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unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,317 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 317 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN port Brothers, hailed from Buffalo, N. Y., U. S. A. Ira Erastus was born September 17th, 1839, and William Henry, February ist, 1841. They fairly startled the world by their so-called manifestations of spiritualism during the 60's, and were alternately lauded and reviled for their performances. [288] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,235 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 235 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN piston to touch the sole of the foot whenever the con- federate presses the bulb or pushes the button. From this array of facts it will be seen that second sight is and always has been a matter of well-drilled phrases or signals, prearranged rotation of articles, well-built The author at the long-neglected grave of Robert Heller, in Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia, U. S. A. From a photograph in the Harry Houdini Collection. apparatus or well-trained confederates, but never a feat of actual thought-transferrence. Some of Robert-Houdin's ardent supporters insist that in claiming the invention or discovery of second sight, the French conjurer was merely an unconscious plagiarist, [208] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,215 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 215 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN only breaking this rule when presenting his show before H. M. Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort. He played the provinces, then went over to Dublin, where, although unable to speak English, he was a ver- itable sensation. In 1844 Döbler played a return STREET, ar. SATURDAY EVENING, date at the St. James APRIL. 10, 1842 la Ne - by Theatre, London, and sme LOUIS DOBLER, this time he had Ander- to - the of son as a rival at the Thé- - - - the gener NATURAL cummer âtre Royal Adelphia. MAGIC Döbler amassed a for- lass keil the - of - de - of Name - tune very rapidly; in fact - - - - NER MAJESTY THE QUEEN & H.R.M. THE PRINGE ALBERT. The - be divided inte Twe Para and with Mark - he retired in 1847, and by M. - Eigli - - PROGRABNE OF PERFORMANGE PART L never again appeared on The Magle Illumination, Tero Hundred Candles lighted by One Platol Shot The Magle Looking Olass. The Wandering The Travelling Bottle. The Witched Chair. the stage. He always ex- The Sympathetle Fruit. The Wonder The Corresponding Clooks. Kitchen. PART n. plained his early retire- Farmes The Magnetic Sword. The Notallie newer Zoots. Instantaneous The Great Necamotage. The Miracuions Washing ment by saying: "The More and There. Floga's aifta. vass THURSDAY. APRIL 91; and ou SATURDAY, APRIL ss. public loves me, and I PIt, Se. Gallery Stalls, is. ed. A - Orehostre Datte - be 9a. - - PRIVATE BOXEA, ITALLA - TICKETS - be - - Royal Librasy, ss, osd want it to always love me. Mr. asqunt's Librasy, Regent-street; Mr. sams's Librasy, Jamos's-streed; Andas - - of the Thestre, whieb le - - . Pivo I may return and be a # - - at as failure, so it is best to A Döbler programme from the Eva- know just when to stop." nion collection, dated 1842, now in the possession of the author. He died in a little village near Tunitz, on April 17th, 1864, when one of God's noblemen was laid to rest. "The Travelling Bottle" alluded to by Döbler in his programmes was nothing more or less than "The Inex- haustible Bottle." The following excerpt fr… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,279 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 279 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN on the celebrated alchemist's bottles of elixir and liquid gold, I had obtained from Torrini, who had been an old friend of Cagliostro's. "It is certainly the same,' my royal spectator answered, after comparing the two seals. Still, in his impatience to learn the contents of the parcel, the King quickly tore open the envelope, and soon displayed before the aston- ished spectators the six handkerchiefs, which, a few moments before, were still on my table." While the use of the Cagliostro seal really formed no part of the trick, its possession by Robert-Houdin goes to show how indefatigably he collected conjuring curios and how quick he was to utilize any part of his collection, and score thereby a brilliant showing. Cagliostro seals were by no means rare. This prince of charlatans had seals, like adventures, in great variety ; and in this connection, it is not out of place to tell some- thing of Cagliostro and thus explain why the parchment bearing his seal created such a sensation at St. Cloud. Cagliostro has no match in the annals of magic. Not a conjurer in the sense of being a public entertainer, he yet mystified and bewitched his thousands. Something of a physician, more of an alchemist, and altogether a charlatan, he left behind him a trail of brilliant chicanery, daring adventure, and ignominious failure and undoing unequalled in the history of Europe. Cagliostro was born Joseph Balsamo, in Palermo, Italy, June 8th, 1743. His parents were in humble cir- cumstances and he started his career as a novice in the Convent of Benfratelli, from which he was expelled for incorrigibility. Then he plunged into a life of dissipa- [250] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,261 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 261 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN of the iron rod from the back, which would have been in plain sight from the gallery. The stage would not permit the suspension to be worked out of range of the gallery gods. When Robert-Houdin went to London in 1848 he found Svesimg, the - Satreer performed by with - The BOTTLE, as the commend Tine PRINCESS'S THEATRE ALL KINDS-OF LIQUEURS. The Juggier of the Sum and Moon. - - The Bagic Sword, or the Skuful Player at - Blind-Man's Buil. GENERAL REQUEST SOUS and its isclated Bell. (Mechasic.) mose. The July Colums, of the Docile Cart. (Mechanic.) HERRMANN The Philanthrepic Banker. A Chinese Metamorphose. The Funtastic Glass. Pierro the Magician. (Mechanic)) The Marriage at Cana. The Disappearance of * * * The DOVES THE First Professor of Magic in the World The Miracle of Flowers (Mechanie,) The BANDEER of SATAN. Will give six MORE of his The Multiplication of Guinea Pigs. The Flower Garden. ENTERTAINING The Universal Thought. The Miraculous Production of Plumes. OIREES The Enchanted Vases. The Puzzled Choice, or four in one. EMIDA's o BALICE, or the GENEVA CLOCK wons. The Mysterions Chest. And MAGIQUE. - THE ONLY NIGHTS HK CAN REMAIN IN LONDON, many Provincial BONDAY Evening, August 21st. 1848, TORSBAY, 22ud, WEDNESDAY, 23rd, PRURSDAY, 24th, FRIDAY 25th, And SATURDAY, 26th, THE BENEFIT of M. HERRMANN And will be varied with NEW & WONDERFUL ILLUSIONS EN ERIMEENT T al. SUSPENSION ETHER MADAME HERRMANN selncomprehensible Handkerohief " MAND vases FILLED WITH -- Astenishing Frate ANTI-MACNETISM Gold Fish! This extraordinery Feat is executed in a plaia Evening Brees, and must be seem to be belleved. Dress Circle, 4s. Boxes, ** Pit, ** and Gallery, le as. the CLAIRVOYANCE loors open at half past Seven. Commence at Balf.price at Nime . Cleek a a A Compars Herrmann programme of 1848 in which suspension is featured. From the Harry Houdini Collection. [ 232] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,205 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 205 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN nel which has a tapering nozzle made specially for this purpose. The trick is generally started by proving to the audience that the bottle is empty. It is then filled with water, whichn is immediately poured out again, all this time the five pinholes being covered tightly with the hand or fingers which are holding the bottle. When a liquor is called for the performer raises the finger over the air-hole above that particular liquor, and the liquor will flow out. When a large number of liquors may be called for, the performer has one compartment filled with a perfectly colorless liquor, which he pours into glasses previously flavored with strong essences. Certain gins and cordials can be simulated in this fashion. Various improvements have been made in this bottle trick. For instance, after the bottle has yielded its various sorts of liquors, it is broken, and from the bottle the per- former produces some borrowed article which has been "vanished" in a previous trick and then apparently for- gotten. This may have been a ring, glove, or handker- chief, which will be discovered tied around the neck of a small guinea-pig or dove taken from the broken bottle. This is accomplished by having the bottle especially constructed. Its compartments end a few inches above the bottom of the bottle and the portion below having a wavy or cracked appearance, is made to slip on and off. The conjurer goes through the motions of actually break- ing the bottle by tapping it near the bottom with a small hammer or wand, and the appearance of the guinea-pig or lost article causes surprise, so that the pretended break- ing of the bottle passes unnoticed. | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,283 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 283 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN monk fought for his life so effectually that it was he, and not Cagliostro, who escaped. Cagliostro was literally buried alive in a subterranean dungeon, as punishment for his final offence, and his wife immured herself in a Roman convent, where she died in 1794. In Paris, perhaps, Cagliostro enjoyed his greatest Free Masons' Lodge, Myton-Gate. MORE NEW PERFORMANCES. For THREE NIGHTS Longer. Mons. Felix Testot, Impressed with . dee - of graditude to the Pabilic for the patronage eviscad tewards the durlag stay le Sell, - - leave to solicit - that the Solection be - thate will - with the - Apprebades they hove alrendy - agee On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Evenings, October 19, 20, and 21, 1896. Among other NEW FEATS, Mom , T. - that Font of THE NE PLUS ULTRA OF THE Cabalistic Art. The Company - be requested to favear M. T.T. with losa of . variety of of - persome as hase set lest asy thing will hove an apportucity to commend N to retere a the ardicios bet making theis choice to thate coppostive oveera. Ho ush thes the erticios to and be found immodiately, whorever the Company - regaire, that - asy, IN ANY PART OF the rown. The esecution of this Musice le Londes cassed of the greatent delight - the astiale bese - conveyed from the Adelphi Thentre to the greas Gast Se fert, Gee 6 night and day under the immediate charge of . Sondeal. It also - grestast and delight le Ozferd, where the articles berrowal were eseveyed freas - Reom, to the top of Usiveruity Chered, and - reponted feer eveelage la - almeet ble places. Alse le by the articles being esereyed to the top of Neleos's Mosement THE WICK PIDGEON. as WILL INTRODUCE THE NEW AND EITRAORDINARY Transformation of a BIRD INTO A CHILD! GROWING INTO LADY!! wia - other exporiments, which lore Nomal , t. performence with bie EVOLUTIONS and Fom CM bave geleed - appliente dese Dasus to be at Sovee and the to at FRONT SEATS, - - Testot programme, featuring Cabalistic Art" in 1826. From the Harry Houdini Collection. triumphs of charlatanism, … | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,81 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 81 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN ments headed "Fawkes and Powel," "Fawkes and Phillips," and "Fawkes and Pinchbeck." Powel was the famous puppet man, Phillips a famous posture master (known to-day as contortionist), and Pinchbeck was the greatest of mechanicians. Fawkes seems to have pos- sessed a singular gift for picking out desirable partners. From this mass of evidence I am producing various This prefent Evening, Room, over the Piazza's, at the to the Ray Market, the Famoes, FAWKES pet. formi molt by Mand, with Curinution al that Kind, being what has thew by any of Pelfon with the Agiviry of in Body by before Pitture the Allo or rest performed theye will be Dunces by twe Poiture ID They crimm the and ty be bure Foor righ, and Plemy Dance an tentian with Dis and but one Body ta the Admination of all ato Ing and of the Slack Reprain fishio as war never performed by any other prec Gly at and th-jors Day N. Mow the Clentlemen Place abole, and Hours every any N. may bave: privaté RE an he tof this longer whan the Stalon - to that be Acani ay and Ladies Eancies by Desterity of Hand for thake owa Diverion By Permifion, A the Chriftian Coffee-houle at Smithfield Bano the prefent Evening DE will performent - by Mr. CLENCH of who imiratey the Hom, Pack of Roundi, the Tham Doctor, old deungen Man, und the Beits 1 the Doubte Courtel, the Organ with three Volerity sul are perforged with bis Natural Volie 4 allo - Ellex song by Mt. Clench, after which ma nare - can puform. Clipping from the London Post, February 7th, 1724, in which Fawkes announces his retirement and offers to teach his tricks to all comers. Below this announcement is the advertisement of Clench, famous as an imitator and an instrumentalist. clippings. By a peculiar coincidence one of these I believe offers the most authentic and earliest record of "two a night" performances in England. In my collection are a number of other clippings from the press of the same year, in April and May, 1728, but none of them says "twice a night," therefore I judge [64] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,243 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 243 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN least thought, not until then explored. She guesses the age of every one, whether they be married or not; how many children they have, of what sex, and whether they be living or dead at the present time, etc. She does the like for any one having a chance in the lottery, as to what is its number, and what will be its share of gains. She the MYSTERIOUS LADY, Reproduction of the cut used on the mysterious lady's handbills, distributed in America in 1841. From the Harry Houdini Collection. also guesses at every one of the most different sorts of coin, and even at the year with which they were stamped. She guesses at every number which any one shall secretly set down, even though it amount to upward a million. She moreover tells exactly whether any one be in the [216] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,71 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 71 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN leading mechanical genius at the close of the seventeenth century and the beginning of the eighteenth. He was a man of high repute, whose history is not that of the charlatan, compiled largely from tradition, but it can be & YOUNGS Reem the of Leal- Mall, facing rke Hay-Market, fern The GRAND TREATAL of the MUSES, jaje Mr. PINCHBECK, THIS wonderful Machine is the Altonifh- et all that feeit. the of be Struc- tue, the Delicacy of the Paining quit and the grast valiety of moving Figures m-k-s i the mott priling Piece of An that has ever yer appear'd in Earope. It di Landfeape, witha view of the Sea. termina- to sieg PL dey difeppear, - doubling Avaft Swans Capes, in and River With diminifhing filling Shipsfailing, by plurning degrees plying . and Duck Hunilig to Perfection ard greas variety M Motions Likewife Pifture, N- la * Foreß playing umong the Rere the very T ces, well as Banes, ere feen TO move, as if animared and compell'4 bythe Hamony of bia Haxp. It alle perfoims on feveral Inftruments great of molt excellent Pieces of Mulich compos'd by Mz. H FANDEL, Co RELLS ALEINONI, and orher celebtated with fuch wonderful Exadneti, that fearce any Hand can equal, It the fweet Hazmony of any AVI- ary of Bieds, wherein the refpective Notes of the Nightin- gate, Woodlatk, Cuckoo, &cc. are performed to fo giear a Perfedion, NS not ro be from Naruze it fell. Wirh feveral orher to men- tion, Frices 55. 25. 