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!
