The Genii Forum

houdinisghost

Houdini on Magic was my favorite book. When I was twelve I checked it out of the library again and again. Then, my Mom got it for me for Christmas. Later spent time with both Walter and Morris. And when Houdini's Fabulous Magic came out, I bought an advance copy. There have been so many great ones s...

houdinisghost

I will drop my lawsuit. These are tense times. I also missed the aspect of the thing that raised my ire. Joe Posnanski wrote about me at length, he used a quote from me as the only content of the first page of his book; and almost everything he wrote about me is factually incorrect. That's one thing...

houdinisghost

Ted M, You haven't seen the book I'm complaining about and you haven't seen my book. Your opinion is worthless. This "writer" also demeans my service in Vietnam -- I don't need a lawyer to make him and Simonn and Schuster suffer.

houdinisghost

It has just come to my attention that the author of a fluffy little book about Houdini claims in his book that he paid me $295.00 for a copy of Houdini--the Key. This bum paid me exactly what everyone else who has bought the book paid me: $195.00. Ten years ago, I self-published Houdini--the Key. Th...

houdinisghost

The Owensboro Messenger (Owensboro, Kentucky) Hollywood Celebrities To Appear in Film At Empress ". . . Starlit Days At The Lido" makes no attempt to present a story other than the actual record of a gay afternoon at the paygrounds of the stars. . ." Various stars of the time are ment...

houdinisghost

I see where a copy of my book "Houdini the Key" is up for auction. Estimated $200 to $300. I hope the book is appreciated, but, I must tell you that the book has not appreciated monetarily because IT IS STILL IN PRINT AND AVAILABLE. $195. That having been said, I know who purchased book #3...

houdinisghost

If you are living in Los Angeles, and you belong to the Magic Castle, the answer is a resounding yes. We regularly have geniuses entertaining in the various rooms -- and every act displays professionalism. And they fool and entertain the suckers -- the laymen guests -- and me if they get too far ahe...

houdinisghost

So. Why'd you let the kid punch you in the stomach?

houdinisghost

Milbourne knew Hardeen pretty well. He said to me, "the Kellock book was Bessie's story, my book was Hardeen's story, and Bernard Meyers book is Leopold's story."

houdinisghost

He didn't meet Houdini.

houdinisghost

When I joined, what is now the Museum was called "the Palace of Mystery." As I recall, it was the only performing area for stage acts. It had a ceiling so low, tall performers had to stoop. It had about twenty or so seats and a box at audience left with, I think, four chairs. Goldie Hawn a...

houdinisghost

I think the reason Houdini didn't become a big movie star and develop as an film actor was his age. Robert Osborne was introducing a film that starred my friend James Edwards and he said, "At the time this film was made there were articles predicting that James Edwards, not Sidney Poitier, woul...

houdinisghost

Who's going to listen to you about Houdini's acting anymore, Richard? Ben Mankiewicz said he thinks Houdini's a good actor. Admittedly, he said that he was basing that on Houdini's performance in "the Grim Game" so we am trying to insulate Mr. Mankiewicz against at least one of the other f...

houdinisghost

In addition to Falk and Cassidy, that cast included Robert Loggia, Nehemiah Persoff, Bob Dishy, Cynthia Sikes, Redmund Gleason, Michael Lally and George Sperdakos. I played a night club singer, Danny Green, who is in love with Sikes -- Cassidy's daughter. It's not in the script but I'm Jewish and Ja...

houdinisghost

Yesterday as Dorothy Dietrich, Dick Brookz, John Cox, Joe Monti and I were strolling through the property where Houdini lived when he filmed "the Grim Game" (by special gracious permission of the owner Jose Luis Nazar). It is a miracle that the film didn't die with Larry Weeks. This was en...

houdinisghost

Dick Brookz and Dorothy Dietrich got Larry Weeks and TCM together. To do this, they had to put up with Larry for years and years -- a miracle in itself. Some very good people tried to save that film, but, Larry would always queer the deal. Getting "the Grim Game" to the right people was a ...

houdinisghost

I missed the show. I saw John and Irene Daniel perform the thin sawing. I saw the first pirated version performed. I remember when the masked magician exposed it -- I didn't see that. But, Jonathan Pendragon came up with "Clearly Impossible" and Neil could explain the thin sawing to me in ...

houdinisghost

If the buyer of that copy of the book would like it signed to him or her personally, if they'll pay to send it to me, priority and insured, I would personalize the book and send it back the same way on my nickel.
Patrick Culliton

houdinisghost

I'm sorry the guy took a loss. It was relatively recently obtained from me. This is the first of the four copies I know to have changed hands to have lost money, but I've only sold 20 of the final 113, so, it's not a rare book at this point. If I knew what number the book was I'd know who was forced...

houdinisghost

Amazing! The book is available, brand new for $195.00.
What's the game?
http://www.abebooks.com/Houdini-Key-Cul ... 9851418/bd

houdinisghost

Whatever became of the members of this group? I know Tenkai returned to Japan before the war (WW2).

