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Houdini: The Untold Story
Biography of the great escape artist and vaudeville entertainer, uses newspaper clippings, handbills of his acts and the memories of his friends as source material. Bibliogs
- GenresBiographyNonfictionMagic
Hardcover
First published February 1, 1975
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 16, 2013
I have an immense respect for Houdini; the closest thing we have had to a superman. His acumen, astounding physical ability, showmanship, and relentless crusade against superstitions of his time (profiterring spirituralist mediums) all add to that. Consequently, I seem to gravitate to a Houdini biography every few years. This well researched one was a real joy. Things that jumped out to me in this take on Houdini's life: the successful (and longer) career of his brother Theo, the unfortunate fact that his ill and confused widow was tricked into temporarily validating a message "from the other side", Houdini's financially disastrous motion picture career (I'd like to see some films!), his role as pioneer aviator in Europe and Australia, and his turning on his formerly admired namesake Houdin.
May 25, 2024
AN EXCELLENT BIOGRAPHY OF THE FAMED ILLUSIONIST
Milbourne Christopher (1914-1984) was a prominent American illusionist, magic historian, and author, who was President of the Society of American Magicians, an honorary vice-president to The Magic Circle, and one of the founding members of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.
He wrote in the first chapter of this 1969 book, “More than forty years after his last performance in 1926, Houdini is still the world’s best-known mystifier. He created the illusion that he could squeeze through the keyhole of a lock. No manacle, straightjacket, or jail could hold him. He was, and is, a symbol for man himself---the ingenious creature who overcomes seemingly impossible obstacles by sheer force of willpower. Houdini staged his sensational feats with a sure sense of the dramatic that made good copy for the press… Less imaginative competitors freed themselves from mere jails. Houdini, the peerless showman, escaped from the Sheffield prison which had held … ‘Britain’s most notorious criminal’…” (Pg. 4)
He notes, “Houdini was convinced that every spiritualist he had ever seen had been a fraud. Their tricks were simple compared to the difficult sleight of hand he had mastered with playing cards and the physical contortions he used in his escape work. Eager to see his name at the top of a handbill, Harry assured Dr. Hill he could match any medium in the business.” (Pg. 27)
He states, “He was critical of the people who believed that Hindus worked miracles. Anyone could do their feats---with practice. He pushed a long steel needle through his cheek without drawing blood to illustrate what he meant. There was no deception involved. Houdini had learned the feat during his dime museum days. His straitjacket escape brought the audience of 1,680 spectators up from their seats for a standing ovation.” (Pg. 95)
He comments, “Though Houdini and [Arthur Conan] Doyle had parted on cordial terms, it was perhaps inevitable that their oppose views on spiritualism would lead to a personal clash… Houdini wrote, ‘My mind is open. I am perfectly willing to believe, but… I have never seen or heard anything that could convince one there is a possibility of communication with the loved ones who have gone beyond.’ Still, treading lightly because of his friendship with the Doyles… the article made Doyle ‘rather sore’ and sent a bristling letter to harry, criticizing him for ignoring the contact Lady Doyle had made… and Houdini’s own automatic writing of the name Powell. Houdini attempted in his reply to show the British spiritualist why he could not accept his conclusions. Once more he failed; apparently nothing could shake Sir Arthur’s faith.” (Pg. 178-179)
He recounts, “the seventy-three-year-old medium [Mary Fairfield McVickers] had predicted that if a photograph was taken at 5 p.m. on the day of her funeral, she would appear in ghostly form… a keystone Press photographer, took ten pictures… [Houdini] was in the darkroom when [the plates] wereloaded into Moss’ camera. Later when Moss processed the plates he noticed a strange streak on the second negative… in what seemed to be a luminous point. Moss had no explanation for it… [Doyle] suggested a scratch on the plate could have produced the effect. This would have been a simple, logical explanation, but both Houdini and the photographer swore the plate had not been scratched. Camera experts who studied the negative would offer no solution. This was one of the few times in Houdini’s life that he admitted he had no satisfactory explanation for a mystery.” (Pg. 184)
