path,page,folder,text unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,74,,"- Christopher linchlul A very rare mezzotint of Christopher Pinchbeck, Jr., combining the work Cunningham, the greatest designer, and William Humphrey, the greatest trait etcher of his day. From the Harry Houdini Collection. [57]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,169,,"233 This setting shows how cumbersome was the apparatus employed by magicians before Wiljalba Frikell proved Lithograph used by E. W. Young, who copied all of John Henry Anderson's billing and featured the obedient-card trick. that he could score with apparently no apparatus. Original in the Harry Houdini Collection." unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,372,,"3 6105 004 841 255 &' STANFORD UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES STANFORD AUXILIARY LIBRARY STANFORD, CALIFORNIA 94305-6004 (650) 723-9201 salcirc@sulmail.stanford.ed All books are subject to recall. DATE DUE JUN JUC0 1 1002 2022" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,9,,"313341 Copyright, 1906 Copyright, 1907 Copyright, 1908 By HARRY HOUDINI Entered at Stationer's Hall, London, England All rights reserved Composition. Electrotyping and Printing by The Publishers Printing Company New York, N. Y., U.S.A." unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,8,,"8061 '00 3H.L MEN INICHOH 18 NIGNOH - JO DNINSVINNO TH.L" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,357,,"93 Decremps's Signature 75 Droz, Pierre Jacquet-, Por- De Liska 25 trait and Autograph 92 De Philipsthal 110,171,173,174 Droz Writing Automatons, De Philipsthal Poster 104 Specimens of Penmanship De Philipsthal, Programme respectively in 1796 and of Benefit of IIO 1906 84 De Philipsthal Programme Dunkell 197 of 1806 173 Dutchwoman's Decoration Der Moderne Zauberer 239 used to Advertise 214 Desaguliers, Dr 181 Diagram Exposes the Magic Eagle, Barney 149 Clock Trick 160 Eagle's, Barney, Tricks Ex- Diagram of Orange - tree posed on an Anderson Pos- Trick 52 ter 154,155 Diavolo, Antonio 166 Eagle's Book, Frontispiece 153 Dictionary of Arts, Manufac- Eagle's Poster featuring the tures and Mines 9I Obedient Clock Trick 156 Dictionary of National Biog- Eckeberg, John Carlton 181 raphy 54 Eckartshausen, Hofrath Disappearing Handkerchief, von 143, 160, 163, 169 245-254 Egyptian Wine 252 Döbler, 25, 45, 182, 185, 187, Escalopier, M. del 280 188,192 Ethereal Suspension 222,312 Döbler, Ludwig, Rare Por- Evanion, Henry Evans, 20, trait of 187,190 2I, 23, 25, 26, 49, 124,259 Döbler Programmes. 188, 189,191 Evanion, Henry Evans, Por- Dom Pedro 243 trait of 22 Don Carlos, Billing used by 221 Evanion, Letter from Gyn- Don Carlos, Double-sighted gell 124 Dog, Billing 22I Evans, Henry Ridgely, The Double-sighted Dog, Don Old and the New Magic 16 Carlos 219 Exploration de la Rétinue 49 Downs, T. Nelson 265 Exposes the Magic Clock Droz, Henri-Louis Jacquet-, Trick, Diagram 160 Portrait of 94 Exposing Barney Eagle's Droz, Jacquet-. Clipping IOI Tricks on an Anderson Droz, Jacquet-, View of Mech- Poster 154,155 anism of Writing Automa- ton 98 Faber, I 56 1324]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,353,,: unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,64,,"A very rare mezzotint of Christopher Pinchbeck, Jr., combining the work of Cunningham, the greatest designer, and William Humphrey, the greatest portrait etcher of his day. From the Harry Houdini Collection. [57] :" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,364,,"Anderson Poster Featuring Card Trick Used in 836-37 142 Anderson Poster Used in 1838 147 Anderson Poster Used in London, 1848 313 Anderson's Billing of 1838 Featuring ""Napoleon's Trick 150 Anderson's Book Cover Design 148 Anderson's Inexhaustible Bottle Trick 186 Anderson's, J. H., Birthplace 145 Anderson's Opening Programme, 1848 309 Anderson's Poster, Exposing Barney' Eagle's Tricks 154,155 Astley, Philip, Esq 19 Bamberg, David Leendert 140 "" Barney,"" alias The Impostor Wizard, Window Poster Issued by Anderson I 55 Barnum, P. T 88 Basch, Ernst 139 Bertram, Charles (James Bassett) 20 Blitz, Signor Antonio 18 Bologna Bill Used in 1812 170 Bologna Poster Used in 1820 118 Bosco, Bartolomeo, in His Prime 301 Bosco, Eugene 315 Bosco, Grave of 306 Bosco, Madame, the only Photograph of 3°5 Bottle Trick, Inexhaustible 186 Brahmin, The Suspension 229 Breslaw's Frontispiece on Book on Magic, ""The Last Legacy,"" I44 (i]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,68,,"CHAPTER II THE ORANGE-TREE TRICK R OBERT-HOUDIN, on page I79 of the American edition of his ""Memoirs,"" thus describes the orange-tree trick, which he claims as his inven- tion: ""The next was a mysterious orange-tree, on which flowers and fruit burst into life at the request of the ladies. As the finale, a handkerchief I borrowed was conveyed into an orange purposely left on the tree. This opened and displayed the handkerchief, which two butterflies took by the corners and unfolded before the spectators."" On page 245 of the same volume he presents the programme given at the first public performance in the Théâtre Robert-Houdin, stating: ""The performance will be composed of entirely novel Experiments invented by M. Robert-Houdin. Among them being The Orange-Tree, etc."" Now to retrace our steps in the history of magic as set forth in handbills