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Houdini's Grave...and others...

not-so-deadly netshade

01:46 / 07.10.04

I think it's the October air that's getting to me, but I have this overwhelming desire to go and pay some kind of tribute to Harry Houdini as the 31st approaches. I don't know why this is. I mean, I know he's buried in NY, and I know he died on the 31st, but I've never had any exceptional interest or connection to the man, but something is...I don't know. Maybe I'm just nuts.

Less perplexing is the similar desire I have to visit the grave of Johnny Thunders, guitarist of the NY Dolls, who was/is a tremendous influence on my guitar playing.

Is there some kind of protocol for this? Both of their gravesites are public record, but seeing as how I don't even visit the graves of my own RELATIVES, I don't know how to go about doing this. I certainly have no desire to litter or otherwise desecrate/disturb anything in the area. Do I need some kind of authorization for these things? They're both buried in 2 rather large ones in Queens, NY...

Lord Morgue

09:21 / 07.10.04

I'd visit the graves of Bruce Lee and Musashi Myamoto. Bruce's grave is tended by his student, Taki Kimura, and Musashi was buried standing up, in full armour with sword in hand, so he could guard the road to Edo.

Chiropteran

11:45 / 07.10.04

There's a long history in hoodoo of visiting graves of prominent people, leaving a gift or payment, and asking for their aid. I'm on hoodoo mailing lists where people say things like "I'm going to be in East Somewheresville where Somebody Soandso is buried - does anyone want me to collect some graveyard dirt for them?" And, as long as it's properly paid for (with silver coins or whisky, usually), it's considered quite acceptable.

My own take: if you're feeling an unaccountable urge to visit Houdini's grave, I would listen to it. And watch your dreams closely for tips on what to do when you get there.

Good luck!

~L

not-so-deadly netshade

11:53 / 07.10.04

Well, like I said, I still can't explain the Houdini thing, but it's intriguing enough to follow up on. At least I KNOW what kind of aid I can ask for from Johnny Thunders...and what kind of offering I could leave. A bit of marijuana, a guitar pick, maybe some Jack Daniel's or Bailey's...

Charlie's Horse

19:27 / 07.10.04

As far as appropriate gifts for Houdini, why not leave some heavy locks and chains about, whole or broken or cut, to show a vital medium for his art and (if cut) the metaphorical result of Houdini at work. For some reason I'd fancy wrapping his tombstone in chains and locks, as he shrouded himself for some promotional pictures (Almost Not Worksafe - The Master of Handcuffs). Cover the tombstone (I assume) with the fetters, and come back on the next night to pick the locks and leave the remanents on the ground around his gravesite.

As far as the gifts Houdini could give - c'mon, the man did impossibly daring escapes for his entire life. He stretched the boundary of the possible far past the mark others left it at. Can you think of any 'impossible' things you'd like to do?

"My mind is the key that sets me free."
- Harry Houdini

not-so-deadly netshade

21:33 / 07.10.04

Very true. All great ideas, but somehow I think chaining up Houdini's tombstone may be slightly frowned on by the groundskeepers though. But perhaps an offering along those lines could work. I'm just gonna go (possibly on Halloween) and see what happens when I get there, do what instinctively feels right.

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