HOUDINI Advertising Piece From 1913 Apollo Theatre in Nuremberg (#1)
Houdini's mother passed away on July 17th, 1913.
For the whole month of August, Houdini visited his Mother's grave, till he sailed on August 30th from New York City on the Hamburg-American line "Imperator".
On September 16th, Houdini opened at the Apollo Theatre, in Nuremberg, Germany, opening the act with his needle swallowing act - and closing with his famous Water Torture Cell illusion, which he had just debuted a year earlier, during his performances at the Circus Busch theatre in Berlin.
As a publicity stunt on Thursday, September 18th, Houdini would have himself placed in shackles, handcuffs and chains, then jump into the Dutzendteich river.
What's offered here, in two different auctions, are advertising pieces for Houdini appearance at the Apollo Theatre in Nuremberg.
The first measures 6 5/8x9 and is shown above.
Portions of the right edge are missing and is a little hard to see in the photo above, since I scanned the image with a black background. Look closely and you'll be able to see.
And, of course, GranHoudini.net doesn't appear on the actual item.
Both are in German, below is the translation.
The flyer states:
Harry Houdini offers a 5000 Mark reward to anyone who proves that he
receives air in the Underwater Escape cabinet.
The trick that Houdini performs every evening in the Apollo Theater is
awesome. In order to prove this, Harry Houdini will try to escape openly
under water.
On Thursday, the 18th of September, in the afternoon between 4 and 5
o'clock, the American Houdini will jump off a boat (into the water), after
he has been locked into heavy shackles, handcuffs and chains, by the
public and representatives of the local press -- Not into the Pegnitz,
which is not deep enough, but into the Dutzendteich, at the deepest
point.
The chains alone are so heavy that Harry Houdini must sink to the
bottom because of the weight.
A great early piece of advertising for Houdini and his "Underwater Escape Cabinet". |
Print View 
Watch this Item 
Send this Auction to a Friend 
Positive :
Neutral :
Negative :
;)
Shipping Calculator
