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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Hi,
I am hoping to find a way to determine a date in which Houdini played the Orpheum Theater in Galesburg, IL. It has already been verified by the theater that Houdini did in fact play there, but archives that possibly would have been date specific were destroyed years ago in a library fire. Can anyone help? Thanks! ~michael
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
mtpascoe Inner circle 1932 Posts |
This would be hard to tell because it would have to be after 1916 because that's when the theatre was built. It's possible he could have performed during the theatre's inaugural year. Starting in 1914 Houdini was on an Orpheum tour. In 1915 Houdini did his upside down straight jacket escape in Kansas City. Then headed west.
He did the Buried Alive stunt in LA and had his run in with Jess Willard in 1915. From California he went to Colorado, Texas, Tennessee, and Louisiana before heading to New York. Houdini went east to do a Keith's tour in mid 1916, but I still can't find anything about Illinois. This would be the most likely the year because after that he was performing on Broadway and then went into the movies. I don't know if he hit the Orpheum Circuit after that, but he might have with his anti-spiritualism tour. But, it seems that he never performed the Orpheum after that. You might want to see if the local papers have something on file as Houdini always did some kind of publicity when he came to town. |
houdinisghost Loyal user 287 Posts |
1915 was the season Houdini and hardeen went out in opposition to each other. Houdini on the Orpheum circuit, Hardeen on the Pantages.
After Los Angeles, I think he went to Salt Lake City--I could be wrong. I think that 1915 is the year Houdini and Dr. Wilson patched things up. After that, Wilson frequently published Houdini's touring schedules. You want to find when Houdini was in that part of the world. He has to be on the Orpheum time--which he often was, but, not always. He played some Illinois Orpheum theatres in 1923. |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I don't know if there is a file of Variety magazines anywhere, but this would probably be a place to look.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Thanks for all the info! Everything helps.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
David Alexander Special user 623 Posts |
Here's an article in the local paper about Nicola who as Will Nicol was a local boy from Monmouth (just west of Galesburg) - http://www.galesburg.com/columnists/x131......Monmouth Contact info for the local historian is at the bottom of the article.
Nicola is still in Monmouth, buried there after his death in 1946. I spoke with his widow several times in the mid-1960s when she was living in Arizona. Lovely lady. |
mtpascoe Inner circle 1932 Posts |
Houdinisghost is correct, Houdini did do an Orpheum tour about that time. He was in Chicago doing the spook debunking act and could have stopped in Galesburg, but still no evidence of it. This is probably the best guess being that as far we can track down, Houdini didn't do an Orpheum circuit tour after 1916 until about 1923.
It was at this time that he and Doyle exchanged heated words and was the beginning of the end of their friendship. |
John Cox Elite user Studio City, CA 494 Posts |
I scanned through Koval's Research Diaries for you, Michael, and I didn't find any dates at the Orpheum in Galesburg. But they are far from complete.
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houdinisghost Loyal user 287 Posts |
1918 was mostly at the Hippodrome in New York. 1919 he was in Hollywood. 1916, 1917, 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1924 he was in Vaudeville at least part of the year.
As I posted, in 1923, for certain, he was playing Orpheum Theatres in Illinois. |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-12-03 00:18, David Alexander wrote: Thanks for the link, David. I am already aware of the connection in Monmouth, as I grew up in Galesburg. I believe Nicola's brother, Charles Nicol, a.k.a. Von Arx is also buried there. I know a guy here in Peoria that is also from Galesburg, and was a good friend of Jack & Leola La Waine. I think he knows exactly where the grave sites are. Thanks again to everyone else for your continued help. I am working with another local magician to book the Orpheum Theater in Galesburg next October. We had hoped for a tie-in to Houdini, knowing that he had indeed played there. If I understood the theater manager correctly, there is some physical evidence that indicates that Houdini played the Orpheum in Galesburg, but it lacks a date.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
John Cox Elite user Studio City, CA 494 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-12-02 02:36, mtpascoe wrote: Does anyone know the exact date of this suspended jacket escape? |
Jim Sparx Inner circle Far Out, Texas 1144 Posts |
I've received my CD with the whole Sphinx collection and I entered the name Galesburg and Houdini. The only thing that came up was a few items about the Great Zelenni, Hanson and Burton, and a cupola others, but no Houdini.
I'll look up the Kansas City date with the upside down jacket escape.
Et tu, Spartacus?
https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/chispadeelpaso.html |
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