$1,100
Houdini, Harry. Movie Still of Airplane Collision in The Grim Game. Los Angeles: Paramount, [1919]. Sepia tone photographic film still depicting mid-air airplane crash as Houdini’s character was chasing the adversary who had absconded with his sweetheart. Serial No. L302-3. 8 x 10”. Trimmed borders; evidence of scrapbook removal on verso. Good. The first photo ever taken of airplanes colliding in mid-air. The crash was unplanned by the filmmakers, and occurred at 2,200 feet. The film script called for Houdini’s character to change planes in midair, dropping from a rope from one plane to the other. Just as the stunt man standing in for Houdini was prepared to leap, an up-current of air drove the upper wing of the lower plane directly into the landing gear of the one above. The planes locked and spun down, with the stunt man dangling at the rope’s end. At about 1,200 feet the planes parted and fell to earth. Fortunately, neither vehicle crashed, and there were no injuries as a result of the collision. This resulted in great publicity for the film and a re-write of the script to incorporate the accident. Theatergoers were led to believe that Houdini, and not the stunt man, was involved in the actual crash.
Auctioneer:
Potter & Potter
Date:
2016-04-09
