1900

This is a sample page from The New Houdini Chronology by John Cox

Jan. 1-7: Keith's Theater (14th & Broadway), New York, NY. [10]
Jan. 8-14: Keith's Theater, Boston, MA (Ching Ling Foo also on bill). [1][2]
➤ [n.d.] Escapes handcuffs and leg-irons at police headquarters. [2]
Jan. 15-21: Keith's Theater, Boston, MA. [1]
➤ Tues., Jan. 16: Challenged by Capt. Charles Bean to escape Bean Giant cuffs. [10]
Jan. 22-28: Keith's Theater, Boston, MA. [1]
Jan. 29-Feb. 4: Keith's New Theatre, Providence, RI. [2]
➤ Sun., Feb. 4: New York Theater (Broadway & 44th), New York, NY. Bess gets stuck in Sub Trunk. Incident makes papers. [2]

Feb. 5-11: Keith's Theater, Philadelphia, PA. [2]
➤ Mon., Feb. 5: Houdini escapes handcuffs at Philadelphia City Hall police station. [2]
➤ Sun., Feb. 11: New York Theater (Broadway & 44th), New York, NY. [2]
Feb. 12-18: Keith's Theater, Philadelphia, PA. [2]
Feb. 19-25: Shea's Theater, Toronto, Canada. [10]
➤ Mon., Feb. 19: Houdini escapes 11 pair of handcuffs at Toronto court house. [10]
➤ Sun., Feb. 25: Houdini escapes handcuffs No. 1 Police Patrol barn, Buffalo, NY. [2]
Feb. 26-March 4: Shea's Garden Theater, Buffalo, NY. [2]

March 5-11: Shea's Garden Theater, Buffalo, NY. [2]
March 12-18: Empire Theater, Cleveland, OH. [10]
➤ Mon., March 12: Houdini escapes handcuffs at Central police station, Cleveland, OH. [2]
March 19-25:
March 26-April 1: Chicago Opera House, Chicago, IL. [2]

April 2-8: Powers Theater, Chicago, IL. [2]
✪ ➤ Thurs., April 5: Houdini escapes jail cell (No. 7) at Central station, Chicago, IL. Typically cited as his first jail break. [2]
➤ Fri., April 6: Houdini celebrates 26th birthday.
April 9-15: Orpheum Theater, Kansas City, MO. [2]
➤ Wed., April 11: Houdini escapes from Kansas City jail cell in 7 minutes. Nude test. Testimonial from John Hayes, Chief of Police. [2]
April 16-22: Orpheum Theater, Kansas City, MO. [2]
April 23-29: Bijou Theatre, Richmond, VA. [1]
➤ Tues., April 24: Houdini escapes handcuffs at Richmond police station. [2]
April 30-May 6:

May 7-13: Bijou Theatre, Richmond, VA. [2]
May 14-20: Bijou Theatre, Richmond, VA. [2]
May 21-27:
➤ Sat., May 26: Houdini fills out passport application. Shows birthdate as April 6, 1873 in Budapest.
May 28-June 3:
➤ Wed., May 30: The Houdinis sail for England aboard the S.S. Kensington. [6]

June 4-10:
June 11-17:
➤ Thurs., June 14: Houdini visits Scotland Yard. [5]
June 18-24:
June 25-July 1:
➤ Wed., June 27: Houdini gives press preview performance at the Alhambra Theater in London. Attended by Scotland Yard officials including William Melville. [8][12]

July 2-8: Alhambra Theater, London, UK. [1][8]
➤ Mon., July 2: Houdini is challenged onstage by Cirnoc. [3]
July 9-15: Alhambra Theater, London, UK. [1][8]
July 16-22: Alhambra Theater, London, UK. [1][8]
July 23-29: Alhambra Theater, London, UK. [1][9]
July 30-Aug. 5: Alhambra Theater, London, UK. [1][9]

