Ira and William Davenport toured the world giving demonstrations of alleged spirit phenomena. While the pair were securely tied in a special "spirit cabinet," the "spirits" played musical instruments and performed other "manifestations" in darkened theaters. Then on July 1, 1877, while they were on tour in Australia, the long-ailing younger brother William died and was buried at Rookwood.
Decades later, in 1910, while Houdini was himself on tour there (and incidentally entered Australian history by becoming the country's first successful aviator), the great magician/escape artist paid a visit to the grave, accompanied by two fellow magicians (Christopher 1976). Houdini (1924) found the grave "sadly neglected" and so, he wrote, "I had it put in order, fresh flowers planted on it and the stone work repaired." Subsequently, when Houdini met the surviving brother, Ira was so moved by Houdini's act of kindness that he confessed the brothers' tricks, even teaching his fellow escapologist "the famous Davenport rope-tie, the secret of which," Houdini noted, "had been so well kept that not even his sons knew it."
From: http://www.csicop.org/si/show/mysterious_australia/
My mother would tell me stories about them and William and Ira were instrumental with muscle control. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did not approve of the Davenport Brothers, however Houdini became good friends to both of them and stood up against any derogatory statements about them and stayed close to them until the end of their lives. She always said Ira taught Houdini muscle control in order to get out of his bonds and I didn't write about it. I just found this and what it says: Davenport Brothers & Fay [complimentary pass] [picture]. ... William Henry and Ira Erastas Davenport introduced the spirit cabinet for ... Later the brothers were to teach Houdini the trick of escaping from bonds. ... State Library of Victoria; [Grave of William Henry Davenport, Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney [N.S.W.] [picture].
Decades later, in 1910, while Houdini was himself on tour there (and incidentally entered Australian history by becoming the country's first successful aviator), the great magician/escape artist paid a visit to the grave, accompanied by two fellow magicians (Christopher 1976). Houdini (1924) found the grave "sadly neglected" and so, he wrote, "I had it put in order, fresh flowers planted on it and the stone work repaired." Subsequently, when Houdini met the surviving brother, Ira was so moved by Houdini's act of kindness that he confessed the brothers' tricks, even teaching his fellow escapologist "the famous Davenport rope-tie, the secret of which," Houdini noted, "had been so well kept that not even his sons knew it."
From: http://www.csicop.org/si/show/mysterious_australia/
My mother would tell me stories about them and William and Ira were instrumental with muscle control. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did not approve of the Davenport Brothers, however Houdini became good friends to both of them and stood up against any derogatory statements about them and stayed close to them until the end of their lives. She always said Ira taught Houdini muscle control in order to get out of his bonds and I didn't write about it. I just found this and what it says: Davenport Brothers & Fay [complimentary pass] [picture]. ... William Henry and Ira Erastas Davenport introduced the spirit cabinet for ... Later the brothers were to teach Houdini the trick of escaping from bonds. ... State Library of Victoria; [Grave of William Henry Davenport, Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney [N.S.W.] [picture].
Ira and William Davenport toured the world giving demonstrations of alleged spirit phenomena. While the pair were securely tied in a special "spirit cabinet," the "spirits" played musical instruments and performed other "manifestations" in darkened theaters. Then on July 1, 1877, while they were on tour in Australia, the long-ailing younger brother William died and was buried at Rookwood.
Decades later, in 1910, while Houdini was himself on tour there (and incidentally entered Australian history by becoming the country's first successful aviator), the great magician/escape artist paid a visit to the grave, accompanied by two fellow magicians (Christopher 1976). Houdini (1924) found the grave "sadly neglected" and so, he wrote, "I had it put in order, fresh flowers planted on it and the stone work repaired." Subsequently, when Houdini met the surviving brother, Ira was so moved by Houdini's act of kindness that he confessed the brothers' tricks, even teaching his fellow escapologist "the famous Davenport rope-tie, the secret of which," Houdini noted, "had been so well kept that not even his sons knew it."
From: http://www.csicop.org/si/show/mysterious_australia/
My mother would tell me stories about them and William and Ira were instrumental with muscle control. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did not approve of the Davenport Brothers, however Houdini became good friends to both of them and stood up against any derogatory statements about them and stayed close to them until the end of their lives. She always said Ira taught Houdini muscle control in order to get out of his bonds and I didn't write about it. I just found this and what it says: Davenport Brothers & Fay [complimentary pass] [picture]. ... William Henry and Ira Erastas Davenport introduced the spirit cabinet for ... Later the brothers were to teach Houdini the trick of escaping from bonds. ... State Library of Victoria; [Grave of William Henry Davenport, Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney [N.S.W.] [picture].
Decades later, in 1910, while Houdini was himself on tour there (and incidentally entered Australian history by becoming the country's first successful aviator), the great magician/escape artist paid a visit to the grave, accompanied by two fellow magicians (Christopher 1976). Houdini (1924) found the grave "sadly neglected" and so, he wrote, "I had it put in order, fresh flowers planted on it and the stone work repaired." Subsequently, when Houdini met the surviving brother, Ira was so moved by Houdini's act of kindness that he confessed the brothers' tricks, even teaching his fellow escapologist "the famous Davenport rope-tie, the secret of which," Houdini noted, "had been so well kept that not even his sons knew it."
From: http://www.csicop.org/si/show/mysterious_australia/
My mother would tell me stories about them and William and Ira were instrumental with muscle control. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did not approve of the Davenport Brothers, however Houdini became good friends to both of them and stood up against any derogatory statements about them and stayed close to them until the end of their lives. She always said Ira taught Houdini muscle control in order to get out of his bonds and I didn't write about it. I just found this and what it says: Davenport Brothers & Fay [complimentary pass] [picture]. ... William Henry and Ira Erastas Davenport introduced the spirit cabinet for ... Later the brothers were to teach Houdini the trick of escaping from bonds. ... State Library of Victoria; [Grave of William Henry Davenport, Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney [N.S.W.] [picture].
