Talk:Harry Day (politician)

Day was born Edward Lewis Levy
Managed to find a source that clarifies that he was born Edward Lewis Levy in the United States. HealthyGirl (talk) 06:22, 30 June 2016 (UTC)

Harry Day and Harry Houdini
In Britain, Harry Houdini impressed Day and he got an interview for him with the manager for the Alhambra Theatre. The manager C. Dundas Slater challenged Houdini to demonstrate his skills at Scotland Yard before the theatre.

Day was impressed by Houdini and arranged an interview for him with C. Dunas Slater, manager of the fine Alhambra Theatre. Houdini went through some of his tricks for Slater, and then looked hopefully at him. "So you claim you can escape from any kind of irons, do you?" Slater asked skeptically. "Yes, sir." Houdini pushed his press clippings in front of the manager again, pointing out the news stories of his escapes from handcuffs and jail cells in the States. "I'll let anybody challenge me." "Including Scotland Yard?" Houdini's expression of confidence did not change at the mention of that famous police organization. "Yes." "Of course, the Yard men may not be as co-operative as the sheriffs back in your country," Slater said slyly.

"Co-operative?" "I've heard of men bribing police and wardens." Houdini flushed. "You've never heard it about me, and never will. How soon can we go to Scotland Yard?" "Right now," Slater answered and reached for the phone. He made the arrangements." Robert Cecil Pooley. (1976). America reads, Volume 5. Chicago: Scott, Foresman. p. 70

Magic historian David Price has written:

"In London, Harry employed a young man named Harry Day to manage his European tours. Day's first booking for Houdini was not in a theater but at Scotland Yard. At the famous detective headquarters, he was escorted back to the jail section and handcuffed with his arms around a post. With some comment such as 'That'll hold him,' the police officers started out of the room. Harry called out 'Wait for me' and when the officers turned around they were astonished to see Houdini coming towards them grinning from ear to ear with the unbeatable Scotland Yard handcuffs open in his hands. On the basis of escaping from the best that the Yard had to offer, Day booked Houdini into the Alhambra Theatre, where he was an immediate success and his salary rose to $300 a week. Houdini's first week at the Alhambra was the final week for another American magician. Bill Robinson was completing his great success at the Alhambra with his Chung Ling Soo act. It was the first week in July 1900. Magic: A Pictoral History of Conjurers in the Theater, (1985, p. 191)"

I will look for other sources. HealthyGirl (talk) 06:45, 30 June 2016 (UTC)

His divorce
His divorce in 1900 is documented here in the national archives HealthyGirl (talk) 13:22, 1 July 2016 (UTC)

Other information
"Harry Day (1880-1939), once a 25 shillings a week bill sticker in Bristol who later became Labour M.P. for Southwark Central, London, was not only one of the great producers of British revues, but the person responsible for the most successful period in the Empire's topsy-turvy history." Hallett, Terry. (2000). Bristol's Forgotten Empire: The History of the Empire Theatre Bristol. Badger Press. p. 2 HealthyGirl (talk) 13:46, 1 July 2016 (UTC)