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Bill Blagg III Regular user 169 Posts |
We recently played a theatre in Indiana where there was board covering a large hole in the stage floor. We asked the techs what is was from and why it was never replaced and I was shocked at the answer. Apparantly in the early 1920's the hole was cut in the floor prior to Houdini's performance there! It was amazing to stand there onstage and stare at a piece of magic history. Does anybody know what illusion Houdini would have needed to cut in a hole in the stage for?
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Jay Mahon Special user 983 Posts |
How big was the hole?
J |
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Servante Inner circle 1330 Posts |
Hm. As Jay says...if it was a pretty big hole, yeah.
Though it's been discussed in numerous books, probably shouldn't say much right out here in the open 'n' stuff. -Philip |
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Bill Blagg III Regular user 169 Posts |
It was about 4'x4'
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AlbertoGiorgi New user Italy 56 Posts |
This message has remember me a funny story.
When I started magic I had a master that was an apprentice of Bustelli a fomous italian touring magician during the 1920-1950. This was one of his lesson: When you need a trapdoor on the stage don't ask if you can saw the floor. Nobody will say you yes. Simply do it. You will repair it before leave and nobody will say you no. It is very difficoult to practice today...but this lesson is still true sometimes. This is why many italian old thatre have strange repair on the stage floor.LOL Alberto Giorgi |
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David Garrity Special user 525 Posts |
Hi Bill,
I performed in a theater in Northampton, MA with Todd Robbins and Michael Paul for an event last February and there was a similar hole or trap cut into the stage. The people at the theater there also said it was put in for Houdini when he was touring. Sincerely, David
David Garrity
www.MagicalArtist.com Follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DavidGarrityMagic |
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Richard Sherry Veteran user Calgary, AB, Canada 313 Posts |
I believe Houdini always cut a trap in the stage so he could drain the water from his Torture Cell via a tarp under the stage which usually ran out into the alley.
My grandmother saw him perform the WTC in 1915 and she was told this by some worker at the theatre. Richard |
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Andrew Loyal user 285 Posts |
Might he have also used such a trap when performing his "Walking thru a Brick Wall" Illusion?
andrew |
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Bill Blagg III Regular user 169 Posts |
I don't think he would have come out on the other side of the wall if that was the case. To do so he'd have to levitate 12' up from the basement
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Jay Mahon Special user 983 Posts |
Anyone care to pull up a review of his shows from that time period? I'm sure it will shine some light on what he was performing at the time. This really isn't difficult to decipher with the right resources.
J |
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hugmagic Inner circle 7665 Posts |
Look up his 1926 Magic show. Girl to Orange Tree is one possibility.
The old stagehands for Thurston would drop a trunk and damage the floor. Thurston would assure the stage manager his carpenter could fix it. And he did with the trap installed. Later when Blackstone played theaters, he often followed Thurston's route as the necessary hole were there for the Levi. Blackstone Jr. pointed them out to me in St. Louis in the American Theater. Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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Eshla Inner circle 1239 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-10-28 17:05, Bill Blagg III wrote: Stairs?
I come from the future to culture you poor sods with fire.
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zaubern Veteran user Seattle, Wa 335 Posts |
Walking Through a Brickwall was my first thought too.
Zaubern
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Servante Inner circle 1330 Posts |
Mine, too.
We probably shouldn't say more though, should we? -Philip |
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Bridgewater Regular user North Carolina 184 Posts |
Houdini's "Walking through a brick wall" used a wall built atop a canvas tarp to "eliminate the possibility of trap doors." Of course it didn't eliminate the possibility of a trap door, rather it solved the problem you describe above. Walter Gibson's description of the illusion explains it all. BTW, Gibson's books, and the secrets of Houdini's illusions, are available in every public library (and most school libraries) in the United States.
"Don't run with those..."
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Servante Inner circle 1330 Posts |
Exactly.
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The Mirror Images Inner circle Michigan/USA 1980 Posts |
It is cool to hear stories like this. Shows that our magic industry from the beginning artist do pass on from generation to generation.
Very cool stuff. Thanks for sharing. Best,
Steven and Michael, The Mirror Images
The MOST Identical Twin Illusionist http://www.themirrorimages.com Check out our latest new effect - Liquid Steel NEW - MotoBox NEW - MotoMation NEW - Voyager |
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collective foundry Inner circle 1404 Posts |
Walking through a brick wall.
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magicdoctor Veteran user Wi. 377 Posts |
Bill, The Grand Opera House in Oshkosh has a trap door that Houdini Had built also. Michael
Michael Von Schroeder [url]www.vonmagic.com[/url]
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Ms. Morgan Veteran user The Garden State 399 Posts |
Traps in stages, left by those who came before, just go to prove we all travel the same road...
John and I have been working the stage in the Tivoli Music Hall at the Worlds of Fun park for 15 years. That stage has 3 recovered traps cut in it. They were put in by Mark Wilson when he did "The Haunted Theatre" there in 1985. Just a few weeks ago, while taping a TV show in LA, I met Steven Dick, the magic cordinator for the TV show. We got talking and as it turns out he worked the show for Mark Wilson and was the man who cut those traps in the Tivoli stage. The world does not get any smaller than that. Ms.M
World Magic Award's "Escape Artist of the Year"
www.EscapeChick.com www.illusionbiz.com www.WackyDracky.com |
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