Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin

8/2/2019 Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin

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JeanEugèneRobert-HoudinFromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia(RedirectedfromRobert-Houdin)JeanEugèneRobert-Houdin

BornJeanEugeneDecember7,1805Blois,FranceDiedJune13,1871(aged65)SaintGervais[disambiguationneeded],FranceOccupationMagician,Illusionist,inventor,andclockmakerJeanEugèneRobert-Houdin(December7,1805–June13,1871)wasaFrenchmagician.Heiswidelyconsideredthefatherofthemodernstyleofconjuring.[1]Contents[hide]

1Earlylifeandentranceintoconjuring2Majorachievements3Famousillusions3.1SecondSight3.2TheEtherealSuspension3.3TheMarvelousOrangeTree3.4Robert-Houdin’sPortfolio

3.5TheLightandHeavyChest4Inventionspirated5Robert-Houdinontour6TheMagicalMission7Retirementanddeath8Legacy9Name10References11Externallinks

[edit]EarlylifeandentranceintoconjuringRobert-HoudinwasbornJeanEugèneRobertinBlois,France,on7December1805—adayafterhisautobiographysaidhewas.[2][3]HisfatherProsperRobertwasoneof

thebestwatchmakersinBlois.Askillfulartisanandhardworker,ProsperRobert smainambitionwastoprovideforhisfamily,buthealsowantedhischildrentoclimbthesocialladder.JeanEugene

smother,theformerMarie-CatherineGuillon,diedwhenJeanwasjustayoungchild.[3]Attheageofeleven,ProspersenthissonJeantoschoolthirty-fivemilesuptheLoiretotheUniversityofOrléans.(ThecollegewasequivalenttoAmericansecondaryschool.)[2]At18,JeangraduatedandreturnedtoBlois.Hisfatherwantedhimtobealawyer,[3]butJeanwantedtofollowintohisfather’sfootstepsasawatchmaker.Jean’spenmanshipwasexcellent,anditlandedhimajobasaclerkforanattorney’soffice.Insteadofstudyinglaw,hetinkeredwithmechanicalgadgets.Hisemployersenthimbacktohisfather.Hewastoldthathewasbettersuitedasawatchmakerthanalawyer.Butbythen,Jean’sfatherhadalreadyretiredsohebecameanapprenticetohiscousinwhohadawatchshop.Forashorttime,Jeanworked

asawatchmaker.[3]Inthemid1820s,youngJeansaveduptobuyacopyofatwo-volumesetofbooksonclockmakingcalledTraitédel’horlogerie,orTreatiseonClockmaking,writtenbyFerdinandBerthoud.[3]ThebooksellerhadputthebooksofftothesideforJean.Hereacheduptotheshelfandgrabbedthebooks.Hewrappedthetwovolumesandhandedthemtotheyoungaspiringclockmaker.[3]ButwhenJeangothomeandopenedthewrapping,insteadoftheBerthoudbooks,whatappearedbeforehiseyeswasatwo-volumesetonmagiccalledScientificAmusements.Insteadofreturningthebooks,hiscuriositygotthebestofhim.Fromthosecrudevolumes,helearnedtherudimentsofmagic.Hepracticedatallhou