He notes, “The publication of Houdini’s book ‘A Magician Among the Spirits’ in 1924 brought violent attacks from believers, cheers from nonbelievers, and an end to his friendship with Arthur Conan Doyle. He wrote that he treasured Doyle as a friend… [who] had a ‘great mind’---except where spiritualism was concerned… the British author refused to accept the fact that many of the mediums he had endorsed were frauds. Houdini listed instance after instance of mediums that Sir Arthur trusted though others had found them fraudulent… Doyle had been fascinated by Houdini the man, but when his friend attempted to destroy his religious beliefs and held him up to ridicule, any further amicable relationship was impossible. He never wrote or spoke to him again.” (Pg. 189-190)
He explains, “Doyle, Sir Oliver Lodge, and men like them were menaces to mankind, Houdini declared… They were great and to be much respected in their own fields, but they were not qualified to pass judgment on pickpockets and burglars. Why, with six or seven magicians he could show feats of so-called psychic phenomena which would defy scientific explanation.” (Pg. 214-215)
After one demonstration, “In answer to reporters’ questions, Houdini said he had taken a series of very deep breaths of air before the lid was soldered. He used the same system of breathing on the stage prior to being lowered in the Water Torture Cell. He made a minimum of body movements in the box. He had relaxed, breathed rhythmically, with short intakes of air. He thought his demonstration would enable trapped coal miners and imperiled deep-sea divers to survive far longer than had previously been thought possible. He stressed that self-possession was vital. Panic would increase the air intake of the body.” (Pg. 246)
He concludes, “Houdini is still the best-known name in magic. Scarcely a day goes by without it appearing somewhere in the press of the world. Anyone who does something remarkable is labeled a Houdini, whether he escapes from a famous prison or makes a fantastic catch during a ball game. No other mystery worker has ever appealed so much to the public’s imagination.” (Pg. 278)
This book will be “must reading” for anyone studying Houdini.
Milbourne Christopher (1914-1984) was a prominent American illusionist, magic historian, and author, who was President of the Society of American Magicians, an honorary vice-president to The Magic Circle, and one of the founding members of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.
He wrote in the first chapter of this 1969 book, “More than forty years after his last performance in 1926, Houdini is still the world’s best-known mystifier. He created the illusion that he could squeeze through the keyhole of a lock. No manacle, straightjacket, or jail could hold him. He was, and is, a symbol for man himself---the ingenious creature who overcomes seemingly impossible obstacles by sheer force of willpower. Houdini staged his sensational feats with a sure sense of the dramatic that made good copy for the press… Less imaginative competitors freed themselves from mere jails. Houdini, the peerless showman, escaped from the Sheffield prison which had held … ‘Britain’s most notorious criminal’…” (Pg. 4)
He notes, “Houdini was convinced that every spiritualist he had ever seen had been a fraud. Their tricks were simple compared to the difficult sleight of hand he had mastered with playing cards and the physical contortions he used in his escape work. Eager to see his name at the top of a handbill, Harry assured Dr. Hill he could match any medium in the business.” (Pg. 27)
He states, “He was critical of the people who believed that Hindus worked miracles. Anyone could do their feats---with practice. He pushed a long steel needle through his cheek without drawing blood to illustrate what he meant. There was no deception involved. Houdini had learned the feat during his dime museum days. His straitjacket escape brought the audience of 1,680 spectators up from their seats for a standing ovation.” (Pg. 95)
He comments, “Though Houdini and [Arthur Conan] Doyle had parted on cordial terms, it was perhaps inevitable that their oppose views on spiritualism would lead to a personal clash… Houdini wrote, ‘My mind is open. I am perfectly willing to believe, but… I have never seen or heard anything that could convince one there is a possibility of communication with the loved ones who have gone beyond.’ Still, treading lightly because of his friendship with the Doyles… the article made Doyle ‘rather sore’ and sent a bristling letter to harry, criticizing him for ignoring the contact Lady Doyle had made… and Houdini’s own automatic writing of the name Powell. Houdini attempted in his reply to show the British spiritualist why he could not accept his conclusions. Once more he failed; apparently nothing could shake Sir Arthur’s faith.” (Pg. 178-179)
