Continuing my scene by scene dissection of Paramount's classic 1953 biopic Houdini. Last time Harry and Bess had a blow up that sent them to Europe. Today we join them in London...
I did a little digging on the version of the Metamorphosis where the performers are on top, and from what I can gather, it was first done by a circus magician around the time of this movie.
Because of the surrounding nature of the circus, this magician found a way to do it while standing on top of what I think was a hatbox, but others can correct me if I am wrong.
The first magician to make it popular to stand on top of the trunk was Siegfried, but as you can see, it was done about ten years before he did it with Roy.
The hatbox idea might have been Rita Moreno, (magician, not actress) who did it with her partner Anne.
The idea of standing on top of a locked container could have been Joe Korengo who did it on top of a barrel. I cannot confirm it, but I remember someone mentioning a while back.
Me too. I first saw Doug do the sub trunk standing on top of the box.
I am still trying to find out who the first magician to do this version. What I can gather was that Hungarian magician Joe Korengo was on Ed Sullivan in 1948. I am not certain if he did his version of the Metamorphosis with the barrel on that broadcast or not.
In the Oct. 2013 issue of M.U.M. magazine, Scott Alexander has a 4 page article on both the Sub-Trunk and the Canvas Covered Substitution Trunk: "So it very well may have been Jack Gwynne who was the first guy to ditch the skeleton-framed tent, and just use the now infamous "hoop-curtain" switch, while standing on top of the trunk. This became the default way the trunk was done from the thirties through the seventies."
The above article certainly isn't a definitive historical account of the "Substitution Trunk", but it might be a starting point for those wishing to research who was the first performer to stand on top of the trunk, etc.
George Boston was the magical advisor to this film, but I think Gwynne contributed a few of his tricks to it. Like the Stacked Goldfish Bowls and the Temple of Benares.
I wonder if Gwynne also contributed the trunk as well. It would be interesting to find out.
Thanks, John. Such fun to read these deconstructions! (I can't help but wonder if any Brit ever had the temerity to address the real Houdini as "yank"!)
I was staying with Edwin Hooper ( Supreme Magic C°) at the Widgery ( Bideford . Devon) one summer. The circus Robert Brothers was in wetward Ho. Ewin received an invitation. There was a young australian couplke presenting Metamorphosids. The trunk was on the procenium. They never turned it round to show both sides. I asked them why they bothered to slide the back panel ! They could have done without the back... Dany Trick
Apologies for the misspellings. Westward Ho, Metamorphosis. Edwin. Australian couple. I speak and write French better than English ! Dany Trick from Froggieland
I’ve never seen that photo of Houdini before! Fabulous! Where did that come from?
ReplyDeletePerry from NJ.
Check out this post for info and link to David Saltman's site. Incredible shots.
DeleteI did a little digging on the version of the Metamorphosis where the performers are on top, and from what I can gather, it was first done by a circus magician around the time of this movie.
ReplyDeleteBecause of the surrounding nature of the circus, this magician found a way to do it while standing on top of what I think was a hatbox, but others can correct me if I am wrong.
The first magician to make it popular to stand on top of the trunk was Siegfried, but as you can see, it was done about ten years before he did it with Roy.
The hatbox idea might have been Rita Moreno, (magician, not actress) who did it with her partner Anne.
DeleteThe idea of standing on top of a locked container could have been Joe Korengo who did it on top of a barrel. I cannot confirm it, but I remember someone mentioning a while back.
Thanks Michael. Great info. Recall Doug Henning also stood on top. That's when I first saw it done this way and it blew my mind.
DeleteMe too. I first saw Doug do the sub trunk standing on top of the box.
DeleteI am still trying to find out who the first magician to do this version. What I can gather was that Hungarian magician Joe Korengo was on Ed Sullivan in 1948. I am not certain if he did his version of the Metamorphosis with the barrel on that broadcast or not.
In the Oct. 2013 issue of M.U.M. magazine, Scott Alexander has a 4 page article on both the Sub-Trunk and the Canvas Covered Substitution Trunk:
ReplyDelete"So it very well may have been Jack Gwynne who was the first guy to ditch the skeleton-framed tent, and just use the now infamous "hoop-curtain" switch, while standing on top of the trunk.
This became the default way the trunk was done from the thirties through the seventies."
The above article certainly isn't a definitive historical account of the "Substitution Trunk", but it might be a starting point for those wishing
to research who was the first performer to stand on top of the trunk, etc.
Jack Gwynne. I should have guessed. That man had a creative mind. He invented the Tip Over Box.
DeleteGeorge Boston was the magical advisor to this film, but I think Gwynne contributed a few of his tricks to it. Like the Stacked Goldfish Bowls and the Temple of Benares.
DeleteI wonder if Gwynne also contributed the trunk as well. It would be interesting to find out.
Thanks, John. Such fun to read these deconstructions! (I can't help but wonder if any Brit ever had the temerity to address the real Houdini as "yank"!)
ReplyDeleteI was staying with Edwin Hooper ( Supreme Magic C°) at the Widgery ( Bideford . Devon) one summer. The circus Robert Brothers was in wetward Ho. Ewin received an invitation. There was a young australian couplke presenting Metamorphosids. The trunk was on the procenium. They never turned it round to show both sides. I asked them why they bothered to slide the back panel ! They could have done without the back... Dany Trick
ReplyDeleteApologies for the misspellings. Westward Ho, Metamorphosis. Edwin. Australian couple. I speak and write French better than English ! Dany Trick from Froggieland
ReplyDeleteAnd Chun Ling Soo on the same bill as Houdini at the Alhambra! Must have been quite a show...wonder if the spectators knew what they were seeing?
ReplyDelete