Houdini speaks at the MCW!

[JohnCox]

One of the big surprises at this year's Magic Collectors Weekend in Chicago was when Arthur Moses played the FULL Houdini voice tapes -- the two uncut versions of Houdini doing his USD patter. Each were 3:30+ minutes. Arthur was also able to show how the familiar 1:20 version we have heard all these years is actually an edited amalgamation of both these recordings.

I posted some details about this on my blog here: http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2012/05 ... icago.html.

I'm working now on a full report on the weekend, which had lots of other terrific talks and whatnot.

[Richard Kaufman]

It seems that Arthur Moses has turned up another set of both Edison Cylinders and we heard both full versions. Great stuff.

[JohnCox]

I don't believe Arthur found another set of wax cylinders. I think he found old recordings made of the original cylinders. But I don't know for certain.

[Richard Kaufman]

And where is Jay Marshall's cylinder?

[JohnCox]

I thought all the cylinders are now in Copperfield's collection. But maybe not? This 1970 LA Times article mentions six cylinders total. How many does DC have?

[Richard Kaufman]

Not certain.

[JohnCox]

I've just posted my report on the full MCW on my blog: Houdini haunts the 43rd Magic Collectors Weekend.

I tried to include links to all the websites of those attendees I mention, but if I missed yours, let me know. I'd also love to post links to other reports, so maybe post your own links here or shoot me an email.

[Richard Kaufman]

John, in your blog you write, "I was struck by how Houdini's voice was even more heavily accented and his English even more broken ...," but I don't agree. I didn't hear any type of accent that I could identify other than a voice of the period that spoke in a way necessary to work in large theaters with no amplification. And his English didn't seem "broken" to me.

[JohnCox]

I'm trying to recall some examples of the "broken" English... Arthur let me listen to these after the talk and I went through the translations word by word and I was stuck by how many words he drops the "ed" at the end, etc. Bessie does the same thing in recordings I've heard of her -- "The Houdini shrine has burn[ed] for ten years."

As far as an accent goes...I can't identify exactly kind of an accent it is, but his voice is odd. But maybe you are right that it's just the voice of the period.

[mai-ling]

I miss going, even just visiting the MCA weekend this year.
There were a lot of good programming that would have been
great to sit in. Would have been nice to seen Mark and got
a photo of he and dad together.

Little shocked reading about the theft that happened.
Never in the 43 years I've known that it has ever happened.

Anyway, Thanks for the update John. Enjoyed it very much.

[Dustin Stinett]

Little shocked reading about the theft that happened.

What are you talking about? Where did you read about a theft?

[JohnCox]

Anyway, Thanks for the update John. Enjoyed it very much.

My pleasure, mai-ling. Glad you enjoyed it.

Little shocked reading about the theft that happened.

What are you talking about? Where did you read about a theft?

You can read about it here. Awful. http://magicol.wordpress.com/2012/05/18 ... on-please/

[hugmagic]

Mario Carrandi had his collections of tie and stick pins once belonging to the Great Raymond stolen. Posted on the Thayer site.

This is horrendous and unthinkable that someone sharing his treasures with others should have this happen.

Richard

[mai-ling]

Totally unthinkable! I was shocked when I received the
email about it. Totally appalled that it could happen.

Most likely some employee's sticky hands got on it.

I highly doubt any of the attendee's would do such a thing.