When I created my theater, I made it a rule for myself to only perform for the audience effects that were my own invention. This was of course a difficult obligation to fulfil, but thanks to my persevering research — and, I must add, much hard work — I succeeded for the entire duration of my performances in unfailingly following the path I had laid out for myself.
---It is true that I had a powerful ally in physics, especially dynamic electricity. This science, to which today we owe the transatlantic telegraph, was then known only to a very small number of researchers. I applied it to my routines, and its amazing qualities made several of my effects even more wondrous since the method could not be discovered.
---I need not remind you of the additional resources offered to me by mechanics — my favorite science — and conjuring, for which I had always had a true passion.
---The seven effects I am about to describe will show how indebted I am to these three combined elements. ...
Robert-Houdin's theater, a recreation
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The Inexhaustible Bottle---This effect is one of the most brilliant I ever performed. It was always warmly applauded.
---I walked onstage with a small bottle filled with Bordeaux. I completely emptied it by pouring its contents into a number of glasses, then rinsed it with a bit of water, taking care to drain it well.
---This introduction completed, I walked amongst the spectators and, still holding the upside-down bottle, offered to pour out any type of alcohol they might wish.
---My offer was unfailingly welcomed with great enthusiasm. From all sides, requests were called out by people who were anxious to confirm both the reality of my effect and the quality of the drinks.
---These beverages were served as soon as they were requested. Whatever the drink, whether a spirit or a liqueur, from whatever country was specified, it was poured out with the greatest generosity.
---The service ended only when the audience — fearing that they could not consume everything poured from the bottle and also finding that the longer the routine lasted, the less clear their reasoning would be — finally decided to halt their requests.
---To end the effect in a spectacular way, and to prove the inexhaustible gifts of my bottle, I took a large drinking glass able to contain at least half of the vessel, and I filled it to the brim with yet another requested beverage.
---The Inexhaustible Bottle was performed at my theatre for the first time on December 1, 1847.
la Maison de la Magie - Robert-Houdin, Blois, France
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The Fantastic Orange Tree
---This mechanical piece was preceded by several magic effects which motivated its introduction onto the stage.
---I borrowed a handkerchief from a lady. I rolled it into a ball, which I placed beside an egg, a lemon, and an orange arranged on my table.
---I then magically made all the objects pass within one another, and when they were finally all nested within the orange, I used the fruit to create a magical liqueur.
---To do so, I pressed the orange between my hands and reduced its size, displaying its various stages from time to time, and I eventually reduced it to a powder which I poured into a flask containing spirits of wine.
---My assistant then brought onstage an orange tree without blossoms or fruit. I poured a bit of the elixir that I had just prepared into a tiny vase, set it on fire, and placed it beneath the plant, and as the fumes reached the leaves, one could see flowers blossoming on the tree.
Upon a wave of my wand, these flowers were replaced by oranges, which I handed out to the spectators.
---A single orange remained on the tree; I commanded it to open itself into four parts, revealing within the borrowed handkerchief. Two butterflies, flapping their wings, grasped the top corners and unfolded it as they rose into the air.
---This effect was my creation.
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The Ethereal Suspension
---In 1847, one may recall, everyone was talking about ether and its marvelous applications. I thus thought of taking advantage of the public’s fascination and applying it to a routine, which received great acclaim.
---“Gentlemen,” I said with the seriousness of a Sorbonne professor, “I have discovered a marvelous new property of ether.
---“If one has a living person inhale this liquid when it is at its highest degree of concentration, the body of the patient for a few moments becomes as light as a balloon.”
---Following this introduction, I proceeded with the effect. I placed three stools on a wooden bench. My son stepped on the middle one; I had him extend his arms so I could support him with two canes, each of which rested on a stool.
---I then simply held under the child’s nose an empty vial, which I carefully uncorked, while backstage an assistant poured ether onto a very hot iron shovel so the vapor would waft into the audience. My son immediately fell asleep and his feet, which had become lighter, began to rise from the stool.