houdinisghost

I attended the closing night of "the Tempest" -- the best production of any play I've seen in 65 years of chronic playgoing -- with Steve Valentine and Inna Kay. After the show, Steve said, "Aside from the Shakespeare -- which was wonderful -- this was the best magic show I've ever se...

houdinisghost

I'm watching a couple of auctions. It appears that my book "Houdini--the Key" is being sold as "out of print" and "unavailable." and based on that, a couple of copies have sold for $300.00+. The book is still available, brand new, for it's original price: 195.00. You ca...

houdinisghost

I've been seeing these "when is someone going to do a Houdini biography that sticks to the facts?" When has anyone ever done a screen bio that stuck to the facts. Lawrence of Arabia? Will Rogers? No and his own son played him. Edison? No. Gershwin, Cole Porter, Madame Curie? No, no, no. Th...

houdinisghost

I was one of the people Harvey Keitel hired to consult with him about Houdini. He took some magic instruction from Charlie Reynolds. I brought in Stanley Palm. He paid us handsomely. Harvey asked me, "How did Houdini move? How did he make an entrance?" I said, "There's one person on e...

houdinisghost

Houdini had a love affair with the camera. In some of the reproductions of Houdini posters and photos, Adrien Brody seems to look away, while Houdini looks right at you. Nothing left to do but see it. I have to see the new film "the Last of Robin Hood" in which Kevin Kline (another Oscar w...

houdinisghost

I don't know who is out there who understands the significance of this prop. James Collins invented it and built it and that's major. The bottom of the box had to be rebuilt for Hardeen (that would also have been done by Jimmy Collins) but the hardware on the bottom of the box appears to have been c...

houdinisghost

This man Collins, who rescued this, among the finest examples of Jimmy Collins' genius, is a completely honest and innocent man. The name is coincidental. I know why he has delivered it in such beautiful shape. He performed with it. It stayed young for him. It was a matter of love I think. You know ...

houdinisghost

There are many very exciting items in the August 23, 2014 Potter and Potter auction. I have been asked if the notes and drawing in lot 66 are actually by Houdini. The answer is yes, absolutely, beyond a doubt. There are examples of notes on effects by both Houdini and Charles Morritt in my book Houd...

houdinisghost

There are two remarkable effect using mirrors in "Darby O'Gill and the Little People."
Francis Coppola points out the use of Pepper's Ghost in his commentary for "the Outsiders."
My personal favorite:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA8rrAqip8E

houdinisghost

I know that pool very well. It sailed right past me in the History Channel thing -- if I was in that doc, I was probably only looking for myself. But, I was in that pool. Look at how different it is from the swimming pools we're used to. The spring that fed it is still flowing, good to drink, winter...

houdinisghost

Ah. Of course. But when a word is obscured or hidden for any reason, some guys will automatically think in their own word. What kind of party was that? Naked? Drugged. Scientology? Well, it was a C0cktail party just as Kevin suggested. Reason it looks like that is I burped when I typed the "0.&...

houdinisghost

I am curious to know why one word was (censored) from my post. I only wonder this because Mulholland in the Sphinx, the P.C.A.M. newsletter and the Los Angeles Herald, to name a few, refer to a (censored) party hosted by Madame Houdini at her home. I wonder what sort of word the innocent reader will...

houdinisghost

For several years, I have had a webpage up entitled "Houdini is Haunting the Wrong Mansion." It has been the most popular page on my site and sounded as if I was dismissing the idea that he had been there. Well, I knew he lived in the guesthouse at 2435 Laurel Canyon, and I have a photo of...

houdinisghost

The remainder of the run of "the Tempest" in Cambridge is sold out (there may be standing room).
Has anyone any news about where this production goes after Boston?

houdinisghost

If you can possibly get to Boston for Shakespeare's the Tempest Magic by Teller, just do it.
http://americanrepertorytheater.org/eve ... /tempest-0

houdinisghost

Dear Richard,
I am thoroughly outraged at your being banned from The Magic Cafe.
If you get banned from the Genii Forum, I am going to be livid!

houdinisghost

I appreciate your mentioning current contexts for some words I used, Jonathan, but, this is a magic history forum and I was responding to a question about magic history. And since the theme of this part of this site is magic history, why do you put up a reply to a post that offers nothing having to ...

houdinisghost

Someone asked on this forum, or another one, if the name of J. Gordon Whitehead was first revealed in Milbourne Christopher's Houdini biography in the sixties. Actually, it was the eyewitness, Sam Smilovitch, who "outed" Whitehead about 1953 (I think) in an interview for some periodical. I...

houdinisghost

Houdini told the Scotland Yard story more times than the ones referred to--in one, he mentions escaping from a straight jacket as well. In the seventies, Manny Weltman wrote to Scotland Yard about the incident. In their reply, they wrote, "We have no record of a 'Superintendent Melville.'"...

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