and advertisements of earlier and con- temporaneous newspaper clippings describing their in- ventions. Under the title of ""The Apple-Tree"" this mechanical trick appeared on a Fawkes programme dated 1730. This was 115 years before Robert-Houdin claimed it as his invention. In 1732, just before Pinchbeck's death, it [ 51 ]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,58,,"CHAPTER II THE ORANGE-TREE TRICK R OBERT-HOUDIN, on page I79 of the American edition of his ""Memoirs,"" thus describes the orange-tree trick, which he claims as his inven- tion: ""The next was a mysterious orange-tree, on which flowers and fruit burst into life at the request of the ladies. As the finale, a handkerchief I borrowed was conveyed into an orange purposely left on the tree. This opened and displayed the handkerchief, which two butterflies took by the corners and unfolded before the spectators."" On page 245 of the same volume he presents the programme given at the first public performance in the Théâtre Robert-Houdin, stating: ""The performance will be composed of entirely novel Experiments invented by M. Robert-Houdin. Among them being The Orange-Tree, etc."" Now to retrace our steps in the history of magic as set forth in handbills and advertisements of earlier and con- temporaneous newspaper clippings describing their in- ventions. Under the title of ""The Apple-Tree"" this mechanical trick appeared on a Fawkes programme dated I730. This was II5 years before Robert-Houdin claimed it as his invention. In I732, just before Pinchbeck's death, it [ 51 ]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,100,,"CHAPTER III THE WRITING AND DRAWING FIGURE I N his ""Memoirs"" Robert-Houdin eulogizes the vari- ous automata which he claims to have invented. The picturesque fashion in which he describes the tre- mendous effort put forth ere success crowned his la- , bors would render his arguments most convincing-if stern historical facts did not contradict his every statement. One of the most extraordinary mechanical figures which he exploits as his invention was the writing and drawing figure, which he exhibited at the Quinquennial Exhibition in 1844, but never used in his public perform- ances, though he asserts that he planned to exhibit it between performances at his own theatre. This au- tomaton, he says, laid the foundation of his financial success and opened the way to realizing his dream of appearing as a magician. On page 196 of his ""Memoirs,"" American edition, he starts his romantic description of its conception and manufacture. According to this he had just planned what promised to be the most brilliant of his mechanical in- ventions when financial difficulties intervened. He was obliged to raise two thousand francs to meet a pressing debt. He applied to the ever-convenient Monsieur G-- who had bought automata from him before. He described the writing and drawing figure minutely to his patron, [83]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,133,,"CHAPTER IV THE PASTRY COOK OF THE PALAIS ROYAL ONCERNING this trick, which Robert-Houdin claims as his invention, he writes on page 79 of his ""Memoirs,"" American edition ""The first was a small pastry cook, issuing from his shop door at the word of command, and bringing, according to the spectator's request, patties and refreshments of every description. At the side of the shop, assistant pastry cooks might be seen rolling paste and putting it in the oven."" By means of handbills, programmes, and newspaper notices of magical and mechanical performances, this trick in various guises can be traced back as far as I796. Nine reputable magicians offered it as part of their reper- toire, and at times two men presented it simultaneously, showing that more than one such automaton existed. The dates of the most notable programmes or handbills selected from my collection are as follows: I, Haddock, 1797. 2, Garnerin, 1815. 3, Gyngell, 1816 and 1823. 4, Bologna, 1820. 5, Henry, 1822. 6, Schmidt, 1827. 7, Rovere, 1828. 8, Charles, 1829. 9, Phillippe, 1841. In 1827 Schmidt and Gyngell joined forces, yet both before and after this date each performer had the wonder- ful little piece of mechanism on his programme. In 1841, [ 116" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,274,,"CHAPTER IX THE DISAPPEARING HANDKERCHIEF S UPREME egotism and utter disregard for the truth may be traced in all of Robert-Houdin's writings, but they reached a veritable climax when he indited chapter XVI. of his ""Memoirs."" During the course of this chapter he described the so-called invention and first production of the disappearing-handkerchief trick. According to the American edition of his ""Memoirs,"" page 3°3, he received a command to appear before Louis Philippe and his family at St. Cloud in November, 1846. During the six days intervening between the official in- vitation and his appearance before the royal family, he arranged a trick from which, he states, he had every reason to expect excellent results. On page 305 he goes even further in his claims and announces: ""All my tricks were favorably received, and the one I had invented for the occasion gained me unbounded applause."" He then gives the following description of the trick and its performance: ""I borrowed from my noble spectators several handker- chiefs, which I made into a parcel, and laid