rsoftheday.[3]Fromthatpointwhenheaccidentallyreceivedthosebooksonconjuring,JeanRobertbecameveryinterestedintheart.Hewasupsetthatthebookshegotonlyrevealedhowthesecretsweredone,butdidnotshowhowtodothem.[2]Hefoundthatlearningfromthebooksavailableinthosedayswasverydifficultbecausethelackofdetailedexplanationsprovided.[3]Butthebookspiquedhisinterestintheart.SoJeanbegantakinglessonsfromalocalamateurmagician.[3]HepaidtenfrancsforaseriesoflessonsfromamannamedMaousfromBloiswhowasapodiatrist,butalsoentertainedatfairsandfetesdoingmagic.Hewasproficientinsleightofhand,andhetaughtJeanhowtojuggletocoordinatehiseyeandhand.[2][3]Healsotaughthimrudimentsofthecupsandballs.HetoldyoungJeanthatdigitaldexteritycamewithrepetition,andasadirectresult,Jeanpracticedincessantly.[2]Magicwashispastime,butmeanwhile,hisstudiesinhorologycontinued.Whenhefelthewasready,hemovedtoToursandsetupawatch-makingbusiness,doingconjuringontheside.[3]MuchofwhatweknowaboutRobert-Houdincomesfromhismemoirs—andhiswritingsweremeantmoretoentertainthantochronicle,renderingitdifficulttoseparatefactfromfiction.Robert-HoudinwouldhavereadersbelievethatamajorturningpointinhislifecamewhenhebecameapprenticedtothemagicianEdmunddeGrisy,betterknownasTorrini.Unfortunately,thereisnorecordofaTorrinioradeGrisy.Whatisknownisthathisearlyperformingcamefromjoininganamateuractingtroupe.[3]Later,heperformedatsocialpartiesasaprofessionalmagician.[3]I

twasduringthisperiodwhileataparty,hemetthedaughterofaParisianwatchmaker,MonsieurJacquesFrançoisHoudin,whohadalsocomefromJeanRobert

snativeBlois.[2][3][3]Thedaughter snamewasJosèpheCecileHoudin,andJeanfellinlovewithCecileattheirfirstmeeting.[3]OnJuly8,1830,theyweremarried.HehyphenatedhisownnametohersandbecameRobert-Houdin.[2][3]HemovedtoParisandworkedinhisfather-in-law

swholesaleshop.JacquesFrançoiswasamongthelastofthewatchmakerstousetheoldmethodsofhandcraftingeachpiece,andembracedhisnewson-in-law sambitionsformechanism.[3]WhileM.Houdinworkedinthemainshop,Jeanwastotinkerwithmechanicaltoysandautomaticfigures.[3]HeandJosèphehadeightchildren,ofwhomthreesurvived;thiswasfairlytypicalforthattimeperiod.[2]Withhisworkintheshop,Jeanstillwaspracticingmagic.Quitebyaccident,Robert-HoudinwalkedintoashopontheRueRichelieuanddiscovereditsoldmagi

c.Hevisitedthestore,whichwasownedbyaPère(Papa)Roujol.[2]Therehemetfellowmagicians,bothamateurandprofessional,whereheengagedintalkaboutconjuring,andtherehemetanaristocratbythenameofJulesdeRovère,whocoinedtheterm"prestidigitation"todescribeamajormisdirectiontechniquemagiciansused.[2][3]AtPapaRoujol’s,Robert-Houdinlearnedthedetailstomanyofthemechanicaltricksofthetimeaswellashowtoimprovethem.Fromthere,hebuilthisownmechanicalfigures,likeasingingbird,adanceronatightrope,andanautomatondoingthecupsandballs.Hismostacclaimedautomatonwashiswritinganddrawingfigure.HedisplayedthisfigurebeforeKingLouisPhilippeandeventuallysoldittoP.T.Barnum.[3]Thesetriumphswereshort-livedbecauseonOctober19,1843,MonsieurRobert-Houdin

sbelovedwifedied,[2][3]havingbeenillformonths;shediedattheageo

fthirty-two.[2]Atherdeath,shelefthimwiththreeyoungchildrentotakecareof;totakeuptheburden,heremarriedinAugustofthatyeartoFrançoisMargueriteOlympeBraconnier,awomantenyearsyoungerthanhimself.[2][3]ThenewMadameRobert-Houdinsoontookoverthehousehold.Robert-HoudinlovedtowatchthebigmagicshowsthatcametoParis.[2]Hedreamedaboutsomedayopeninghisowntheatre.Inthemeantime,hewashiredbyafriendofhisbythenameofCountdel’Escalopier[2]toperformatprivateparties.[3]Nowthathehadfreetime,hebeganconstructingequipmentforhisownuseinsteadofsellingittoothers.[2]Theincomefromtheshopandhisnewinventionsg



