Photograph a young seated Houdini dressed in coat and tie with white dog in cabinet card format 3 1/4 inches by 6 3/4 inches $3,840. 23, Potter and Potter Auctions, Chicago, featured its Houdiniana auction. When Houdini died most of his magic apparatus and escape devices went to his brother who spent 18 years gifting and selling the items to magicians and collectors. Maybe they hadn't lost their child-like sense of wonder, still open to the possibilities. "I make the most money," Houdini said, "in Russia and Paris, for the people in those countries are so willing to be amused, so eager to see something new and out of the ordinary." He turned magic into high art with his energy and it showed up on stage. This picture emerges of a pretty edgy guy always testing the limits. Houdini drew up a testament directing his money to be divided between his wife Bess and his brother Hardeen should he suffer any "sickness which may hurt my mind." He visited insane asylums on occasion and feared ending up there himself. It wasn't enough to be strapped inside a strait-jacket or punishment suit a few times a week. Shackled in handcuffs, leg irons, chains, ropes and locks, nothing seemed to stop the magician. His main goal he said was to conquer fear. Always looking for ways to raise the stakes. "The easiest way to attract a crowd is to let it be known that at a given time and a given place someone is going to attempt something that in the event of failure will mean sudden death," Houdini said.Īlways walking right up to the edge of the cliff and teetering over. Houdini devised the apparatus after his Milk Can escape. Like a bank vault, it seemed impossible to penetrate.Īfter what seemed like too long, the front curtain was pulled aside and there stood the magiciansoaked in water and sweat. Then a cloth cabinet was drawn around the crate. Next the padlocks on the crate were locked. The performer stepped into the can and the lid was sealed. The bulky wooden crate had four heavy locks built into the lid lock along with hasps for four more padlocks.ĭuring the performance a large metal milk can filled with water was lowered into the crate. Houdini's " Double-fold Death Defying Water Mystery" was a show-stopper. He coaxed crowds to vicariously join him in that gamble. Houdini had a fascination with death and flirted with it constantly in his escape acts.
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