---Judging the operation a success, I removed the stool so the child was supported only by the two canes.
---This strange balancing already evoked great surprise among the spectators. It grew even more when they saw me remove one of the two canes and the stool that supported it, and it reached its peak when, after having raised my child to a horizontal position using my little finger, I left him sleeping in space, and to defy the laws of gravity, I also removed the feet of the bench at the base of this impossible edifice.
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Robert-Houdin's Portfolio---The most basic of natural laws states that the container must be larger than the contained; here it is the opposite. One might thus call this effect Impossibility Realized.
---Thus, I carried onstage under my arm a portfolio for drawings which was no more than a centimeter thick and which I set on thin supports positioned completely isolated in the center of the stage. I then removed, in order:
---1. A collection of drawings
---2. Two charming ladies’ bonnets decorated with flowers and ribbons, as intact as when they first emerged from the hands of their designer
---3. Four live turtle doves
---4. Three enormous copper pots, one filled with beans, one containing a crackling fire, and a third full of boiling water
---5. A large cage filled with birds flying from perch to perch (The inventor of this effect is one of my good friends, Monsieur Bouly of Cambrai, a distinguished attorney, author of several highly respected works on archeology, and devoted aficionado of arts in general, particularly conjuring. The cage removed from the portfolio is entirely his invention. The other feats which I added to his effect do not in the least minimize the value of his original idea.)
---6. Finally, after the portfolio has been closed one last time, my youngest son, the star of The Ethereal Suspension, raised the cover, showed the audience his smiling face, and emerged from this narrow prison.
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The Light and Heavy Chest
---The amount of tricks I invented for his theatre was extensive, but one of my most remarkable ones was the Light and Heavy Chest.
---I took advantage of the infancy of the usage of electricity, especially the then novelty of Hans Christian Oersted's discovery of electromagnetism, to my advantage. I brought on a small wooden box about a foot wide. I said that I had found a way to protect it from thieves. I asked a spectator to lift it, usually a small child. The child lifted it with ease. Then I brought an adult male up from the audience and asked him to lift the same box. Even though he used all of his might, the adult male was unable to lift the box!
---What made this trick even more incredible is that I used this (among others) to help squelch a rebellion.
________________
The Pastrycook of Palais-Royal---You see a charming little automaton. At the command of its master, he comes to the threshold of his door and — as polite a businessman as he is a skillful pastrycook — he bows and awaits the orders of his clientele. Warm brioches straight from the oven, cakes of all kinds, syrups, liqueurs, ice creams, etc. are served as soon as they are requested by the spectators, and when he has filled all the orders, he helps his master with his magic effects.
---A lady, for example has placed her ring into a small box which she has locked and holds in her hands. Instantly, the pastrycook brings her a brioche in which she finds her ring, which has vanished from the box.
---Here is another example of his intelligence.
A spectator gives him a gold coin in a small basket and tells him the change he would like in francs and centimes. The pastrycook goes into his building and no matter how difficult the mathematics, he calculates and brings out the correct change.
---Finally, a comical raffle is held, and the pastrycook is asked to distribute the prizes.
---As interesting because of its complex mechanisms as the amusement it brings to the audience, this piece was in the best taste out of all my effects and always brilliantly ended my show.
---The Pastrycook of Palais-Royal was performed for the first time during the opening of my theatre.
Marie Antoinette automaton restored by Robert-Houdin
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Diavolo Antonio---I gave this automaton the name of Diavolo Antonio, the famous acrobat, whose perilous movements I attempted to replicate, except that the original was a man and the copy had the size and look of a mere child.
---I carried my young wooden artist onstage in my arms as I would have with a living being. I set him on the bar of the trapeze and asked him several questions, which he answered by moving his head.
---“Are you afraid of falling?”
---No.
---“Are you ready to perform your exercises?”
---Yes.
