Thank you to John Smithman, John Harrison, Richard Lyn, Joan Caesar, and The Outerbridges, for being Friends of Canada's Magic!
It's good to have friends like you.
02 March 2017
01 March 2017
[Guest post] Houdini in Vancouver part 5
The following is a guest post from an author who wishes to be known as The Magic Demon.
March 1st, 1923 (Thursday)
Houdini Is In Vancouver, British Columbia!
Researched by The Magic Demon exclusively for Canada's Magic.
Houdini is major front page news in today's The [Vancouver] Sun.
His local Orpheum Theatre appearances are well underway. His unparalleled sense of publicity is producing impressive results in the local press.
Today's page one story, accompanied by a photo of Harry, takes up well over a quarter of the front page. When is the last time you can recall a magician taking up that much space on page one of a major city newspaper?
The headline:
In smaller letters:
Today is the day (at high noon) that Houdini has agreed to The Sun's "challenge" to escape a straitjacket (they always spell it "straightjacket") while hanging upside down outside of The Sun office building.
But this morning's edition has gone to press long before the noon deadline.
So today they can only report on events leading up to the dramatic public spectacle.
The Sun's reporter, known only by his initials "J. K." has the memorable front page story of the day with his report of meeting up with Houdini the day before (Wednesday). This he did along with Orpheum manager Bill Hart to look over The Sun building on West Pender from where Houdini was to hang outside noon this day.
When they took Houdini to the rooftop of the building, he writes that they "slid through the hatchway like a couple of eels."
But when it was Houdini's turn, the "genius of escape" had "a tough time making the grade." In other words, he had trouble getting through the aforementioned hatchway! One can only imagine Houdini's chagrin. He must have carried it off with his usual calm charm as "J. K." concedes this might have been due to Houdini's "heavy overcoat." But it still leads him to wonder in print if Houdini would also "make the grade" the next day escaping the confines of the straitjacket. (I sometimes wonder if Houdini ever felt too old for such antics. He was just over three weeks away from his 49th birthday). Of course this was all designed to build up and hold the readers' interest.
After examining the building, the three went into The Sun's new "washroom and shower" to "dust ourselves off."
The article goes on to report that the Vancouver Police detectives Ricci and Sinclair promise to make his confinement in the straitjacket the next day "burglar proof."
Vancouver Police Chief James reports that he expects a big crowd to watch the public event. The Sun says that it expects "at least ten thousand."
In response to The Sun's previous exhortation for Houdini to award prizes for the best spectator pictures of his noon "hanging" (as he had graciously done elsewhere) which might be useful "to find out just how he does it", Houdini has agreed that he will give a First Prize of $15, s Second Prize of $10 and a Third Prize of $5. W. J. Moore, staff photographer of The Sun, will judge.
To "up the ante" and reader interest once more, the article concludes, mock-combatively:
Elsewhere in the paper is The Sun's first review of Houdini's premiere evening performance the night before.
Headlined, "Genius of Escape Shows His Prowess; Vaudeville Programme is Pleasing" the anonymous reviewer describes Houdini's Orpheum appearance as "out of the ordinary" and "just a bit different" than Vancouver theatre goers had been used to seeing.
Furthermore, according to the review on an inside page of The Sun, Houdini "amazes, mystifies and really gets on the nerves of his audience - until, of course - he emerges from his cell of torture." Houdini is without question, "the one big feature of the week's entertainment." The review then goes on to list and describe the other performers, the supporting members of Houdini's evening performance.
Of note is a mention of the young comedian Jack Benny, back "again with his violin, also with some new jokes. Some not so new. Still. . . not so bad."
[Note to younger readers: Jack Benny was destined to become a major star in radio and early television and some films. Google him.]
A paid Orpheum Theatre advertisement similar to the first also appears in this issue.
Today is also the first time a reference to Houdini appears in the other major Vancouver newspaper, The Province.
Either because Houdini was favouring The Sun with his exclusive interviews and straitjacket publicity stunt - or else by nature more conservative and thus less likely to engage in such advance publicity - The Province had until now appeared to shun any mention of Houdini's arrival.
They made up for it with a major review on an inside entertainment news page.
Headlined,
The Province's anonymous reviewer describes the show with Houdini as headliner as "undoubtably one of the best of the season."
We get more details of Houdini's performance. His Water Torture Cell features ("his own invention") as does his version of the Indian Needle trick.