on the table. Then, at my request, different persons wrote on the cards the names of places whither they desired their handker- chiefs to be invisibly transported. ""When this had been done, I begged the King to take [ 245 ]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,158,,"CHAPTER V THE OBEDIENT CARDS - THE CABALISTIC CLOCK - THE TRAPEZE AUTOMATON The Obedient Cards. T O trace here the history of three very com- mon tricks claimed by Robert-Houdin as his own inventions would be sheer waste of time, if the exposure did not prove beyond doubt that in announcing the various tricks of his répertoire as the output of his own brain he was not only flagrant and unscrupulous, but he did not even give his readers credit for enough intelligence to recognize tricks performed re- peatedly by his predecessors whom they had seen. Not satisfied with purloining tricks so important that one or two would have been sufficient to establish the reputation of any conjurer or inventor, he must needs lay claim to having invented tricks long the property of mountebanks as well as reputable magicians. The tricks referred to are the obedient card, the cabalistic clock, and the automaton known as Diavolo Antonio or Le Voltigeur au Trapèze. The obedient-card trick, mentioned on page 245 of the American edition of his ""Memoirs,"" as ""a novel ex- periment invented by M. Robert-Houdin,"" can be found on the programme of every magician who ever laid claim to dexterity of hand. Whether they accomplished the effect [ I4I ]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,203,,"CHAPTER VI THE INEXHAUSTIBLE BOTTLE W HILE Robert-Houdin claims to have invented ""The Inexhaustible Bottle"" for a special programme designed to create a sensation at the opening of his season of 1848, in the illustrated appendix of the original French edi- tion of his ""Memoirs"" he states that it had its premier presentation December ist, 1847. These discrepancies occur with such frequency that it is difficult to refute his claims in chronological order. Perhaps he adopted this method intentionally, to confuse future historians of magic, particularly concerning his own achievements. In order to emphasize the brilliancy of this trick, Robert-Houdin turned boastful in describing it. On page 348 of the American edition of his ""Memoirs,"" he states that the trick had created such a sensation and was so much exploited in the London newspapers that the fame of his inexhaustible bottle spread to the provinces, and on his appearance in Manchester with the bottle in his hand the workmen who made up the audience nearly mobbed him. In fact, the description of this scene is the most dramatic pen-picture in his ""Memoirs."" The truth, sad to state, is that the bottle trick did not create the sensation he claims for it in London, nor did the press eulogize it. It was classed with other ordinary [176.]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,227,,"CHAPTER VII SECOND SIGHT E VIDENTLY second sight was the foundation- stone of Robert-Houdin's success. Reading be- tween the lines of his autobiography, one finds that this was the trick which carried him into the salons of fashion and royalty. Before he introduced second sight into his répertoire, his tricks were so com- monplace that they did not arouse the interest of the court circle, whose approval furnished the seal of success. This trick of second sight he claims body and soul, as the favorite child of his brain. He even goes as far as to relate a story to prove that the trick came to him in the form of an inspiration. I quote directly from the American edition of his ""Memoirs,"" page 255: ""My two children were playing one day in the drawing- room at a game they had invented for their own amuse- ment; the younger had bandaged his elder brother's eyes and made him guess the objects that he touched, and when the latter happened to guess right they changed places. This simple game suggested to me the most complicated idea that ever crossed my mind. Pursued by the notion, I ran and shut myself in my workshop, and was fortunately in that happy state when the mind follows easily the combinations traced by fancy. I rested my head in my hands, and in my excitement laid down the first principles of second sight."" [200]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,249,,"CHAPTER VIII THE SUSPENSION TRICK I' N chapters XVI. and XVII. of the American edition of his ""Memoirs,"" Robert-Houdin states that he closed his theatre during the months of July, August, and September, 1847, and devoted his time to producing new tricks for the coming season. He chron- icles as the result of these labors the following additions to his répertoire: ""The Crystal Box,"" ""The Fantastic Portfolio,"" ""The Trapeze Tumbler, ""The Garde Fran- çaise,"" ""The Origin of Flowers,"" ""The Crystal Balls,"" ""The Inexhaustible Bottle,"" ""The Ethereal Suspension,"" etc. Had these inventions really been original with the man who claimed them as the result of his own brain-work and handicraft, three years would not have sufficed to bring them to the perfection in which they were presented at that time. It is not always the actual work that makes a trick a success, nor the material from which it is con- structed, but it takes time to plan a new trick; and then after you have worked out the idea, it takes more