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HOUDINI, HARRY. Group of 5 short Typed Manuscripts by Houdini dealing with his act, plus one Typed and Autograph sheet regarding advertising
HOUDINI, HARRY. Group of 5 short Typed Manuscripts by Houdini dealing with his act, plus one Typed and Autograph sheet regarding advertising strategies. 14 pages total, on 4to sheets. Archive is accompanied by a vintage silver print photographic portrait of Houdini in 8x10 inch format; photo is abraded on the image. Np, circa 1906-11
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Notes: First manuscript titled New Principals in Magic. Houdini speaks of various routines and at length on the disappearing woman or person routine. He even favors using African Americans if humor can be evoked, "For stage effect it would be best to have a 'Coon' and saw him in half and have two picks come out, like Cannibal chiefs." This idea is evolved over several paragraphs. Three of the sheets are headed in Houdini's hand "New Princ." Manuscript is 5 pages.
Second manuscript is 3 pages and is headed "Ideas for the future, and acts etc. to put on, illusions." Houdini deals with the Fleight of Venus routine at length and suggests improvements that might be made in the routine. He also speaks of the Waite rope routine, handcuff tricks, ship iron gag, etc.
Single sheet of typed manuscript titled "Good ides [sic] to think over. magical." Houdini speaks of the Schenk chair routine and variations that might be made.
Two-page typed manuscript headed "Information gleaned from S.S. Baldwin on my visiting him Sunday Aug 5th 06." Houdini describes several routines used with comic effect by Baldwin. He also discusses Baldwin's methods for increasing audience size at performances, especially during the first week.
Two-page typed manuscript headed "Ideas for when I have to do the full matinee performance." Houdini speaks of card tricks and other sleight of hand routines, suggests speaking about his aeronautical experiences, and discusses a number of other possible routines to fill the time.
The last piece is in both typed and in Houdini's hand. This single page is given over entirely to finding ways to increase audience size. He covers a number of angles in a very short space, some of them quite funny and probably effective. One idea which is noted in pen in Houdini's hand at the top of the sheet is as follows, "buy a few hundred or more newspapers and Print in heavy Read [sic] across page Houdini at Empire & have boys sell same. Best to arrange with papers first." The sheet is accompanied by a number of newspaper clippings, many which mention Houdini.
Together, a very interesting group of materials reflecting Houdini's magical act in the first decade of the century.
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October 31, 2002 12:00 AM EST
New York, NY, US
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