Houdini also appears to have incorporated the latest technology into his act as the reviewer describes what can only be silent film footage of Houdini shown "in a thrilling airplane race and collision." This might have been footage taken many years earlier in Australia where Houdini had made history as the first person in that country to fly - as there is a nebulous reference to "the other side of the Pacific." On the other hand, it sounds much more like footage from one of his more recent adventure serials, "The Grim Game" released in 1919 which featured an accidental actual mid air collision (although with a stunt double pretending to be Houdini). This writer believes it to be the latter.
The review concludes with references to the other acts supporting Houdini on the bill. Jack Benny is given a more positive review than he had had in The Sun, this reviewer noting "for twelve minutes he holds the attention of the audience" with his "original patter," "fine voice" and "engaging natural smile."
TOMORROW: Public Triumph - or - Disaster?
-
Researched by The Magic Demon exclusively for Canada's Magic. With thanks to the Vancouver Public Library and The Vancouver Sun.
--
Thank you to The Magic Demon for guest posting at Canada's Magic!
--
March 1st, 1923 (Thursday)
Houdini Is In Vancouver, British Columbia!
Researched by The Magic Demon exclusively for Canada's Magic.
Houdini is major front page news in today's The [Vancouver] Sun.
His local Orpheum Theatre appearances are well underway. His unparalleled sense of publicity is producing impressive results in the local press.
Today's page one story, accompanied by a photo of Harry, takes up well over a quarter of the front page. When is the last time you can recall a magician taking up that much space on page one of a major city newspaper?
The headline:
"Houdini In For Tough Time; Detectives Ricci and Sinclair Bind Him."
In smaller letters:
"Magician Will Have To Wiggle To Get Out Of Jacket for These Two Expert Ropers Promise to Make It Burglar Proof."
 |
| Found in the Vancouver Public Library's microfiche of the March 1st, 1923 edition of The Vancouver Sun. |
Today is the day (at high noon) that Houdini has agreed to The Sun's "challenge" to escape a straitjacket (they always spell it "straightjacket") while hanging upside down outside of The Sun office building.
But this morning's edition has gone to press long before the noon deadline.
So today they can only report on events leading up to the dramatic public spectacle.
The Sun's reporter, known only by his initials "J. K." has the memorable front page story of the day with his report of meeting up with Houdini the day before (Wednesday). This he did along with Orpheum manager Bill Hart to look over The Sun building on West Pender from where Houdini was to hang outside noon this day.
When they took Houdini to the rooftop of the building, he writes that they "slid through the hatchway like a couple of eels."
But when it was Houdini's turn, the "genius of escape" had "a tough time making the grade." In other words, he had trouble getting through the aforementioned hatchway! One can only imagine Houdini's chagrin. He must have carried it off with his usual calm charm as "J. K." concedes this might have been due to Houdini's "heavy overcoat." But it still leads him to wonder in print if Houdini would also "make the grade" the next day escaping the confines of the straitjacket. (I sometimes wonder if Houdini ever felt too old for such antics. He was just over three weeks away from his 49th birthday). Of course this was all designed to build up and hold the readers' interest.
After examining the building, the three went into The Sun's new "washroom and shower" to "dust ourselves off."
The article goes on to report that the Vancouver Police detectives Ricci and Sinclair promise to make his confinement in the straitjacket the next day "burglar proof."
Vancouver Police Chief James reports that he expects a big crowd to watch the public event. The Sun says that it expects "at least ten thousand."
In response to The Sun's previous exhortation for Houdini to award prizes for the best spectator pictures of his noon "hanging" (as he had graciously done elsewhere) which might be useful "to find out just how he does it", Houdini has agreed that he will give a First Prize of $15, s Second Prize of $10 and a Third Prize of $5. W. J. Moore, staff photographer of The Sun, will judge.
To "up the ante" and reader interest once more, the article concludes, mock-combatively:
"Well, Mr. Houdini, The Sun is ready for you. . . if [we've] made it a little difficult for you to pull your stunt that's The Sun's business."
Elsewhere in the paper is The Sun's first review of Houdini's premiere evening performance the night before.
Headlined, "Genius of Escape Shows His Prowess; Vaudeville Programme is Pleasing" the anonymous reviewer describes Houdini's Orpheum appearance as "out of the ordinary" and "just a bit different" than Vancouver theatre goers had been used to seeing.