time to make it practical. The same piece of apparatus may have to be made dozens of times, in as many shapes, before it is presentable. Therefore, when Robert-Houdin claims to have invented and built with his own hands the tricks mentioned in the list given above, it is time to prove the improbability and falsity of his statements. [222]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,293,,"CHAPTER X ROBERT-HOUDIN'S IGNORANCE OF MAGIC AS BETRAYED BY HIS OWN PEN TATEMENTS in Robert-Houdin's various works S on the conjurer's art corroborate my claim that he was not a master-magician, but a clever purloiner X and adapter of the tricks invented and used by his predecessors and contemporaries. Whenever, in these books, he attempts to explain or expose a trick which was not part of his répertoire, he betrays an ignorance which would be impossible in a conjurer versed in the finer and nore subtle branches of his art. Neither do these expla- nations show that he was clever enough as a mechanic to have invented the apparatus which he claimed as his handiwork. He states that practice and still more prac- tice are essential, yet no intelligent performer, amateur or professional, can study my collection of Robert-Houdin programmes, handbills, and press notices without realiz- ing that his répertoire contained little or no trace of what should be the foundation of successful conjuring, sleight- of-hand. Changing his fingers over the various air-holes of the inexhaustible bottle was as near as he ever came to sleight-of-hand, even when he was in the height of his success. According to the press notices he had a pleasing stage presence, and also dressed and set forth his tricks richly, but it must be borne in mind that then, as often to-day, [ 264 ]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,324,,"CHAPTER XI THE NARROWNESS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN'S ""MEMOIRS"" T HE charm of true memoirs lies far beyond the printed pages, in the depth and breadth of the writer's soul. The greatest of all autobi- ographies are those which detail not only the lives of the men who penned them, but which abound in diverting anecdotes and character studies of the men and women among whom the writer moved. They are not autobiographies alone, but vivid, broad-minded pen- Pictures of the period in which the writer was a vigorous, respect-compelling figure. Memoirs written with a view to settling old scores seldom live to accomplish their ends. I he narrowness and pettiness of the writer, which intelli- gent reading of history is bound to disclose, destroy all Other charms which the book may possess. At personal exploitation Robert-Houdin is a brilliant Success. As a writer of memoirs he is a wretched failure. Whenever he writes of himself, his pen seems fairly to scintillate. Whenever he refers to other magicians of his times, his pen lags and drops on the pages blots which can emanate only from a narrow, petty, jeal- ous nature. Even when he writes of his own family, this peculiar trait of petty egotism may be read between the lines. He mentions the name of his son Émile, apparently because [ 295 ] i" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,12,,"CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION, 7 CHAPTER I. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF ROBERT- HOUDIN, 33 II. THE ORANGE-TREE TRICK, 5I III. THE WRITING AND DRAWING FIGURE, 83 IV. THE PASTRY Cook OF THE PALAIS ROYAL, II6 V. THE OBEDIENT CARDS-THE CABALISTIC CLOCK-THE TRAPEZE AUTOMATON, I4I VI. THE INEXHAUSTIBLE BOTTLE, . 176 VII. SECOND SIGHT, . 200 VIII. THE SUSPENSION TRICK, . 222 IX. THE DISAPPEARING HANDKERCHIEF, 245 X. ROBERT-HOUDIN'S IGNORANCE OF MAGIC AS BE- TRAYED BY His OWN PEN, . 264 XI. THE NARROWNESS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN'S ""MEMOIRS,"" 295 [5]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,10,,"Dedication This Book is affectionately dedicated to the memory of my father, Rev. M. S. Weiss, Ph.D., LL.D., who instilled in me love of study and patience in research" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,254,,"Die Chineilche Reproduction of an engraving in an old German Encyclopaedia in the Harry Houdini Collection, which credits to the Chinese the trick of climbing into the air and having the body fall down piecemeal and being set together again." unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,66,,"EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Contemporary magicians of Robert-Houdin and men of high repute in other walks of life seem to agree that Robert-Houdin was an entertainer of only average merit. Among the men who advanced this theory were the late Henry Evanion of whose deep interest in magic I wrote in the introduction, Sir William Clayton who was Robert- Houdin's personal friend in London, Ernest Basch who saw Robert-Houdin in Berlin, and T. Bolin of Moscow, Russia, who bought all his tricks in Paris and there saw Robert-Houdin and studied his work as a conjurer. Robert-Houdin's contributions to literature, all of which are eulogistic of his own talents, are as follows: ""Confidence et Révélations,"" published in Paris in 1858 and translated into English by Lascelles Wraxall, with an introduction by R. Shelton Mackenzie. ""Les Tricheries des Grecs"" (Card-Sharping Exposed), published in Paris in 