6.d. and - To be feeo from 10 in The Morning vill to Night, by two, DE more, wichout lofs if Fins. Nate, This curions Machine will be removed ia a few Days Deas but oute to the Leg Tavem in Ficerflieer, Clipping from the London Daily Post of November 30th, 1798. Used by Christopher Pinchbeck before he joined Fawkes. From the Harry Houdini Collection. corroborated by court records, biographical works, and encyclopaedias, as well as by contemporaneous newspaper clippings. According to Vol. XLV. of the "Dictionary of National Biography,' edited by Sidney Lee and published in 1896 by Smith, Eld… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,61 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 61 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN leading mechanical genius at the close of the seventeenth century and the beginning of the eightcenth. He was a man of high repute, whose history is not that of the charlatan, compiled largely from tradition, but it can be At YOUNGS Gront Riem, the of unite Mall, faring de Hay-Market, feem The GAAND TREATHE of the MUSES, jaft find Mr. PINCHBECK, THIS wonderful Machine is the Altonifh- men et of that fee it. the Magnificraçe of bs the Deliescy of the Painitag und Seulprure, and the great variety of moving Figures makes it the moit fur- priling Piece of An thaz has ever yer appear'd in Europe. It regrefenta a Landfeape, witha view of the Sea. termina- sing infentibly NE 4 vall wich Shipsfailing, plying to doubling Capes, and diminithing by degrees an des difappear, Swans in . River filling and pluming Duck Hunring to Perfection, and grest variety Motions Likewife Piéture, re- OEPUTUS in playing amang rhe Bealts fiere the very T res, as well du Bnnes, are feea 10 move, as if animared and compell'd by the Hamony of bia Harp. It allo perfoins on feveral Infrumenta great variety of moit excellent Pieces of Mulick compos'd by Mr. HANDRE, Co- RELET Bosescims, and orher celebtated wich fuch wonderful Exaänel, that fearce any Hand em equal. It liacwife imitates the fwee Hamony of any Avi- ary of Birds, wherein the refpeltive Notes of the Nightin- gale, Woodfark, Cuckoo, &c. are performed 10 to gieat a Perfebtion, as not to be dillioguillid from Nature it felf. Wirh feveral other grand 100 dious to men- tiow, Prices rs. 25, 6 d. and To be feem from to in the Morning rill To Nighr, by two, or more, without lofe of Time. Nate, This curious Machine will be removed ia a few Days next Deas but oxie to the Leg Tavem in Fleetflieet, Clipping from the London Daily Post of November 30th, 1798. Used by Christopher Pinchbeck before he joined Fawkes. From the Harry Houdini Collection. corroborated by court records, biographical works, and encyclopaedias, as well as by contemporaneous newspaper clippings. … | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,281 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 281 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN languages. These two adventurers travelled in Egypt, and when Althotas died Cagliostro went to Naples and Rome, where he married a beautiful girdle-maker named Seraphinia Feliciani. This woman shared both his tri- umphs and his disgrace. In 1776 they arrived in London, where he announced himself as the Count di Cagliostro. The title was assumed, the name was borrowed from his mother's side of the house. Here for the first time Cag- liostro announced himself also a worker of miracles or wonders. He exhibited two mysterious substances, "Materia Prima," with which he transmuted all baser metals into gold, and "Egyptian Winc," with which he claimed to prolong life. His wife, who was just past twenty, he declared was more than sixty, her youthful appearance being due to the use of his elixir. He founded a spurious Egyptian rite in connection with the Masonic order which has been recognized as a blot upon Masonic history, and he claimed thousands of Masonic dupes. All over the Continent he and his beautiful wife travelled, now healing the poor for nothing, now duping the rich, but always living in a most picturesque, voluptuous fashion. He dipped into spiritualism and mesmerism, but wherever he went his converts followed after. In 1789, while in Rome, he was seized by that invincible power, the Holy Inquisition, and was condemned to death. Later Pope Pius VI. changed the sentence to life imprison- ment. Confinement made him more daring than ever. He asked for a confessor, and when a Capuchin monk was permitted to enter his cell in this capacity Cagliostro endeavored to choke him and escape in his robes. The [ 252] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,247 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 247 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN is offered not to belittle the human mediums, but to prove that from start to finish, from the day that Breslaw offered the trick to the present moment, when a number To the Public in general, and thofe of real Knowledge Particularly. To be teen from Tea m the Morning. 6ll Four is the Afternean At Mr. BECKET's, Thank Maker, No. 3r. HAY. - MARKET. Alter all thet has been produced in the Warld, fagacious of the Annial Species, Learnid Pig, the Dancing Dosa &c &c. and which have been acceptad, and acknew ledged with Truff, as WONDERS, Ivt in the fame time, of natural intelle that who could belleve, (exeept feeing,) that themeR Stupid and Infenfate of the CRE ATION Could be Brought to fuch a degree of Sagacity, and Wunderful Learning. of Hunenur Animal Tricks, as the Prodigious G S E, Pids ct Crede Lately arrived from Abroad. Whan spropity before acandid and Public, to levite them to fee, and be Fithe Durrag arfucha (for have a a a particalar sckined fram them - Agilitad as the misd - gevinally (s. Aveg OF LETE le will furdy find, and asknowlar ge to the Adfere A LEARNED GOOSE Who Performs the following Tricke, viz. Perfonning upon Cards, Maney and Watches; telling the Day of the Manth, andtle Month of the Year, as allo the value of any Plece, éither English or Foreign: all furte ard (meft prodigioully. and certainly unbelieuing to thaie who lonow the of . Gouse.) the tells Ladias and Gentlemen in the Company; uf any Perfon's thought ay at Lady drawing of the Pack, thoughever fo fectet blindfoldad at the faine time will And out the draw, It Te aut of the compsis efa Bilt, to enumerate all the Tricks the doa befides. Admittaner, Tua Shillings each Poyun. Rare poster announcing the performance of the learned goose, one of the first of the second-sight animal artists. Traced from the original poster in the British Museum by the author. of skilful so-called mind-readers still mystify the public, some sort of speaking or signal code has been used. Rob- [220] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,219 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 219 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN into Different Liquids-Sherry, Port, Champagne, Gin, BOWERY THEATRE Milk, Rum, and Water." The London Sun of Domes. Pit. 1-9 Conte Seate de Orchostra Beses. se Conte Domes for FIV Dellase Boots egee from 9 A. a April 18th, 1843, says: The Deors will open et asd the Seiree et . e'slesh. These le se Cheatrical Eshibition with these "Mr. Anderson, be- NIGHTLY JAMMED! THE GREAT WIZARD sides the feats by which MAGALLISTER! his reputation was es- tablished in his former bie Trimmbant Career, and sightly exhibite bie Grand and De'ginal exhibitions in the metro- Experimente in MAGXO, x. ac., in bie Gorgeous Temple before AMAZED THOUSANDS polis, performed with per- "Men of Mighty Words and Little Deeds! Whe elaim the sele right to the name el WIZARD try in vais to convince the werld of fect ease and success beis greatness!--They may well writhe under the exposure of their FRES SYSTEK, by which they seek to obtain es sudiesce, while the daily assouncement of ous TRIOKS under www show the strait to which they ase driven! They have learned " their cost, that some of greater difficulty " Feels rash in where Angels fear to tread." For the time bere. Macallister will perfores hie than those by which Herr GREAT LIGHT FEAT Döbler astonished the AND INSTANTLY Iliuminate the Interior of the Theatre world, such as serving AT A PISTOL SHOT Requert, will be repeated the several kinds of wines MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE ANDITS from the same bottle." " GREAT GUN .FEAT!" or, FEAT A LA Wm. TELL. was - sine Wendes the em origimal MAGIC BOTTLE - The Morning Adver- ANCALLISTERS tiser (London) of the ORICINY same date said BOTR KINDS OF LIQUOR "With the utmost ease OUT or MACALLIITER'S he produced from an BOTTLE world that cas empty bottle wine, water, produce kinds of Liques and the same Dottle. port, sherry, and cham- ednesday Evening, August 11, 1852 pagne, and immediately wm be gives the Mystorics of the ENCHANTEDPALACE afterward, under a blaze Programme used by Macallister at the of wax and gas, he broke Bowe… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,175 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 175 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN in the centre of the glass face, and revolves it. The arrow or hand is worked by a counterweight, controlled by the M. Jacobs, magician, ventriloquist, and bold imitator of John Henry Anderson. From a rare lithograph now in the Harry Houdini Collection. performer, who has it fixed before he hands it to the inno- cent spectator. The clock can be purchased from any [158] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,91 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 91 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN in his later years he became interested in ballooning, the sensation of the hour, and spent his entire fortune on balloon experiments. He died in Bartichoff, Volhinie, aged fifty years. Pinetti was a man of rare inventive genius and almost N° a Beduer en and Henri Decremps, the French author who exposed and endeavored to ruin Pinetti, but succeeded only in immortalizing him. reconstructed the art of conjuring, so numerous were his inventions. For half a century after his death his suc- cessors drew upon Pinetti's inventions and répertoire for their programmes. Naturally such ability aroused bitter jealousies, especially as Pinetti made no attempt to con- [74] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,89 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 89 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN in 1783. His fame quickly carried him to Paris, where in I784 he appeared before the court of Louis XVI. His arrival was most opportune, for just then all Paris I.I.PINETTI Ritterund Konigh: Freus Hopphyficus by yeiner infeclungin Hamburg A wood-cut used by Pinetti during his engagement at Hamburg, Germany, in October, 1796. From the Harry Houdini Collection. and, for that matter, all Europe had been aroused to a new interest in magic by the brilliant Cagliostro. From Paris he went to London, playing at the Hay- market and creating a sensation equal to that which he made in France. Later he toured Germany, playing in [72] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,289 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 289 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN humble travelling magicians whose names have been written most faintly in the annals of conjuring, and the much-vaunted trick "invented" by Robert-Houdin for the entertainment of his sovereign. The hall in which the matinée was given was located in Harlem, Borough of Manhattan, New York City, and I had decided that the handkerchiefs which were to make the flying journey should be "desired" by some one pres- ent to appear under the top step of the winding staircase in the Statue of Liberty, which is located in New York Harbor. This meant a half-hour ride from the hall to the boat in a Subway train; then a run across New York Harbor to the Statue. These boats left the dock on the hour and the half-hour, so I timed my performance to fill just half an hour, starting with some sleight-of-hand, the egg-bag trick, and swallowing a package of needles and bringing them up threaded, which latter trick was introduced into magical performances in Europe by K. K. Kraus in 1816. Just before 3:30 o'clock I borrowed three handkerchiefs and tied them together for casier handling. I had three handkerchiefs, similarly tied together, under my vest, and just at 3:30, I switched the two sets of handkerchiefs, so that the handkerchiefs furnished by the spectators were under my vest and the bogus handkerchiefs in my hand. First I dropped the bogus handkerchiefs on the table-trap, picking up the opaque glass cover with which they were to be hidden, and, by a carefully rehearsed bit of carelessness, dropped and broke it. Then, leaving the bogus handkerchiefs on the table trap, I stepped toward the wings, apparently to secure another glass bell [260] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,291 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 291 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN handkerchiefs were placed in the tin box, securely sol- dered, and then this box was placed inside a second iron box, which was locked. The "plant" was then taken upstairs and hidden under the top step. In the mean time, with my thoughts following my assistant every step of his trip, I was playing out my end of the game. The audience was supplied with blank cards on which they might write the name of the place where the handkerchiefs should reappear. This, of course, took some time, and when the cards, each folded to hide the writing thereon, were collected in a hat, I shook them up thoroughly, and then turned them out upon a plate, deftly adding, on the top, three cards which I had concealed in my hand. This was sleight-of-hand purely, and I next picked out those three prepared cards on each of which was written "Can you send the handker- chiefs under the top step of the Statue of Liberty ?" Explaining that I had in my hand three cards chosen at haphazard, I wished the final choice to be made by a disinterested party. A baby was finally chosen to select the card. Naturally, I refused even to take the slip of paper from the baby's hand, and one of the lodge members read the question. Murmurs of surprise and incredulity echoed from all over the hall. The test was too difficult! I then an- nounced that if the audience would select its own com- mittee, making sure to pick out men who could not be bribed, I would accompany them, and we would surely return with the handkerchiefs, sealed in double boxes, as found under the famous stairway. As an elaborate course luncheon was to be served, the committee had [ 262] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,135 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 135 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN gentleman may call for whatever fruit they please, and the figure will return and bring the kind required, which may be repeated and the fruit varied as often as the company orders: it will likewise receive flowers, or any Take Totice! The Magistrates of Southuark Rove sindly given to Nr. BOLOGNA, 10 and thoir At the Great Assembly Room, Three Tuns Tavern, His Grand Mechanical and Aufomaticel Which àss he - Years heen unrivalled, AND SANCTIONED BY THE LOKD .CHAMBERLAIN, Al-e receired wirk the most and distiaguisbed Approbation. Mr. BOLOGNA impressed with . deep - of the anny faveits be for Yeer received, From . liberal Public, availe himiself of this la offer a Entertainment which - quite distinct from that of . Theatries Demeription, A from its harmales tendency, je peculiarly the attract the Nutice and Support of theme whowe religiona forbid thew Participation in of a marked and decimive Character. This Present FRIDAY, March 10th, 1820, And Every Meilnesdag * Friday During Lent, The beea fitted up for the Reneption of the Public The will with the fellaring Carious Piecea of Aninated Objents Mechanism Clockwork. PART L-A Windmill. That will Gried mait any Carf chumen by the Company, with a Variety of Performances by Clock Muvement, Deceptiona with Buans, Watches. Ac. 2-1 Cabinet of Peculiar Construction. By which will Le Preduced . Variety of Deceptions with Cards a.-An Automaten Figure representing a Necromancer. Who will explain the Thoughts of auy ludividual in Company. - 4-A Distiller whe Stands by his Tus, From which, n Command, he Drawa Eighr Didereal Sorte of Léquar. 3.-1 curious Mechanical Frailerer and Confecsioner's Shop. Compit. whe will produce at Command, esch Variety of Freit A as may be usked for. PART 11. OMBRES CHINOIS; or, CHINESE SHADOWS, la which the following Sqapes will be inteedeced. a The MAGICIAN'. CAVE, wherein enveral Tricks & Netamerphoses will thke Plece. 2 REPRESENTATIO of . FOREST. in which will be intreduced the mont Vonderfal species of Natural Hist… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,299 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 299 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN forward or sidewise, the weapon would slice his body, resulting in instant death or horrible mutilation. I have watched cheap performers of this class of work, in dime museums or fairs, walk up a ladder of sharp swords which I had previously held in my hand. They would place the foot down with infinite precision and then press it into place. This position will not result in cutting, but let the performer slip or slide and the flesh would be cut instantly. I have also seen an acrobat, working in a circus, select two razors in first-class condition, place them on a socket with the edges of the razors uppermost, and with his bare hands he would do what is known as a hand-stand on the keen edges of the blades. This trick of absolute balance is acquired by persistent practice from youth up. Again Robert-Houdin errs wofully in comparing the sabre-swallower to the swallower of broken bottle-heels and stones. Sabre-swallowing is one trick, swallowing pebbles and broken glass belongs in quite a different class. And when I say this I do not mean powdered glass, but pieces of glass first broken, then chewed, and finally swallowed. On page 426 Robert-Houdin puts the two tricks in the same class, as follows: "When the trick of swallowing bottle-heels and pebbles was to be done, the Aïssaoua really put them in his mouth, but I believe, I may say certainly, that he removed them at the moment when he placed his head in the folds of the Mokadem's burnous. However, had he swallowed them, there would have been nothing wonderful about this, when we compare it with what was done some thirty [270] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,197 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 197 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN for lightness, of papier-maché. The figure is joined by its hands to a bar of iron, that passes through a partition, and is turned by a confederate; the arms are inflexible at the elbows, but move freely at the shoulders by means of a bolt that goes through the body; and the thighs and Mr. BOLOGNA, Jun's ma. Mechanical Exhibition, an the Sans Parei! Theatre, Strand. 