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| Topic: Houdini fooled ? |
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I have heard about, and read a couple of stories, that Houdini was fooled by a Magician named Dai Vernon, and was defeated in a challenge by a locksmith named William Fenton. Does anyone have any further details on these stories, and are they true at all? Roger :) |
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Roger, Sounds like you are writing a book. Is that the case or are you that curious? Just wondering... Clyde |
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I'll do some digging in my Houdini library. I think I saw something on a brilliant website; http://www.houdiniana.com. Give it a shot. Mick H |
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Houdini in his arrogance claimed to be able to work out the method to any magic trick if shown it three times or so legend has it. Dai Vernon showed him a version of ambitious card (supposedly employing a double backer) and rinsed the pants off him many, many times. Fenton was a locksmith in the North of England who produced a multi-chambered lock and challenged Houdini with it. Houdini saw the monster and declined on the grounds that it was not a restraint, just a lock. A while later, Fenton re-approached him having fixed a stock to the top of the lock but Houdini supposedly still shyed away (although close examination would have revealed an easy way to escape as reported by DeVal). Our very own Kondini escaped the lock a while ago using another method of his own. So Houdini did not lose the Fenton lock challenge he just did not accept it. But as such it was one of many. |
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Clyde, just trying to learn! Also researching in an attempt to seperate fact from fiction. So far, it's working!!!!! Roger :) Fenton Lock? Any specs on this lock? Roger :) |
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| Do a search here. James escaped a repro Ian made back at the last EA con. http://www.escapemagic.com I think is James's website. |