As we head into Halloween tomorrow, what better time to join David Sandy and Lance Rich for another installment of their excellent “Magic Collectors’ Corner” Zoom events? Tonight’s installment will be taking place live from Harry Houdini’s actual house in New York City. Last year, I had the pleasure of touring the house, and I…
Category: Houdini
Houdini’s Pocket Jack Knife Re-Discovered
The above photo was sent to me this week by Brian Lumley. As you probably already know, Brian was one of Doug’s primary assistants in the early years, and today is a treasure trove of Henning knowledge of that time. Brian mentioned to me that he is moving, and recently unearthed this treasure that had…
Houdini “Mother Scrapbook” Article Link
Today’s article link hails from John Cox excellent Houdini website Wild About Harry. The article itself deals with Houdini’s scrapbook, and how John was able to be its guardian for one weekend. I won’t get into too many details, but needless to say, Doug features into the article in an important way. In fact, without…
“World of Magic ’75” Publicity Photo: Doug Torture Cell Rehearsal
The above 1975 publicity photo was used in the run up to the live broadcast of “World of Magic.” It does a nice job of bringing up the parallels of Doug and Houdini in their respective cells and, above all, places in history. We also get an ultra rare glimpse of Doug in the rehearsals…
Sunday Post Tribune-December 21, 1975
The following comes from Northwest Indiana’s “Post- Tribune,” and has a lot to offer. Not least of which is the cover, which has Henning and Houdini sharing the same page together. It’s a great cover, and if you look towards the bottom they were still listing Orson Welles as the special guest mere days before…
Houdini NYC House Interior: Part Four
So, all good things must come to an end, and this week’s tour of the Houdini house is no exception! One of the most fascinating items still remaining in the house rests in the basement. Nestled off to the side is an unassuming wine cask that once belonged to none other than Bess Houdini. As…
Houdini NYC House Interior: Part Three
There are some things of note in today’s post worth mentioning. The first photo is the top floor skylight which is original, and isn’t seen all that often. How beautiful and ornate is this? The last photo is a little fuzzy, but a fascinating fun fact of Houdini history. This is the steel sidewalk pull…
Houdini NYC House Interior: Part Two
The first thing you need to know is that Houdini’s house is very, very large. Rooms lead to rooms, other rooms, and beyond. It’s exactly the kind of cavernous townhouse you would expect Houdini to have lived in. Besides its ornate architecture and wood paneling, it’s a real sight to behold. I didn’t have the…
Houdini NYC House Interior: Part One
Sorry for the lack of posts last week. I got caught up with some professional matters that took all of my time. But, I’m back in action, and what a week I have in store for everyone. This past November I was visiting New York City over the Thanksgiving holiday, and had the great pleasure…
World of Magic ’75: Water Torture Cell Finale in Full
Folks, as I teased earlier in the week, this is it! I present to you what is probably the most famous moment in Doug’s career, Houdini’s Water Torture Cell. Fifty million people tuned in live to watch the finale to Doug’s first special. To say they got their money’s worth was an understatement! It’s worth…
Doug and Debbie Houdini Plaza 1986 Performance
I’d be remiss in not mentioning that yesterday, March 24th, was Harry Houdini’s 147th birthday. In honor of that special day, I thought it would be appropriate to post the above photo of Doug and Debbie in May, 1986. Where was it taken you ask? Well, if the town of Appleton, Wisconsin means anything to…
The “New Houdini” Advertisement
The above ad certainly makes a bold claim in order to sell the soundtrack record to “The Magic Show.” Doug and Houdini were drastically different in terms of presentation. However, if there were similarities between them, it’s that they totally redefined how the public saw magic in their respective time periods. But, I doubt Houdini…
Wild About Harry: Doug and Houdini Article
For those jonesing for a Houdini/Doug fix this Saturday, may I divert your attention to today’s post on John Cox’s excellent website “Wild About Harry.” It delves into the impetus for John’s lifelong love of Houdini which is…well, visit the website to find out if you haven’t guessed already. While you’re there stay a while…
Houdini’s 100th Birthday Article
John Cox ‘s excellent website Wild About Harry recently featured a New York Daily News article from 1974 covering a Doug live event that even yours truly didn’t know occurred. In honor of Houdini’s 100th birthday, Doug and his “Magic Show” co-star Dale Soules performed one of Houdini’s signature illusions in front of the famed Plaza…
Doug and Debby: Morning Show Hosts!
