The Great Houdini by Derek Tait

Author:Derek Tait
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social & cultural history
ISBN: 9781473867963
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books
Published: 2017-07-29T16:00:00+00:00

From 3 to 8 May, Houdini played at the Hippodrome in Blackburn before appearing at the Pavilion in Newcastle Between 10 May and 15 May.

His next venue was the Metropolitan in London where he entertained between 17 May and 22. Also on the bill were Zampas, court jesters, Diana Hope and Co, Fred Elton, Horace Lane and Violet Lloyd, Mabel Green, Billie Merson, Ethel Newman and Ruffell’s Bioscope.

From London, he travelled to Portsmouth and appeared at the Hippodrome between 24 and 29 May.

The Lancashire Evening Post of Tuesday 25 May carried an advert for Houdini at the Temperance Hall, Preston twice nightly at 7pm and 9pm. It’s thought that this must refer to a film he was in because Houdini was appearing at Portsmouth at the time.

Houdini next played at the Palace Theatre, Chelsea between 31 May and 5 June.

The Era of Saturday 5 June included a long list of contributors to the Scott Fund. Altogether, £44 9s 3d had been raised and was to be given to the widow of the late George Scott. At the top of the list, and the most generous, was the Great Lafayette who donated £10. Further down the list, it was shown that Harry Houdini had donated 10s 6d.

The Era of Saturday 5 June wrote:

A satisfactory appearance of fullness has been presented throughout the week at Mr Henri Gros’s cosy hall at Chelsea where Mr J Norman Berlin, the courteous manager, is presenting a programme of much attractiveness. The big name on the bill is that of Houdini, the renowned gaol-breaker, who makes a most interesting escape from a regulation straitjacket. He then proceeds to immerse himself in a galvanised iron can full of water, which is covered in, the lid being secured by half-a-dozen padlocks. The receptacle is wheeled into a recess and the curtains drawn, while an attendant stands with uplifted axe ready to rush in and break open the can in the event of Houdini not making his escape within a given period. Happily, however, no untoward event occurred and the performer made his appearance dripping and triumphant. The feat is preceded by a series of interesting pictures on the bioscope showing the ‘Handcuff King’, heavily manacled, making a daring leap from the Morgue Bridge into the Seine and freeing himself while in the water.

Houdini wrote a letter concerning ‘a little trouble’ that he had at Chelsea Music Hall. It read: ‘It was of such a nature that the house was sold out at early door money, seats sold on the stage, and thousands turned away. I had three challenges in one night.’

His next appearance was at the Hippodrome in Leeds between 7 and 12 June. His coming was announced in the Yorkshire Post which stated that he hadn’t appeared in the city for the last four and a half years.

In the Yorkshire Evening Post of Saturday 12 June, under the headline STRAPPED TO A MADMAN’S BED, an article reported how Houdini was once again strapped to a ‘crazy crib’ such as those used in asylums.

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