The first act depicts a group of men talking about Houdini’s amazing abilities, integrity, and willingness to take on challenges. ![]() The registration describes the work as a “magical dramatic playlet” in sixteen typewritten pages. Houdini’s first American copyright registration is for the playlet “Challenged: or, Houdini upside down” that features his famous Water Torture Cell trick, also known as “The Upside Down.” The trick, shown here, is an escape from a water-filled cabinet while Houdini’s ankles are in stocks and the lid is locked. From the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Houdini’s deposited playlet scripts are now held within the Reader’s Collection, Library of Congress Copyright Office Drama Deposits. The playlets were registered as dramatic compositions, which have been eligible for copyright protection since 1856. The legendary Hungarian immigrant Harry Houdini registered three of his famous illusions as “playlets,” or short plays, with the U.S. Magicians do not always reveal their tricks, even when they register their copyright claims. ![]() The following is a guest blog post by Marilyn Creswell, Librarian-in-Residence at the U.S.
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