Who’s up for a Detroit morning show from the 80s with Doug and Debby as fill in hosts? I’m not sure exactly the history of Kelly and Co. or even how Doug and Debby wound up hosting it. But, every time I think I’ve seen everything there is to see about Doug on You Tube…
Henning on Houdini Radio Interview
This audio clip comes courtesy of John Cox’s fabulous Wild About Harry website. In this radio interview from 1980, Doug discusses the first television special and the intense preparations that went into his escape from Houdini’s Water Torture Cell. While it’s brief, it gives the listener a peek into Doug’s rehearsal process and the mystery…
First Special Altered Poster
While I still recuperate I wanted to slowly get back into the swing of things with this first special newspaper ad from the Chicago Tribune. What’s unique about this particular piece is that the list of guest stars is updated to reflect who would actually be on the show. There are other color versions of…
The First NBC Special: Houdini’s Water Torture Cell Conclusion
As we reach the end of this legendary moment in magic history, the seconds are counting down and down. Doug, sealed in, begins the almost impossible job of escaping from a seemingly watery grave. Would he make it out alive? Or would 50 million people watch a man drown on live television? All your questions are…
The First NBC Special: Houdini’s Water Torture Cell
What you are about to see are the introduction and preparations for Doug’s Grand Finale of Houdini’s “Water Torture Cell!” After another brief introduction by Gene Kelly and a Houdini history montage, Doug is introduced to a nervous crowd. The suspense is truly over whelming, and there is definitely a “will he or won’t he” feeling throughout the…
The First NBC Special: The Best Bits!
It’s safe to say that everyone that is reading these entries remembers the first special in their own way. The program itself is so crammed with illusions and expert performances that it’s been difficult to decide what to include and what to sadly leave out. After Julie Newmar, the audience is treated to the umbrella and fire…
The First NBC Special: Julie Newmar
After some disappearing and reappearing birds and a little close-up magic with Bill Cosby, Doug gets to the nitty-gritty with this atmospheric box illusion. While shining a light inside and behind, it is revealed that absolutely nothing, I repeat nothing, is inside. Or is there? Ladies and Gentlemen, a totally random and 1970s avante-garde dance routine…
The First NBC Special: Part Two
In watching the special with modern eyes, it’s interesting to note how fresh, energetic, and groundbreaking it all still feels. Rather than doing an opening monologue, Doug dives into one of the things he truly excelled at… close up magic. None of the following scene has any dialogue, and that uniqueness makes it one of my favorite parts of the…
Houdini: His Legend and His Magic Part Four
For our last round of pictures I wanted to focus on the excellent chapter “Houdini in Color.” What we have here are wonderful and bold color plates that really spring to life from the page. It’s my favorite chapter, and I suspect I may not be the only one! I thought it was more than appropriate to end with…
Houdini: His Legend and His Magic Part Three
The following represents some of the best items in the book in terms candid shots of Houdini and Bess, formal portraits, and newspaper coverage of Houdini’s death in 1926. It’s also refreshing to see Bess and Harry as they really were on vacation and away from the spotlight. Upon seeing them for the first time as…
Houdini: His Legend and His Magic Part Two
The following items represent not only a personal and very touching introduction from Doug to his parents, but many rare documents and photos from Houdini’s early and formative years. As with all legends, Houdini didn’t sprout fully formed and these pictures and clippings give us a very unique insight into this time in his life. …
Correction!
Hey Everyone! Before we get to the next post, I wanted to share a correction that was sent to me regarding how Doug obtained the items featured in “Houdini: His Legend and His Magic.” The real facts, such as these, can get muddled though various sources, accounts, and years. So, I’ll leave it to expert…
Houdini: His Legend and His Magic Book
For the rest of the week I’m going to rightfully be focusing on the classic Doug Henning and Charles Reynolds book “Houdini: His Legend and his Magic.” The book, originally published in 1977, is widely considered one of the most thorough and personal books ever published on Houdini. The reason for this lies in its…
Houdini’s Magic Magazine
To round out another great week I’m going to be featuring Doug’s appearance in the August, 1977 issue of “Houdini’s Magic Magazine.” The magazine itself ran from August 1977 to March 1978, and in that time it featured many of the top magic stories and artists of the day. Doug was no exception, and the history…
John Cox: Part Three
How do you think he bridged the gap between the magicians of old and the superstar ones we have today? Well he was the true bridge. You wonder would it have happened without him?…Doug Henning understood magic and the history of magic. So, he knew what principals worked and re-introduced them. He did an amazing…
THE DOUG HENNING PROJECT 