1861. ""Secrets de la Prestidigitation"" (Secrets of Magic), published in Paris in 1868. ""Le Prieuré"" (The Priory, being an account of his electrically equipped house), published in Paris in 1867. ""Les Radiations Lumineuses,"" published in Blois in 1869. "" ""Exploration de la Rétinue,"" published in Blois, 1869. ""Magic et Physique Amusante"" (œuvre posthume), published in Paris in 1877, six years after Robert-Houdin's death. In his autobiography, Robert-Houdin makes specific claim to the honor of having invented the following tricks: The Orange Tree, Second Sight, Suspension, The Cabalistic Clock. The Inexhaustible Bottle, The 4 [ 49 ]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,56,,"EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Contemporary magicians of Robert-Houdin and men of high repute in other walks of life seem to agree that Robert-Houdin was an entertainer of only average merit. Among the men who advanced this theory were the late Henry Evanion of whose deep interest in magic I wrote in the introduction, Sir William Clayton who was Robert- Houdin's personal friend in London, Ernest Basch who saw Robert-Houdin in Berlin, and T. Bolin of Moscow, Russia, who bought all his tricks in Paris and there saw Robert-Houdin and studied his work as a conjurer. Robert-Houdin's contributions to literature, all of which are eulogistic of his own talents, are as follows: ""Confidence et Révélations,"" published in Paris in 1858 and translated into English by Lascelles Wraxall, with an introduction by R. Shelton Mackenzie. ""Les Tricheries des Grecs"" (Card-Sharping Exposed), published in Paris in 1861. ""Secrets de la Prestidigitation"" (Secrets of Magic), published in Paris in 1868. ""Le Prieuré"" (The Priory, being an account of his electrically equipped house), published in Paris in 1867. ""Les Radiations Lumineuses,"" published in Blois in 1869. ""Exploration de la Rétinue,"" published in Blois, 1869. ""Magic et Physique Amusante"" (œuvre posthume), published in Paris in 1877, six years after Robert-Houdin's death. In his autobiography, Robert-Houdin makes specific claim to the honor of having invented the following tricks: The Orange Tree, Second Sight, Suspension, The Cabalistic Clock. The Inexhaustible Bottle, The 4 [ 49 ]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,52,,"EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF ROBERT-HOUDIN In 1846 he claims to have invented second sight, and at the opening of the season in 1847 he presented as his own creation the suspension trick. During the interim he played an engagement in Brussels which was a finan- cial failure. In 1848 the Revolution closed the doors of Parisian theatres, Robert-Houdin's among the rest, and he re- turned to clockmaking and automata building, until he received from John Mitchell, who had met with great success in managing Ludwig Döbler and Phillippe, an offer to appear in London at the St. James's Theatre. This engagement was a brilliant success and for the first time in his career Robert-Houdin reaped big financial returns. Later Robert-Houdin toured the English provinces under his own management and made return trips to London, but his tour under Mitchell was the most notable engagement of his career. In 1850, while playing in Paris, he decided to retire, and to turn over his theatre and tricks to one Hamilton. A contemporary clipping, taken from an English news- paper of 1848, goes to prove that Hamilton was an Englishman who entered Robert-Houdin's employ. Ham- ilton signed a dual contract, agreeing to produce Robert- Houdin's tricks as his acknowledged successor and to marry Robert-Houdin's sister, thus keeping the tricks and the theatre in the family. During the next two years Robert-Houdin spent part of his time instructing his brother-in-law in all the mysteries of his art. In July, 1852, he played a few engagements in Germany, including Berlin and various bathing resorts, and then formally [45]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,46,,"EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Raser "" esprees Datrensge e Gracess THE QUEEN, HIS ROYAL HIOHNESS THE PRINCE ALBERT. HEA ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCEESS OF KENT, THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE DUEE & DUCHESS OF CAXBRIDO&, KEA ROYAL HIOHNESS THE DUCHESS OF OLOUCESTEL A GRAND MORNING FETE, A CONCERT & DANCING, "" Batts and for the Labouting Classes, IN COULSTON PLACE Ox WEDNESDAY, JULY TR$ 19ta, Under the above exalted Patronage, AT The Residence of ARTSUR Esq. Waich Ass most hindly placed et the dispesal the Ledies TEE CONCERT san sombine sminent et the tollsting use babe most estigingis assistants MADAME GRISI, MADAME CASTELLAN, MADLLE ALBONI, MARIO, M. ROGER, sto. TAMBURINI, a SIG. LABLACHS. CONDUOTOR SIGNOR COSTA. A TENT WILL BE ERECTED IN THE GROUNDS, "" ROBERT-HOUDIN. whe Ase .... - The Grounds will be open from One o'Clock untu Sigbs. TICKETS FOR THE TETE, THE or WHICN will et LIMITED, Can only be procured on the presentitation of Vouchers from the following LADIES Decesse or os es Ricameyo. or VIMCUNTEN ****** or (revers os es or os ances. Orcatse or Stocistom. or Leav Acasa: becusss or or LADT as &suse. or Mostross. "" LADT Stamist. o or Decuses or os Lem os Cocatus Gast. Leot os or or WATEAPORN Laos o "" PROUNADA. COFNTESS os or Cor>rase Lare Gastam. os Bases, os LAM Jewn Mabast V. as or LIONEL Da or Tes L.DT or Ducomes, Now *** Nuarom. Nas. Nims. Single Tickete 22 2s. esch."" detional for comorried Sons and Deughters of the same Pamily. 