Thanks! I'd forgotten he gave his magic collection to LC. The article by Leonard Beck is an excellent summary. The best biography to read is William Kalush and Larry Sloman, "The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero" (Atria Books, 2006). I also have a rare little booklet about the hoax cooked up by Bess Houdini and medium Arthur Ford to keep Houdini's name alive by claiming that Ford delivered a message, agreed upon by Harry and Bess while he was still alive, so that she would know there was a life after death. Ralph G. Pressing, "Houdini Unmasked: Code Message Received" (Daily News, Lily Dale, NY, 1947).
There seems to have been a major LC website devoted to the collection that has now been taken down and most of his material integrated into the magic collection.
Yes, he was--and first one to pilot a plane over Australia. His work to debunk spiritualists was also a little known aspect of his career. I listened to the YouTube I added and I had a whole new appreciation for him.
Very interesting article. The fact that he was a skeptic and debunked spiritualists at that time, managed to tour his own magic exhibitions and established a major collection stands tall for him. Thank you so much for expanding his interest.
He's one of those names we think we know and then he was so much more. I had no idea before today he was a major donor of books about magic to the Library of Congress. He also bought other collectors' collections. All this and escaping from a strait jacket dangling upside down from a crane.
That video is fascinating. I never knew how many tricks he mastered and how hugely popular he was. It is nice that his book collection will live on as a reminder of him.
I thought so, too. I listen to the videos while I look for footnotes. It's always interesting to realize how many people were in entertainment before mass media. But his book collecting was a surprise to me. I found the article about his library today and there went the afternoon!
Thanks! I'd forgotten he gave his magic collection to LC. The article by Leonard Beck is an excellent summary. The best biography to read is William Kalush and Larry Sloman, "The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero" (Atria Books, 2006). I also have a rare little booklet about the hoax cooked up by Bess Houdini and medium Arthur Ford to keep Houdini's name alive by claiming that Ford delivered a message, agreed upon by Harry and Bess while he was still alive, so that she would know there was a life after death. Ralph G. Pressing, "Houdini Unmasked: Code Message Received" (Daily News, Lily Dale, NY, 1947).
There seems to have been a major LC website devoted to the collection that has now been taken down and most of his material integrated into the magic collection.
I looked up HH's Wikipedia entry. Very strange and tragic how he died. He was much more of a Renaissance man than I ever knew.
Yes, he was--and first one to pilot a plane over Australia. His work to debunk spiritualists was also a little known aspect of his career. I listened to the YouTube I added and I had a whole new appreciation for him.
Very interesting article. The fact that he was a skeptic and debunked spiritualists at that time, managed to tour his own magic exhibitions and established a major collection stands tall for him. Thank you so much for expanding his interest.
His debunking activity was the only part of the story I knew.
He's one of those names we think we know and then he was so much more. I had no idea before today he was a major donor of books about magic to the Library of Congress. He also bought other collectors' collections. All this and escaping from a strait jacket dangling upside down from a crane.
That video is fascinating. I never knew how many tricks he mastered and how hugely popular he was. It is nice that his book collection will live on as a reminder of him.
I thought so, too. I listen to the videos while I look for footnotes. It's always interesting to realize how many people were in entertainment before mass media. But his book collecting was a surprise to me. I found the article about his library today and there went the afternoon!