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Eric Fry Regular user 191 Posts |
What is the origin of the needle and thread swallowing trick that Houdini used? Did it begin as a bead and hair trick? When were needles first used?
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Cardician99 Regular user Maryland 158 Posts |
I might be wrong, but I think beads and string started in India back in 1800's, and needles and string was Houdini's idea.
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I think Houdini picked this up from an Eastern magician or a booklet. I don't believe he originated it. Kevin could tell us.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Clay Shevlin Elite user 497 Posts |
In the course of my researches, I have come across at least one reference to a Chinese magician doing a "threaded needles" effect in the late 1700s.
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Eric Fry Regular user 191 Posts |
Thanks for the info. I found a mention by Silverman that the trick was about 100 years old when Houdini began doing it in the 1890s.
Another book said it began in the Orient with beads and horsehair thread, but, understandably, didn't give a date of origin. Houdini claimed he learned it from a Hindu performer at the 1893 world's fair in Chicago. By the way, I raised the issue because a documentary about Long Tack Sam said Houdini would not let Long perform it, Houdini claiming to have patented it. I don't know if the patent story is true. Could have been a bluff by Houdini. He had enough clout in vaudeville to block perfomers he thought were imitating him. |
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