21 1. - N° Venchers will be exchanged at Mr. MITCHELL' Zoyal Libras, 33, O14 Sond Street on TN& tava, lern. - tare JULV. Robert-Houdin's first appearance before Queen Victoria, July 19th, 1848. A very rare, and possibly the only, programme in existence, chronicling The original, now in the Harry Houdini Collection, was presented to James Savren by Robert-Houdin. [39]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,50,,"EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF ROBERT-HOUDIN he asserts, he built his famous writing and drawing figure. The next year, 1845, he was assisted by Count de L'Escalopier, a devotee of conjuring and automata, who advanced the money to fit up and furnish a small theatre ST JAMES'S THEATRÉ Saturday Evening, Aug. 19. in the Palais Royal. Robert- POSITIVELY THE Houdin went about the work LAST NIGHT of decorating and furnishing this OF THE SEASON. theatre with a view to securing BENEFIT OF the most dramatic and brilliant MILE-HOUDIN effects, surrounding his simple ROBERT tricks with a setting that made HOUDIN them vastly different from the will POSTIVELY MAEE ats same offerings by his predeces- Last Appearamce in Lendon Naturday Evening, Aug. 19,5' sors. He was what is called to- Outes to Nio Eagagement et the Theatre Reyal, Mascheath. which Tuesday Evening aexi, Arges $2. THE PROGRAMNE day an original producer of old BITS & INVENTIONS THE avexava ideas. On June 25th, 1845, he MILE-HOUDIN Me , SECOND SIGNT, us gave his first private perform- "" INVISIBILETE,"" ESCAMOTAGE EXTRAORDINAIRE, ance before a few friends. On AMILK-HOUDIN Suspension Ethereenne, BY UGENE-BOUDIN. July 3d of the same year his aoxgs, da. PIT, GAL STALLS, la se. PRIVATE BUXES ... STALLS - SOVAL sa, theatre of magic was opened formally to the public. The programme of this performance Poster for theEmile-Houdin benefit at St. James's Thea- is shown on page 37. tre in 1848. From the Harry Houdini Collection. It will be noted that the famous writing and drawing figure was not then included in Robert- Houdin's répertoire, nor does it ever appear on any of his programmes. He exhibited it at the quinquennial exhibi- tion in 1844, received a silver medal for it, and very soon sold it to the late P. T. Barnum, who exported it to America. [43]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,54,,"EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF ROBERT-HOUDIN performing this service is not set forth in any of his works. He spent the fall of 1856 in Algeria. From the date of his return to St. Gervais to the time of his death, June 13th, 1871, Robert-Houdin devoted his energies to improving his inventions and writing his R Bas-relief on Robert-Houdin tombstone. From a photograph taken by the author, especially for this work, and now in the Harry Houdini Collection. books, though, as stated before, it was generally believed by contemporary magicians that in the latter task he entrusted most of the real work to a Parisian journalist whose name was never known. He was survived by a wife, a son named Emile, and a step-daughter. Emile Houdin managed his father's theatre until his death in 1883, when the theatre was [ 47 ]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,42,,"EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF ROBERT-HOUDIN tastes led him back to his father's trade, watchmaking. While working for his cousin at Blois, he visited a book- shop in search of Berthoud's ""Treatise on Clockmaking,"" but by mistake he was given several volumes of an old encyclopaedia, one of which contained a dissertation on ""Scientific Amusements,"" or an exposition of magic. This simple incident, he asserts, changed the entire current of his life. At eighteen, he first turned his atten- tion to magic. At forty, he made his first appearance as an independent magician or public performer. On page 44 of his ""Memoirs,"" American edition, Robert- Houdin refers to this book as an encyclopaedia, but several times later he calls it ""White Magic."" In all probability it was the famous work by Henri Decremps in five vol- umes, known as ""La Magie Banche Dévoilée,"" or ""White Magic Exposed."" This was written by Decremps to injure Pinetti, and it exposed all the latter's tricks, in- cluding the orange tree, the vaulting trapeze automaton, and in fact the majority of the tricks later claimed by Robert-Houdin as his own inventions. In 1828, while working for M. Noriet, a watchmaker in Tours, Jean-Eugene Robert was poisoned by improperly prepared food, and in his delirium started for his old home in Blois. He was picked up on the roadside by Torrini, a travelling magician, who nursed him back to health in his portable theatre. Just as young Jean recovered Torrini was injured in an accident, and his erstwhile patient remained to nurse his benefactor and later to help Torrini's assistant present the programme of magic by which they made their living. His first public appearance as the representative of Torrini was made at Aubusson. [ 35 ]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,48,,"EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF ROBERT-HOUDIN than likely that one died before his wife. He