Not confirmable, is Houdini’s speech before the Club of Odd Volumes, in Boston, in 1922, about his having performed the bullet trick. In the Sphinx transcript of the talk is a reproduction of Houdini’s margin notation, “This is what I “said”.” It seems as if the quotes around the word “said” were appropriate. I called Dunninger, who had first pick of Houdini’s private effects, and he stated that nowhere among all the notes, and at no time during many talks, was there any hint of Houdini ever presenting the trick. I’m interested very much in the facts, and will appreciate all aid.
Dunninger, by the way, has a book, The Social Life of The Chinese, by a Rev. Justus Doolittle, which describes some Chinese magic the author witnessed. Among the other illusions was presented the act of swallowing ordinary “house needles” together with thread, and bringing them up threaded. The book was published in London in 1868, which knocks in the head the stories about Maxie, the Needle King, being the first to do it.
Did you hear about that fellow out in the middle west who can put things in eggs? He’s a chicken scientist who has put something like a “zipper” on a chicken, and by inserting a message in a capsule, and putting it in the proper place at the proper time, the capsule finds itself actually in the middle of the next egg! All some really smart fellow has to do is make a deal whereby eggs are furnished with the names of cards, etc. inside. It sounds like a trick for Malini. At any rate, I’m keeping the name and address quiet. That’s why the U.S. Playing Card Company has stopped making double back and double face cards. Too many magicians started bothering them, and, after all, it was done for a while, only as a favor, and at cost for the one man overtime labor.
Dr. Gordon Peck popped into New York for the New York State Dental Convention, and brought two tons of magic! From Glen Falls, he not alone brought his assistants, but also Dante’s former electrician to handle the stage and lights. Gene Grant was imported from Pittsfield to handle technical details, and a solid hour of BIG magic was the result. I doubt if any amateur in the world has ever carried and presented as complete and mammoth show as this. I append a portion of the program.
P.S. By the way, wasn’t that overgrown Chinese assistant with the horrible mustache, a dead ringer for Bill Williston?
Burling Hull has brought forth Stage Magic again, but this time in smaller form. I can’t understand why it is called Junior Folio 4a but as my past differences have been solely because S.M. didn’t appear, I wish him the best of everything with the new start.
It was interesting to learn, when meeting Al Petroff, of New York, that he was the first man ever to do the straight jacket escape while hanging upside down outside a building. Houdini, for a time, said it was too dangerous because of the head rush of blood, but later Houdini started doing it that way and made it his greatest outdoor publicity stunt.
My ego in print: From William Larsen, Editor of The Genii, “I understand my good friend, Sigmund Krumgold, sent you a trick last week. If it is the Slate Trick, he sent you one of the nicest magical items I have ever come across. I tried to get it for The Genii, but he told me he was sending it to you, and I agreed with him that it was the thing to do. I still think that good material stands out more brilliantly in your pages than it would in mine.” “Thanks a lot, Bill, The Genii is a magazine after Dr. Wilson’s heart, and to date, the contents has been far above the par set by others, including myself.” Now, isn’t the above a nice passing of compliments? It looks as though both The Genii and The Jinx give you, you and you your money’s worth. Incidentally, the slate trick mentioned was in the December, #27, issue. — May I also call attention to the handkerchief flourish on the back page of this number? In Mr. Walsh’s hands, it has excited much comment, and although not a complete trick, it’s a pretty, off-hand feat, which can be added nicely before other silk effects.