Description:

Houdini Harry

Houdini Picture Corporation capital stock certificate, 11.25" x 8.25". Signed by Harry Houdini in full signature as President "Harry Houdini". Raised embossed seal lower left corner by the Houdini Picture Corporation, 1921. The stock certificate is dated the "24th day of August 1921". Accompanied by the duplicate agreement issued by H.V. Greene Company noting the agreement to issue the block of "ten" shares upon receipt of payment. Near fine.

The movie industry was in its infancy when pioneer filmmaker Charles Pathé approached Houdini and asked if he would be the subject of a 10-minute experimental film in 1901. Houdini's first picture, "Merveilleux Exploits du Célébre Houdini à Paris" [Wonderful Adventures of the Famous Houdini in Paris] featured Houdini performing several of his famous escapes, including a jailbreak and a strait jacket escape. For the next 15 years, Houdini was busy with his stage career. He did not return to film until 1916 when he served as special-effects consultant for the Pathé thriller "The Mysteries of Myra". That same year, he was under contract to star as Captain Nemo in a silent version of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", but the project was shelved before any footage was shot.

However, between 1918 and 1920, Houdini returned to the silver screen and starred in numerous roles culminating in his having been bitten by the film bug, and wanted to have more creative control. Starting his own film production company was the answer. Houdini's stage shows were still quite profitable, so he made a tour of Britain, and set up the Houdini Picture Corporation in the spring of 1921. With his own money and some investment by friends, the company got off to a healthy start with a $500,000 capitalization.

In addition to making movies, the Houdini Picture Corporation was also experimenting with a new process for developing raw film. Houdini's brother, Hardeen, ran that division of the company (the Film Development Corporation), and the promise of success was so enticing that even the great magician Harry Kellar was an eager investor. The process turned out to be too expensive to market, and too unstable, however. The excitement of being the star, the producer, the stuntman, and the creative force for the film company soon turned into a chore. Houdini did not have the patience or technical savvy for success in the film business. His stage personality simply did not translate to the big screen. In 1923, he suddenly closed the company, complaining that the profits were "too meager".

The short duration of his company make these Houdini signed certificates quite scarce, with this example being in near fine highly collectible condition. A fantastic piece with a stunning presentation.

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