Furthermore, according to the review on an inside page of The Sun, Houdini "amazes, mystifies and really gets on the nerves of his audience - until, of course - he emerges from his cell of torture." Houdini is without question, "the one big feature of the week's entertainment." The review then goes on to list and describe the other performers, the supporting members of Houdini's evening performance.
Of note is a mention of the young comedian Jack Benny, back "again with his violin, also with some new jokes. Some not so new. Still. . . not so bad."
[Note to younger readers: Jack Benny was destined to become a major star in radio and early television and some films. Google him.]
A paid Orpheum Theatre advertisement similar to the first also appears in this issue.
Today is also the first time a reference to Houdini appears in the other major Vancouver newspaper, The Province.
Either because Houdini was favouring The Sun with his exclusive interviews and straitjacket publicity stunt - or else by nature more conservative and thus less likely to engage in such advance publicity - The Province had until now appeared to shun any mention of Houdini's arrival.
They made up for it with a major review on an inside entertainment news page.
Headlined,
"Houdini Headlines Fine Orpheum Bill."It was subtitled,
"Seen in Series of Clever Mystifying Turns - Show of High Standard."
The Province's anonymous reviewer describes the show with Houdini as headliner as "undoubtably one of the best of the season."
We get more details of Houdini's performance. His Water Torture Cell features ("his own invention") as does his version of the Indian Needle trick.
Houdini also appears to have incorporated the latest technology into his act as the reviewer describes what can only be silent film footage of Houdini shown "in a thrilling airplane race and collision." This might have been footage taken many years earlier in Australia where Houdini had made history as the first person in that country to fly - as there is a nebulous reference to "the other side of the Pacific." On the other hand, it sounds much more like footage from one of his more recent adventure serials, "The Grim Game" released in 1919 which featured an accidental actual mid air collision (although with a stunt double pretending to be Houdini). This writer believes it to be the latter.
The review concludes with references to the other acts supporting Houdini on the bill. Jack Benny is given a more positive review than he had had in The Sun, this reviewer noting "for twelve minutes he holds the attention of the audience" with his "original patter," "fine voice" and "engaging natural smile."
TOMORROW: Public Triumph - or - Disaster?
-
Researched by The Magic Demon exclusively for Canada's Magic. With thanks to the Vancouver Public Library and The Vancouver Sun.
--
Thank you to The Magic Demon for guest posting at Canada's Magic!
Thank you to our March 2017 sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support.
This site would not be possible without their backing.
We're grateful to have the support of:
The next time you see them, let them know you saw their sponsorship here!
For more information about purchasing Sponsored Posts or about our Platinum, Gold, or Silver level sponsorships, please visit our Sponsorship page.
Or you can Be Our Friend for only $20 per year!
Donations of any size are always welcome.
This site would not be possible without their backing.
We're grateful to have the support of:
- Clive Court - The Fun-da-Mentalist,
- Evelyn & Phil Matlin, owners of Perfect Magic,
- Jeff Pinsky, owner of The Browser's Den of Magic, and
- Michael Close, author of the Workers series and other ebooks.
The next time you see them, let them know you saw their sponsorship here!
For more information about purchasing Sponsored Posts or about our Platinum, Gold, or Silver level sponsorships, please visit our Sponsorship page.
Or you can Be Our Friend for only $20 per year!
Donations of any size are always welcome.
28 February 2017
[Guest post] Houdini in Vancouver part 4
The following is a guest post from an author who wishes to be known as The Magic Demon.
February 28th, 1923 (Wednesday)
Houdini to Perform in Vancouver
Researched by The Magic Demon exclusively for Canada's Magic.
Finally! H (for Houdini) - Day, at long last.
Houdini is to appear tonight at the Orpheum Theatre headlining in his first vaudeville appearance ever in Vancouver, British Columbia. It will be followed by a matinee and evening show on each of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Excitement must have been tangible in the city.
But it is too early for newspaper reviews to appear just yet.
Instead, a playfully combative article giving an exciting final burst of advance publicity appears in the lower front page of The Vancouver Sun on this date entitled, "Houdini Defies Police; Ditto Their Hangman."
What makes this article, the fourth, unique is that is is an unsigned editorial personally addressing Houdini in the first person.
It begins,
It goes on to restate the conditions of its "challenge" to have Houdini escape from a straitjacket upside down while hanging outside their office the next day at noon.