18. Frendo Present Evening, 1819, And - bee - - - - - Theatre, The to Automaton Rope Dapeers, - - The Swan of Oblectation - of - - The - Mechanical Windmill, Woud of Commond. Tine CONJUROR from Constantinople - - - - truly PIRCES of CALLED. LILLIPUT ISLAND; Or Automator Shadows, Taken from the Justly Admired Oubres Chincia. - s. The Maginas's - - Ae A Grand Display of Experiments in HYDRAULICS. Called Fire and Water, FIRE-WORKS, A Bologna bill of 1812, featuring the automatic rope dancers. From the Harry Houdini Collection. legs move in the same manner at the hips and knees, and are stayed by pieces of leather to prevent them from bending in the wrong way. The bar is covered with hollow twisted tubes, and ornamented with artificial flowers, so as no part of it can be seen to turn; the confederate 170] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,187 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 187 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN for lightness, of papier-maché. The figure is joined by its hands to a bar of iron, that passes through a partition, and is turned by a confederate; the arms are inflexible at the elbows, but move freely at the shoulders by means of a bolt that goes through the body; and the thighs and Mr. BOLOGNA, Jun's Mechanical Exhibition, ma. an the Sans Parej! Theatre, Strand. Mard 18. Present Evening, And - Dope and dering Love, - - Theatre, leams The Two Automaton Rope Dapeers, - - - the Swan of Oblectation wa - - of - - - - impose - Pragiona, The - - Comme - be - of 4 - - - . - Mechanical Windmill, - Wend of Commond. `ine CONJUROR from Constantinople - - - truly PIECES of CALLED, LILLIPUT ISLAND; Or Automator Shadows, Taken from the Justly Admired Oubres Chincia. - Boone The - Ae CLASS m. A Grand Display of Experiments in HYIRAULICS. Called Fire and Water, Free - Me. - FIRE-WORKS, - The A Bologna bill of 1812, featuring the automatic rope dancers. From the Harry Houdini Collection. legs move in the same manner at the hips and knees, and are stayed by pieces of leather to prevent them from bending in the wrong way. The bar is covered with hollow twisted tubes, and ornamented with artificial flowers, so as no part of it can be seen to turn; the confederate [170] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,105 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 105 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN for an emblem of "fidelity,' it would instantly draw the picture of a handsome dog; if love was wanted, a cupid was exquisitely pencilled. The automaton would also answer many questions in writing. I took this curiosity The late P. T. Barnum, the world's greatest showman, who bought the writing and drawing figure from Robert-Houdin, and wrote at length of the French conjurer is his autobiography. Born July 5, 1810. Died April 7, 1891. From the Harry Houdini Collection. to London, where it was exhibited for some time at the Royal Adelaide Gallery, and then I sent it across the Atlantic to my American Museum, where it attracted great attention from the people and the press. During my visit, Houdin was giving evening legerdemain per- [88] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,83 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 83 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN figure. About six years before his death he had his own theatre in James Street, near the Haymarket, in which he exhibited for months at a time before and after fairs. I reproduce a clipping from my collection showing Fawkes' last program. Here it will be seen that his first trick was causing a tree to grow up in a flower-pot on the table, and bear fruit in a minute's time. In The Gentle- men's Magazine, that oft-quoted and most reliable peri- odical, of February 15th, 1731, readers were informed that the Algerian Ambassadors witnessed Fawkes' per- We hear that young Fawkes and Pinchheck are now arrived in Town from the Bath and Saliabury; where they have, da the moft agreeable Mariger, entersained the Nobility and Quality with their very lurprieing and to whom the Tate Mr. Fawken, in his Life-tjme, had communicated all thofe wogder- fal Secrets which gave fuch univerfal Satisfaction to all his Specla tors : And we are likewife affored, that every Particular is preenvo in its utmoft Perfection, viz. His Artiticial View of the World his Turprizing Dexterity of Mand, in which he caufes a Tree to grow out of a Flower-Pot on the Table, which u Home and bears ripe Fruit in a Minute's Time; his famous little Pefture-Mafter of leven Years old, not to be equal'd in Europe, who likewile per- forms on the flack Rope to Admitation - his enternaining Muncal Clock, with two beautiful moving Piltures, and an Aviary of Bardr, ar natural as Life itlelf; alla a curious Venesian Maching, an w'i by all Artifis to be the fmefi Piece of Workmanfhip in the World; au which furgrizing Entersalnments we hear will be perf rm'd nex Week at the late Mr. Fawkes's Theatre, at the old Tennis-Court in James-fireet near the day-market. 1732 Clipping from the London Post, showing that young Fawkes collaborated with Pinchbeck and together they offered the orange-tree trick in 1739. From the Harry Houdini Collection. formance. At their request he showed them "a prospect of Algiers, and raised up an apple-tree which bo… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,321 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 321 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN failed, too. Even if the entire thumb were cut away, I believe it would still be impossible to slip a rope that was properly bound around the wrist. You may take any cuff of the adjustable make, or a ratchet cuff, place it about a small woman's wrist, and you will find that even S T. GEORGE'S HALL, LANGZAX PLACE. RETURN BROTHERS DAVENPORT AMD M R. FAY. Tz BROTHERS DAVENPORT and Mr. FAY have the honour to announce that, after a tour of three years over the greater part of the Continent of Europe, they have returned once more, and probably for the last time, to this Metropolia, where they will give a few Séances previous to their departure for the United States. During their European tour they have given Séances in Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Moscow, St. Petersburgh, and nearly every great Continental Capital; and have had the honour of appearing before their Majesties the Emperors of France and Russia, the Royal Family of Prussia, and great numbers of the most Distinguished Personages in Europe. Many thousands of persons of the highest rank and intelligence have witnessed the astonishing experiments given in their presence. Throughout the Northern American States, from 1853 until their first visit to England in 1864, they were seen by hundreds of thousands of persona. In England, their first Séance was given in private, to a most distinguished party of men of science and letters, who gave their most unequivocal testimony to the excellence and perfection of their experiments. Two Séanoss of the and Mr. Fax will be given at ST. GEORGE'S HALL. LANGHAM PLACE, On THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 23rd, And SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 25th, 1868, at Eight o'clock. STALLS, - 8s. BALCONY, - Se. ADMISSION, ONE SHILLING. Announcement used by the Davenport Brothers on their return to London, England, after their tour of the Continent in April, 1868. From the Harry Houdini Collection. [ 292] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,257 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 257 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN escaping from a bladder or tube. When the screen or blanket was again withdrawn, the conjurer was standing on the ground. The mystery was supposed to have been solved when Sheshal, commonly known as "the Brahmin of the Air," exhibited the trick in 1832 in Madras. It was observed that his stool was ornamented with two inlaid stars, and it was suggested that one of these might conceal a socket for a steel rod, passing through the bamboo, and that another rod, screwed to the perpendicular one and con- cealed by the piece of hide, might be connected with a mechanism of the same metal, passing up the sleeve and down the back, and forming a circular seat. This con- jecture probably was not far from the truth, for while Frost is by no means the greatest of authorities on magic and magicians, in this particular instance I believe that his explanation of the trick is correct. The next authentic early information I have gathered regarding suspension concerns that wonderful performer who called himself Ching Lau Lauro. Presumably he was a Chinaman, and from the programmes in my collection he evidently appeared first in England, in 1828, when he was engaged to perform between scenes of various plays, including "Tom and Jerry," at the Coburg. I repro- duce on page 23I one of Ching Lau Lauro'sprogrammes. About 1833, or possibly a year earlier, he cut out some of his singing, and introduced the suspension with which he closed his performance. At this time he gave the entire programme. According to his programmes, in some places he excluded the public from the gallery, so I judge that his suspension was accomplished by the use [ 230] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,307 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 307 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN ern human ostriches have all wound up at city hospitals where surgeons have removed broken glass, knife blades, and other foreign matter by means of an operation. I quote the above instances simply to prove that the stones were actually swallowed and then disgorged, and not hidden, as Robert-Houdin claims, in the folds of the Mokadem's burnous. In this one chapter alone Robert-Houdin quotes six authorities in explaining the tricks he witnessed, which fact only strengthens my belief that he borrowed his tricks, as well as his explanations, from able and graphic writers on the art of magic. The next work descriptive of the conjurer's art offered by Robert-Houdin was "Les Secrets de la Prestidigitation et de la Magie." Under the title of "The Secrets of Con- juring and Magic; or, How to Become a Wizard," it was translated and edited by Professor Hoffmann and published in 1878 by George Routledge & Co., London and New York. Absolutely no originality is displayed in this book, and the majority of the tricks explained can be found in French books of a similar character which appeared be- fore Robert-Houdin turned author. The proof of this statement can be found by reading any of the following works upon which Robert-Houdin patently drew for his material: "Nouvelle Magie Blanche Dévoilée et Cours Complet de Prestidigitation," in two volumes, by J. N. Ponsin, published in Paris in 1853; "Grande Initiation au vraie Pratique des Célèbres Physiciens-Prestidigitateurs,' Paris, 1855; "Nouveau Manuel Complet Sorciers, les [278] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,331 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 331 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN entire financial holdings through his passion for balloon experiments, as is set forth in chapter II. of this book. Then, to show his own inconsistency, after picturing Pinetti in his "Memoirs" as a charlatan, a conjurer of vul- gar, uncouth pretensions rather than as a good showman of real ability, Robert-Houdin is forced to admit on page 25 of "Secrets of Magic" that later conjurers employed Pinetti programmes as a foundation upon which their performances were built! Even here, however, Robert- Houdin fails to acknowledge an iota of the heavy debt which he personally owed the despised Chevalier Pinetti. Robert-Houdin devotes the greater part of chapter X., American edition of his autobiography, to belittling Bos- co, a conjurer whose popularity all over Europe was long- lived. First, he pictures Bosco as a most cruel creature who literally tortured to death the birds used in his perform- ances. Here, as in his attack on Pinetti, Robert-Houdin throws the responsibility for criticism on the shoulders of another. His old friend Antonio accompanies him to watch Bosco's performance, and it is Antonio throughout the narrative who inveighs against Bosco's cruelty and Antonio who insists upon leaving before the performance closes, because the cruelty of the conjurer nauseates him. At that time no society for the protection of animals existed, and, even if it had, I doubt whether Bosco's performance would have come under the ban. Certain magicians of to-day employ many of Bosco's tricks in which birds and even small animals are used, but the conjuring is so deftly done that the public of 1907, like that of 1838, thinks it is all sleight-of-hand work and that the birds are neither hurt nor killed. Even in Bosco's [302] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,319 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 319 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN duced surpassed my expectations, and your experiments were full of interest to me. I consider it my duty to add that these phenomena are inexplicable; and the more so by such persons as have thought themselves able to guess your supposed secret, and who are, in fact, far indeed from having discovered the truth. Hamilton." After their return to America the Davenport Brothers G 171 The cabinet trick offered by the Davenport Brothers. From an old print in the Harry Houdíni Collection. [290] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,301 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 301 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN day, and indeed proved that he was capable of execut what he pretended to. I saw him perform frequen and remember it as well as if it was but yesterday. said he was an Italian; he was short and squat, SOLVS stevr SOL FAMA VOLAT EFFITIES DE BLASIS DE SICULE Blasius de Manfre or Blaise Manfrede, from a rare old woodcut in the H Houdini Collection. chest, face, forehead, eyes, and mouth very large. pretended to be fifty years old, though he did not se forty. "He was called the famous Blaise Manfrede, a nat of Malta. At Francfort he frequently performed th times a day: for, besides his performances twice a C [272] - | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,269 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 269 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN claims, with much justice, is rated as one of the gems of German literature, as well as the best book ever written by a conjurer. It is built from extracts from his diary and is on the style of Sig. Blitz's book, but is far more diversified and interesting. His scrap-book also told a most romantic tale of vicissi- a Alexander Heimburger, known in conjuring as Alexander the Conjurer, from a quaint illustration in "The North American," published in Mexico. tudes. A half-page article in the New York Tribune, dated October, 1845, showed Alexander arrayed in a Chinese costume, and producing huge bowls of water, flowers, and various sorts of heavy articles. This proves conclusively that Ching Ling Foo was not the first con- [240] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,185 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 185 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN claimed it as his invention. Yet with the daring of one who believes that all proof has been destroyed, he an- nounces on page 3I2 of the American edition of his "Memoirs" that he invented "The Trapeze Performer" for his season of 1848. In the illustrated appendix of his French edition he states that the figure made its first appearance at his Paris theatre, October ist, 1849. He thus describes the automaton: "The figure is the size of an infant, and I carry the little artist on my arm in a box. I put him on the trapeze and ask him questions, which he answers by moving his head. Then he bows gracefully to the audience, turning first this way, then that; suspends himself by his hands and draws himself up in time to the music. He also goes through the motions of a strong man, hangs by his head, hands, and feet, and with his legs making the motions of aërial telegraphy." Decremps in his exposé, "The Conjurer Unmasked," published in 1784, thus describes the automaton and its work: "Our attention was next called to observe an automaton figure, that vaulted upon a rope, performing all the postures and evolutions of the most expert tum- blers, keeping exact time to music. By seeing Mr. Van Estin wind up the figures, and being shown the wheels and levers contained in the body of the automaton, caused us to believe it moved by its own springs, when Mr. Van Estin thus explained the deception: "To make a figure of this kind depends a great deal on the proportion and the materials with which it is composed: The legs and thighs are formed out of heavy wood, such as ash or oak; the body of birch or willow, and made hollow, and the head, [ 168 ] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,195 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 195 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN claimed it as his invention. Yet with the daring of one who believes that all proof has been destroyed, he an- nounces on page 3I2 of the American edition of his "Memoirs" that he invented "The Trapeze Performer" for his season of 1848. In the illustrated appendix of his French edition he states that the figure made its first appearance at his Paris theatre, October ist, 1849. He thus describes the automaton: "The figure is the size of an infant, and I carry the little artist on my arm in a box. I put him on the trapeze and ask him questions, which he answers by moving his head. Then he bows gracefully to the audience, turning first this way, then that; suspends himself by his hands and draws himself up in time to the music. He also goes through the motions of a strong man, hangs by his head, hands, and feet, and with his legs making the motions of aërial telegraphy." Decremps in his exposé, "The Conjurer Unmasked," published in 1784, thus describes the automaton and its work: "Our attention was next called to observe an automaton figure, that vaulted upon a rope, performing all the postures and evolutions of the most expert tum- blers, keeping exact time to music. By seeing Mr. Van Estin wind up the figures, and being shown the wheels and levers contained in the body of the automaton, caused us to believe it moved by its own springs, when Mr. Van Estin thus explained the deception: "To make a figure of this kind depends a great deal on the proportion and the materials with which it is composed: The legs and thighs are formed out of heavy wood, such as ash or oak; the body of birch or willow, and made hollow, and the head, [ 168 ] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,145 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 145 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN chanted Dutch Coffee-House, an elegant little building. On the traveller ringing the bell, the door opens, the