Hardeen Inherits his Brother’s Secrets

After the death of Houdini in 1926, his brother Theodore Hardeen tried to continue his act with little success. The above poster announces this by detailing Houdini’s will as follows:

Fourth: I give, devise and bequeath to my brother; Theodore, Professionally known as “Hardeen” all my theatrical effects, new mysteries and illusions and accompanying paraphernalia, to be burnt and destroyed upon his death - Houdini

Houdini’s will makes it possible the continuance of Houdini’s master mysteries.

Technorati: Magic houdini

Hiding the Elephant

Jim Steinmeyer’s book is a journey thorough the rich history of magicians, their creations and their quest for the impossible. Starting with Houdini’s famous and infamous illusion of making an elephant disappear, Jim traces the various inventions in “optical conjuring,” from Pepper’s Ghost to Tobin’s Proteus Cabinet and the famous wonders at Egyptian Hall. Covering all magicians of the day, Chung-Ling Soo, Lafayette, Houdini and Will Goldston. [more...]