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Col. Harry Day

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Col. Harry Day
BornSeptember 16, 1880
DiedSeptember 16, 1939 (age 59)
Quebec, Canada

Colonel Harry Day (1880-1939), a British theatre owner and Labour Party politician, was the European manager for Harry Houdini, starting in England when Houdini made his sensational escape from Scotland Yards

biography

He began working at an early age selling tickets for Barnum & Bailey's travelling circus. He subsequently worked as a bill poster before gaining ownership of theatres in Bristol, Bedford and Dover.

Col. Day started Houdini to fame and fortune by booking him, with ever increasing contracts, into more than a dozen countries in Europe and repeating the successful engagements throughout the years.

After Houdini's death, Col. Day became a member of the English Parliament and resided at South Lancing, Sussex. He was also a member of the London County Council.

Col. Day was a member of the Magicians' Club of London

At the Reno, Nevada, convention of the P.C.A.M. he donated a historical wand to the winner of the Houdini type magic contest.

Col. Day formed the London link in the world-wide final Houdini Seance held October 31, 1930, simultaneously with the seance held by Bess Houdini in Hollywood and others throughout the world.[1]

In 1939 he became ill and travelled to Canada for his health. He died on his 59th birthday in Quebec.

Political Career

Day was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Southwark Central at the 1924 general election, having unsuccessfully contested the seat in 1923. He was re-elected in 1929 with a much-increased majority, but when Labour split at the 1931 general election he lost the seat to a Conservative supporter of the National Government.

He was elected to the London County Council as a councillor for Southwark Central in the same year he lost his parliamentary seat.

Day regained his Commons seat at the 1935 general election, holding both parliamentary and council seats until his death.

References

  1. Page 81: A Friend of Magic: Col. Harry Day (Obituary) By Dr. Edward Saint , Genii 1939 November
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