host- ess attends and provides VENTRILOQUISM. him with any liquor he L. CHARLES, may call for." PROVEÍSOS - MECHANICAL SCLENCES, Schmidt seems to have AVD FIRST VENTRILOQUIST, confined his exhibitions from the Continens; UNDEIR THE PRIVILEGE AND PATRONAGS or to London and the prov- H1S MAJESTY THE KING OF PRUSSIA, And Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin; inces and was often con- Hes the Heaeur ur acgeant the Nebility, Gentry, and the Public at large, thut he has just errived from the Continem, and will perform during this and the Three Meaths of Jenuery, Februery, and Merch, as Ma. WIGLEY'S LARGE ROOM, nected with other magi- SPRING GARDENS, Hia Mechanie and Ventriloque Performances every Day, commencing pre- cians, including Gyngell cisely st Taree "Cleck, and Evening at Eight Clack, except Saturday and Sunday. and Buck. The latter Front Chairs, -Middle Seats, Seats, 1. N. B. The Room ie particularly WARM by . sew invented precess. TO THE PUBLIC. was an English conjurer, The SIEUR CHABLES will remuit. chart peried in Lendon, where be la repre seut all the ponsible of of which the humas voice is rapahis, by Netere and perfectid by Art. He will explais all the Myateries which were best known as the man resorted to ab forton times to impose uges the and supertitious, under the of ORACLES, This maneer of apraking ought to be looked upon - gith of Nature and of Chance rather than as an Art, siect it is impossible je teach is but to thow burn with the Therefore it in preved, that hewbe professits this Art must thost means which sill remain the troable the learond hare who was horribly injured talora to discuver a. The SIEUR CHARLES will perform the following Scenes. when presenting "The Part. 1. The modera Philcsopher or à Dialegue between two Meu of Scionce end their Servest Theee 11. Dialogue beteces Siek Man, bie Pagsician, a Friend, and Servant Gun Delusion." This Frov III. The Win… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,159 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 159 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN by clock-work or with a black silk thread or a human hair, the result was one and the same. It has also been worked by using a fine thread with a piece of wax at the end. The wax is fastened to the card, and the thread draws it up. The simplest method of all is to place the thread è Card trick as featured by Anderson in 1836-37. From a poster in the Harry Houdini Collection. over and under the cards, weaving it in and out as it were, and then, by pulling the thread, to bring the different cards selected into view. So common was the trick that its description was written in every work on magic published from 1784 to the date of Robert-Houdin's first appearance, and in at least one volume printed as early as 1635. The majority [ 142 | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,99 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 99 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN believed, Cornillot had improved the trick and was using more than one tree or plant. Cornillot remained in England for some time and is classed among the conjurers of good repute. Another bill in my collection shows that he played at the Theatre of Variety, Catherine Street, Strand, in October, 1823. He was then assisted by several singers and dancers, including the famous Misses Hamilton and Howe, pupils of M. Corri. In his company was also an Anglo-Chinese juggler, who, in addition to feats of juggling, "swallows an egg, a sword, and a stone, a la Ramo Samee." To sum up the evidence against Robert-Houdin in this particular trick: Four magicians of high repute gave public performances before Robert-Houdin knew and operated the orange-tree trick. Three eminent writers exposed it clearly and accurately. Robert-Houdin, as an indefatigable student of the history of magic, must have known of the trick and its modus operandum. He may have purchased it from Cornillot, or as a clever mechanician he had only to reproduce the trick invented by his predecessors, train his confederate in its operation- and-by his cleverly written autobiography-attempt to establish his claim to its invention. [ 82 ] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,137 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 137 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN ballooning, and he is said to have been the inventor of the parachute. The ascen- sion of the nocturnal balloon, also scheduled on this programme, is an limitation of the one which Garnerin arranged in honor of Bonaparte's coronation in 1805. On that occasion the balloon started at Paris and de- scended in Rome, a dis- For the Benefit of the tance of five hundred General Hospital miles which was covered This present TUESDAY, October 10, 1815. in twenty-two hours. AN EXHIBITION Garnerin was a con- THE WONDERS OF temporary of both Pinetti Art and Nature, and Robertson and was M. GARNERIN, with them in Russia AND M. DE LA ROCHE, IN THE GREAT ROOM. AT THE SHAKESPEARE TAVERN, when Pinetti dissipated his fortune in balloon ex- 1.-TWO BEAUTIFUL FIGURES, or - playing on the FLUTE, which by the - chilfel Combination, perfores - Instrument, and either alome any of the musical Piecee contained be Thay resuma, or change Tunes, . the - of the Specistora The Metions 4 periments. In their cor- the Heed, Fingere, and Egre, are plainly - 9-THE THREE VASES, Thet Light, Estinguish, and Re WAX TAPER. 3.-TIE. CANARY FIGURE, respondence, both Pinetti e Masterpiere of the meat prefound mechamirel TINDER nox. and Robertson spoke la the EVENING at Half past SEVEN, in Addition to these vederful Performancoa, pill be theve Veriety of Tricks with Cardo, and-3, the Ascension of a Nocturnal Balloon, slightingly of Garnerin, le Imitation of the one M. - from Paria, - - Evening of Corea- . 1006, and which drecreded at Nome, 900 Miles, in -VARIOUS EXPERIMENTS UPON THE PNEUMATIC but the Frenchman's pro- 1.-4 FIGURE that DISCOVERS the THOUGHT8. The with -THE COLUMN OF MAGNETICAL GLASS, Fer the igvisitle Ascension Card, grammes all indicate that 9. AN EXHIBITION or > Clap of bunber, of - of he was not only a success- 10.-A DUTCH COFFEE HOUSE, A Garnerin poster of 1815, advertising ful aëronaut, but a ma- " ADutch Coffee House,' whose automatic hostess serves refreshments at command. gician who could present a From the… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,339 | 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] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,255 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 255 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN are absolutely impossible, yet so popular did his works become that, barring the Scriptures, more copies and manuscripts of the books containing his various "Magi- cian Stories" have been handed down to posterity and exist to-day than any works of his contemporaries. Still, Mandeville did not mention this suspension trick, which is sometimes attributed to the Chinese and some- times to the Hindoos. In Cologne, Germany, I purchased an encyclopaedia, published in 1684, from which I reproduce a double- page engraving, which shows the Chinese magicians doing the tricks previously accredited, in the stories of travellers, to Hindoo conjurers. In "Lives of the Conjurers," Thomas Frost describes the suspension trick as offered about 1828 or 1829 at Madras by an old Brahmin with no better apparatus than a piece of plank with four legs. This he had formed into a stool, and upon it, in a little brass socket, he placed a hollow bamboo stick in a perpendicular position. Pro- jecting from the stick was a kind of crutch, covered with a piece of common hide. These properties he carried with him in a bag, which was shown to all those who desired to witness his exhibition. The servants of the household then held a blanket before him, and, when it was withdrawn, he was discovered poised in midair about four feet from the ground, in a sitting posture, with the outer edge of one hand merely touching the crutch, while the fingers deliberately counted beads, and the other hand and arm were held in an upright position. The blanket was again held up before him, and the spectators caught a gurgling sound, like that occasioned by wind [228] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,69 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 69 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN appeared on a programme used by Christopher Pinchbeck, Sr., and the younger Fawkes. In 1784 it was included in the répertoire of the Italian conjurer, Pinetti, in the guise of "Le Bouquet-philosophique." In 1822 the same trick, but this time called "An Enchanted Garden," was featured by M. Cornillot, who appeared in England as the pupil and successor of Pinetti. The trick was first explained in public print by Henri De- cremps in 1784 when his famous exposé of Pinetti was published B under the title of "La Magie Blanche Dévoilée," and in 1786- 87 both Halle and Wiegleb ex- posed the trick completely in their respective works on magic. That Robert-Houdin was an Diagram of the orange-tree trick, from Wiegleb's The omnivorous reader is proven by Natural Magic," published in his own writings. That he knew 1794. the history and tricks of Pinetti is proven by his own words, for in Chapter VI. of his "Memoirs" he devoted fourteen pages to Pinetti and the latter's relations with Torrini. Now to prove that the tree tricks offered by Fawkes, Pinchbeck, Pinetti, Cornillot, and Robert-Houdin were practically one and the same, and to tell something of the history of the four magicians who featured the trick before Robert-Houdin had been heard of: Unquestionably, the real inventor of the mysteriot tree was Christopher Pinchbeck, who was England [52] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,59 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 59 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN appeared on a programme used by Christopher Pinchbeck, Sr., and the younger Fawkes. In 1784 it was included in the répertoire of the Italian conjurer, Pinetti, in the guise of "Le Bouquet-philosophique." In 1822 the same trick, but this time called "An Enchanted Garden," was featured by M. Cornillot, who appeared in England as the pupil and successor of Pinetti. The trick was first explained in public print by Henri De- cremps in 1784 when his famous exposé of Pinetti was published 0 under the title of "La Magie Blanche Dévoilée," and in 1786- 87 both Halle and Wiegleb ex- posed the trick completely in their respective works on magic. That Robert-Houdin was an Diagram of the orange-tree omnivorous reader is proven by trick, from Wiegleb's The Natural Magic," published in his own writings. That he knew 1794. the history and tricks of Pinetti is proven by his own words, for in Chapter VI. of his "Memoirs" he devoted fourteen pages to Pinetti and the latter's relations with Torrini. Now to prove that the tree tricks offered by Fawkes, Pinchbeck, Pinetti, Cornillot, and Robert-Houdin were practically one and the same, and to tell something of the history of the four magicians who featured the trick before Robert-Houdin had been heard of: Unquestionably, the real inventor of the mysterious tree was Christopher Pinchbeck, who was England's [52] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,323 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 323 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN and who desires to hand down to posterity a clean record of his attainments will be clever enough and manly enough to avoid any attempt to explain that which he does not understand. By his flagrant misstatements regarding the tricks of his predecessors and contempo- raries, Robert-Houdin, however, convicts himself of igno- rance regarding the fundamental principles of magic, and arouses in the minds of broad, intelligent readers doubts regarding his claims to the invention of the various tricks and automata which he declares to have been the output of his brain, the production of his own deft hands. [ 294 ) | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,345 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 345 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN and noblemen admiring his abilities as a conjurer. But, alas, Robert-Houdin had played only before English and French monarchs, not before the other crowned heads of Europe, including the Czar of Russia and the German Kaiser! It required weeks and months of browsing in old book- and print-shops, national libraries, and rare collections on my part to prove that Anderson had really played these engagements, when his bitter rival, Robert-Houdin, his heart eaten with jealousy until his sense of honor and truth was hopelessly blunted, was claiming that Anderson had just returned from a trip in the English provinces. It will be noted by reference to the Anderson pro- gramme that he had been engaged only for the Christmas holidays, but despite Robert-Houdin's claim that he was a failure and was obliged to close and seek new fields of conquest in the provinces, Anderson's engagement was extended. He remained at the Strand until January IIth, 1848, then after a brief provincial tour he actually returned to London and played to big receipts. Again and again he appeared in London. Far from being the unpopular, forgotten ex-magician pictured by Robert- Houdin, he performed with great success at the St. James Theatre, London, in 1851. Robert-Houdin appeared in London for the last time in 1853, but in 1865 "the de- spised and forgotten Anderson" was there again, creating a furor in his exposure of the Davenport Brothers. Robert-Houdin might have been justified in criticising Anderson's sensational advertising methods, for these were entirely opposed to the more elegant and conserva- tive methods employed by the French conjurer. But [316] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,297 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 297 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN and at fairs, as well as in the better grade of houses. Having worked on the same bill with genuine Arabian performers, I know just how the tricks are accomplished. Robert-Houdin undertakes to explain these tricks in chapter XXII. of the American edition of his "Me- moirs." So long as he quotes reliable authorities like the Journal des Sciences, the explanations are correct. Di- rectly he attempts an independent exposure, he strikes far from the correct explanation. On page 424 he states: "In the following experiment, two Arabs held a sabre, one by the hilt, the other by the point; a third then came forward, and after raising his clothes so as to leave the abdomen quite bare, laid himself flat on the edge of the blade, while a fourth mounted on his back, and seemed to press the whole weight of his body on him. "This trick may be easily explained. "Nothing proves to the audience that the sabre is really sharpened, or that the edge is more cutting than the back, although the Arab who holds it by the point is careful to wrap it up in a handkerchief-in this, imitating the jugglers who pretend they have cut their fingers with one of the daggers they use in their tricks. "Besides, in performing this trick, the invulnerable turned his back on the audience. He knew the advantage to be derived from this circumstance; hence, at the mo- ment when about to lay himself on the sabre, he very adroitly pulled back over his stomach that portion of his clothing he had raised. Lastly, when the fourth actor mounted on his back, he rested his hands on the shoulders of the Arabs who held the sabre. The latter apparently [ 268 ] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,237 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 237 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN almost sixty-two years before Robert-Houdin presented it as his original invention. The London Morning Post and Daily Advertiser of H A Y . M A R K E TI By PERMISSION of the LORD CHAMBERLAIN, Signor and Signora PINETTP S Molt grand, aitotifining and inimitable N E W E X FI IB L: T I o N, A T the Theatre-Royal, in the-Hay-Market, TO-MORROW, Decembier 2, $ guor PINET r', Knight of the Order of Merit of St. Philip, &c. &c. with all duc deference informs the publick, that be is juft returned from Windfor, and that he will, by the above permillion, open agáin this Theatre on Thurfday aud philofophical and abfolutely pieces, which inimitable, his recchanical, deep wonderful, ferutiny phyfical jo aud with his Confort, will-exhibit moft recent thofe friences, and afliJuous exertique have enhabled him to inyent and confruct among wh;ch Siguora Pinetti will have the fperia honour and facisfaction of exhibiting vari- cus experiments of new difcovery, no lefs zurious than ficmingly incredible, particularly that af her being feated in one of the front hoxes with an handkerchicf over hes ryes, and guefa at every thing imagined and propefed to ber, by any perfon in the company. Signor Pinetti being moit unsious and ambitious of re- reiving the countenance and farction of this great and dif- terming nation, in his endeayours It fhall ba his conftant Audy Nill to find out nteans which mày euable him to: prc- Tent, at interavals, mon curinus, furprizing, and interelling original pieces befote the publick during his thort my in never but ever difplay thiskingdom what inof of which his of pieces, invention hie having and been difrovery, honoured producing approbation, and with in only the own a written teltimony Britanuic Majefty's figned with his own hand (befides being poffelled of carti- ficases of the like niture from Several other Sqvereigns) hunably bopes and Lolicits for the continuance of that pir tromage and encouragement, which he moft gratefully ac- knowledges to have already fo impartially:… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,225 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 225 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN about 1839-40, when he toured the Continent. He was popular in London, Paris, and both