Aug. 6-12: Alhambra Theater, London, UK. [1][9]
➤ Thurs., Aug., 9: Houdini renews passport application. Shows birth as April 6, 1873 in Appleton.
➤ Fri., Aug., 10: Houdini's Handcuff Act granted Letters Patent #14327. [2][13]
Aug. 13-19: Alhambra Theater, London, UK. [1][9]
Aug. 20-26: Alhambra Theater, London, UK. [1][8]
Aug. 27-Sept. 2: Alhambra Theater, London, UK. [1][6][8]

Sept. 3-9: Central Theater, Dresden, Germany. [1][6][8]
Sept. 10-16: Central Theater, Dresden, Germany. [1]
➤ [n.d.] Houdini reported to have performed his first handcuffed bridge jump around this time. Source: Kellock. Questionable. [1]
Sept. 17-23: Central Theater, Dresden, Germany. [1]
➤ Thurs., Sept. 20: Houdini escapes handcuffs at Royal Police Presidium, Berlin, Germany. [6]
Sept. 24-30: Central Theater, Dresden, Germany. [1]
➤ Mon., Sept. 24: William Melville notes in diary: "Report received from HH." [12]

Oct. 1-7: Wintergarten, Berlin, Germany. [1][6]
Oct. 8-14: Wintergarten, Berlin, Germany. [1]
Oct. 15-21: Wintergarten, Berlin, Germany. [1]
Oct. 22-28: Wintergarten, Berlin, Germany. [1]
Oct. 29 -Nov. 4: Wintergarten, Berlin, Germany. [1]
➤ [n.d.] Dash arrives in Berlin. Houdini sets him up as Hardeen. [4]

Nov. 5-11: Wintergarten, Berlin, Germany. [1]
Nov. 12-18: Wintergarten, Berlin, Germany. [1]
Nov. 19-25: Wintergarten, Berlin, Germany. [1]
➤ Fri., Nov. 24: Houdini defeats "Hilmar the Uncuffable". [11]
Nov. 26-Dec. 2: Circus Variete, Magdeburg, Germany (10 days - dates uncertain). [8]

Dec. 3-9: Alhambra Theater, London, UK. [1][8][9]
Dec. 10-16: Alhambra Theater, London, UK. [1][6][8]
Dec. 17-23: Alhambra Theater, London, UK. [1][9]
Dec. 24-30: Alhambra Theater, London, UK. [1][8][9]
Dec. 31-Jan. 6: Alhambra Theater, London, UK. [1][8][9]

Primary Sources:
[1] Koval, Frank. The Illustrated Houdini Research Diary, Part 2: 1900 to 1905. Chadderton: 1993.
[2] Original newspaper story or advertisement via newspapers.com or other archival source.
[3] Silverman, Kenneth. Houdini!!! The Career of Ehrich Weiss. New York: Harper Collins, 1996.
[4] Christopher, Milbourne. Houdini The Untold Story. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Co., 1969.
[5] Original Houdini letter, cable, contract or signed item.
[6] Original pitchbook, playbill, program or poster.
[7] Houdini diary.
✪ Denotes a first or possible first.

Additional Sources (1900):
[8] Tait, Derek. The Great Houdini: His British Tours. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books, 2017.
[9] David De-Val Escapology Website, Houdini UK Tours.
[10] Harry Houdini Personal Scrapbook 1895 to 1899, History Museum at the Castle, Appleton, WI.
[11] Culliton, Patrick. Houdini Unlocked: The Tao of Houdini. Los Angeles: Kieran Press, 1997.
[12] Kalush, William, and Larry Sloman, and Steve Cuiffo. The Secret Life of Houdini Laid Bare: Sources, Notes and Additional Material. New York/Pasadena: Conjuring Arts Research Center/Mike Caveney's Magic Words, 2007.
[13] Harry Ranson Center Collection.

© 2018 by John Cox. All rights reserved.