St. Louis, Missouri, police certification of the escape of Harry Houdini (1874–1926)
1899
Houdiniana Collection and Magic Scrapbooks and Posters Collection, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
St. Louis, Missouri, police certification of the escape of Harry Houdini (1874–1926)
In the mid-1890s, Harry Houdini was a struggling magician finding little recognition in card tricks and sleight of hand. By 1898 he was seeking out police and civic leaders across the United States to witness his seemingly inexplicable escapes from regulation handcuffs, shackles, and other restraints. This document from Houdini’s visit to St. Louis bears the signatures of 11 witnesses, including the chief of police, the chief of detectives, and a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, all swearing there was “absolutely no chance of confederacy” in his extrication. In 1900 vaudeville booking agent Martin Beck encouraged Houdini to take his escape act to England, where he received great acclaim. This poster is among the earliest issued on his British tour, depicting Houdini poised at the brink of stardom.
: Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Art…
Currently on View at Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
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