cambridgemassachusetts

From Boston Magazine here's some of the backstory on Houdini's jump. When Houdini Jumped Off the Harvard Bridge by Madeline Bilis "What better way to promote an upcoming performance in Boston than to be locked up in chains and take a 30-foot plunge into the Charles River? "That’s exactly what Harry Houdini did on April 30, 1908. (Spoiler alert: He lives!) Before two weeks of performing at Keith’s Theater on Washington Street, the master of the “Impossible Possible” decided to take his talent of escaping from handcuffs and chains a step further by doing so underwater. "Houdini stood at the edge of the Harvard Bridge—commonly referred to as the Mass. Ave. Bridge—and was shackled by a Boston patrolman. His hands were handcuffed behind his back and chained to a collar around his neck. According to a Boston Globe article chronicling the feat, a signal was tooted from a towboat, and Houdini went overboard into the chilly waters below. "'There is always the possibility that I will be unable to free myself, as one never can tell what will happen to a lock,' Houdini told the newspaper. 'However, I am a good swimmer, have confidence in myself, and I hope to perform this feat successfully.' "The Globe estimated some 20,000 spectators gathered to see Houdini’s leap, including the mayors of Boston and Cambridge. They waited 40 seconds for the magician to resurface, which he did with the shackles in his hands. "A plaque commemorating Houdini’s jump is situated on the Boston side of the bridge, commissioned by Boston’s chapter of the Society of American Magicians."  

Also:

"Houdini" c.1910                                     by The Library of Congress

Amazing muscles in his legs. Houdini was in great shape.

damn... those legs.!

I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who noticed what great shape he was in!!

Harvard's football team had a perfect season in 1913, ending the series unbeaten and untied. It didn't happen again until 2001. This November 8, 1913, game with Princeton was the only one that the Crimson did not play in their own stadium that year. Harvard won, 3-0.

This is most likely Malcolm J. Logan, Harvard's quarterback during the era.

Another Bain/LOC photo taken at a Harvard football practice session. Numerous Bain Agency photos of this kind have been posted by LOC on Flickr:

Love these old football photos!

Branddobbe, Thanks for the possible full identification. At the very least, we will add that he is on the Harvard football team, based on the abbreviation on the photo itself.