RE Houdini.....

[joette]

My Great-Grandfather Ross was a shipwright who used to make toys for the "bairns" as a sideline & to supplement his income when he was stricken with Pernicious Aenemia.I have seen some of his ship models in the Clydebank Archives & also in the Science Museum in London.
My Mother tells me he also made stage props of some kind for Harry Houdini.Does anybody know where I can check dates he visited the UK especially Scotland? Would it have been an arrangement between the Theatre Houdini was appearing in or a one between client & maker?
Anybody know any good sites to check?

[nelmit]

My Great-Grandfather Ross was a shipwright who used to make toys for the "bairns" as a sideline & to supplement his income when he was stricken with Pernicious Aenemia.I have seen some of his ship models in the Clydebank Archives & also in the Science Museum in London.
My Mother tells me he also made stage props of some kind for Harry Houdini.Does anybody know where I can check dates he visited the UK especially Scotland? Would it have been an arrangement between the Theatre Houdini was appearing in or a one between client & maker?
Anybody know any good sites to check?

Hello Joette,

I don't know about a list of tour dates but he visited Dundee in June 1909.

http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/photodb/ and insert Houdini in the Photopolis search box.
Annette M

[joette]

Thanks for that Annette the dates fit so I presume he must have toured around Scotland at that time.
I suppose we presume that our Ancestors never travelled(except at Census time or to give Birth or Marry in a strange place or die in a strange bed.)Dundee is not that far from Glasgow but given the number of "Halls" in Glasgow I am sure he visited there too.

[LesleyB]

Hi Joette
Here is a mention (and a picutre) of him in Glasgow, same year.
http://www.akahoudini.org/htdocs/conten ... &aSubID=71
http://www.akahoudini.org/htdocs/conten ... &aSubID=30

and this at http://www.granhoudini.net/RareHH.htm
(1065-3234) HOUDINI TYPED WRITTEN & PERSONALLY SIGNED LETTER. Dated Feb. 14th, 1914; while Houdini was performing at the Empire Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland. The letter is to Stanley Collins.

Houdini writes:

"Enclosed you will find 10/6d for Harding's initiation./Received your letter regarding the Magicians' Dinner and thank you heartily for same./I enclose you 2 photographs of your Theatre in Paris. Kindly add them to your collection./With kindest regards and best wishes,/as ever,/Yours Sincerely,"

And it's signed: "H Houdini"

Below this is typed:

"Next week:-/The Empire Theatre .. Leeds/P.S. Kindly send receipt direct to/Mr. Harding."


Best wishes
Lesley