Let's Learn More about J C Henneberger Part 1

To possibly understand more about Houdini and the friendship of Henneberger, and who might have used who for what ends to influence HPL, let's look.

Henneberger meanwhile had been hoping that HPL would not turn down the editorship offer {for Weird Tales) when it came, and there were many moments when Howard remained on the verge of accepting. But just the thought of residing in Chicago ... made him realize that he was "dreaming a dream that could not be." He informed Henneberger that ... he would be happy to take over the editorship ... to edit the magazine by mail from Providence, or Brooklyn..." A week later Howard and Henneberger rang the doorbell on the Long apartment and Howard introduced him ... Henneberger was as unlike HPL as any two individuals could be ... same height ... same hair coloration ... Henneberger was as highly energized in an extroverted, successful businessman way as anyone I had met ... soft spoken and had a cultivated widely read sideto his nature ... {He} centered the conversation around tripling the circulation of Weird Tales. and proceeding from there to build a publishing empire that would dwarf NcFadden's in four or five years.

...to be continued ...

From Howard Phillips Lovecraft, Dreamer on the Night Side, Frank Belknap Long, updated, 1975, Arkham House, pp. 118-120.

The World of H P Lovecraft

As a teenager, I remember a substitute bilogy teacher brought a copy of H P Lovecraft to school and was reading it between classes. Someone asked him about it and that's how I remembered the name - several decades later.

The name popped up in casual conversation one day at the office, and I thought - hmm, never read anything by him. I went to the bookstore, read a few stories, and was hooked. That was probably about 2001.

Wow, a lot of water under the bridge for Chrispy since then!

Stay tuned for more from Long on Lovecraft and Houdini. And soon, notes of Lovecraft's possible romance with Hazel Heald. Of course, I and my faithful friends are scouring the news for mentionables about HPL's legacy. Soon, the author's of Houdini: Superhero will publish the on-line footnotes I so desire to flush out Eddy's involvement with Houdini. Let's hope there is exciting stuff there!!

Peace.

Lovecraft and Houdini According to Frank Belkanp Long part I

A month or so before Howard's marriage, J. C. Henneberger ... decided to publish ... a long novelette bearing the name of ... Houdini, whom he knew quite well. He had a few rough notes ... and these he turned over to Howard. (1)

Howard did discuss his meeting with Houdini ... Howard arrived at ... the New Yourk Hippodrome ... an hour ... before the curtain went up, the master magician slipped quietly into the chair adjacent to the one that HPL occupied, intorduced himself, and began to converse. (2)

Howard ... had the starnge illusion, several times repeated, that Houdini was not there at all. Only his voice seemed to come from some region immeasurably remote ... they discussed a number of things, including the splendid job Howard had done in 'revising and expanding' Imprisoned with the Pharoahs. {Houdini also expressed} what an exceptional far-sighted businessman Henneberger was, the serious disagreements he had with Baird, and why it was just possible that a new editor might soon be at the healm of Weird Tales. (3)

A short while later Henneberger offered HPL the editorship of Weird Tales, thus confirmng what I always believed: in some strange way that meeting with Houdini had been ... arranged by Henneberger ... ostensibly to permit him to convey in person his appreciation...

"He's a strange little man," Howard said, "...Houdini talks incessantly and never seems to know when to stop. He seemed ... the sort of person who would get on my nerves ... but my hat is off to him as a performer...

...to be continued...

(1) Howard Phillips Lovecraft: Dreamer on the Night Side, Frank Belkanp Long, (updated), Arkham House, 1975, p. 114.

(2) ibid. p. 115.
(3) ibid. p. 116.