the English and French provinces. A polished man, famous for the elegance of his speech and manners, he conducted his performance Henri Robin, generally conceded to have been the most polished conjurer in the history of magic. From the Harry Houdini Collection. and all his business in a quiet, conservative fashion. In both Paris and London, he had playhouses named tem- porarily in his honor, Salle de Robin, and at one time in [ 198 ] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,171 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 171 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Young's name has been handed down in history be- cause he made money on Anderson's reputation, by the boldest of limitations, assuming the title of Wizard of the North with his own name in small type. One of his bills is also reproduced. SHAKSPEARE ROOMS, Barnedo or "Bar- NEW-STREET, BIRMINGHAM. ney" Eagle is the man of the trio of the imi- tators who deserves more than passing no- tice. He became An- derson's bitterest ene- my, and their rivalry made money for the printers. BEHOLD THE GREAT BERNADO'S SYSTEL OF IMPOSITION Eagle could neither Which he nightly practices on the inhabitants of Birmingham, holding his System of Humbug up by copying the Bills and read nor write, but hav- Advertisements, of J. H. ANDERSON, the Inventor of Ambidexterous Prestidigitation, with all the list of the Great Wizard of the North's peculiar technical phrases, ing a quick brain he which BERNADO exhibits in his Bills, (as original) yet can neither pronounce nor understand the meaning of hired a clever writer to the terms by which he gulls the public. Mr. ANDERSON will bet BERNADO any sum, from a Shilling to 220, that he cannot read the Advertisement in the Birmingham indite his speeches and Advertiser," of Thursday, 18th November. Mr. A. will take a further bet, that the Advertisement alluded to, was copied from his,((Mr. A's) Bill, circulated in Manchester, duplicated Anderson's on Monday, November 15th. BARNEY, when we last met, 1 merely ruffed your show so closely that An- feathers, this time l'u pluch you clean, not one shall be len thee to spread thy (Eagle) wings of imposition. derson'spride was hurt. Should BARNEY accept this challenge, the memey will be spent at CHARLEY CHESHIRE'S. He therefore decided An Anderson poster, exposing "Barney" to expose Eagle, and Eagle's tricks. Only bill of this sort in exist- ence. From the Harry Houdini Collection. thousands of bills, con- stituting a virulent attack upon his imitator, were distributed. One of these is reproduced. It is so rare that I doubt wh… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,177 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 177 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Years ago when I introduced this trick in my per- formance, I called a young man on my stage and asked him to place the hand on the spindle. It would then re- volve and stop at any number named. But first I made him inform the audience the number he had chosen, Fig 19 . P o Figsy. of is n m to is 2 K 6 Tig 16 a a e XII a e of g g = i the IS The above diagram exposes the magic clock trick, as offered in the time of Hofrath von Eckartshausen, a German writer on magic in the eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries. Fig. 15 shows the clock in position for the trick, hung against the rear wall or 'drop." Gaily-colored ribbons hide thin leather tubes through which run two sets of stout silk thread or catgut, connecting with the hour and minute hands. The thread then passes through the two iron rings, p and o in Figures 17 and 19, which are screwed to the ceiling; thence to the hidden confederate, who manipulates the clock hands as the hour and minute are announced by magician or spectator. Fig. 16 shows the two faces of the clock, with the fine connecting rod around which the string is woudn to manipulate the hands. This mechanism is hidden by a flat brass band which encircles the edges of the two transparent faces. From Eckartshausen's "The Conjurer's Pocket," edition of 1791. which gave me time to fix the weight with my thumb. I then gave him the hand, but he was a skilled mechanic, and possibly knew the trick. Instead of holding the clock by the ring at the top, which was there for that [160] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,211 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 211 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN W'aterloo Rooms. three sorts of wine, Port, " est Agreenble et Plaimes de S'Instruire - Sherry, and Cham- THE LAST pagne, out of one bottle. Spiendid, Brilliant and Fashionable Then he put them to- DAY PERFORIANOE WILL TAKE PLACE ON gether, and from such a SATURDAY Sist APRIL, 1939, Under the High and Distinguished mixture produced sher- ry in one glass, and port THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LADY GIFFORD, in another." THE RIGHT HONOURABLE From this notice it Lady H. Stuart Forbes, will be seen that Falck WHICH OCCASION had "The Inexhaustible dec. dyc. dec. religional Mons". PHILLIPPE Bottle," and had some WILL SELECT The most INTERESTING, ATTRACTIVR and method of returning all PRISING FEATS the liquors not drunk FROM HIS EXTENSIVE STOCK or NECROMANTIC, MACICAL a DEXTERICAL back into the bottle DEMION-STRATIONS! and then pouring out La Gaieté est la Santé de L'ame la tristesse on est le poison. two different kinds of Programme. zase z. Aed - - ema liquor. Indian and Chinsee Meale !!! A CURIOUS OPERATION, sova wese Empe ammid by - Ser . Nom P. - - - Perhaps he resorted sese - - A ****ON som Le La Esso - - - - Jehe Lopes - WINGS AGAINST WHEELS, on THE la SRAND TOUS - - to chemicals, but one warch: de / TRACIC SCENE - ACRECABLE LES Porssons woa !!. tothe - Tare CONCLUSE the BIBTH y thing is evident - the The SUBLINE TUAT the Auternal Nettle, PATRIOT and bottle was used for six ay CAP. Toing BALL - - ORANCE Noad of I# THE. UNPARALLELED, zase sv. different kinds of liquors JUPITKE . rulcan FIRES: The - - - - " The OUN-AT PRACOCE, FICURES at one and the same as - reas ***. - sie A NIGHT IN THE FAD-JUNO - JUPITER-1 PALACE OF PERIN: -The MACICIAN Hond time. TWO BARBER a Mess. PEILLIPFE wis appone The UUN-ECLIPEE " AS TRE OSSAT of BOYAL MAGIGIAN LEQUIN in QUEEN VICTOILA Phillippe from 1836 to IN PULL COSTUME, of SCOTLAND, ENOLAND, - ON MONDAY 1838 featured "An In- Mens. P. takes his BENEFIT. fernal Bottle" trick, also "The Inexhaustible Poster used by Phillippe during his Edinburgh engagement in 1838… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,115 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 115 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN View of the mechanism which operates the Jacquet-Droz writing automaton. From the brochure issued by the Society of History and Archaeology, Canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. [98] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,45 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 45 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Torrini was an Italian whose real name was Count Edmond de Grisy. He was a contemporary of Pinetti. In all probability, during the long summer of their inti- mate companionship, Torrini not only initiated his fas- cinated young guest into his own methods of performing ILLUSIONS. IVE A G x E. Robert-Houdin's favorite lithograph for advertising purposes. Used on the majority of his posters and in the original edition of his "Memoirs." From the Harry Houdini Collection. tricks, but also into the secrets of Pinetti's tricks. In his "Memoirs," Robert-Houdin makes no secret of the fact that both Comus and Pinetti, together with their tricks, were topics of conversation between himself and Torrini. When Torrini was able to resume his performances, [38] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,51 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 51 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN This question naturally arises: If Robert-Houdin built the original writing and drawing figure, why could he not make a duplicate and include it in his programme? Surely Sadier's "Wells POSITIVE NIGETS ROBERT SERIES of MAGICAL ILLUSIONS MONDAY, MAY 9th, 1853. and Every During the Woek. The Entreptd Soldier. The Produstion of Flowers. The Animated Oards. The Instantaneous Transpesition The Marvellous Oraage Tree. The Golden Shower. The Mephistepheles Telescope. The Enchanted Garland of Flowerte The Traveiling Turtile Devea. A Wonderfal Surprise fer the Sadies. The Transparent Oryatal Eex. varmo PART. The Confectioner. The Taeshaustible Sowl of SECOND PABT. The Orystal Balle, or Great Series Bobert Mondia's Portfelle of stight et Hand Wricks. astonishing Envisibility. Press Circie, . Sa. Bexes, - Sa. PII, - Is. Gallery . PRIVATE soxma as, - as N. su. . of The - - - Poster used by Robert-Houdin when he played at Sadler's Wells, London, in 1853. He never refers to this engagement in his writings because he was not proud of having appeared in a second-class theatre, while his rival, ,Anderson, held the fashionable audiences at the St. James's, where Robert-Houdin had worn out his welcome. From the Harry Houdini Collection. it was one of the most remarkable of the automata which he claims as the creations of his brain and hands. [44] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,223 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 223 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Theatre. A bill used by Herrmann at the Princess is reproduced on page 232. It evidently proved satisfactory to the public and he used it without change for many years. Probably the most notable warfare waged over the BOTAL, POGAM E le Velage dus Carte: with Nr. a. WESSTER, Sele Leisse - ou Bromptes. Le des Dames the - LA DOUTEILLE merna FAREWELL Rebia le Sercior, ( - - Le Poche the Mervelless MORNING Lee Noces de Canna: - Solme " - and Lee Colmmbee the LS CADRAN MATREMATICIEN; TME cseom. Le Timbre Soula, - - Restated Cleets Mell. Le - de - Nagique: The tome de Cartes et de magie New with Caste - Whitte MADONDE la - dus reages, esecule - de ville; The - porformed - - Brom. MAGIQUE CRAND NEW ILLUSIONS FROM Le SUSPENSION ET LE REENNE Commencing at Two o'Clock. WONDER OF THE WORLD: THIS MORNING. SATURDAY, May 6th, 1846, M. HERRMANN. (ou MANOVERN PREMIER PRESTIDICITATEUR OF FRANCE, 11 ... FIRST PROFESSOR OF MAGIO IN THE WORLD, the Nobility, Geeary . Puble general, thet be will - LAST A Morning Performance, SUSPENSTON ÉTHÉRÉENNE. Frevious to als departure se the provinces, and will Intreduce Six New Extraordinary Tricks, DOUBLE VUE! NEVER BEFORE : Or, Second Sight, L'Alben Heneveries; The Maseveriam Albsta. " Les Chapeses Diaboliquee: The Diabelical Mata, Le Cufre infernale: The Seformal MADAME HERRMANN. Le Vase d'Armite: - l'horiogerie de Geneve: Armida's Vase er, The Gemeva Cleckweek. WETE VARIOUS Le Mudtiplication des Indes: Les Mysteres de Perie; The of Paris, ILLUSIONS WITH CARDS no Endame MAGIE as performed - weeke simee as she Thentre Megral, Adelght, AND MADE HERRMANN + o , . 3 R Will also exbrbit her extraerdinary pevent of II IMITATION OF VABIOUS SECOND IME. REMANE. oa, ANTS MAGNETISM stalle and mexes en Doom egee at Osse the ay with Clesed Eyee, any objecte that may be submitted se thie preef, whica - assomished the mees acientifie, Billing used by Compars Herrmann when he played in opposition to Robert- Houdin on the latter's arrival in London. This shows that Herrmann dupli-… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,127 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 127 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Theatre, Wakefield. with the original and THE LAST W. genuine writing and ROYAL MECHANICAL 4 OPTICAL MUSEUM. drawing figure. It now CARRIED ob vom THE - of THE WIDOW and CHILDREN seems to have lacked OF THE LATE MR. PRILIPSTHAL - P. - - - - - of Webofuld, - - - - - - - recefted bage . - * da be legitimacy and, from a Monday, - April, CLOSE - - lat De the - - what I can learn from MECHANICAL PIECES. - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - newspaper clippings, EXECUTION wasworkedlike "Zoe," mamn ar with a concealed con- or THE LITS sauprio os Mount Vesuvius. federate, or, like the vige TAEEN n REPRESENTING famous "Psycho" fea- HE THUILLERIES. with THE orea THE airea BRING visw oe tured by Maskelyne, it JER USALEM, With the Mount of Olives, was worked by com- -- - - The Viee . - The Ancient GATE at Southampton, pressed air. This bill Colled - Londing - is interesting solely be- - vas PALACA oe THE LATS cause I believe that Emperor Alexander. 2r our ras asvea REVA this fake automaton - PINS or THE Suspension Bridge exhibited at 161 Strand OVER AN ARM OF THB SEA AT MENAL COUNTY or CARNASVON TEAT or was the first figure of - the sort foisted on the CROTESQUE BALLIST. rue FAIRIES' MIDNIGHT REVEL, a, of hasy - public after the Baron The Tragic Scene of Cornelia, The Super " - whe auaso ALIVA, la - of - Romee Von Kemplen chess- Marvellous Tomb Scene / ! player, which is de- - - - a - Qoona, - - Prisco of - - The - - - Automata Rope-Dancera, scribed in Halle's work EN FULL IMITATION or ure, - - Ame - HYDR.UULICS on magic, published in allo 1784. HYDROSTATIC EXPERIMENTS, Fire aus - - In 1901, while in FIREWORKS, Germany, I saw a num- waice F- - ber of these automaton le - . . - SICHOLA, - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bexea, 6d.Pli, -Gellery, ed. artists, all frauds. The . - - - - BICHARD figure sat in a small IIO | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,241 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 241 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Talented Highlanders and most extraordinary Second- Sighted Young Highlanders." These lads, I believe, were three brothers, one the original M'Kean, or the latter working in conjunction with two other boys trained to the tricks in order to secure more impressive results. The trio appeared 1897 Decoration on the broadside used to advertise a young Dutchwoman who created a sensation in the early part of the eighteenth century. From the Harry Houdini Collection. eight years before Robert-Houdin became a professional entertainer. Holland also contributed a successful performer of second-sight tricks, the medium in this case being a Dutchwoman who created a profound sensation while [ 214] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,343 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 343 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Second, John Henry Anderson was not in London when Robert-Houdin arrived there in May, 1848. He was on the Continent, and a bill reproduced will show that he was in Germany in January, 1848, and did not open at the Strand Theatre until December 26th, 1848. Then it was Robert-Houdin who had just returned from the provinces, not Anderson. Anderson had been play- ing the capitals of Europe. Robert-Houdin had been in Manchester, England. Robert-Houdin again skilfully twists the truth to suit his own ends. He actually states that Anderson, return- ing from a tour of the provinces, used a new poster, a caricature of the famous painting, "Napoleon's Return from Elba": "In the foreground Anderson was seen affecting the attitude of the great man; above his head fluttered an enormous banner bearing the words "The Wonder of the World'; while, behind him and somewhat lost in the shade, the Emperor of Russia and several other monarchs stood in a respectful posture. As in the original picture, the fanatic admirers of the Wizard embraced his knees, while an immense crowd received him triumphantly. In the distance could be seen the equestrian statue of the Iron Duke, who, hat in hand, bowed before him, the Great Wizard; and lastly, the very dome of St. Paul's bent towards him most humbly. "At the bottom was the inscription, RETURN OF THE NAPOLEON OF NECROMANCY. "Regarded seriously, this picture would be found a puff in very bad taste; but as a caricature it is excessively [314] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,151 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 151 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Rooms was given under the patronage of such members of the nobility as the Right Honorable Lady Gifford, the Right Honorable Lady H. Stuart Forbes, etc. In an Phillippe and his Scotch assistant, Domingo. The latter became famous as a magician under the name of Macallister, introducing in America Phil. lippe's gift show. From a lithograph in the Harry Houdini Collection. | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,107 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 107 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Robert-Houdin, he brought to America a talking figure invented by Professor Faber of Vienna, to which he refers most entertainingly PALAIS ROYAL, in his address to the pub- Argyll Street, Oxford Circus, W. lic dated 1873: TALKING "The Museum depart- ment contains 100,000 curiosities, including Pro- fessor Faber's wonderful talking machine, costing me $20,000 for its use for six months; also the National Portrait Gallery of one hundred life-size paintings, including all the Presidents of the United States, etc.; John Rogers' groups of historic statuary; almost an end- MACHINE less variety of curiosities, 1 Thc Exhibition is not limited to simple talking. but is enhanced by an including numberless au- esplanstora description of the method of producing the various sounds, words, and sentences, visitors alsc-being aliowed to inspect every part of the Machice. It is rot only interesting to the Scieutific as illustrating the theory tomaton musicians, mech- acoustics, bat to the Rublic in general, especially to the young.