Houdini, Harry. Six Page Manuscript Letter Signed, “Houdini,” to His Brother Hardeen. Sydney, Australia, Apr. 3, 1910. Written shortly after being the first man to pilot an airplane in Australia, on four double sided 8vo pages, with the letterhead of Tatterall’s Hotel, Sidney, Houdini writes a six page letter to his D[ear] B[rother] Dash. He discourses on “the can” trick he expects to make “a grand sensation” with, as well as other items of interest to his brother. He fills out the balance of the letter with sporting news and anecdotes including a meeting in his dressing room with Bob Fitzsimmons, past heavyweight champion of the world, who tells stories of being drugged during one of his title fights. A fascinating personal letter, reading, in part, “My typewriter is being cleaned butwant to catch next mail so thought I would drop you a line. I metthe money man in opposition act with the can-trick against you. A manbooked it for $350- per week. The act was only booked to hurt you, as it seems you killed the business for Sul & Com. Folks when you came to a town.
Johnson the Black __ B __ was to come on stage and expose Burns!!! He was instructed to pull can apart!!!!! So you see what a grand sensation I’ll make here with the trick, as it was done on this stage!!"