Here for your delectation is theSPECTACULAR & RARE------------------HOUDINI'S ESCAPES: PREPARED FROM HOUDINI'S PRIVATE NOTEBOOKS AND MEMORANDA by Walter B. Gibson, Introduction by Milbourne Christopher.MORE THAN 80 ESCAPES ILLUSTRATED IN FULL FASCINATING DETAIL.Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz, later Ehrich Weiss or Harry Weiss; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was an Austrian-Hungarian-born American stunt performer, noted for his sensational escape acts. He first attracted notice as "Harry Handcuff Houdini" on a tour of Europe, where he sensationally challenged different police forces to try to keep him locked up. This revealed a talent for gimmickry and for audience involvement that characterised all his work. Soon he extended his repertoire to include chains, ropes slung from skyscrapers, straitjackets under water, and having to hold his breath inside a sealed milk can.In 1904, thousands watched as he tried to escape from a special handcuff commissioned by London's Daily Mirror, keeping them in suspense for an hour. Another stunt saw him buried alive and only just able to claw himself to the surface, emerging in a state of near-breakdown. While many suspected that these escapes were fabricated, Houdini meanwhile presented himself as the scourge of fake magicians and spiritualists. As President of the Society of American Magicians, he was keen to uphold professional standards and expose fraudulent artists who gave practitioners a bad name. He was also quick to sue anyone who pirated his own escape stunts.Houdini made a number of movies, but quit acting when it failed to bring in money. He was also a keen aviator, and aimed to become the first man to fly a plane in Australia, but according to the official definition of sustained flight, he was beaten to it by two others. Even the circumstances of his death in 1926 were dramatic and mysterious. According to one version, a student in Montreal asked him if his stomach was hard enough to take any blow, to which he replied that it was, whereupon the student rained a series of blows on it before Houdini had had time to tense up. A few days later, he died of a ruptured appendix. This may have been unconnected, as he had already been suffering appendicitis and refusing to seek medical attention.PLUS----there are L-O-A-D-S of illustrations!!HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! This is the softcover stated BANTAM FIRSTEDITION from NOVEMBER 1976. Both the cover and the book are in excellent condition. There are no rips, tears, markings, etc.---and the pages and binding are tight(see photo). **Note: All books listed as FIRST EDITIONS are stated by the publisher in words or number lines--or--only stated editions that include only the publisher and publication date. Check my feedback to see that I sell exactly as I describe. So buy now for this magnificent, impossible-to-findPERFORMING ARTS / REFERENCE COLLECTIBLE.ALL OF MY LISTINGS ARE BETTER THAN AN product!! IF YOUSEEK OUTINCENTIVES LIKE FREE SHIPPING-------- YOU'VE GOT IT!!! PLUS---CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT TO PAY!!!! IF THE LISTED PRICE IS A BIT OUT OF YOUR PRICE RANGE, CHECK BEST OFFER AND STATE THE REASONABLEPRICEYOU WOULD LIKE TO PAY---CHANCES ARETHE ITEM WILL BE YOURS--IMMEDIATELY!! (Sometimes I even accept unreasonable offers!) DON'T JUST BROWSE!!! THIS IS THE ITEM YOU SEARCHED FOR---AND IT COULD BE YOURS FOR THE PRICE YOU WOULD LIKE!! NO WAITING FOR AN product TO END----AND NO DEAL LIKE THIS ANYWHERE ON THE INTERNET!!!! _______________________________________________________________________________________WANT TOSEE MORE LIKE THIS??FOR EXTRA-SPECIAL SAVINGSGO TOBARRYS BARGAIN BIN (CLICK HERE--)forBOOKS THOUSANDS OFUNIQUE TITLES (no duplication) ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY FIRST EDITIONS ! +MUSICIN ALL GENRES AND FORMATS(lps, 45s, 78s, and cassettes)+ASSORTED RARE CURIOSITIESEVERYTHING(except death and taxes) IS NEGOTIABLE!MAKE ME AN OFFER I CAN'T REFUSE!! (NO HORSE'S HEAD IN THE BED, PLEASE!)ALLREASONABLE OFFERS WILL BE ACCEPTED!!!(EVEN THE OCCASIONAL UNREASONABLE OFFER)Be sure to add me to your favorites list090112
