This link is to a pod cast where Randi explains how he stole the Houdini bust to make a copy.

http://itricks.com/randishow/?p=27&cpage=1#comment-241

He also says in the interview a very well known escape artist(whose name he mentions) was responsible for smashing the bust at the grave site.

Which begs the question.. how many are there? I am talking about the one sculpted by UK sculptor John Cassidy that ended on the grave site and with Bess.
How many???
Bronze?
Plaster? 3 were made originally and two were broken. The third one I think the Blood family had it and it went to Radner to the Muller Magic Hall of Fame in Buffalo.

Any others?
Resin or compostition?
Marble?

One was repaired by Copperfield after some banter and problems back and forth and I understand he said no one else was to get a copy.

I know when Dorothy Dietrich and I owned The Magic Towne House in NYC we had a resin or fiberglass full sized one on display for most of our years there, that no one at the SAM Parent Assembly wanted or could afford to store. We also had a huge square oil painting (the famous hand pose) on display for many years. As I recall when Mort Shapley became president of the SAM Parent Assembly he asked for them back. When we returned it we said to each other, I bet we will never see it again. Someone said back then it was in Mort's office. I have asked again and again what became of it and have yet to get an answer. Any one out there know?

We would love to have one on display at our Houdini Museum, Tour & Magic Show in Scranton.

Regardz
Dick Brookz

There's one in the Houdini Museum in Appleton. Which one is this?

http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2010/11/......comments

Norm Bigelow LOVES controversy...and when asked if he smashed the bust...his stock answer has always been something like: "maybe, maybe not".

I'm more apt to believe that Norman was the instigator, and put someone up to smash the bust...if he was involved at all. He'll take credit for ANYTHING - if it'll bring him publicity.

Randi fails to mention the story of the Long Island, NY man who was arrested just a few years ago---when stolen items were found in his garage...INCLUDING one of the Houdini busts.

(PS:Randi--Get yourself another iPod interviewer - how annoying was that kid with his dumb laugh?)

I can not even begin to tell you how little I care about this. Randi has done a fine job of carving the niche he wanted in the world. Let him stay in it. Norman has had a fine EA career. Lets let it all be and be done with it.

We are all, when all is said and done, deceivers.

We lie, cheat and hustle the public daily.

I have a lot of respect for all our Elders. Without them I wouldn't have the career I have. But let's not forget that those same Elders who have had long and successful careers already have had those long and successful careers because they lie, cheat and hustle better than the rest... God bless em, I hope oneday to join their ranks

Randi & Norman have always been nothing but influential on me--I've followed their careers for decades.

What I stated about Norman above - was not meant to be negative at all. Bigelow is a showman & takes advantage of any opportunities that might create publicity & controversy for him...not necessarily a bad thing at all.

Randi's temporarily "stealing" the bust was nothing more than a "naughty joke" than anything harmful. He & Henry Mueller are long-time friends, and Henry probably would have seen the humor in the whole episode.

Another note from the staff of The Houdini Museum in Scranton, PA. This is as part of our search and wishes to maintain the Houdini legacy. We are a 501 C-3 organization after all.

Just met with many of the former members of FAME, an organizstion for young magicians in the 1950's(?) in NYC that would later morph in SYM. Al Callas, Richard Bangs (past president of Parent Assembly SAM), Ken Silverman (Author of Houdini!), etc. The Houdini bust came up. The question came up when Mort Shapley left as Parent Assembly he turned over the "Presidents Book" to the next president. Did he also turn over the Houdini bust that was in his office that belongs to the SAM????

How many busts are there? I am talking about the one sculpted by UK sculptor John Cassidy that ended on the grave site and with Bess. Was that one marble? marble composite? Where are the pieces?

I have heard various antique dealers were selling "pieces" of it.

How many busts were there???
Bronze?
Plaster? 3 were made originally and two were broken. The third one I think the Blood family had it and it went to Radner to the Muller Magic Hall of Fame in Buffalo.

Any others?
Resin or compostition?
Marble?

One was repaired by Copperfield after some banter and problems back and forth and I understand he said no one else was to get a copy. I believe I have heard this copy is badly flawed.

When Dorothy Dietrich and I ran and owned The Magic Towne House in NYC we had a resin or fiberglass full sized one on display for most of our years there, that no one at the SAM Parent Assembly wanted or could afford to store. We also had a huge square oil painting on display for many years. As I recall when Mort Shapley became president of the SAM Parent Assembly he called and asked for them back. When we returned it we said to each other, I bet we will never see it again. Someone said back then it was in Mort's office.

I have asked again and again and again of the SAM, George Schindler, SAM Dean and past president, etc., what became of it and have yet to get an answer. Mostly a run around to date!!!!

Any one out there know?

Dick Brookz & Dorothy Dietrich

The amazing Randy has guts.

We are pretty sure we know how the original bust on the grave was destroyed and have an eyewitness account on video made at one of our recent trips to the grave to clear the area with a weedwacker. We are looking for a list of people each of which will take a month of the year to go there and clean up. We go every April as well as other times.

Dick Brookz & Dorothy Dietrich

The truth of what happened to the Houdini bust in 1975 from the tireless Dorothy & Dick.

Spoiler: Not Norm.

http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2013/01/......-to.html

Oh there is a surprise ....... David Copperfield didn't want anyone else to have a copy ..... I've heard that before about other artefacts of a Houdini nature! Someone told me about his (DC) massive collection of stuff that's locked away in a 'museum'!

Ok, here's another twist in the story. The bust survives! Here it is, unseen for almost 38 years.

http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2013/01/......led.html

By the way, on the topic of this post, I'm trying to work up a chronology of the busts. I'm tripping up because there was a bust (I saw it) on the grave in 1990. It was gone by 2005. Was it destroyed in the 1993 vandalism?

Here's what I have. Appreciate any help.

Original bust: Installed 1927. Destroyed by vandals in 1975.
First SAM replacement: Installed 1976. Stolen in 1983.
Second SAM replacement: Installed ???. Destroyed/removed ???.
Scranton Houdini Museum replacement: Installed 2011.

Catching a little heat for this post in my Comments section. Is this stolen property?

Oh, wow. That Anon seems a little ticked off...
Almost as if... he... doesn't... want... anyone... else... to... have... it...

T. Durden

Having read your post I went back and re-read the thread on the blog. Yep he (or she) has his (or her) nickers (underwear to you lot in the USA) in a twist. Seems really upset.

I really liked Johns response "And you're even allowed to do so anonymously. " to Anons minor rant.

What made me smile inside was the fact that Anon is clearly upset over the whole thing and John is in the wrong for not reporting this to the 'authorities' ..... Surely if Anon were that bothered he could report it to the police or whoever would be in a position of authority.

Thanks for pushing me back for another read TD

Reading between the lines, I have a fair idea of who the anon poster might be. Just the general righteous nature of it all and the wording. Funny about remaining anon.

I thought anon made some valid points. I suspected someone might have this kind of a reaction to the post. This should be controversial. Odd how he never clicked the "dislike" button on the story.

John, I don't think clicking a "dislike" button adds to any conversation. I am sure this button is for the young generation who need assistance on how to form an opinion and the ease of making it. Might be better for videos and songs and talent shows but not legal situations.

I love saying that. And I'm even Uhmurikan.
Although... I haven't said it in public since I almost got beaten in college... I said it loudly in a bar, and a table full of people thought I had used a different word. Not knickers. Not even kidding.

This contributed nothing to the discussion at hand, but I just had a flashback and felt like sharing.

I'll show myself out.