pages: unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf, 201
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unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 201 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN 1844, the year before Robert-Houdin made his professional début, featured under date of January 29th "two autom- atons, one of which will execute wonderful feats on the Tight Rope, and the other dance a characteristic Horn- pipe." Bologna announced for his performance at the Sans Pareil Theatre, Strand, London, under date of March 18th, 1812, "The Two Automaton Rope Dancers from St. Petersburg, whose Feats of Agility were never equalled, and cannot be surpassed, will perform together in a style of Excellence hitherto unknown in this country.' De Philipsthal also featured a pair of automatic tight- rope performers from 1804 until his death; and in the early 30's the figures were exhibited by his widow. By referring to Chapter III. a De-Philipsthal programme of 1806 is reproduced as evidence. From 1825 to 1855 J. F. Thiodon played London and the provinces, advertising on his programmes: "FOURTH PIECE.-The Wonderful and Unrivalled Au- tomaton on the Flying Rope. The only one of this con- struction in the Kingdom; and forms a more extraordinary Novelty from the circumstances of its not being fastened on the Rope by the Hands, like others hitherto exhibited. The Rope will be in continual Motion, and the Figure will sit perfectly easy and in a graceful attitude while on the Swing, and perform the most surprising Evolutions, scarcely to be distinguished from a Living Performer, as it moves with the utmost Correctness, without any apparent Machinery." From this overwhelming evidence it can be argued beyond doubt that if Robert-Houdin even constructed the [ 174] |