---Then, upon the first notes from the musicians, he gracefully bowed to the spectators as he turned to all parts of the audience, then hung by his arms and, following the rhythm of the music, swung himself quickly.
---Next came a moment of rest during which he smoked a pipe, after which he performed some amazing feats on the trapeze such as raising himself with his arms and standing upside down while he moved his legs in various directions.
---To prove that his mechanism was self-sufficient, my little Diavolo released his hands, hung by his feet, and then jumped completely off the trapeze.
---This automaton appeared for the first time in my theatre on October 1, 1849.
* Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin (1805 - 1971) is often credited as being "the father of modern magic". Before him, magicians performed in marketplaces and fairs, but Robert-Houdin performed magic in theatres and private parties. He also chose to wear formal clothes, like those of his audiences. Many magicians today mimic this by wearing tail-coats. He lived for magic, constantly conjuring new ideas and performing even on vacation. His wife was often involved in his extremely clever and innovative tricks, which he had to admit were 'deceptions' to authorities, to avoid prosecution for witchcraft.
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The Robert-Houdin Story
The Memoirs of Robert-Houdin
Maison de la Magie Robert-Houdin
Intro to an intro
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*
p.s. Hey. I made it. Kind of lagged and spaced out, etc., but here. Guess I'll replay what there is to tell of what got me here in my Itmpw report down below somewhere. ** Monday ** Alexp336, Hey. Well, as a fan or reader or devotee of geeky tech blogs, that sounds cool to me or virtuous of you to me or something. (Sorry, spaced out here, ha ha). And I'm actually twiddling my fingers waiting to hear what new tech tidbits come out of that very Vegas show you're covering, so maybe I'll end up reading your reports. None of which helps with the anxiety of doing it, I know. Anyway, I hope that goes as smoothly as possible, man. ** David Ehrenstein, Hi, David. Sad about Pete Postelthwaite. He was wonderful. And I didn't know about Anne Francis. I was a big fan when I was young of 'Honey West'. She had that crazy mole. Aw, sad. ** Trees, It's looking grim for the West Coast trip in February, ugh. I'll get out there asap after that, probably not too much later, but it sucks re: the gigs. I'm happy to be an excuse for you to get to LA. Ah, interesting client. I used to have a good friend years ago, an excellent poet who was also an ex-Playboy bunny and ex-girlfriend of Lenny Bruce and an ex-high class escort who had pooing for $$ among her talents and had pooed on a few famous celebs of earlier eras. Hope yours was ... interesting? ** Math, Hey, M. Hope so. ** _Black_Acrylic, 'First footing' sounds like a most charming custom. Sure, man, a post on Bobby Orlando would be totally awesome, of course, if you want to do that. Thanks! ** Steven Trull, Almost for sure not, yeah. On the trip. Yeah, it sucks big time. White out, thank you. Precious elixir. I want magazine. When magazine is magazine. Yes! ** Michael_Karo, Sir. ** Allesfliesst, Glad it pleased you. Sorry you were tired. Pleased you thought of this place even when you were tired. I'm tired too. Well, more like missing pieces of myself or something. ** Shannon, Hey, S! Awesome your poetry is up. I'll leap over there when I've had more coffee and once I've climbed down the cliff of this double-headed p.s. Great! Everyone, marvelous writer, thinker, d.l. Shannon has new poetry up at Gutter Eloquence, including this one, of which she has especial pride. Check it and the others out. Do. Lovely week to you too, pal. ** Steevee, New York isn't really all that cold. So far. Compared to Paris at the moment , it's more like a gloomy spring day outside. ** Ken Baumann, I'm sure Mrs. Santa Claus read your kind words wherever she is, and I'm sure she put in a good word for you with her influential husband. Makes sense, right? ** Tomkendall, Money, ugh, oh fuck, yes, indeed, ugh. This year ... it's going to a very awesome one on the fiction front, I think. Let's see ... off the top of my hazy, hazy head ... the