Niagara Falls Fun - Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls Canada

Harry Houdini’s 137th birthday has been marked by todays Google Doodle
March 24, 2011

The Google Doodle features a vaudeville style banner of the escape artist holding a chain around his neck.

The Hungarian-born magician and illusionist found fame with his sensational escape acts, some of which included stunts and movies set in Niagara Falls!

The Man From Beyond
Below is a harrowing scene from the 1922 movie “The Man From Beyond” which features Harry Houdini coming perilously close to the edge of Niagara Falls in a rescue attempt.

Here is some very rare footage of Harry Houdini suspended 40 feet in the air, escaping from a straight jacket, in front of Niagara Falls.

James Randi straight jacket escape over Niagara Falls
Related to this, here is a video of James Randi, the famous escape artist doing his straight jacket escape while being suspended over Niagara Falls.

The Houdini Magical Hall of Fame – Niagara Falls, Canada
Houdini was also honored with a museum in Niagara Falls by enthusiast: Sidney Radner. In 1968 The Houdini Magical Hall of Fame was opened on Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. At its opening, this museum contained the majority of Houdini’s personal collection of magic paraphernalia. One of Houdini’s death wishes was that his entire collection be given to his brother Theodore (also known as the magician Hardeen) and burned upon Theodore’s death. Against his wishes, forty years after Houdini’s death, the items were taken from storage and sold. Radner and his partner purchased the items and renovated a former meat-packing plant on Clifton Hill, Ontario, Canada, to house the museum. The Hall of Fame was moved in 1972 to its final location on the top of Clifton Hill. Séances were held every year at the museum on October 31, the anniversary of Houdini’s death. A fire destroyed the museum on April 30, 1995. (Source: Wikipedia)

Below is a video tour on the late Houdini Magical Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls, Canada. Shot in 1992.

Magician Tom Interval visited the Museum in 81′ and 85′ and posted his photos here:
Photo gallery of the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame

Courtesy of Tom Interval - http://www.intervalmagic.com

Collapse of the Honeymoon Bridge, January 27th, 1938

Source: The Review

New look, name with expansion at city museum
Posted By COREY LAROCQUE , REVIEW STAFF WRITER

A blend of the old and new on Ferry Street is expected to create a new place to commemorate the War of 1812, generate more traffic for the Lundy’s Lane Historical Museum and help revitalize the area around Main and Ferry streets.

New designs for an expansion of the Lundy’s Lane Historical Museum have a two-storey, glass-fronted display area added to the west side of the existing museum housed in the old Stamford township hall.

The designs were approved by city council in October, clearing the way for work to begin on the museum expansion that will be the city’s focal point for the War of 1812 bicentennial celebrations.

It will be home to the new 1812 visitors centre, for people visiting the museum to learn about the war that defined Canada.

Plans include a two-storey exhibit area, with glass windows allowing passersby to look into the museum from the sidewalk.

By bringing the museum, which is set back from the street, out to the sidewalk, staff from Toronto-based Moriyama and Teshima Architects hope to make it part of the activity on the street. (more…)

Originally printed by CTV.ca

Major fire blazes for hours, guts historic Niagara store

Updated: Sun Oct. 04 2009 7:40:11 PM

ctvtoronto.ca

A once famous and now abandoned department store in Niagara Falls burned to the ground Sunday after firefighters spent over eight hours battling the stubborn flames that refused to burn out.

Rosbergs department store at Queen Street and Erie Avenue was once a community icon but had been abandoned for several years.

Seeing the fire was too much for Don Carrel, the grandson of founder Jacob Rosberg.(more…)

Originally printed by MarketWire

Infrastructure Canada Government of Ontario

Sep 25, 2009 13:45 ET

Canada-Ontario Partnership to Revitalize Downtown Niagara Falls Streetscape

Investment will create jobs and stimulate the economy

NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Sept. 25, 2009) – Residents, businesses, and tourists of Niagara Falls will benefit from nearly $2.7 million in upgrades to the Queen Street streetscape, thanks to a contribution announced today by the Honourable Rob Nicholson P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Mr. Kim Craitor, Member of Provincial Parliament for Niagara Falls, and His Worship Ted Salci, Mayor of Niagara Falls. The governments of Canada and Ontario will each invest up to $889,033 for the revitalization project through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The City of Niagara Falls will fund the remaining project costs.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our Government is investing in projects that get shovels in the ground to stimulate the economy and create jobs locally,” said Minister Nicholson. “Thanks to the strong relationship between the federal, provincial and municipal governments, we are working together to help Niagara Falls revitalize the Queen Street streetscape, which will greatly enhance the area and improve the economic viability of the downtown core.”