I'm not sure how accurate that headline was. His defiance of the police simply would take the form of having them truss him up. As to their "hangman," well, that was a bit of literary hyperbole to be sure. It might not have been strictly accurate but it definitely made you want to read on!
But they were not done. The Sun knew how to "up the ante."
They wrote:
In this way, The Sun itself would soon become part of the news it was reporting; it would become part of the Houdini legend.
Then an unexpectedly humorous boast:
I take this as a sly wink to its readers paying close attention. In effect, it's a reminder to them that, hey, this is all good fun! Don't take any of this too seriously! We don't!
It concludes with an exhortation to Houdini to provide a prize for the best snapshot spectators might take of the outdoor event (as he had done elsewhere) "successful or otherwise."
Were they now suggesting his stunt might not be successful? An element of doubt certainly was dropped into the "mix" for the first time. Which was very clever. What better way to entice spectators to come out and see for themselves?
The tone is playfully combative as I said. It was as if they were daring him not to show up - to an event to which he had already agreed (and indeed probably originated). A master stroke of publicity. Having enthusiastically proclaimed his greatness, at this last minute the newspaper was now hinting at his possible fallibility and the fact that - good heavens - he might even renege, the "challenge" they had offered being so great.
What a laugh seen from today's perspective. Houdini and The Sun could not have been better allies.
The Sun concludes:
It was positioned almost like a gunslingers shoot out! Who could possibly resist attending it?
A paid Orpheum Theatre advertisement similar to the first also appears in this issue.
TOMORROW: "Houdini in for Tough Time; Detectives Ricci And Sinclair Bind Him."
-
Researched by The Magic Demon exclusively for Canada's Magic. With thanks to the Vancouver Public Library and The Vancouver Sun.
--
Thank you to The Magic Demon for guest posting at Canada's Magic!
--
February 28th, 1923 (Wednesday)
Houdini to Perform in Vancouver
Researched by The Magic Demon exclusively for Canada's Magic.
Finally! H (for Houdini) - Day, at long last.
Houdini is to appear tonight at the Orpheum Theatre headlining in his first vaudeville appearance ever in Vancouver, British Columbia. It will be followed by a matinee and evening show on each of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Excitement must have been tangible in the city.
But it is too early for newspaper reviews to appear just yet.
Instead, a playfully combative article giving an exciting final burst of advance publicity appears in the lower front page of The Vancouver Sun on this date entitled, "Houdini Defies Police; Ditto Their Hangman."
What makes this article, the fourth, unique is that is is an unsigned editorial personally addressing Houdini in the first person.
It begins,
"Alright, Houdini!"
It goes on to restate the conditions of its "challenge" to have Houdini escape from a straitjacket upside down while hanging outside their office the next day at noon.
I'm not sure how accurate that headline was. His defiance of the police simply would take the form of having them truss him up. As to their "hangman," well, that was a bit of literary hyperbole to be sure. It might not have been strictly accurate but it definitely made you want to read on!
But they were not done. The Sun knew how to "up the ante."
They wrote:
"Just to make it snappy, Mr. Houdini, The Sun expects no less than ten thousand to be outside The Sun office to watch your antics."
In this way, The Sun itself would soon become part of the news it was reporting; it would become part of the Houdini legend.
Then an unexpectedly humorous boast:
"This newspaper has . . . for its own and your benefit . . . put a couple of new storeys on its building."
I take this as a sly wink to its readers paying close attention. In effect, it's a reminder to them that, hey, this is all good fun! Don't take any of this too seriously! We don't!
It concludes with an exhortation to Houdini to provide a prize for the best snapshot spectators might take of the outdoor event (as he had done elsewhere) "successful or otherwise."
Were they now suggesting his stunt might not be successful? An element of doubt certainly was dropped into the "mix" for the first time. Which was very clever. What better way to entice spectators to come out and see for themselves?
The tone is playfully combative as I said. It was as if they were daring him not to show up - to an event to which he had already agreed (and indeed probably originated). A master stroke of publicity. Having enthusiastically proclaimed his greatness, at this last minute the newspaper was now hinting at his possible fallibility and the fact that - good heavens - he might even renege, the "challenge" they had offered being so great.
What a laugh seen from today's perspective. Houdini and The Sun could not have been better allies.
