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Lot 291
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H. Houdini Attacked By 4 Men, Gives "the real story of that combat" - He Beat Them Down With A Chair!
H. Houdini Attacked By 4 Men, Gives "the real story of that combat" - He Beat Them Down With A Chair!
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Description:

Harry Houdini
[New York, NY], August 24, 1925
H. Houdini Attacked By 4 Men, Gives "the real story of that combat" - He Beat Them Down With A Chair!
TLS
A 1p typed letter boldly signed by American illusionist Harry Houdini (1874-1926) as "Houdini" at lower right; along with a 1p retained copy of a typed letter signed by him in print. Both items are dated August 24, 1925. [New York, New York.] The signed typed letter is on a half-sheet of custom stationery with "Houdini / 278 West 113th Street / New York, N.Y." letterhead while the retained copy is on watermarked paper. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds, isolated edge darkening, and partially rusted paper clip impressions found in the upper left corners. Both items are hole-punched along the left margins, with one hole slightly discolored. Else near fine. The half-sheet measures 8.375" x 5.5" and the retained copy measures 8.375" x 11."

Harry Houdini wrote this letter to German writer Karl Graf von Klinckowstroem (1884-1969). An independently wealthy intellectual from Munich, Von Klinckowstroem was a historian of science, technology, and culture. In the letter, Houdini explains that he recently wrote to the editor of a German language daily newspaper, the "Neues Wiener Journal" ["New Vienna Journal"], in order to correct the historical record about a physical altercation that Houdini had recently had with four toughs in an office building in midtown Manhattan.

Houdini wrote to von Klinckowstroem in part:

"Enclosed you will find a copy of a letter I am sending to the Neues Wiener Journal [included in this lot.] I am having it translated into German here and send it direct.

The four men thought they were going to give me a terrible beating, and I regret to inform you that frequently here in America men are beaten up by hired thugs. We call them 'gorillas' and paid gun men do exist. In fact at a strike of a clothing manufacturer a bunch of gorillas walked into a reputable firm's place, knocked people down and threw acid all over the valuable clothing. I presume if you read the American papers you will get all the news…"

In dispute was the exact nature of Houdini's argument with employees of Houdina & Company (also called Houdina Radio Control Company), a radio equipment concern operating in New York City. Houdini vociferously argued that Houdina & Company was exploiting the similarity between their company name and Houdini's in order to drum up business for themselves and receive free stuff. There was constant uncertainty about names and office locations in consequence, which resulted in waylaid letters, confused fans and colleagues, and general chaos, Houdini maintained.

Sometime on or around July 20, 1925--the exact date is not specified in newspaper accounts--Houdini confronted the Houdina & Company employees in their office. Houdini's description of the event is found in the editor's letter, and he also refers von Klinckowstroem to Oscar Schutte Teale (1847-1934), his private secretary, researcher, and ghostwriter, who was a witness. When the employees physically threatened Houdini and locked him in the room, the enraged magician menaced them with a broken chair and smashed an electric chandelier for good measure. Contrary to popular belief, the police had declined to arrest Houdini, but a summons for disorderly conduct was delivered to him several days later on July 22, 1925. The disorderly conduct charge was dropped by August 2, 1925, noting the failure of George Young (variously described as the secretary, manager, and owner of Houdina & Company) to appear in court.

Houdini forwarded von Klinckowstroem the retained copy of his letter to the editor to provide some context. In the editor's letter, Houdini described the lead up to the incident, noting that "valuable letters were lost… the firm Houdina and Company… were getting goods on these [false] grounds." Houdini continued, "I walked into their office to find out particulars… In the conversation which ensured, they locked the door and were going to give me what they called a 'trip to the hospital' and when they attacked me I picked up a chair with such good results that instead of me being the one attached, I was the attacker and in the melee things were smashed but no one was hurt and they were glad to let me go… I was not arrested. The police said I had a perfect right to defend myself…" The "Neues Wiener Journal" had erroneously reported that Houdini was so violent during the argument that he had had to be restrained by the police, which was not true.

The Houdina Radio Control Company had a rather dubious reputation. It was founded by an electrical engineer with the invented name of Francis P. Houdina, who was supposedly of Spanish origin. The company produced autonomous cars that operated through radio signals, dubbed the "Phantom Auto," "American Wonder," and "Radiobile" in the contemporary press. In a line of two cars, the car behind transmitted radio signals via antennae to the unmanned car in front, powering motors which operated the gears, brake, wheel, clutch, and horn of the front car. Houdina & Company's driverless car awed passerby at demonstrations on Broadway and Fifth Avenue in New York City in July and August 1925. Houdini describes the company as being associated with "the radio driven automobile."

Houdini was the world's most celebrated illusionist, stuntman, entertainer, and preeminent psychical researcher. His name was his brand, so Houdini had to protect it at all cost. There is a certain amount of irony to this story, however; for Houdini himself had ripped off the name of a French magician, Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin, at the beginning of his career.

The "New Vienna Journal" was a daily newspaper established in Vienna in 1893. Its chief editor and publisher, the Jewish Austrian Fascist Jakob Lippowitz (1865-1934), managed the paper until his suicide. The newspaper folded in 1939.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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