Harry Houdini Historical Plaque
Appleton, United States
On the plaque says,"Near this site, Eddie Ferber, a young reporter for the Appleton Cresent, encountered Harry Houdini. Ferber later noticed the incident in the autobiography, A Peculiar Treasure. "I encountered him by chance on College Avenue at the drug store just across from the Crescent office. Outside the store was the usual slot machine containing chocolate and chewing gum. As he chatted affably with me, Houdini leaned carelessly against this. At the end of the interview he droped a cold metal object into my hand. 'There is the padlock to the slot machine,' he said. 'Better give it to the drug store man. Somebody'll steal all his chewing gum'. I hadn't seen so much as movement of his fingers. Tottering with admiration I went back to his office to write my story"