married again soon, and though he gives his second wife great credit as a helpmate he does not state her name. By this time he had acquired more than passing fame Robert-Houdin as he appeared to the English critics. Reproduced from the Illustrated London News, December 23d, 1848. as a repairer of automata, and in 1844 he mended Vau- canson's marvellous duck, one of the most remarkable automata ever made. Doubtless other automata found [ 4I ]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,125,,"Ebeatte, Mr. Louis's ROYAL, MECHANICAL, and OPTICAL Darhibition wall continue open Four Nights longer only, with the Addition of a New Pirca. Monday, April 1,1815, Wednesday, Thurday and Friday following, the 5th, 6th, and 7th. And, in erder to make his Exhibition mill more wartly of the Public Patrosage, the Proprietor bege leave to inform them, that, in Addition to the whale Selection already exhibited with UNBOUNDED APPLAUSE, he will introduce, every Evening, A SUPERB MECHANICAL Peacocl AS LARGE AS LIFE, In its Natural Plumage! Which imitates, so closely, the CRIES, ACTIONS, and ATTITUDES of that stately and beautiful Bird, that it is not unfrequently supposed to be an absolute living Animal. properly trained to act as as Amasing Deception. Ahbongh - Description cas property itlestrate these . Ast. yet to merey to the pablic sa des of their and of the imitative powers with waxh these Figares - esplanation mbitted, they exb.bited the follewing - "" are . manaer TWO ELEGANT AUTOMATA, As large as melare, the - . POLONNESE, the - . sov. Nething cae the adroicable of these Pieces. The large Figure - alment with bumse Faculties, eshiliting the esual feste of . Mope- Dancer, in the felless of hfs. The - Figare . envested with equally astonishing powere of activa. To sech ledice - are spectasore it - be . very that these exertious do not escite thowe - whird arese the aight of Pigares freught with lite. performies feas ettended with - mech dange. A Superb MUSICAL LADY, Represeeting the BELLE BOXLANE, whe pleye with the grentess preceise Sistere Arra, every - preveede frove the presere of the and feet, - the apprepriate keys, - keing persea, with the of her besd. eyes, and eye-hds, . directed to the heye. The compect and well preperticeed forma, and easy enaffected air of thie Female Figure, have been gvessly and considured by the very best jedges - happy combission of the asta of Desige - Nechaniom, whish predeces . the same tiase the of respiratice. THE MSCHANICAL DRAWING AND WRITING MASTER, A JUVENILE ARTIST. The figure of Ecy, who, with every actice of resi life will escrate is presence of the compeey, of Drawing and Vriting, seperier - the best of the - if Sigure were destatute of "" weeld be picteresque, but whee, wsth the case and of well educated youth, "" saites the power of produciag such perfect imitation of estere, as almet se - the Gree's Mythology. whee spesking of figures formed est of sordid clay. which, by Premethers, atarted isto life and, extreerdisary as the fable apprera, it ie equalled, it not by the wenderfal of thie ógure. AN OLD NECROMANCER, - fairly be decominaled the Brisad Enchänter, for few af the fabled vales comcersing the - of these purking - "" their native groves of Preidical whene vagie quella impred every bregh, could - bryand the realities of the whe the ques- that are - him. with the precition of - Oracle any from the apisité - - - the anciest - for this sapient Sine's Decisione origisate in of the perhanical powers, The Liute @paniarb: This ragalated by mutic, le which be Weape sime with eritical and exactass. The agility at this he are fermed with - by which it the ef making harre. and acimity. of the whinh is - will gire the * ides et the of the A BIRD OF PARADISE, Sapers Cold - - te ler in - bea. The - of die piece af reay le - and for delinacy of - de - Orginal, - - d decience of Optics. The Proprister - - . of IDEAL PERSPECTIVE PROSPECTS of the ELYSIAN FIELDS, And other vnews. The effert predured, - if lighoqued by the Mees, is whoch ERIAL SPERITS and SHADIS of great - will -marge - being - pisce of the Scieace of OPTICA, and of whiph the - dert of - - - - to predace the hs. The whole to seità - s - of brillions Nechonical and Fire-Works, A Louis programme of April 3rd, 1815, in which the writing and drawin figure is advertised as a juvenile artist. It also features a bird of paradi: automaton which Robert-Houdin claimed to have invented thirty years late From the Harry Houdini Collection. [08]" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,190,,"FOR THE FIRST TIME. The Mechanical PEACOCK, THE VIEW OF THE CITY or A - Piece of Anificial Animation which imitases, 6 clofely. the Cries, Altions, and Assicudos of the Sasely and beastifel Bied. thas it ie sot enfrequently fappoled to be an abfolate liv ing Animal, propedly imaned 10 aû as - amuling deception apos the Public. Stockholm, The Magnetic Clock, or to - Viss ell be - ender Sell .... the arrsa well as TRE SEAUTITUC SCENS or THE Nowly is fapported on two Chryfal Columna, and termounted by a charaCerific Figur of which will amule and divert the Company. by difoovering Voyage of Captain Parry to the their arc. on an Aiphobetical Dial Plate, fernifhed with a feif-moving fedex. The Senfative WIND-MILL, North Pole: Which regulases its motion by the apparens impalie of a Word from any Speflator-sa forms - obey the With of the Company by a pelitive Gift of Incaition, His paseage threugh the Frotes Straits, amonger the SELECT EXPERÉMENTS IN FLOATING ICE. HYDRAULICS, Os the Sbore will be - Sequimere, with their Sledges draws by Degs.