Challenge To Any Medium In The World" letter to expose any medium. In the 1920s, Houdini became absorbed in the occult, specifically in disproving and discrediting mediums and psychics. His training in magic helped him expose frauds that scientists and academics could not. He chronicled his time investigating the occult in his book, A Magician Among the Spirits and also wrote on the topic in several other publications.
HARRY HOUDINI OWNED ANKLE RESTRAINTS
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Early 1900s original Harry Houdini owned ankle restraints. Houdini used ankle irons countless times in his stand-up escape routines as well as his most noteworthy escapes. The restraints are twenty-two inches in length and made of cast iron and were also owned after Houdini's death by his magician brother Theo Hardeen. This set of leg restraints have been altered and are missing the mechanism. Not uncommon as many Houdini devices had been altered in many different ways so that they could easily be slipped off, allowing the legendary illusionist to escape impossible situations. Fantastic worn patina and a really nice Houdini relic.
1921 THE MAGICAL BULLETIN - HARRY HOUDINI COVER ISSUE
Rare Harry Houdini cover issue of The Magical Bulletin periodical. The issue is dated April 1921, volume 9, number 4, and contains 16 pages. The Magical Bulletin began around 1914 as "Magical Bulletin of the Magic Shop of the West". (The name shortened to "The Magical Bulletin" in 1916) and ran until 1925. The Magical Bulletin was a bulletin and advertising catalog for performing magicians founded by F. G. Thayer.
1900s chat with houdini, the wonder worker - weekly times
Early 1900s. Original Houdini interview taken at the Regent Theatre in Salford, England from the Weekly Times newspaper. "CHAT WITH HOUDINI, THE WONDER WORKER." A very old, precious, and eye-opening interview with Houdini. In this rare interview Harry Houdini answers several questions regarding his storied life and career, along with two incredible hand drawn illustrations. A very special opportunity to read and get an insight on the sincerity of Houdini with the honesty of his answers and in the manner in which he spoke. A favorite antique Houdini document in The Torrence Collection!
1900s harry houdini MAGICIAN LOBBY CARD
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Early 1900s original vintage lobby photo card featuring the legendary Magician Harry Houdini. Harry Houdini (March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-born American escape artist, illusionist, stunt performer, and mysteriarch, noted for his escape acts. The Houdini shows were always sold out and his outdoor shows drew tens of thousands of onlookers who brought city traffic to a halt. The most notable Houdini escapes were the suspended straitjacket escape, Chinese water torture cell, milk can escape, vanishing elephant illusion and the buried alive escape. In his later years, Harry took his talent to the film arena, where he both acted and started his own film production company named Houdini Picture Corporation. Years later, Harry would receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition, Harry showed interest in the field of aviation and was the first person to ever fly over Australian soil. In the 1920s, Harry became interested in the occult, specifically in debunking mediums and psychics. His training in magic helped him expose frauds that scientists and academics could not. He chronicled his time investigating the occult in his book, A Magician Among the Spirits and also wrote several other books. Houdini was also elected nine successive times as President of the Society of American Magicians. Harry Houdini was hospitalized as a result of a ruptured appendix, after suffering a blow to the abdomen. Houdini refused to seek medical help and continued to travel and perform, eventually succumbing to peritonitis and passed away on Halloween day, October 31, 1926. Harry Houdini was only 52 years old. Headlines immediately read “Was Houdini Murdered?” Did he really have appendicitis? Was he poisoned? Why was there no autopsy? Houdini’s life insurance company investigated his death and ruled out foul play, but for many, uncertainty regarding the cause of Houdini’s death lingers. For years after his death, Bess attempted to contact Houdini through séances, but Houdini never contacted her from beyond the grave. 8.5" x 11.5". Lobby card photograph slightly age toned.