DFW, new Blake Butler novel, new Justin Taylor novel, new Patrick deWitt novel, Mike Young fiction book, ... the Lonely Christopher and the Stokoe 'Cows' reprints I'm putting out are both great ... lots I'm not remembering. Fiction-wise, and especially American fiction-wise, we're in the middle of a total boom meets renaissance period. History book stuff. Yeah, it's super exciting! ** Chris Cochrane, Yeah, having now rehearsed myself, I think it will happen too. See you in a few hours. ** Statictick, Thanks for the lists, man. Late is cool. Late is fresh. I think I saw the guest post in my mailbox maybe. If so, dude, thank you! ** Misanthrope, Some lag, we'll see how bad. I should have a fair amount of hang out time once the shows get started on, uh, Saturday. Maybe on Friday, I'll be free-ish already, if I'm lucky. Depends on how the next couple of days go. Should be cool. I guess text me when you're here or ... ? ** Andrew, I'm like the opposite. Today I have decent internet for the first in months. So much responsibility. Hope your sleep took of the ughs and connection shit. ** Oscar B, Oscar! Miss you too bunches! I made it. I'm here. You liking Melbourne? Is it everything it was cracked up to be, not that it was cracked up to be something in particular, I guess? What's going on? ** Math, So, did you decide? Are you at peace? Damn, those french fries sound good. Is that Pommes Frites place on 2nd Avenue any good? I went by it in the cab yesterday, and I was all 'ooh, ahh'. ** Bollo, Hi, J. Plane movies weren't too bad. I guess I'll say what they were, etc. down below. You good? ** Colin, Hey. Oh, okay, well, just let me know when the book is impending, and maybe I can hit you up for some related stuff so I can make the celebratory post, if that's cool. Take care. ** Tuesday ** Math, Hey. No, I haven't done a Rare Day before. I've done videogame posts, and I really like Rare games, so there's probably been a notable Rare presence here before, for sure. I've got to stand up for 'Conker's'. It's easily in my three best all time videogames. Brilliant, I think. I got so much out of it. I do remember that pre-release hype about 'Perfect Dark', yeah, I forgot all about that. I never played 'Blast Corps'. Always meant to. I wonder if it's been rebooted for the Wii. It's hard to imagine pulling out the N64 at this point, but, hm, why not. Oh, a Day, awesome! Post it while I'm here? Hm, okay, I think I can probably move some stuff around and get it up while I'm there. Pretty sure. I'll try to get that figured out today, and I'll let you know. Thanks, Mathster! ** Davidc, Hi, David! Lovely to see you, man! Of course I'm heavily rooting for both of your NY resolutions to come true. You doing well? ** Syreearmwellion, Hi, Josh! I loved 'Diddy Kong Racing'. I think more should be done with that racing/adventure game combo. Strange that combo didn't catch on more. Yeah, the story of how 'Conker's' became what it became is really interesting. There's a Conker's devotion site out there that goes into it in detail, but I just did a quick search and couldn't find the link. I'm sure I've already mentioned a million time that the 'Banjo' games and 'Conker's' were the biggest influence on my 'God Jr.' I haven't played 'Viva Pinata' yet. It looks trippy enough. ** David Ehrenstein, Thank you, David. I think I will. ** Steven Trull, Oh, you should become a gamer, man. It'll change your ... something. Maybe even for the better. Oh, I don't know. ATR was cool. The first few things/albums at least. Very cool. ** Bill, Are you pre- or post- your huge flight? If I have time to get up to the Whitney, yeah, I'll see the Thek for sure, although I'm pretty positive I'm going to see it in LA at least. ** David, Maybe it was a secret quiz. Maybe someone here won. Maybe come Xmas time, we'll find out who. ** The Dreadful Flying Glove, I bet you're trampling through travel shock, no doubt. Oh, you're detailing it! Awesome! I'll get to that when I get out of here. Everyone, the figurative power source known as The Dreadful Flying Glove recently moved from the UK to South Africa, as you may know if you read this blog using the highly attentive option, and our fine friend is blogging about the experience of this kind of startling shift, and our fine friend is what