The must-read web site Wild about Harry reports that next stop on theHoudini: Art and Magic tour is Los Angeles, California.
Even 85 years after his passing, the showman still packs ‘em in. The show was boffo at The Jewish Museum in New York and organizers appear to be doubling down on the presentation by adding a retrospective of Jewish Magicians entitled, Masters of Illusions: Jewish Magicians of the Golden Age.
The exhibition’s home in Los Angeles will be at the appropriately fancy Skirball Cultural Center. The doors will spring open on April 28, 2011.
But wait, there’s even more. According to Wild About Harry, “[o]ne notable change to the Houdini Art and Magic exhibition will be the inclusion of John Gaughan’s authentic working replica of Houdini’s Water Torture Cell. The Gaughan replica will ONLY be displayed at this L.A. stop.”
The web site promises full coverage of the exhibition, the comings and goings of noted guests and special side events. Look for lectures featuring Joshua Jay, Mike Caveney, Max Maven, and Marvyn (“Mr. Electric”) Roy.
Be sure to keep the site on your favorites list for the latest news.
Dorothy Young, the last surviving stage assistant of illusionist Harry Houdini and an accomplished dancer, has died. She was 103.
Young joined Houdini’s company as a 17-year-old after attending an open casting call during a family trip to New York. She initially sat in the back because she was too shy to step forward, but Houdini and his manager soon noticed her and asked her to dance the Charleston. They signed her to a contract, and she eventually persuaded her parents to let her join the stage show.
During her year with the “World-Famous Self-Liberator”, she played the role of the scantily-clad “Radio Girl of 1950”, a 1920s impression of what radio would be like several decades later.
In the autumn of 1925, in what turned out to be his last American tour (he died a year later), Houdini would start his act with a large mock wireless set which he opened front, back and top, exposing the internal mechanism to show that there was nothing there before closing it again. A voice would then announce: “Miss Dorothy Young doing the Charleston” — which was her cue to pop one foot out of the radio followed by the other one. Continue reading Dorothy Young “Houdini’s Radio Girl” Passes at 103
CBS News reports on Donna Purnell a/k/a Alexanderia the Great whom they describe as “housewife by day, escape artist by night.”
The network relates the story of two ordinary folks who loved to escape from rope, handcuffs and chains as they courted in their youth.
Now, with their children out of the house, they avoid the empty nest syndrome by trying more complex, more daring escapes.
Donna Purnell trains with a strength coach and a “holding breath coach.”
In the unbearably cutesy narrative, the home of Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather and Edward R. Murrow relates how her family reacted to learn of her new vocation.
“[H]er kids like the idea of having an escape artist mom – in fact, they were relieved to find out that’s all she is.
“We would walk around the house and we’d see chains and handcuffs in places,” said her daughter.
Apparently, compared to that image – seeing your mom trapped in a tank of water is nothing.
Man oh man are we cynical here at Inside Magic. This is a story that did not need the following saccharine phrases:
“She felt like her hands were tied. And it motivated her to start thinking inside the box.”
“A few of her friends think she’s jumped off the deep end.”
“Donna and the kids hope that this act and the story behind it serve as inspiration to you – to escape whatever it is you’re stuck in.”
“It’s quite a predicament – especially considering, originally, all she wanted to escape – was boredom.”
Here is our twisted take on the reporting of this story. The author apparently believes these stunts are foolproof; that no one ever drowns whilst being tied, locked, and cuffed within 700 gallons of very cold water (Boston – Outside – Winter). Whether the artist is 49 or 14, this is a story about guts. Donna has our respect not simply because she risks her life performing escapes she learned later in life; but that’s a lot of it. Dean Gunnarson told us once that there is no “automatic” escape and there is no “safe” escape when water is involved. Continue reading Housewife Escapes Boredom and Cuffs
Houdini’s life in all of its fullness resonates deeply with us. His skills as a showman, magician, and escape artist surpass what we could dream of accomplishing in this lifetime.
His forbearance from alcohol, tobacco, and other vices impressed and guided us through the awkward teenage years when we were tempted to give up magic and good habits in exchange for entrance into the “cool group.”
As he aged, Houdini was always aware of the very temporary nature of it all. He fought to keep his name in the headlines, to master new aspects of our craft, to stay on top; all the while realizing it was ultimately a losing game.
His physical strength diminished but his experience and resourcefulness supplanted raw strength to accomplish miracles even more spectacular than before.
Despite his public persona of invulnerability, he proved to be as vulnerable as any man. The passing of his beloved mother brought unrelenting grief to this proto-superman. Death brought a permanent end to his doting, unrepentant acts of love for the woman he describes as an angel.
Reading biographies about this time in Houdini’s life evoked sympathy but in the last few weeks we again resonate with Houdini the vulnerable man. With the passing of our beloved mother, we gained empathy for Houdini. We felt his desperation and confusion and sadness.
In our youth, we perhaps judged Houdini too harshly. We wondered why time was unable to heal his wounded psyche. Why did the pain and grief seem so severe even years after her passing?
We told you about his plan to survive two days below ground. Locked in a coffin, buried under tons of dirt, and, to make it harder, a committee would bind his arms and legs with shackles before placing him in the aforementioned coffin in the ground.
He hoped to escape where many have failed. Even Houdini believed the escape was too dangerous.
Well, he made it out alive and convinced he does not want to be buried when the time comes for the divine recycling.
“I know one thing for sure, when my soul is done with my body I don’t ever want to be buried again,” Dean Gunnarson said. “I’m going to see Pete (Kilcollins) to cremate me and they can sprinkle my ashes on some flowers.”
Pete Kilcollins brought Dean to the Buried Alive stunt site in a hearse used in the Kilcollins’ cremation business.
Dean wanted to erupt from the freshly packed soil at precisely 1:26 p.m. on October 31st to link his emergence from the grave with Harry Houdini’s passing from this life in 1926.
According to The Sun, after Dean dug through the topsoil to daylight, he collapsed momentarily.
His estimation of the stunt matched Houdini’s: “It was pure hell digging my way up,” a dirt-covered Gunnarson said. “The weight was crushing and I couldn’t breathe. It was tough.”
The must-read web site Wild about Harry reports that next stop on the Houdini: Art and Magic tour is Los Angeles, California.
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