The Sun concludes:
"You said you would be here at noon Thursday. Well, you keep your end of the bargain and never fear that The Sun won't be there with everything it has promised."
It was positioned almost like a gunslingers shoot out! Who could possibly resist attending it?
A paid Orpheum Theatre advertisement similar to the first also appears in this issue.
TOMORROW: "Houdini in for Tough Time; Detectives Ricci And Sinclair Bind Him."
-
Researched by The Magic Demon exclusively for Canada's Magic. With thanks to the Vancouver Public Library and The Vancouver Sun.
--
Thank you to The Magic Demon for guest posting at Canada's Magic!
Top 5 posts in February 2017
Out of the 36+ posts at Canada's Magic this month, here are the 5 most viewed posts in the past 30 days:
and the most viewed post this month ...
5. Cambridge: Shawn Farquhar - A rare Ontario appearance of Shawn! (Enter here to for a chance to win tickets!)
4. Ottawa: Magic Monday - One Year Anniversary! - Happy anniversary Steven Lafond!
3. Outerbridge Magic upcoming tour dates - I'm looking forward to hearing all about their tour in China.
2. Chilliwack: Cabaret of Wonders VI - One of the few shows that doesn't require Shawn to be in an airport!
and the most viewed post this month ...
1. Murray and the top 3 most random tricks - I wonder if Murray will be performing these during his USO tour.
27 February 2017
[Guest post] Houdini in Vancouver part 3
The following is a guest post from an author who wishes to be known as The Magic Demon.
February 27th, 1923 (Tuesday)
Houdini to Perform in Vancouver
Researched by The Magic Demon exclusively for Canada's Magic.
It is now H (for Houdini) - Day Minus 1.
Houdini appears to be coming from performing in Winnipeg (in what appears to be a cross-Canada tour heading west). No doubt he (and his supporting acts including a young comedian named Jack Benny) will appreciate Vancouver's milder weather having experienced Winnipeg in mid-February.
The public must have been eagerly awaiting the first appearance ever in Vancouver of this legendary "genius of escape" who's exploits they have read about (and possibly even seen dramatized on the silent screen) without ever a hope of actually seeing him in person.
Until now - during his triumphant "return to vaudeville."
The Vancouver Sun, our primary source for continuing coverage, is doing an incredible job ratcheting up public interest in the Houdini story and in doing so has become very much part of his eternal legend.
In the lower left corner of page one on this date is the headline,
It first recapitulates the news about his latest sensational stunt, the water torture cell, which he will perform at the Orpheum.
The report at this point is a bit confusing. That is, it is confusing from our point of view today. It describes the water torture cell as both his "original" as well as "self-constructed" escape stunt but then mentions that Houdini will escape from "the can filled to the brim with water" - which surely sounds more like Houdini's old classic milk can escape?
My guess is the writer of this article, not having ever seen the act, has simply confabulated details of the two different escapes into one. Or that he is sloppily referring to the water torture cell as a can. It is unclear. Not that contemporary audiences of the day would know or care.
Given equal prominence in this third article is a reminder of Houdini's "acceptance" of the challenge purportedly issued by The Sun "to liberate himself from a straight jacket [sic] wrapped about him. . . suspended by the ankles, head downwards, from a beam in front of The Sun office, at a height of at least thirty feet."
The Sun enthusiastically concludes,
I know if I were alive at the time and living in Vancouver I'd've already bought multiple performance tickets. And for sure I'd be outside The Sun office on Thursday at high noon to see Houdini escape from his straitjacket confinement.
How about you?
A paid Orpheum Theatre advertisement similar to the first also appears in this issue.
TOMORROW: "Houdini Defies Police; Ditto Their Hangman."
-
Researched by The Magic Demon exclusively for Canada's Magic. With thanks to the Vancouver Public Library and The Vancouver Sun.
--
Thank you to The Magic Demon for guest posting at Canada's Magic!
--
February 27th, 1923 (Tuesday)
Houdini to Perform in Vancouver
Researched by The Magic Demon exclusively for Canada's Magic.
It is now H (for Houdini) - Day Minus 1.
Houdini appears to be coming from performing in Winnipeg (in what appears to be a cross-Canada tour heading west). No doubt he (and his supporting acts including a young comedian named Jack Benny) will appreciate Vancouver's milder weather having experienced Winnipeg in mid-February.
 |
| Window advertisements for a Houdini performance and shows at the Orpheum theatre. Vancouver Public Library 86870. |
The public must have been eagerly awaiting the first appearance ever in Vancouver of this legendary "genius of escape" who's exploits they have read about (and possibly even seen dramatized on the silent screen) without ever a hope of actually seeing him in person.