He recounts, “the seventy-three-year-old medium [Mary Fairfield McVickers] had predicted that if a photograph was taken at 5 p.m. on the day of her funeral, she would appear in ghostly form… a keystone Press photographer, took ten pictures… [Houdini] was in the darkroom when [the plates] wereloaded into Moss’ camera. Later when Moss processed the plates he noticed a strange streak on the second negative… in what seemed to be a luminous point. Moss had no explanation for it… [Doyle] suggested a scratch on the plate could have produced the effect. This would have been a simple, logical explanation, but both Houdini and the photographer swore the plate had not been scratched. Camera experts who studied the negative would offer no solution. This was one of the few times in Houdini’s life that he admitted he had no satisfactory explanation for a mystery.” (Pg. 184)
He notes, “The publication of Houdini’s book ‘A Magician Among the Spirits’ in 1924 brought violent attacks from believers, cheers from nonbelievers, and an end to his friendship with Arthur Conan Doyle. He wrote that he treasured Doyle as a friend… [who] had a ‘great mind’---except where spiritualism was concerned… the British author refused to accept the fact that many of the mediums he had endorsed were frauds. Houdini listed instance after instance of mediums that Sir Arthur trusted though others had found them fraudulent… Doyle had been fascinated by Houdini the man, but when his friend attempted to destroy his religious beliefs and held him up to ridicule, any further amicable relationship was impossible. He never wrote or spoke to him again.” (Pg. 189-190)
He explains, “Doyle, Sir Oliver Lodge, and men like them were menaces to mankind, Houdini declared… They were great and to be much respected in their own fields, but they were not qualified to pass judgment on pickpockets and burglars. Why, with six or seven magicians he could show feats of so-called psychic phenomena which would defy scientific explanation.” (Pg. 214-215)
After one demonstration, “In answer to reporters’ questions, Houdini said he had taken a series of very deep breaths of air before the lid was soldered. He used the same system of breathing on the stage prior to being lowered in the Water Torture Cell. He made a minimum of body movements in the box. He had relaxed, breathed rhythmically, with short intakes of air. He thought his demonstration would enable trapped coal miners and imperiled deep-sea divers to survive far longer than had previously been thought possible. He stressed that self-possession was vital. Panic would increase the air intake of the body.” (Pg. 246)
He concludes, “Houdini is still the best-known name in magic. Scarcely a day goes by without it appearing somewhere in the press of the world. Anyone who does something remarkable is labeled a Houdini, whether he escapes from a famous prison or makes a fantastic catch during a ball game. No other mystery worker has ever appealed so much to the public’s imagination.” (Pg. 278)
This book will be “must reading” for anyone studying Houdini.
May 2, 2021
Excellent biography of the great magician. A fascinating read.
October 22, 2007
This is a well-written bio of magician/anti- spiritualism crusader Erich Weiss, known professionally as Harry Houdini. I was most interested in the question of whether or not Houdini did make contact with his wife after death. Houdini worked hard to expose the fakes and frauds behind seances and the spiritualism movement, but supposedly worked out a plan with his wife, whereby if there was any way to contact her from the great beyond, he would do so in a particular way. While Houdini's widow always claimed he had not contacted her, many believe that he did, and this is still a point of controversy among those who believe in ghosts and psychic powers. Houdini's magic act and incredible acts of escape are pretty dated at this point, but to audiences of the early twentieth century it was fascinating stuff. Fans of Houdini will enjoy this book.
January 30, 2016
I thought Houdini was just a simple stage magician and escape artist. WOW! was I wrong, he was into so much more. He was a pioneer in Aviation did ya know that. Great book to start learning about the amazing man. Highly recommended
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May 1, 2017Edition: 1st ed.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews