[MIham] Spooky Astronomy

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

As long as we are dabbling in magical things: October 31st is also a 
holiday, it is the official Magician's Holiday. Truth! It was on October 31, 
1926 that Escapeologist Harry Houdini died in a hospital in Detroit, 
Michigan. It was due to a massive infection from a ruptured appendix. No 
antibiotics in those days!

Harry Houdini was 'not' a Magician, he was a master at escapes. This is a 
specialized and does not rely on the typical talents used by Magicians. He 
was a master of physical conditioning, even when he died at age fifty-two.

He would allow people to hit him in the stomach/abdomen as a PR stunt. He 
was in such terrific shape that their blows just bounced off his very 
muscular structure. However, while in Toronto, Ontario, Canada two weeks 
prior to his death, a cub reporter sucker punched him. Houdini was not 
prepared and the blow ruptured his already infected appendix. Houdini, ever 
the showman and always the professional, let that jerk hit him several more 
times despite what had happened! I do not know who the cub reporter was for 
the Toronto newspaper, but we have his stupidity to thank for killing Harry 
Houdini.

Most people would have died from the massive infection throughout his bowels 
in several days. Ask me, as it happened to me on Friday March 13, 1987! I 
spent fifteen days in a hospital and had antibiotics IV for two weeks. I did 
not eat for two weeks. But Houdi, mostly due to his terrific physical shape, 
and partly due to his indominable will.

His brother, also an entertainer, but more of a Magician than an Escape 
Artist, continued to perform for a number of years after Harry died. Some of 
the 'secrets' to Houdini's escapes went to the grave with him. His brother, 
if he knew them, never revealed them.

I had a chance in August 1972 when I was a featured Illusionist at the World 
Magic Festival to sit down with Inez Blackstone, first wife of legendary 
Magician Harry Blackstone, Sr. She was all of 4'8 but what a dynamo! We 
corresponded until her death in the late 1980's. She was a female Magician, 
was Harry's on stage primary assistant, designed many of his illusions and 
effects, did the costume work and hand stiched them herself, did all of the 
chorography etc.

Harry was a ladies man, got hooked up with a tall red haired showgirl in 
NYC. I think she was a Rockettes type dancer. He dumped Inez and married 
her. The son you know as Harry Blackstone, Jr. has red hair and is about six 
feet tall. Harry Blackstone, Sr. was 5'8 He is buried in the magic capitol 
of the world, Colon, Michigan. There is an eternal flame over his grave.

Colon, MI has a population of about a thousand. The largest magic 
manufacturing company in the world, Abbotts Magic Co. is in Colon. When 
August comes around, the third week of the months finds Colon with five 
thousand temporary residents! This is the place to be, if you are a Magician 
or artfrom offshoot. You perform there by invitation only!

Duane Fischer, W8DBF

This World's Only Totally Blind Professional Magician/Illusionist
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Frank" <frank at mountcalvarygreenville.org>
To: "MIham" <miham at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 12:45 PM
Subject: [MIham] Spooky Astronomy


> Space Weather News for Oct. 31, 2006
> http://spaceweather.com
>
> SPOOKY ASTRONOMY: Today is a date of astronomical interest: it's a
> cross-quarter date, midway between an equinox and a solstice. There are 
> four
> cross-quarter dates throughout the year, and each is a minor holiday. One 
> is
> Groundhog Day (Feb. 2nd), another is May Day (May 1st), the third is 
> Lammas
> Day (Aug. 1st), and the fourth ... ? Happy Halloween!
>
> SUNSPOT 921:  Sunspot 921, just a speck two days ago, is ballooning into a
> planet-sized behemoth.  It is too soon to say whether this active region
> will pose a threat for solar flares, but it is certainly entertaining to
> watch it expand before our very eyes.  Visit http://spaceweather.com for
> movies and updates.
>
> TRANSIT OF MERCURY:  On Wednesday, Nov. 8th, Mercury will cross the face 
> of
> the Sun--a five-hour transit widely visible from the Americas, Hawaii and
> around the Pacific Rim.  For fun (and prizes) we're holding a Transit of
> Mercury Art and Photo Contest.
> http://Spaceweather.com/mercury/
>
>  Checkout My Place on the Web @ http://www.qsl.net/n8uvi
>
>          --... ...--  ..-. .-. .- -. -.-   -. ---.. ..- ...- ..
>
>       Proper, Pre-Planning, Prevents, Pathetically, Poor, Performance.
>
>        The person that doesn't do anything, Doesn't make mistakes!
>
>  Hey, this is 'Experimental Physics' on a shoe-string: and no chewing gum!
>
>      Beer: May Cause Drowsiness - If Symptoms Persist Insult Doctor.
>
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> 10/26/2006
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