“I have been amazed at the determination and energy of the Queen Street community’s efforts to bring life, vitality and people back to this important historic neighbourhood,” said Kim Craitor MPP for Niagara Falls. “The provincial government has been proud to support the community’s innovative programming over the last two years through Trillium and Celebrate Ontario. This past summer we invested in bringing the Go Train to town. Now I am delighted that the McGuinty Government is able to help build on this success and further invest in rebuilding and revitalizing the streetscape to continue the dream of building a vibrant and economically successful and sustainable tourist attraction.” (more…)

Originally Printed by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Niagara Falls: Canadian side overflows with kitsch kitsch
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Stories by Dennis Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

NIAGARA FALLS, Canada — Niagara Falls spills 750,000 gallons of water per second down a 167-foot drop in a roar that began when glaciers melted 10,000 years ago.

Tourists come by the millions, stare into the white mist, and marvel at one of the wonders of the world. Then they have wonders of their own: What to do next?

As Nick Ramunno, who oversees a hall full of wax rock stars there for the staring at, puts it: “You need something else besides the Falls. You can only look at the Falls so long.”

That’s when it’s time to climb Clifton Hill.

There is no compromising with Clifton Hill. Either you recoil in horror at the noise, lights, crowds, smells, outsize waffle cones and howling fright houses or you give yourself over to the Great Spirit of Kitsch that has pervaded since the days hotel owners shanghaied each other’s guests at the train station and shook them down for trips to the bottom of the Falls. (Read more…)

Originally printed by the Review, Sun, July 26, 2009

Battle of Lundy’s Lane marks 195 years
Preserving our history
Posted By TONY RICCIUTO Review Staff Writer

It’s been 195 years since the Battle of Lundy’s Lane, but that important time in our history continues to be kept alive by those who show up every year to pay their respects at Drummond Hill Cemetery.

This was the place where the American invasion was finally brought to a halt after two years of fighting on July 25, 1814. Click here to read more and to watch a video

Originally printed by Examiner.com

On this day in NY history: Daredevil crossed Niagara Falls by tightrope, considered a trailblazer

June 30, 1859

One hundred and fifty years ago today, Niagara Falls was jammed with people. The excited crowd of 5,000 waited to see an astonishing feat. A French acrobat, “The Great Blondin,” was about to attempt to be the first man to cross the Falls by tightrope. Blondin, a slightly built man, appeared. He wore a bright purple velvet tunic, white silk pantaloons and white shoes. He carried a long, narrow pole. The crowd held its breath as he stepped out onto the rope (more…)

Haunted Hamilton presents a Haunted Niagara Bus Trip
Saturday, July 11th, 2009

Join Haunted Hamilton as they embark on their 12th Haunted Niagara Bus Trip, stopping at various haunted locations along the way!
Transportation is fully provided via a chartered coach bus taking us to each location on the itinerary!

They will be stopping at all the infamous haunted locations en route to Niagara including The Screaming Tunnel, Drummond Hill Cemetery and the old Stone Jug (Niagara Falls’ old abandoned Custom House). And to top the evening off, they’ll be heading over the border for an exclusive sunset tour and paranormal investigation of the historic and very haunted Fort Niagara in Youngstown, New York! They will have full interior access to the entire 1726 castle! During this trip last year, they held a seance in the main room and it was definitely interesting! (and spooky!) This was so successful that they have added an extra hour at the Fort!

NOTE: You MUST have your PASSPORT to go over the border
for our Evening Investigation at Fort Niagara.
(more…)

Printed by the Review

Music, food, and shopping: Springlicious returns to Queen Street: Watch the video
Thousands take in Queen Street music, food, beer and wine festival
Posted By Corey Larocque

Springlicious struck again. Thousands of people filled

Queen Street over the weekend for the second annual Springlicious music, food, beer and wine festival, creating a showcase for new business that recently arrived.

“Myself, I didn’t know these places exist,” said Janice Ane, a Niagara Falls woman, who was seeing some of the newer downtown businesses for the first time because the festival brought her downtown. Click here for more and to watch a video