we in the wordsmith business call a writer's writer, or, in this case, a blogger's blogger? (Jet lag, I remind you). Anyway, go read his reports about said move. I think it would be a wonderful idea if you did. And I think you would see the wisdom in my advice. And, uh, yeah, go there. Oh, man, I'm so very proud and touched to be among your selected books. Thank you! Lots of love to you. ** Paul Curran, Hi, Paul! No, I haven't heard anything back about the novel yet, and I'm actually starting to get this anxious, doomy feeling about that, and I hope I'm just worrying excessively. We'll see. How did it go with the return to the fold re: your novel last night? ** Sypha, Wow, you finished the book? In 88 days? Wow again. Hm, but I'm sorry about the ennui you're feeling about it. Maybe you just need some distance on it. Maybe it's just that particular kind of novel that no longer interests you. 'Cos a novel can be almost anything really. ** Steevee, Glad you finally got paid and that was just a screw up. Araki, interesting. I'll be curious to read your interview with him. David E is the resident aficionado re: closet related issues. He can or will probably tell you. ** Bernard Welt, Weirdly, it feels less fucked being here than it did thinking and reading about it while over there. Hm, maybe I've found the source of problem, ha ha. Oh, okay, I'll try to do NYC proud for us both, and I'll set my sights and heart on your Paris possibility. ** Jon Reiss, Hi, Jon! Yeah, I'm a gamer. Kind of a weird gamer, but I guess I am one. Mostly a Nintendo gamer. Yeah, I'm here for three more 'Them' performances. That's the entire purpose of the trip, although I hope to sneak in some NYC-related this and this if possible. Shopshins? No, I don't know what that is. I'll google it. It's something in NYC? You doing good? What's going on? ** L@rstonovich, Hey, bud. Oh, thank you, man, about the post! Awfully kind of you. 30 years since you played a vg? Wow. I don't know whether to encourage to leap back in or to enjoy your increased free time. ** Jose, Hey, Jose! Someone else was telling me about 'Limbo'. I know, I have to get an Xbox360. It's kind of obvious. I'm missing so much. No, I don't know the 'A Life Well Wasted' podcast. Hunh. I imagine I can find that online easily, right? Cool, I'll find it. Thanks! How are you? What are you working on? ** Ken Baumann, Howdy, Ken! You found GbV! Yeah, that song rules insanely. Oh gosh, I hope you dig further into the Pollard wellspring of godliness. If you need any tips, I'm your man. Really want to see 'Blue Valentine'. I was thinking of maybe even trying to catch it here since it's one of those 'may or not make it to France' type of films. Novel (yours) reading is continuing to blow my mind. ** Nb, Hello from across town, bud. I know, the birthday coincidence thing is bizarro. I'll be free and want to see you. Today's the long, hell day, and tomorrow may or may not be too, and then I'll be fairly free or free-ish. Let's make a plan. Text me or I'll text you or that sort of thing. I'm in SoHo again, but a little further down, just above Canal. ** Creative Massacre, Hey. Usually the Paris to New York jetlag isn't too horrible. It's the Paris to LA jetlag that's like getting some weird sleeping sickness for a week or more. It should be ... okay, I hope. Cool about the art piece coming together. Best of luck with that, and I look forward to seeing any evidence. ** Inthemostpeculiarway, Hi, Itmpw! Yeah, that's the spirit re: the new living situation. It'll become like second nature soon enough, I imagine. I didn't realize Cults was so new and obscure. A year until the album? Sounds like they're being deliberately mysterious. Yeah, I think the maze thing is going to be really cool. When we get further into working on it, I'll post the blueprints and mock-ups and stuff on the blog if Gisele doesn't prevent me from doing so. I didn't know there was a book called 'John Belushi is Dead'. I think I'll skip it, based on your report. Yeah, of course, when I recommend a book to someone and they don't like it, it's always disappointing. But the disappointment part is really quick, a few minutes, and then it's gone and it doesn't mean anything. So, I think if you just change the subject quickly, it'll be no big deal. Uh, I