Lost Houdini scrapbook discovered in CA

[JohnCox]

Today I'm thrilled to share news of a truly incredible find. A hitherto unknown Houdini scrapbook -- which has possibly gone unseen for 83 years -- was recently discovered by an antique dealer in Southern California. I have the full story and lots of pics on my blog.

http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2013/07 ... pbook.html

[JohnCox]

Jeeze. What's a guy gotta find to get a single comment out of this board? Dai Vernon's jockstrap?

So you know, the owner (finder) is going to sell this, but he hasn't yet decided whether to do so in auction or privately. Until then, he's open to hearing from interested collectors. He's a good guy and really does want this to go to the right person and have it made available to magic historians.

I'm forward emails to him. Not brokering this or anything like that (and I don't know what price he has in mind), just helping as thanks for letting me break the news of this find.

[JohnCox]

Just a little update. This sold yesterday at Potter & Potter for $36,000. Second highest price item in the auction.

http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2014/08 ... s-for.html

[baabaablacksheep]

Jeeze. What's a guy gotta find to get a single comment out of this board? Dai Vernon's jockstrap?

How much did Dai Veron's jockstrap sell for?

[JohnCox]

Jeeze. What's a guy gotta find to get a single comment out of this board? Dai Vernon's jockstrap?

How much did Dai Veron's jockstrap sell for?

That's what fetched the highest price.

[Brad Jeffers]

What's a guy gotta find to get a single comment out of this board ...

I guess not everyone is as WILD ABOUT HARRY as you are John

But being the Houdiniphile that you are, I was expecting some input from you in THIS THREAD, in which Ariann Black states that she has recently acquired 9 hours of never before seen Houdini footage.

I repeat ... 9 hours of never before seen Houdini footage !

I could be wrong, but I don't believe that prior to this, the total of all Houdini footage known, including his movies, would total 9 hours.

I think you should check into this and post something about it on your blog.

[Leonard Hevia]

Arian Black did not write that it was 9 hours of "never before seen Houdini footage." Black actually wrote:

The 9 hours of Houdini footage we recently acquired is falling apart and has to be restored from scratch.

I'm willing to bet that footage is comprised of his motion picture films and possibly news reels and the Australian flights. Who knows? The Grim Game might be in there.

[Brad Jeffers]

On her Kickstarter page Ariann Black states ... "Be Amazed has amassed one of the largest magic film, television and stage performance video libraries in the world, including never before seen footage of Houdini , Blackstone and others.

Why go to the expense of restoring Houdini footage that is already available?

[Leonard Hevia]

Brad--the link you posted referred to another thread here on the Genii Forum, in which Black did not specifically state that there was 9 hours of never before seen Houdini footage. You did not post the link to Black's Kickstarter page.

On her Kickstarter page Ariann Black states ... "Be Amazed has amassed one of the largest magic film, television and stage performance video libraries in the world, including never before seen footage of Houdini , Blackstone and others.

Why bother to restore Houdini footage that is already available?

The "never before seen footage" also includes Blackstone and others. We don't know the length of the unseen footage for each magician. It's all jumbled into one pie tin and so far, Black hasn't mentioned the size of each slice. If Black is discussing the preservation of analog film, then it would likely be worth it to her to restore ANY footage, whether it already exists archived in a climate control vault or not.

[Brad Jeffers]

Black did not specifically state that there was 9 hours of never before seen Houdini footage

Yes, I know.

On her Kickstarter page she states that she has "never before seen" Houdini footage. On the forum post she states that she has recently acquired 9 hours of Houdini footage that is in dire need of restoration.

I was being a little facetious when I morphed the two statements into 9 hours of never before seen footage. I don't think that 9 hours of never before seen Houdini footage exists.

And just what exactly, does "never before seen" footage mean anyway ? Never before seen by anyone - or just never before seen by me

If Black is discussing the preservation of analog film, then it would likely be worth it to her to restore ANY footage, whether it already exists archived in a climate control vault or not.

Is it worth it to her (or rather to you and me, as we are the ones being solicited for funding) to restore Houdini footage that already exists in this format ...

[baabaablacksheep]

John Cox, I have been looking through your Houdini website and wanted to tell you that I am enjoying it very much. It is full of interesting articles and very professionally done. Great job. Thanks.

[JohnCox]

What's a guy gotta find to get a single comment out of this board ...

I guess not everyone is as WILD ABOUT HARRY as you are John

But being the Houdiniphile that you are, I was expecting some input from you in THIS THREAD, in which Ariann Black states that she has recently acquired 9 hours of never before seen Houdini footage.

I repeat ... 9 hours of never before seen Houdini footage !

I could be wrong, but I don't believe that prior to this, the total of all Houdini footage known, including his movies, would total 9 hours.

I think you should check into this and post something about it on your blog.

Holy cats! I didn't know anything about this. I afraid I don't watch these forums as closely as I should. Thanks for the tip, Brad!

[JohnCox]

John Cox, I have been looking through your Houdini website and wanted to tell you that I am enjoying it very much. It is full of interesting articles and very professionally done. Great job. Thanks.

Thank you very much, baabaablacksheep. I appreciate your kind words.

[Leonard Hevia]

Is it worth it to her (or rather to you and me, as we are the ones being solicited for funding) to restore Houdini footage that already exists in this format ...

You got that right...

[Richard Kaufman]

There may be some snippets of Houdini footage that are not "known," but that's all.

The only stuff I know for certain not on the Kino Video set are the Pathe Films, which should have been on the set, and the only known print of The Grim Game, which is being held hostage by Larry Weeks.

[Bill Mullins]

There may be some snippets of Houdini footage that are not "known," but that's all.

The only stuff I know for certain not on the Kino Video set are the Pathe Films, which should have been on the set, and the only known print of The Grim Game, which is being held hostage by Larry Weeks.

Did the Kino set include the footage of him flying in Australia?