Houdini Museum adds to impressive collection

Kirk Baird

Friday, July 26, 2002 | 9:13 a.m.

What: Houdini Museum.

When: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Where: Canal Shops at The Venetian.

Admission: $1, children; $2 adults; $5, families.

Information: 796-0301.

Geno Munari's love of Harry Houdini was an accident. Literally.

"I was 12 years old and broke my leg the first day of summer vacation. My dad bought me a magic book about Houdini," he said. "That's how I got into doing magic and into Houdini. Little did I realize I'd be collecting his stuff years later."

Munari owns one of the largest collections of Houdini artifacts, props, tools and memorabilia. He recently acquired additional Houdini items from Sid Radner, owner of the largest Houdini artifact collection in the world.

Munari's collection began in the mid-'70s and has grown to include more than 700 pieces: handwritten letters to family and friends, newspaper clippings, handcuffs, posters, photographs, props -- both real and replicas -- used in his various escape tricks.

Eventually his collection grew large enough he wondered what to do with it. So, a few years ago he decided to open a museum.

Two years ago this month, Munari opened the Houdini Museum and its adjacent gift store, Houdini's Magic Shop at the Canal Shops at The Venetian.

"It was really a way for me to give something back to the people," he said. "The interest in Houdini, I can't explain why it's so great. I think Houdini's name is No. 1 in magic, and I'm not knocking any of the local (magicians). He's almost a legend."

A long, thin room is filled with pieces of Munari's collection. There are rows and rows of glass-encased artifacts, as well as a tour guide to explain the significance behind the relics and to debunk many of the myths surrounding the famous escape artist. One myth is that Houdini died while trying to escape his water-torture device, as portrayed in the 1953 movie, "Houdini." (He actually died from peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix on Halloween in 1926.)

The water-torture device, a large-wooden instrument, was later destroyed in a fire while on display in Niagra Falls. Murani, however, has fragments of the device, which he considers some of the more valuable pieces in his collection. And he continues to seek out other collectors, too, such as Radner.

Radner was friends with Houdini's brother, Hardeen, also an escape artist, and was able to secure one-of-a-kind pieces, such as specially designed handcuffs so intricate, Radnor said it would take a locksmith a full day to discover its secret.

Most of Radner's collection is on display at the Houdini Historical Center in Appleton, Wis., the small town he grew up in after his family migrated from Budapest, Hungary in 1874.

Radner said he has relationships with both museums, and would like to exchange some of his artifacts between the two Houdini repositories.

"Geno has the second-largest collection in the world," Radner said. "He's got a lot of very interesting items here ... and may have some more because I may be putting some more here. It all depends if he can do an expansion."