think I'll just tell you about yesterday because I can't remember Monday anymore, and I'm sure it was uneventful. So, I got up incredibly early, guzzled coffee, showered, dressed, closed my backpack and laptop bag, and went out to the airport. Everything seemed sort of fine. I got stuck with a horrible middle seat, and I'd hoped that the Air France counter people would take pity on tall me and change my seat, but they didn't, so that sucked. I went through the security stuff, which actually very light and normal, which surprised me. I bought some food and Duty Free cigarettes. I had a smoke in the smoking chamber that Air France very benevolently has for passengers taking international flights. Getting on the plane was normal, and then the plane was delayed and delayed before take off. Like endlessly. Horrible. But it finally flew away. The people sitting around me slept the whole flight, so I couldn't get up and walk around or anything, which sucked. I watched three movies: The Basquiat documentary again. I finally saw 'The Social Network'. It was pretty good, but, I don't know, the fact that people are so totally into it and that it's probably going to win the Oscar and everything just seems like people settling for a better than average conventional movie like they always seem to do. I didn't think it was all special. Then I watched 'The Departed' because I'd never seen it, and, well, I guess I could repeat what I just said about 'The Social Network'. It was good and everything, but it didn't seem particularly special or amazing or anything. It's like most people's idea of great is a movie that's better than average. Whatever. Anyway, that took up most of the flight except for the long delay actually landing. Customs was weirdly smooth. Usually customs at JFK airport is hell. I got a cab into NYC. Pretty smooth, got into the hotel. They gave me a room without internet even though I expressly asked for internet, and they had no internet rooms, so I had to change rooms early this morning to get the room I asked for. I was supposed to get here early enough yesterday to take a nap before the rehearsal, but that didn't happen. I kind of staggered over the Abrons Art Center, where the shows are going to be. About a twenty minute walk. You pass through Little Italy, which was all lit up for Xmas and really pretty, and Chinatown. Then we did a spaced out sort of early run through of the piece. Only three of the dancers were there. The theater where we're performing is really small. Like a brick room. That was kind of a shock, but I guess it'll be okay. It's quite small, though, wow. So, then I just stumbled back here, ate some Chinese noodles I picked up on the way back, and crashed because by then it was 6 am Paris time. So, that was the day. I'll let you know today goes. How was yours? ** Daphne, Hey. Oh, sorry. I've just been crazy busy and behind on most things. I'll do everything I can to get the blurb to you while I'm in NYC this week. ** Bollo, Hi, again. I've got to get off my ass or whatever and read 'IB'. I really like 'Lunar Park'. I know some Bret fans don't, but I think it's one of his best. I'll have constricted fun in the new theater space. Well, fun ... no, it'll be fun. You have fun in the new ... what's new? ** 'Stoopid Slapped Puppies', Nick! Awesome! It's so great to see you, Nick! I've been thinking about you and checking your blog all the time hoping you would post work or give word of how you're doing. I kind of figured the big physical change would have caused change in your focus and habits and all that. It's all good, man. What have you been doing there? Can you say? I'm in NYC 'cos we're three more performances of 'Them', this dance/ performance art piece that I co-made back in the '80s. We did a bunch of shows in October, and it went incredibly well, so we're doing a few more. I've missed you too, man, a lot. Coming and going as you see fit is A-okay, but, of course, it would be sublime to see you more. Lots of love and respect to you, my friend! ** Okay, we're caught up. Today's post: a whim, I guess. Slightly related to things I was looking into for my novel. I think it's an interesting post, but ... you tell me. Anyway, I will see you guys tomorrow.
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