A BLACK-LETTER DAY FOR HOUDINI

From left: Houdini's brother Hardeen, Hardeen's son, Harry Day, Joe Hyman, Lord Northcliffe, C. Dundas Slater. June 1911

104 years ago today, July 9, 1912, Houdini received a major shock. The impresario who had given him his first big break in London was dead. As Harry’s star had risen, C. Dundas Slater’s had gone dark. 

The New York Times, July 9, 1912

                                                                          Dundas Slater in Houdini's day


When Harry first met him in 1900, Slater was one of the gods of the London music hall. Manager of the Moorish-style Alhambra Theater, he was famed for auditioning new acts while sitting with both legs propped up on the arms of the Alhambra's sumptuous audience chairs. He stopped Houdini in his tracks with his encyclopedic knowledge of the variety arts - pointing out that Harry's handcuff escapes were not original and could have easily been derived from Samri Baldwin's act of 20 years earlier. He suggested trying out the handcuffs at Scotland Yard and - a star was born.

Twelve years later ... his "discovery," Houdini, was the biggest star in the world. Slater was managing London's largest theater, the Coliseum. But his eyes had begun to fail and he was plagued by gout, and, at age 60, he was fired.

Deeply distraught, Slater hailed a taxi and told the driver to take him to Charing Cross Hospital. Minutes later, the driver heard what sounded like a backfire. Arriving at the hospital, the cabbie discovered his fare lying on the back seat with a gaping wound in his head. Blood was flowing from his mouth. A seven chamber revolver, with one spent round, was between his knees.

In a note found on his body, Slater had written:  "On the rocks. No hope. No daylight. God forgive me for this act, but I am hopeless, and if there is one among my English and American friends who will have a friendly thought left for me let them now show it by doing all they can for my poor, faithful wife. I have led a ... man's life, but this is a degraded dog's finish. I am broken-hearted, but not insane. C.D.S."

  

He died with $605 to his name. On September 10, 1912, a special matinee at the London Coliseum raised $4500 for the benefit of Slater's widow and two daughters.

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