-to whom it offers an ineshoustible fund of wonder ald EXHIBITING DAILY From 11 a.m., till 10 p.m. anicians, and moving Admission, 1s. Reserved Seats, 2s. Children, 6d. scenes, etc., etc., made in Hanger advertising the Professor Faber Paris and Geneva." talking machine, exhibited by P. T. Bar- num during 1873 in his museum de- It can be imagined how partment. This automaton was the first talking figure. From the Harry Houdini wonderful this talking Collection. machine must have been when Barnum gave it special emphasis, selecting it from the hundreds of curios he had on exhibition. As this talking machine is probably forgotten, I will reproduce [90] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,103 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 103 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Robert-Houdin injects a little humor into this chapter, for he relates that as Molière and J. J. Rousseau con- sulted their servants, he decided to do likewise; so early the next morning he in- Lebe hich ulu schoene vited his portress and Stadt Dresden her husband, Auguste, a stone-mason, to be pres- else Sode ent at the first perform- ance of the figure. The Les Androides mason's wife chose the question, "What is the vienment reveir emblem of fidelity?" The automaton replied leur pays by drawing a pretty lit- tle greyhound, lying on Specimens of penmanship executed by the Droz writing automaton in 1796 and a cushion. The stone- 1906 respectively. From the brochure mason wished to see the issued by the Society of History and Archaeology, Canton of Neuchatel, Switz- works, saying: "I under- erland. stand about that sort of thing, for I have always greased the vane on the church steeple, and have even taken it down twice." When the work was completed, according to page 208 of the American edition of his "Memoirs," he returned to Paris, collected the remaining two thousand five hundred francs due him from Monsieur G , to whom he delivered the figure, and two thousand francs more on an automatic nightingale made for a rich merchant of St. Petersburg. Incidentally he men- tions that during his absence his business had pros- pered, but he fails to state who managed it for him, and here is where I believe credit should be given Opre, [86] - | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,155 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 155 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Robert-Houdin devotes nearly an entire chapter to the history of Phillippe and a description of his tricks and automata, yet curiously forgets to mention the pastry cook, which he later claims as his own invention. Ernest Basch, formerly of Basch Brothers, conjurers, and the richest manufacturer of illusions in the world, claims that the original trick is now in his possession. Herr Basch is located in Hanover, Germany, where he builds large illusions only. The wonderful mechanical house passed to Basch by a bequest on the death of Baron von Sandhovel, a wealthy resident of Amsterdam, Holland. Von Sandhovel had bought the trick from the heirs of Robert-Houdin on the death of the latter, because he believed it to be the brain and handwork of Opre, a Dutch mechanician of great talent. Ernest Basch shares this belief, and with other well-read conjurers thinks that Opre was Robert-Houdin's assistant and built most of his automata, including The Pastry Cook of the Palais Royal, The Windmill or Dutch Inn, Auriel and Debureau, The French Gymnasts, The Harlequin, and The Chausseur. Opre was a man of ability, but lacked presence and personality properly to present his inventions. So far I have found his name in three places only: On the frontispiece of a Dutch book on magic, published in Amsterdam; in Ernest Basch's correspondence about conjurers; and on page 77 of Robert-Houdin's "Mem- oirs," when he speaks of Opre as the maker of the Harlequin figure which Torrini asked Robert-Houdin to repair during their travels. With such convincing proof, some of which was con- [138] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,333 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 333 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Pierced by a lance, he lay upon the ground apparently dead. A Cossack callously roamed among the dead and dying, rifling pockets and belts. When he came to the form of Bosco, that youth feigned death, knowing that resistance to the ghoul meant a death wound. But while the Cossack robbed the Italian soldier, the latter stealthily raised his unwounded arm and by sleight-of-hand rifled the well-filled pockets of the ghoul, which fact was not discovered by the Cossack until he was far from the field of the dead and dying, where he had left one of the enemy considerably better off, thanks to Bosco's conjuring gifts. Later Bosco was sent captive to Siberia, where he per- fected his sleight-of-hand while amusing fellow-prisoners and jailers. In 1814 he was released and returned to his native land, where he studied medicine, but eventually decided to become a public entertainer. He was not only a clever entertainer, but a good business man, and he planned each year on saving enough money to insure a life of ease in his old age. But events intervened to ruin all his well-laid plans. The sins of his youth brought their penalty. An illegitimate son, Eugene, became a heavy drag upon the retired magician, who was com- pelled to pay large sums to the young man in order to prevent his playing in either France or Germany or as- suming the name of Bosco. In a German antiquary's shop at Bonn on the Rhine I found an agreement in which Bosco agreed to pay this youth five thousand francs for not using the name of Bosco. This agreement is too long for reproduction in this volume, but unques- tionably it is genuine and tells all too eloquently the troubles which beset Bosco in his old age. [304] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,57 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 57 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Pastry Cook of the Palais Royal, The Vaulting Trapeze Automaton, and the Writing and Drawing Figure. His fame, which has been sung by writers of magic without number since his death, rests principally on the invention of second sight, suspension, and the writing and drawing automaton. It is my intention to trace the true history of each of these tricks and of all others to which he laid claim as inventor, and show just how small a proportion of the credit was due to Robert-Houdin and how much he owed to magicians who preceded him and whose brain-work he claimed as his own. [50] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,79 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 79 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Museum (ii-33) in 177° in the list of the party who called themselves the King's friends. He died March 17th, 1783, aged 73, and was buried in St. Martin's-in-the- Fields. His will, which was very curious, is printed in full in The Horological Journal of November, 1895. One of his daughters married William Hebb, who was described as 'son-in-law and successor of the late Mr. Pinchbeck at his shop in Cockspur Street' (imprinted on Pinchbeck's portrait), whose son Christopher Henry Hebb (1772- 1861) practised as a surgeon in Worcester. There is in existence a portrait of Christopher Pinchbeck the younger, by Cunningham, engraved by W. Humphrey." The mezzotints of the Pinchbecks, father and son, herewith reproduced, are extremely rare, and when I un- earthed them in Berlin I felt myself singularly favored in securing two such treasures of great value to the history of magic. S. Wohl, the antiquarian and dealer from whom they were purchased, acquired them during a tour of old book and print shops in England, and thought them portraits of one and the same person; but by studying the names of the artists and the engravers on the two pic- tures, it will be seen that they set forth the features of father and son, as indicated by the biographical notes quoted above. Of the early history of Fawkes, whose brilliant stage performance lent to the Pinchbeck automata a new lustre, little is known. It is practically impossible to trace his family history. His Christian name was never used on his billing nor published in papers or magazines, and after repeated failures I was about to give up the task of discovering it, when in I904, aided by R. Bennett, [62] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,147 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 147 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN London, and went on to Aberdecn, Scotland, where he was very soon reduced to sore straits. In his hour of Reproduction of pastel portrait of Phillippe. Only known likeness of the conjurer in existence. Made for him by a Vienna artist. Original now in the Harry Houdini Collection. extremity his cleverness saved the day. In Aberdeen at the same time was a company of actors almost as unfortu- nate as himself. They were presenting a pantomime [ 130] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,163 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 163 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN John Henry Anderson, wife and son, from a rare photograph taken in 1847 or 1848. Said to be an especially good likeness of Mrs. Anderson and the only one extant. Photograph loaned by Mrs. Leona A. |Anderson, daughter-in- law of the " Wizard of the North." [146] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,47 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 47 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Jean-Eugene returned to his family in Blois. During the next few years he mixed amateur acting with his daily labor, leaning more and more toward the profes- sion of public entertainer. But his ambitions along this line were nipped in the bud by ST. JAMES'S THEATRE marriage. Mademoiselle Houdin, Menday, March 28, And Curing the Week. whose father was a celebrated GREAT FREACN CONJOREA, watchmaker in Paris, visited old friends in Blois, their native town, and became the fiancée of young Robert. As the new son-in-law was to share the elder Houdin's business and naturally wished to secure such benefits as might ac- crue from SO celebrated a family - - sy Mest Gracions Majesty " of watch and clock makers, he -- - mas - - - vamar, masom se, sessy at THEE ABOVE DURING SASTER wase. applied to the council of state SVERY - - à DAY PERFORMANCE and secured the right to annex MESBAY & SATURBAY "Houdin" to his name, Jean- masom so APRIL " Eugene Robert, and thereafter was vervass known only as Robert-Houdin. His life between 1838 and 1844 Poster used by Robert- Houdin during an Easter was divided between reading every engagement at the St. James Theatre, London. work obtainable on magic, and his From the Harry Houdini duties in his father-in-law's shop, Collection. where he not only made and re- paired clocks, but built and repaired automata of various sorts. His family shared with him many financial vicissi- tudes, and about 1842-43 his first wife died, leaving him with three young children to raise. Earlier in his "Mem- oirs" he speaks of having four children, so it is more [40] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,251 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 251 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Inventions are a matter of evolution, but as the tricks which Robert-Houdin presented in his new répertoire were not new, he was able to offer them as the result of three months' work. To the expert mechanician or builder of conjuring apparatus his claim is farcical. The ST. JAMESS THEATRE, - - STs THRATRE - DAY PERFORMANCE - WEDVESDAY MORMING 1846 suns 7, 1848 SOIREES A ALMO - SOIREES ANTASTIQUES, - ov - at TUESDAY, THURSDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY, SATURDAY EVENINGS, SATURDAY EVENINGS, - a - - - INVENTSD SV - - - - - - - - - - is . the - - - - - - . - - - - - E - . - - - - - - - - n - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --- Sottle, vea .... -- SESPENSION vva, sa Parvars - Poster used by Robert-Houdin during his first London engagement, featuring suspension. From the Harry Houdini Collection. majority of the tricks mentioned require skilled hands and infinite patience, if they work in a way that will completely deceive the public. Particularly is this true of the first suspension apparatus such as Robert-Houdin must have used. This included a steel corset or frame for the sub- ject, and both the corset and the supporting rods had to [224] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,117 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 117 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN In support of this advertisement, note what the same paper says in what is probably a criticism of current amusements: "This entertainment consists of three capital mechan- ical figures and a pastoral scene, with figures of an inferior size. The figure on the left-hand side, a beautiful boy as large as life, writes anything that is dictated to him, in a very fine hand. The second on the right hand, of the same size, draws various landscapes, etc., etc., which he Heads of King George and Queen Charlotte, executed in their presence by the Jacquet-Droz drawing figure in 1774. From the brochure issued by the Society of History and Archarology. Canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. finishes in a most accurate and masterly style. The third figure is a beautiful young lady who plays several elegant airs on the harpsichord, with all the bass accom- paniments; her head gracefully moving to the tune, and her bosom discovering a delicate respiration. During her performance, the pastoral scene in the centre discovers a variety of mechanical figures admirably grouped, all of which seem endued, as it were, with animal life, to the admiration of the spectator. The last curiosity is a canary bird in a cage, which whistles two or three airs in [ IOO] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,124 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 124 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN In quite a few works on automata, notably Sir David Brewster's "Letters on Natural Magic," Collinson is quoted as having interviewed Maillardet as the inventor of the combination writing and drawing figure. The Franklin Journal of June, 1827, published in Philadel- phia, Pa., credits this figure to Maillardet and gives the following description: "It was the figure of a boy kneeling on one knee, holding a pencil in his hand, with which he executed not only writing but drawings equal to those of RATIONAL ENTERTAPNMEN'PS during LEPSTAL and AUTOMATICAL THWATRE Strand, will open svery Eventeg: The l'erformances consist of a grost many loge= tion. n pircesol For further Mechaniser- perticolars with the and see highese Optical hand Recreations, bille The apprubs- whole which ous marks of under the Mr. LODIS, Asaistanc Engineer, who will his otmost exeratona to promate the Proprietors. that of offering to an enlightened Public a Conraé of of a,superiar natuze, 35. Ph Cattery and bayin preciedly at 9. Places for the Boxes may DU taken at march1812 Clipping from the London Telegraph in March, 1819, proving the partner- ship of de Philipsthal and Maillardet in an "Automatical Theatre." The Mr. Louis mentioned in the advertisement as assistant engineer later secured pos- session of the writing and drawing figure. From the Harry Houdini Collection. the masters. When the figure began to work, an attend- ant dipped the pencil in ink, and fixed the paper, when, on touching a spring, the figure wrote a line, carefully dotting and stroking the letters." The Robert-Houdin figure did not kneel, but this change could be made by a mechanician of ordinary ability. The writing and drawing figure does not reappear on amusement programmes in my collection until 1812, when it was featured by De Philipsthal, the inventor of "Phan- [ 107 ] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,191 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 191 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN I am reproducing herewith a number of programmes describing the effect of the trick and proving that it was no novelty when Robert-Houdin "invented" it. In fact the trick was so common that only the supreme egotism BRESLAW Reproduction of a triple colored lithograph. This section features Breslaw in stage costume. Original in the Harry Houdini Collection. of the man can explain his having introduced it into the pages of his book as an original trick. The mysterious clock worked by the counterweight, which has been [ 164 ] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,181 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 181 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN I am reproducing herewith a number of programmes describing the effect of the trick and proving that it was no novelty when Robert-Houdin "invented" it. In fact the trick was so common that only the supreme egotism BRESLAW Reproduction of a triple colored lithograph. This section features Breslaw in stage costume. Original in the Harry Houdini Collection. of the man can explain his having introduced it into the pages of his book as an original trick. The mysterious clock worked by the counterweight, which has been 164 | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,97 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 97 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN He had two left, so he hurried back to offer these to Pinetti. Pinetti bought them from him, opened them and showed in each one the gold piece, which the young man could not find in the two dozen cakes which he had spoilt. The poor boy bit his lips and looked at Pinetti with wondering, frightened eyes. This little adventure was advertised here, there, and everywhere, and was told in the clubs and in the society gatherings, and very soon the name of Pinetti gave the key to the enigma, and Pinetti was in demand by everybody. "When Pinetti came on the stage, he had the knack of attracting members of the nobility around his table, by letting them learn some small secrets. This would render them confederates in working his tricks. He would appear in rich suits, embroidered in gold, which he changed three and four times in the evening. He would not hesitate to deck himself in a quantity of foreign decora- tions. In Berlin it was told how Pinetti