On Exposing Houdini

Charles Greene III’s Exposing Houdini: 52 Lost Glass Plate Images is a remarkable achievement. The book takes a monumental historic discovery—the glass plate images referenced in the title—and transforms it into a delightful and engaging work of magic history. The volume reflects the author’s unique skill set. Charles is not only an accomplished expert on magic history and ephemeral connoisseur (he possesses one of the world’s most extensive collections of magic posters), but also a world-class stage performer. As he did in his marvelous biography of Ionia, Charles combines a trained eye for beautiful imagery with strong storytelling skills to create a book that is both visually stunning and deeply informative. Exposing Houdini is, unexpectedly, a page-turner, filled with moments of fascination and wonder.

Among publications devoted to magic history, this comes as a welcome surprise. Many works in the field are more valuable as references than as reading experiences. This is particularly true of books devoted to Harry Houdini. During the last century, publishers have churned out countless volumes bearing Houdini’s name or likeness. Many are distinctly unmemorable, unoriginal, or untrustworthy, and far too many have exploited Houdini’s fame chiefly to sell more copies.

Exposing Houdini can proudly take its place among the handful of Houdini histories that are truly exceptional. For many readers, Ken Silverman’s Houdini!!!, an authoritative, comprehensive biography with a companion volume of notes, seemed as close to a final word on the subject as one could expect. After all, a century after Houdini’s death, what more is there to say?

Quite a lot, it turns out.

First, there is the inspirational discovery of fifty-two unseen images lost for decades in an abandoned safe-deposit box. As explained both in the book and during an interview on the Magic Book Podcast, Charles quickly recognized not only that these images had been unseen for more than a century, but also the depth they add to Houdini’s story. Beyond the discovery itself, he brought these remarkable artifacts to life through his unique knowledge and insight.

How so? Exposing Houdini goes far beyond simply reproducing fifty-two lost photographs. Charles has carefully set each of these gems within a rich historical context that showcases their significance. He has gathered supporting materials, contemporary articles and other rarities that provide crucial background for the reader, transforming these images from mere curiosities into important historical evidence.

Not wishing to spoil the many delights contained within its pages, I will offer a single example. Years ago, I thoroughly researched the remarkable pioneering medical work of Dr. Martin Couney, who saved the lives of countless thousands of infants by perfecting the infant incubator and funding his efforts through exhibitions at sideshows and amusement parks. Though I believed I had uncovered all there was to know about Dr. Couney, I cried out upon discovering a photograph of Harry Houdini cradling one of the infants in Exposing Houdini. The image nearly brought me to tears. The image of the rough-and-tumble Houdini gently holding a baby billed as "The World's Smallest Infant" is notable in itself, but equally striking are the rare accompanying materials Charles assembled: contemporary advertisements featuring “Harry Houdini, World’s Handcuff King” and “Infant Incubators With Living Infants” sharing the bill on an Atlantic City pier. Despite years of research, I had never encountered any connection between these two phenomena. Yet this is only one of fifty-two stories contained within the pages of Exposing Houdini.

Unsurprisingly, given Charles’s visual expertise, the book is simply a joy to behold. Each section is thoughtfully and engagingly presented. The result is, quite simply, a masterpiece.

Alas, like most productions in the field of magic history—which are generally undertaken for love rather than profit—it is a limited edition. If you have even the slightest interest in Houdini, magic history, or the unexpected discoveries that occasionally reshape our understanding of the past, secure a copy before it disappears.

Visit ExposingHoudini.com for more information.