-Besre persued and , hilled b As See sal be represested Esquimaux Wome is their native Boate; also the Londing of the Sailore from the Discesery Ships. Fary and Hecla. A GRAND DISPLAY OF WATER-WORKS, THIRD PART THE CITY OF The rifes from the frome of the Suge, endafter forming into many delightful Fountains, is conjoined with Amsterdam, FIRE OF DIFFERENT KINDS, wa ou Ast the - bellile Ziements ferioully rell together to the Cieling of the Thestre, the Water The Vise . - the ote The Viee of the Bridge "" es the Ametel. The Toes . - ages late Morese thie - - .. of the Met "" alfo to the fimme heigle a Lafkre with Candles burning. FIRE-WORKS PLAYING, An Aquatic Exhibition on the River. A . le - several Trephico of Victery. the Ascras of the ie "", tring - diepery oth Experimess, without any Offeince even to the mon delicase but efter Ellers. Perase is - - gaie the Top, .. beer eve, the Pras. TOURTUI PLECE. THE WOVOERFUL ANO UNRIVALLED To will be added fevera) Original Experiments in the Science of OPTICS, TOMATON, On the Flying Rope; os WHICH HE Is THE SOLE INVENTOR. The case - . vase - vea end forme - - - de. - - being . the Rege by the Heed, lihe The Repe be la Accompaniod by a Scorm of - the Figare will eit perfectly esey and le gracefal etulade, . the Saug. sed perfora the - - be free . LIVING PERFORNER, "" "" messe with - Corvect- Thunder, Lightning, &c. &c. - - apgarest TO CONCLUDE WITH A . - - & of and MECHANICAL and OPTICAL FIRE-WORKS, Storm at Sea! - of the Difplayed in the Centre of a Tranfparent Arbour. by it as de Tempee, by Laghteing. and Anally the . - the Reche. altegether of Netere, 6 - - A de Philipsthal programme of 1806 on which both the automatic tight-rope per- former and the magnetic clock were featured. From the Harry Houdini Collection. A Thiodon bill of 1825, in which he claims the invention of a figure that could be lifted on or off the stage or pole. This was twenty-five years before Robert- Houdin claimed the same invention. From the Harry Houdini Collection. 173" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,260,,"Fire Nights only. AT THE NEW ASSEMBLY ROOMS. The celebrated CHING LAU LAURO, - - - --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CLA - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - a - - - - - - - - - - - - The - - - - 1 - - - - CHING LAULAURO um - - - Os Munday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, March the the 1218 121h, and 14th, 1834. = - - - - - - - - - PART #. THE CHEST OF ARCHIMEDES, The Column of - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A at Whet Tim the Wax Candies Eschanted ELEPHANT OF KNOWLEDGE, Forge, Printiag! Flying Watch, MAGE SOTTLE, APPLES OF BEELZEBUB, MAGIC EGGS, LOTEAL 440 with WARIETY - FART n. VENTRILOQUISI - - ROGEERIES OF NICHOLAS. of the Creation, - - the Thruals, Blackbied. Lark, A. - - - - - - de Hir Surprising Poccers of Imitation, CHANGES OF CDUN. - - - Agwy - - the LND DECEPTIONS. PARTE 101. of Strength, - . SEPTO ASTIC EXERCISES. the Jir upou Nothing!! - - - - - - - Allesdance. - - - - - - - M. PABAER - MALE PRICE - - Fim - - - - - - Friday Morsing, at - - 2 - Collection. sumpension in 1832. From the Harry" unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,258,,"Five Nights only. AT THE NEW ASSEMBLY ROOMS, The celebrated CHING LAU LAURO, Norcules, and the - furope, Magaro, Nechanicies, of the - and veluable Mechssical, Optical, and Nagient Transformatives - whese Performances the greatest and they hate been eshibited. C.L.L. be had the of Serforming before thes "" the "" Rreghtee, and ressived letter, by chais Mayesties commend, &m al approvel of ear% Perfermasce, wich Sagether with several others from the Earts of Dewlogh, Nredfent, Marquia leses . Nr Passs's, High etreet of whrth the folloning "" repy - Sie rese. Ste, Ny these I have to state that vour Performiece+ "" the Pevilion. . the isth of sembei were appreved of by these Majestive Ching Les Lovre, - em vou' Servant See Notel. H The Nebility, Gestry. and the Publer of eiverhamptor and "" we séformers the CHING AULAURO LATF or VAUNHALL GARDENS AND DHUNY LINE 1H1 ATKE Well have the beneut of appearing be fore them On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Narch the 10th, lith, 12th, 13th, and 14th, 1934, To Talente in . complete serice of Ammements. combreing- PART I. THE CHEST OF ARCHIMEDES, AND The Column of These self-ecuing pleces of were recruted by the celebrated am! entraded the Cablest of Curiosities at Paris, ber unforeces the Gefore the completies of these Master pieces of Art, they sere dieposed of and gower - gratify the Public with anch advaired pieces of A Game at Whist, Time Flies, the Wax Candles Enchanted ELEPHANT OF KNOWLEDGE, Fulcan's Forge, Miraculous Printing Flying Watch, NAGIC BOTTLE, APPLES OF BEELZEBUB, MAGEC mags, LOYAL NETAMORPHOSE, &c. with , "" II.LUSIONS TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION PART II. VENTRILOQUISII. CHINO LAU LAURO - the hesour to ansounce that, previons to bas return to Loudon to resume his Eagagements, be bes been induced to preseet novel and popular SATIRICAL LEC TURE. and NOV DIVENTI