would go through the streets, in a carriage drawn by four white horses. He was clad in fine embroidery and decorated with medals of all nations. Several times it happened that, as he passed by, the soldiers would call arms and salute, taking him for a prince. One day the King of Prussia rode out in his modest carriage drawn by two horses. Ahead of him drove the supposed prince. When the King witnessed the mistake made by his soldiers, he made inquiries as to the rank of this man to whom his men were paying such honor, then gave the Cavalier Pinetti twenty-four hours to get beyond Prussia's borders." Whatever may be said of Pinetti's charlatanism, it must be admitted that he gave to the art of conjuring a [80] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,75 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 75 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Fawkes, he had a master-producer of his tricks. Christo- pher Pinchbeck never appeared on the program used by Fawkes, save as the maker of the automata or apparatus, but directly after the death of the elder Fawkes, and a few months before his own, the elder Pinchbeck ap- peared with the son of his deceased partner, and was advertised as doing "the Dexterity of Hand" performance. This indicates that he was inducting young Fawkes into all the mysteries of the profession at which the two elder men, as friends and business partners, had done so well. Christopher Pinchbeck was survived by two sons, Edward and Christopher, Jr. Edward, the elder, suc- ceeded to his father's shop and regular business. He was born about 1703, and was well along in years when he entered into his patrimony, which he advertised in The `Daily Post of November 27th, 1732, as follows: "The toys made of the late Mr. Pinchbeck's curious metal are now sold only by his son and sole executor, Mr. Edward Pinchbeck." This announcement settles forever the oft-disputed question as to whether the alloy of copper and zinc which bears the name of Pinchbeck was invented by Christopher Pinchbeck, Sr., or by his son Christopher, Jr. All newspaper and magazine descriptions of the auto- mata invented by the elder Pinchbeck indicate that his hand was as cunning as his brain was inventive, for they showed the most delicate mechanism, and included entire landscapes with figures of rare grace in motion. "Christopher, the second son of Christopher Pinch- beck the elder," continues the biographical sketch, "was born about I7IO and possessed great mechanical ingenuity. [ 58 ] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,173 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 173 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN FOR THE BENEFIT OF sig. B. Eagle trick is nothing short of far- ANU THE cical. Last Night of his Engagement beatre, The follnoing Natrect " from the Yord C'ourent of The Cabalistic or Obedient Blase Clock ... - - bed sed - There might be said to exist - ******* - de ... ... On FRIDAY Evening, Nov 9th, 1838, a very reasonable doubt as to Will be the Pette of the Green-Eyed the exact date at which Rob- Monster ert-Houdin produced the caba- Rome Mr Lirlect Mr Morley M. Manke, listic clock which he included J. Smediry Mewn. King-tue Witterheld Cady Mrs. Leknord Ameha, Mr. Sbort Louser, Smedie, APTER among his other doubtful Signior Bernardo Eagle WILL COMMENO "IS claims to inventions. GRAND DISPLAY OF ILLUSIONS. PART FIRST, The Enchanted Canle-The Card of Lede's dismered D, On page 250 of the Ameri- Cards-the Feas of la Coup.or bee - - and " the leteus in Gomestera The Walking Cards, can edition of his "Memoirs" " ill place Park of 'ards again the tomand then wnw + Perpendiculen one byone to thave of the bead feal, ever with he has the Cabalistic Clock on The Enchanted Orange. THS MAGIC WINE BOTTLE, PHE EXTRAORDINARY COBLET OF BACCHUS WITH THE ENCHANTED WATER. his opening programme for THE VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE PIG, Which will appeas os the Table and instently vanish before the tyye of the Audiense And on the occamon Mr F July 3d, 1845, but in the ap- Will change e Quentity of Copper, taten ont of any Gentleman's Pocket, into Silver. the reul Com of the Rraim A LADY's HANDKERCHIEF will be lound conveyed to the ceaire of LEMON pendix of the French edition THE CHEST OF DOCTOK MICHAEL NOSTRADAME'S, THE FRENCH WIZARD he states that the clock first The conderfal INnuon perfortned and must be seen to be belueved. THIS PANT WILL CONCLUDE "ITH A Grand CHINESE EXPERIMENT, NINS SOLID STEEL BINOS. made its appearance at the the Parta of the Iilusions be aill recite an Tale. earitled GINEVRA DONATI: . leaghable Story. as recited by hun on several at the PICKWICK CLL B. an Louden with gvret applause… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,217 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 217 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN FLORA'S GIFTS. HERR DOBLER Ludwig Döbler in his prime, offering his most popular trick, "The Creation of Flowers." From a rare lithograph in the Harry Houdini Collection. [ I90 ] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,287 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 287 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Emperor of all Conjurora. and then ordered to be put down to roast. After performing some tricks, Uader the Patronage of Her Royal Highness the Frincess of Wala you recollect the shoulder LYCEUM, STRAND. of mutton, which is No Performance Wedneodaye er Fridayo. during Lent immediately brought Mr. Ingleby, half-roasted, and after THE GREATEST MAN IN THEWORLD, cutting it for some time In his Profession, you at length find the informs the Nobility, Gentry, and la geweral, the le Conso- quesce of the Art of Deception, he has hed conferred upee him the Tide of es EMPEROR or ALL by sumoromo card, and produce it. of Condomen particularly through the Triek of Pown's Assa and a to Lib and for no Mon anem the - way but therefore, the Hond of bie and all remieds Man oult er the "Explanation: The Ase de the Lios's 'The Os and the "reg," No of de Worl, "Having forced a card MONDAY, Feb. 29, 1908, Tuceday, Narch 1, Thureday 3, and Saturday, 5. on one of the company, PART 1. your confederate has an Mr. INGLEBY, and his merituzious Family, FROJ DONDER, SCOTLJIND. tha go Nie and - by opportunity, when the DEXTERITY OF HAND, mutton is sent to be Tach . - never before H - dod , - ef - Mabilly . - - M- INGI roasted, of conveying a Comment - - de whole Compité - way brash des, - Child - - - Ba - la Bome - and - - - - part a the Feck, and lay dem the Flom: - thin duplicate of that le firma - Na Fosi - - of Band. Park of - - Banda, - - alsing - - Cark, - - - - Card - - - - de - - card folded into a narrow HIS PIXIDES METALLURGY. As - the - ", - gha - - . - Pages . - w - at compass into the fleshy - of farma - - is des - the al the think which - - Page - le - - nittes are el - - visi they - - / el - - Mald . - - - - the the - - The - - the Wifs. - - de was n. ber W by - be surá part near the shank, An Operation in Popsomance, - INGA,ROY - de to Thragiti of *** Prissa la Cospley, Qws. which can be easily done Ma - also - Thonghe a Fira - the et - Writts , CUT A FOWL'S HEAD OFF, by means of a sharp a my othe… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,129 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 129 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN During this interim, that is between 1821 and 1833, the famous little figure seems to have been in the posses- sion of one Schmidt, who, according to the programmes in my collection, exhibited it regularly. In 1833 Schmidt is programmed in London, playing at the Surrey Theatre, when the writing and drawing figure is one of twenty-four automatic devices. A pro- gram, which, judging from its printing, is of a still later date, announces Mr. Schmidt and the famous figure at New Gothic Hall, 7 Haymarket, for a short period pre- vious to the removal of the exhibit to St. Petersburg. The dates of other programmes in my collection can be judged only from the style of printing which changed at different periods of the art's development. Some of these indicate that the writing and drawing figure was on exhibition during the early 40's in London at Paul's Head Assembly Rooms, Argyle Rooms, Regent Street, etc. It is more than likely, according to Robert-Houdin's own admission regarding his study of automata and his opportunities to repair those left at his shop, that at some time the writing and drawing figure was brought to Paris to be exhibited, needed repairing, and thus reached his shop. Whether it was bought by Monsieur G , whose interest in automata is featured in Robert-Houdin's "Memoirs," and brought to Robert-Houdin to repair, or whether Robert-Houdin bought it for a song, and repaired it to sell to advantage to his wealthy patron, cannot be stated, but I am morally certain that Robert-Houdin never constructed, in eighteen months, a complicated mech- anism on which the Jacquet-Drozes spent six years of [ 112] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,141 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 141 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN DOVER, February 10th, 1867. MR. EVANION DEAR SIR-Yours of the 5th inst. I received just as I was leaving Folkestown, and it was forwarded from Guilford. I am sorry I have not one of my old bills with me, neither do I think any of my family could find one at home. I may have some among my old conjuring things, and when I return to Guilford I will look them over and send you what I can find. I was sorry I was not at home when you were in Guil- ford, for I feel much pleasure in meeting a responsible profes- sional. I am not certain when I shall return, but most likely not for six wecks. I will keep your address; so should you change your residence, write to me about that time. I was looking over some old papers some time last sum- mer, and found a bill of my father's, nearly 60 years ago, when his great trick was cutting off the cock's head and restoring it to life again. And a great wonder it was considered and brought crowded rooms. I was Master Gyngell, the wonderful performer on the slack wire; and now in my 7ist year I am lecturer, pyrotechnist, and high-rope walker, for I did that last summer. My life has been a simple one of ups and downs. Iam, dear sir, yours truly, J. D. G. GYNGELL. The signature of this letter, "J. D. G. Gyngell," clears up considerable uncertainty regarding the names of the two Gyngell sons. At times the clever young tight-rope performer has been spoken of as Joseph, and at others as Gellini. It is quite probable that the two names were really part of one, and the full baptismal name was "Joseph D. Gellini." It was as Gellini Gyngell that he met Henry Evanion at Deal, February 20th, 1862, when the latter was performing as a magician at the Deal and Walmer Institute, while Gellini Gyngell gave an exhibi- tion of fireworks and a magic-lantern display on the [124] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,179 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 179 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Collinson Reproduction of rare engraving of Johann Nep. Hofzinser, who invented the clock worked by a counter-weight, and who was one of the world's great- est card tricksters. Original in the Harry Houdini Collection. it [162] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,161 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 161 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN CONJURER UNMASKED OR the Ant of Height of hand Reproduction of frontispiece in Breslaw's book on magic, "The Last Legacy," published in 1782. Original in the Harry Houdini Collection. [ (444) | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,111 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 111 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN At this time his work attracted the attention of Lord Keith, Governor of Neuchâtel, then a province of Prussia, who induced the young inventor to visit the court of Ferdinand VI. of Spain, providing the necessary intro- ductions. Pierre Jacquet- Droz remained for some time in Madrid and made a clock of most complicated pattern. This was a perpetual calen- dar. For hands, he utilized artificial sunbeams, shooting out from the sun's face which formed the dial, to denote the hours, days, etc. With the money received from the Henri-Louis Jacquet-Droz, son Spanish monarch he returned of Pierre Jacquet-Droz, and the to Switzerland to find that his superior of his father as a mecha- nician. Born Oct. 13th, 1752, died son, Henri-Louis, had inher- November 15th, 1791. From the Jaquet-Droz brochure, issued by ited his remarkable inventive the Neuchâtel Society of History and Archaeology. gifts. He sent his boy to Nancy to study music, draw- ing, mechanics, and physics. During his son's absence in all probability he produced the first of the marvellous automata which made the Jacquet-Drozes famous the modern world over, namely, the writing figure. With the return of Henri-Louis Jacquet-Droz from college commenced what may be termed the golden age of mechanics in Switzerland. Associated with father and son were the former's pupils or apprentices, Jean- Frédéric Leschot, Jean-David Maillardet, and Jean Pierre Droz, a blood relation who afterward became director of [ 94] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,271 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 271 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Alexander called this trick "The Spirit Bell," an worked by one method or another, it has been used many magicians. Some employ a thread and hoo " EXPRADRDINARIA HERR ALEXANDER, - atiss LN EN EL SALORK DE LA H ERR ALENANDER, al tribetar al martable Publire de les - - - agraderimirates per la brenela acejido que le la digresado. di * que dara, a prticios de markas que le ree sa des dinarias, a que se ejecularáe las serries mas serpredentes, que se has tiste es las asteriores, ... *gunas etras sernas ! myy asembresar. La fencios * hoy se dislinguira per la mas tifril I mas admirable sarrie. EL XILIGRO DEL I\DOSTIT. O EL SISPEIDIDO ll El URE. ORDEN DE LA FUNCION. del mode é 7. PARTE. 2.CHRTE. gelota 1.--1 1. 2-11 del emable. 4.-1sva cumplido %.- 6.-La recomendacion 6.-U nomo del herhicero oriental; suspendedo va el ENTRADA GENERAL. quente numerado. pur - auche pres. per Alexander Heimburger presenting the suspension trick during his engageme in Brazil. From the Harry Houdini Collection. causing the clapper to strike by pulling the thread whic runs through an innocent-looking ribbon on which tl [242 ] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,95 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 95 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN 8 the JOSEPH PINETT! wh Day genier placess to bunke de A le Preferrer PINE T T2) Bown to ample des Arts, does inition our 2 Phinique or of Medications Frontispiece of Pinetti's book, "Amusements Physiques," pub- lished in Paris. 1785, one of the first treasures of the Evanion Collec- tion purchased by the author. [78] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,335 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 335 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN 2nd, 1863. His wife died three years later and was interred in the grave with her husband in a cemetery on Frie- drichstrasse. There was nothing on the tombstone to indi- cate the double interment, and I discovered the fact only by investigating the municipal and cemetery records. A Bar tolomeo Besco The author at the grave of Bosco. From a photograph in the Harry Houdini Collection. Here I also learned that the grave had merely been leased, and as the lease was about to expire the bones of the great conjurer and his faithful wife might soon be disinterred and reburied in a neglected corner of the [306] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,201 | 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] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,43 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 43 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN - [36] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,341 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 341 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN "Unfortunately for the Wizard, his performances were attacked by a mortal disease; too long a stay in London had ended by producing satiety. Besides, his repertory was out-of-date, and could not contend against the new tricks which I was offering. What could he present to the public in opposition to the second sight, the suspen- sion, and the inexhaustible bottle Hence he was obliged to close his theatre and start for the provinces, where he managed, as usual, to make excellent receipts, owing to his powerful means of notoriety." In the first place, Robert Houdin insinuates that when they played in opposition John Henry Anderson's réper- toire was stale and uninteresting. Is it possible that Robert-Houdin could not read Anderson's bills, or were his statements deliberate falsehoods, emanating from a malicious, wilful desire to injure Anderson ? What did Anderson have to offer in opposition to Robert- Houdin's nuch-vaunted Suspension, Second Sight, and Inexhaustible Bottle ? Consult the Anderson programme, reproduced, and you will find that the great Wizard of the North duplicated the French conjurer's répertoire. "The Ethereal Suspension" of Robert-Houdin's programme was "Suspension Chloroforeene" on Anderson's. Second Sight appeared on both bills. "The Inexhaustible Bottle" had wisely been dropped by Anderson because he had been using it in one form or another for ten years preced- ing the date of Robert-Houdin's appearance in London, as is proven in chapter IX. of this book. Therefore, if Anderson's programme was passé and uninteresting, so also must have been the one offered by Robert-Houdin! [312] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,189 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 189 