Until now - during his triumphant "return to vaudeville."
The Vancouver Sun, our primary source for continuing coverage, is doing an incredible job ratcheting up public interest in the Houdini story and in doing so has become very much part of his eternal legend.
In the lower left corner of page one on this date is the headline,
"Sun Planning to Make It Tough Job For Friend Houdini."
It first recapitulates the news about his latest sensational stunt, the water torture cell, which he will perform at the Orpheum.
The report at this point is a bit confusing. That is, it is confusing from our point of view today. It describes the water torture cell as both his "original" as well as "self-constructed" escape stunt but then mentions that Houdini will escape from "the can filled to the brim with water" - which surely sounds more like Houdini's old classic milk can escape?
My guess is the writer of this article, not having ever seen the act, has simply confabulated details of the two different escapes into one. Or that he is sloppily referring to the water torture cell as a can. It is unclear. Not that contemporary audiences of the day would know or care.
Given equal prominence in this third article is a reminder of Houdini's "acceptance" of the challenge purportedly issued by The Sun "to liberate himself from a straight jacket [sic] wrapped about him. . . suspended by the ankles, head downwards, from a beam in front of The Sun office, at a height of at least thirty feet."
The Sun enthusiastically concludes,
"This will probably be one of his greatest efforts. . . a wonderful chance to show his genius. . ."
I know if I were alive at the time and living in Vancouver I'd've already bought multiple performance tickets. And for sure I'd be outside The Sun office on Thursday at high noon to see Houdini escape from his straitjacket confinement.
How about you?
A paid Orpheum Theatre advertisement similar to the first also appears in this issue.
TOMORROW: "Houdini Defies Police; Ditto Their Hangman."
-
Researched by The Magic Demon exclusively for Canada's Magic. With thanks to the Vancouver Public Library and The Vancouver Sun.
--
Thank you to The Magic Demon for guest posting at Canada's Magic!
26 February 2017
[Guest post] Houdini in Vancouver part 2
The following is a guest post from an author who wishes to be known as The Magic Demon.
--
February 26th, 1923 (Monday)
Houdini to Perform in Vancouver
Researched by The Magic Demon exclusively for Canada's Magic.
It is now H (for Houdini) - Day, Minus 2.
Excitement is mounting.
The publicity for Houdini's first ever Vancouver, British Columbia vaudeville performance is gearing up.
It is assuming the status of genuine news; coverage of his upcoming visit is indeed carried as front page news in The Vancouver Sun, our primary source for continuing and developing coverage .
A headline on this day (near the bottom of page one) screams in huge letters, "Houdini To Hang Downwards". Then in smaller lettering, "Strapped in Straight Jacket, Will Swing from Sun Building Thursday."
It goes on to state:
"Houdini, genius of escape, has accepted a unique challenge. . . he offers to free himself from a straight jacket wrapped around him by any member or members of the Vancouver police force, and while suspended in mid-air, head downwards, in front of The Vancouver Sun newspaper office on Thursday at noon."
So it would appear that The Sun had chosen to play along with the Houdini legend with its "unique challenge."
Astute readers will, of course, recognize the fact that Houdini would perform a similar free public stunt in almost every major town or city he played in order to generate publicity for his local theatre appearance. He usually did it outside of the local newspaper office to achieve maximum exclusive coverage by same. It was guaranteed to stop traffic and become a newsworthy event all by itself. One can only bow to Houdini's highly developed sense of self-promotion and ponder what wonders of publicity he would have achieved in today's Twitter-verse?
This second article goes on to describe the nature of his confinement in a straitjacket. By enlisting the local police to truss him up, Houdini once more ensured that no "funny business" would mess up his stunt and that it would be enhanced in the public's imagination by his implied challenge to local police to confine him.
A paid Orpheum Theatre advertisement similar to the first also appears in this issue.
TOMORROW: "Planning to Make It Tough Job For Friend Houdini."
-
Researched by The Magic Demon exclusively for Canada's Magic. With thanks to the Vancouver Public Library and The Vancouver Sun.
--
Thank you to The Magic Demon for guest posting at Canada's Magic!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)