pages: unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf, 339
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unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 339 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN attack on his surprise at the press methods and adver- tising adopted in England as opposed to the less spectac- ular means employed in France, he insinuates that An- derson's entire success was built not upon merit, ability, originality, or diversified programmes, but solely upon sensational advertising. On page 325 of the American edition of his "Memoirs" Robert-Houdin writes thus of his competitor: "On my arrival in England a conjurer of the name of Anderson, who assumed the title of Great Wizard of the North, had been performing for a long period at the little Strand Theatre. "This artist, fearing, doubtlessly, that public atten- tion might be divided, tried to crush the publicity of my performances; hence he sent out on London streets a cavalcade thus organized: "Four enormous carriages, covered with posters and pictures representing all sorts of witchcraft, opened the procession. Then followed four-and-twenty merry men, each bearing a banner on which was painted a letter a yard in height. "At each cross-road the four carriages stopped side by side and presented a bill some twenty-five yards in length, while all the men (I should say letters), on receiv- ing the word of command, drew themselves up in a line, like the vehicles. "Seen in front the letters formed this phrase: THE CELEBRATED ANDERSON ! ! ! While on the other side of the banners could be read : THE GREAT WIZARD OF THE NORTH. [310] |