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN "Two ELEGANT AUTOMATA "As large as nature, the one representing a beautiful POLONNESE, the other a little boy. "Nothing can surpass the admirable construction of these Pieces. The large figure seems almost endowed with human Faculties, exhibiting the usual feats of a Rope-Dancer, in the fullest limitation of life. The small Figure is invested with equally astonishing powers of action. To such ladies as are spectators it must be a very pleasing circumstance that these exertions do not excite those disagreeable sensations which arise from the sight of Figures fraught with life, performing feats attended with so much danger." By referring to page II3 the reader will find a Schmidt programme, dated 1827, on which the figure is featured as follows: "THE ROPE DANCER, "Whose surprising performances surpass, in agility, attitudes, and evolutions, every Professor of the art, keep- ing correct time to the music of the machinery." A Gyngell programme, dated 1823, which is reproduced in the chapter devoted to "The Pastry Cook of the Palais Royal," page I25, reads as follows: "Two automatons, one of which will execute wonderful feats on the tight rope, and the other dance a characteristic hornpipe." As Gyngell figured in the amusement world from 1788 to 1844, the little figure must have been tolerably well known to the magic-loving public of England by the time Robert-Houdin appeared in London in 1848. A magician named York, who appeared in London in [172] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,199 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 199 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN "Two ELEGANT AUTOMATA "As large as nature, the one representing a beautiful POLONNESE, the other a little boy. "Nothing can surpass the admirable construction of these Pieces. The large figure seems almost endowed with human Faculties, exhibiting the usual feats of a Rope-Dancer, in the fullest limitation of life. The small Figure is invested with equally astonishing powers of action. To such ladies as are spectators it must be a very pleasing circumstance that these exertions do not excite those disagreeable sensations which arise from the sight of Figures fraught with life, performing feats attended with so much danger." By referring to page II3 the reader will find a Schmidt programme, dated 1827, on which the figure is featured as follows: "THE ROPE DANCER, "Whose surprising performances surpass, in agility, attitudes, and evolutions, every Professor of the art, keep- ing correct time to the music of the machinery." A Gyngell programme, dated 1823, which is reproduced in the chapter devoted to "The Pastry Cook of the Palais Royal," page I25, reads as follows: "Two automatons, one of which will execute wonderful feats on the tight rope, and the other dance a characteristic hornpipe." As Gyngell figured in the amusement world from 1788 to 1844, the little figure must have been tolerably well known to the magic-loving public of England by the time Robert-Houdin appeared in London in 1848. A magician named York, who appeared in London in [172] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,153 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 153 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN "PART III. "An unexpected present at once gratuitous and laugh- able, composed of twelve prizes, nine lucky and three unfortunate, in which the general public will participate." He also continued to distribute bonbons from an in- exhaustible source, probably a cornucopia, calling this trick "a new system of making sweetmeats, or Le Confiseur Moderne." During his first engagement in Vienna he had painted for advertising purposes a pastel portrait, showing him clad in his magician's robes at the finale of the goldfish trick. From this picture his later cuts were made. By some mistake he left the original pastel in Vienna, where I bought it at a special sale for my collection. It re- mains an exquisite piece of color work, even at this day. So far it is the only real likeness of Phillippe I have been able to unearth. In 1845-46 he was at the height of his popularity in London, where he had a tremendous run. In June, 1845, we find him playing at the St. James Theatre, under Mitchell's direction, and on September 29th, under his own management, he moves to the Strand, where he is still found in January of 1846. During all this time he featured The Pastry Cook of the Palais Royal under the title of "Le Confiseur Galant." As proofs that Phillippe used the pastry-cook trick both before and during Robert-Houdin's career as a magician, I offer several programmes containing accurate descrip- tions of the automaton, and also a page illustration from a current publication dated Paris, 1843, which shows the [136] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,295 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 295 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN "Memoirs"; and while he does not feature exposures of tricks in this work, he offers, in passing, explanations of tricks and automata presented by other magicians. For the most part these explanations are obviously incorrect, and so prove that he was ignorant of certain fundamental principles of the art in which he claimed to have shone. In the introduction of the American edition, published in 1850, Mr. Mackenzie, the editor, thus apologizes for one of Robert-Houdin's most flagrant mistakes in tracing the history of magic: "One error which M. Houdin makes must not be passed over. His account of M. de Kempelen's cele- brated automaton chess-player (afterward Maëlzel's) is entirely wrong. This remarkable piece of mechanism was constructed in 1769, and not in I796; it was the Empress Maria-Theresa of Austria who played with it, and not Catherine II. of Russia; it was in 1783 that it first visited Paris, where it played at the Café de la Regence; it was not taken to London until 1784, and again in 1819; it was brought to America in 1825, by M. Maëlzel, and visited our principal cities, its chief resting- place being Philadelphia; M. Maëlzel's death was in 1838, on the voyage from Cuba to the United States, and not, as M. Houdin says, on his return to France; and the automaton, so far from being taken back to France, was sold by auction here, finally purchased by the late Dr. J. K. Mitchell, of Philadelphia, reconstructed by him, and finally deposited in the Chinese Museum (formerly Peale's), where it was consumed in the great fire which destroyed the National Theatre (now the site of the Continental Hotel, corner of Ninth and Chestnut Streets), [ 266 ] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,77 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 77 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN "He was a member and at one time president of the Smeatonian Society, the precursor of the Institution of Civil Engineers. In 1702 he devised a self-acting pneu- matic brake for preventing accidents to the men employed in working wheel-crancs. In The Gentlemen's Magazine for June, 1765, page 296, it is recorded that Messrs. Pinchbeck and Norton had made a complicated astro- it the Conk and Half Moan Tavern in Temple- Bar, r HE famons Mr. FAWKS performi moft furpriting Trick by Desterity of Hand, with Regi, curions India Birds, Mice and Money, Which Curionits no Perfon In the dom cari presend to thom To- gether with the Activity of Body perform'd by his Polture Maller, bring 9 Boy about Ten Years of Age, who Far - ceeds all that ever in Eumpe. Who Transforms his Body into fuch a various Shapes, 21 Curpaties human Faith to believe our Geting. Likewite the Rezilan Searamouch Dance, with two four Note, Legs, We have and the bur had Printe. the Body, Honour and prefent Majchy Headi, one to the Admiration of all to perterm before bis ling George, att the Quality of the whote Kirg- dom. with great Applaufe. Beginning evary Evening precifely it N.B. Any Gentiemen or Ladies may have 2 private Performance any Tirm of the Day, giving an Mour's Notick. An early Fawkes advertisement, clipped from a London paper of 1795. From the Harry Houdini Collection. noinical clock for the Queen's house, some of the cal- culations of the wheel having been made by James Fer- guson, the astronomer. There is no proof that Pinchbeck and Norton were ever in partnership, and there are now two clocks answering to the description at Buckingham Palace, one by Pinchbeck, with four dials and of a very complicated construction, and another by Norton. "Pinchbeck took out three patents: the first (No: 892), granted 1768, was for an improved candlestick with a [60] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,213 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 213 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN " THE GREAT WIZARD OF THE NORTH," Performing hie triak of POURING FOUR DIFFERENT LIQUIDS FROM ONE BOTTLE. Reproduction of a political cartoon in Punch, published during Anderson's London engagement, April, 1843, proving that the Inexhaustible Bottle Trick" was used by Anderson before Robert-Houdin was a professional entertainer. From the Harry Houdini Collection. [ 186] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,259 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 259 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOU esraping from a bladder or tube. When the blanket was again withdrawn, the conjurer wa on the ground. The mystery was supposed to have been sol Sheshal, commonly known as "the Brahmin of exhibited the trick in 1832 in Madras. It was that his stool was ornamented with two inlaid it was suggested that one of these might concea for a steel rod. passing through the bamboo, another rod. screwed to the perpendicular one ..... In the piece of hide, might be connect ```... of the same metal, passing up the S ...... inc. and forming a circular seat. : was not far from the truth, : is means the greatest of authorities "A i. : this particular instance I be is correct. information I have that wonderful F soll Ching Lau Lauro. Presumab and from the programmes in my fart in England, in 18:28 perform between scenes of - and Jerry," at the one of Ching L. de passibly di veir and . - : - ..... this | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,149 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 149 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBER'T-HOUDIN how Phillippe started his career as a pastry cook in the household of one Lord Panmure, and I quote this literally from the Anderson book, because I believe it to be truth- STRAND THEATRE, OPEN EVERY EVENING. Stalls S. nexes Se. PIS ls. Gallery MODERN MIRACLES. PART compree N. end convelled aed Fente . MAGICAL DELUSIONS: Including his peculas and enequalied ETAMORPHOSES AND ASTONISHING DECEPTIONS Part The Celebrated Cossack asd Automatos . or, the Chereed The Gallant Cunfectioner Dovee " the for Graise! The Taller Herlequie: Lesses Ladies," or . New Method Th. Firet Part terminate wirA the Admind GRAND DISTRIBUTION OF THE NATIONAL FLAGI! Ae of Tee beteese esch Part. PART " THE NEW BALLET RICHE D'AMOUR Due de Lency. Mile CONSTANCE CHIARINI, Le Narquise de Pompadour, (se ANUELO CHIARINL L. Petile PACLINE CHIARINI, Rigolard, In the couras of the Baliet, will be introduced LE MINUET OF LOUIS xv. PART / THE EXTRAURDINARY MERICAN BROTHERS their Uerque Scone, estitied OLYMPIC GAMBOLS, chich of thete they - FEATS OF AGILITY, - gressest and astenishment, and Malled of PART IV NICHT IN THE PALACE OF PEKIN, M. Phillippe perform some of the most Extraordinery Tours d'Adresse, sacluding his most brilliant and INDIAN AND CHINESE FEATS! consisting of the - surprising Feals eser attempled by any entitled The Enchanted Orange-The Mymie Sugar Loaf and Flying Handkercheefs Monsieur Meg and the Rose of from which will appras Scottich in full Costome, who will dance the Higbland Flag-The Magie Seppee of or, The Cook Benuched The Hat of Good hassuble including the Grend Europese Bessar and Flore's Gift. The Entertaismente ill cosclode with, EACH EVENINO, the Aslounding Supprieing emitled LES BASSINS DE NEPTUNE LES ET POISSONS D'OR AND THE GRAND EBIE! Unanimoualy presounced to be the most inexplicable Tovas DR Paverque and Nightly bose received ith the most rapteroue praie of ada - Dooss to be epened at a Quarter*past 7. Pesformance to commence Quastes so : The séose Pregremme us the most Novel le Londos… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,40 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 40 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBER'T-HOUDIN - CHAPTER I SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF ROBERT-EOUDIN R OBERT-HOUDIN was born in Blois, France; December 6th, 1805. His real name was Jean-Eugene Robert, and his father was Prosper Robert, a watchmaker in moderate circum- stances. His mother's maiden name was Marie Catherine Guillon. His first wife was Josephe Cecile Eglantine Houdin, whose family name he assumed for business rea- sons. He was married the second time to Françoise Mar- guerite Olympe Naconnier. His death, caused by pneu- monia, occurred at St. Gervais, France, on June 13th, 1871. Barring the above facts, which were gleaned from the register of the civil authorities of St. Gervais, all information regarding his life previous to his first public appearance in 1844 must be drawn from his own works, particularly from his autobigraphy, published in the form of "Memoirs." Because of his supreme egotism, his obvious desire to make his autobiography picturesque and interesting rather than historically correct, and his utter indifference to dates, exact names of places, theatres, books, etc., it is extremely hard to present logical and con- 3 [33] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,188 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 188 | THE TRAPEZE AUTOMATON by giving the handle a quarter of a turn to the left, the automaton, whose arms are parallel to the horizon, lift themselves by little and little, till they become vertical and parallel to the rest of the body; if in following the same direction, the other part of the body moves forward; and by watching the motions through a hole, he seizes the instant that a leg passes before the bar, to leave the automaton astride; afterward he balances it by jerks, and causes it to take a turn around, keeping time with the music as if it was sensible of harmony. "N.B.-Three circumstances concur here to favor the illusion: First, by the assistance of a wire, the confederate can separate the bar from the automaton, which, falling to the ground, persuades one it loses itself by real machin- ery. Secondly, in winding up the levers shown in the body, confirms the spectators in the idea that there is no need of a confederate. Thirdly, the tubes that are twisted around the bar, except where the automaton is joined to it, seem to be the rope itself, and being without motion, as is seen by the garlands which surround them, it cannot be suspected that the bar turns in the inside, from whence it is concluded that the figure moves by its own machinery." According to one of de Philipsthal's advertisements, page I03, the trapeze automaton which he featured was six feet in height. But Pinetti programmes show. that he had a smaller figure known as the rope vaulter. This is probably the trick exposed in Decremps' book. On page 108 will be found a Louis programme of 1815, on which a figure is thus featured: [171] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,198 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 198 | THE TRAPEZE AUTOMATON by giving the handle a quarter of a turn to the left, the automaton, whose arms are parallel to the horizon, lift themselves by little and little, till they become vertical and parallel to the rest of the body; if in following the same direction, the other part of the body moves forward ; and by watching the motions through a hole, he seizes the instant that a leg passes before the bar, to leave the automaton astride; afterward he balances it by jerks, and causes it to take a turn around, keeping time with the music as if it was sensible of harmony. "N.B.-Three circumstances concur here to favor the illusion: First, by the assistance of a wire, the confederate can separate the bar from the automaton, which, falling to the ground, persuades one it loses itself by real machin- ery. Secondly, in winding up the levers shown in the body, confirms the spectators in the idea that there is no need of a confederate. Thirdly, the tubes that are twisted around the bar, except where the automaton is joined to it, seem to be the rope itself, and being without motion, as is seen by the garlands which surround them, it cannot be suspected that the bar turns in the inside, from whence it is concluded that the figure moves by its own machinery." According to one of de Philipsthal's advertisements, page I03, the trapeze automaton which he featured was six feet in height. But Pinetti programmes show that he had a smaller figure known as the rope vaulter. This is probably the trick exposed in Decremps' book. On page 108 will be found a Louis programme of 1815, on which a figure is thus featured: [171 ] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,202 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 202 | THE TRAPEZE AUTOMATON automaton he merely copied figures presented by both his predecessors and his contemporaries, and he was fully aware of the existence of several such automata when he advertised his as an original invention. They were made by many mechanicians. In the illustrated appendix of the French edition of his "Memoirs" he goes further; he deliberately misrepre- sents the mechanism of the figure and insinuates that the automaton is a self-working one. This is not true, as it was worked by a concealed confederate, as described above by Decremps. Robert-Houdin even used the garlands of flowers to hide the moving bars as Pinetti and others of his pred- ecessors had done. The truth was not in him. [175] |
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