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If you peruse through the five volumes of The Selected Lettres of H. P. Lovecraft you will be interested to know that Lovecraft was contacted by Houdini to ghostwrite some tales for him for Scientific Experimenter Magazines, amateur publications that flourished in those days. Here in a letter to Frank Belknap Long, a horror writer who just died recently, to whom Stephen King's Danse Macabre was dedicated: Lovecraft writes: (Baird) will introduce a column (in "Weird Tales") by the magician Houdini..." (Feb 7th, 1924). Here again on 14 Feb, 1924 to Frank Belknap Long, "...Yes, Child, 'Weird Tales is certainly showin' a lot of work at your aged Grandsire! Entire new job-to rewrite a strange narrative which the magician Houdini related orally to Henneberger; a narrative to be amplified and formulated, and to appear as a collaborated product-'By Houdini and H.P. Lovecraft.'" ..." ...He's supremely egotistical, as one can see at a glance. The more latitude Houdini allows me, the better yarn I can evolve-Im asking Henneberger to get me as much as possible from the versatile showman." The tale was called "Imprisoned With the Pharoahs" and is set in Cairo, in a 'singular subterranean place betwixt the Sphinx and the second pyramid (Campbell's Tomb).' A while later Lovecraft paid a visit to Houdini in his apartment in New York, and enjoyed himself immensely. It is odd that these two figures of 'history' ended up acquaintances in the bizarre world that they lived in during the 'roaring twenties.' |
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| ESSAY ON HARRY HOUDINI AND HIS GHOSTWRITER,
H. P. LOVECRAFT by M. F. Korn |
| M. F. Korn has written eleven novels and had over 230 story appearances in magazines worldwide. His new paperback, SWAMP WITCH PIQUANTE AND SCREAM QUEEN BISQUE is just out now. Currently available are two paperback collections, CONFESSIONS OF A GHOUL AND OTHER STORIES and ALIENS, MINIBIKES AND OTHER STAPLES OF SUBURBIA and two novels, SKIMMING THE GUMBO NUCLEAR and RACHMANINOFF'S GHOST. A collection of four science fiction novels, ALL THE MUTANT TRASH IN ALL THE GALAXIES is out as well.
His web page is: www.oocities.org/rachmaninoff_70815/ |
| Comming Issue 2 M.F. Korns SCIENCE FICTION AND HORROR GIMMICKS IN CINEMA |
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