avehimenoughmoneytoexperimentonnewtricksutilizingglassapparatusthatwouldbefreeoftrickery.Heenvisionedastagethatwouldbeaselegantasthedrawingroomsinwhichhewashiredtoperform.Healsothoughtthatamagicianshouldbedressedassuchbywearingtraditionaleveningclothes.[3]Itwasnot,however,tillCountdel’Escalopierfrontedhim[3]the15,000francs[2]heneededthathisdreamwouldbecomeareality.HerentedoutasuiteofroomsabovethearchwaysaroundthegardensofthePalaisRoyal,whichwasonceownedbytheCardinalRichelieuwhowasportrayedinAlexandreDumas,père sTheThreeMusketeers.Hehiredworkmentoredesigntheoldassemblyroomintoatheatre.Theypainteditwhitewithgoldtrim.Tastefuldrapeswherehung,chiccandelabraswhereplacedthroughout,andthestagefurniturewassetinthestyleofLouisXV.[2]OnJuly3,1845,Robert-Houdinpremieredhis200seattheatreinwhathecalled"SoiréesFantastiques."NotasinglecriticcoveredRobert-Houdin’sdebut,butthatwasjustaswell,forinhismemoirs,Robert-Houdinconfessedthattheshowhadbeenadisaster!Hesufferedfromstagefrightthatcausedhimtotalktoofastandinamonotone.Hedidnotknowwhathewassayingordoing.Everythingwasablur.Hebelievedthatatrickshouldneverfailbecausethemagicianshouldnotpresentatrickthatwasnotmechanicallyperfected,andthiscausedhimtoover-rehearse.[2]Afterthefirstshow,hewasabouttohaveanervousbreakdown.Heclosedthetheatreandhadeveryintentiontocloseitforgooduntilafriendagreedthattheventurewasasillyidea.Insteadofadmittingdefeat,Robert-Houdin,irkedatthefriend saffrontery,usedthisinsulttoregainhiscourage,andhecontinu

edhislongrunathislittletheatre.[2][3]Atfirstthefortyyearoldmagicianwasunpolished,butsoonhegainedtheconfidencerequiredforthestage.[3]Witheachperformance,Robert-Houdingotbetter,andthecriticsdidcome.LeCharivariandL IllustrationbothsaidthathismechanicalmarvelsandartisticmagicwascomparabletothoseofhispredecessorslikePhilippeandBosco.Evenwithallofthis,thepeoplestilldidnotcometothelittletheatreduringthesummermonths.Thismadeitastruggleforhimtokeepitopened.Tomeetexpenses,hesoldthethreehousesthathehadinheritedfromhismother.Thefollowingyear,headdedanewtricktohisprogramthatwastoattractallofParis.SeatsatthePalaisRoyalwereatapremium.ThisnewmarvelwascalledSecondSight.SecondSightdrewtheaudiencesintothelittletheatre.Oncethere,theysawtheothercreationsRobert-Houdinhadtooffer.[2][edit]

Majorachievements

StatueinfrontofhishomeinBloisTheArabsofAlgeriaweresaidtobeexcitedtorebelagainstFrenchcolonialistsbyfalsemiraclesperformedbytheirreligiousleaders.In1856,NapoleonIII

sSecondFrenchEmpiresentRobert-Houdinthere,hopingthathemightperformtricksthatwerefarmoreimpressive,therebydissolvingtheexcitementoftherebels.Robert-Houdin

stricks,itissaid,succeededinbreakinguptheinfluenceofthemullahs.Moreover,theArabsbecameafraidofRobert-Houdin.Inonetrick,heallowedanArabtoshootathimwithamarkedbullet,butinsteadofkillinghim,thebulletwasfoundbetweenhisteeth.Afterthat,theybelievedhecoulddoanything.Robert-Houdinwasnotthefirstillusionisttoperformthebullet

catchandmanysincehimhaveadaptedtheirownversionoftheeffect.HeusedanotherfamoustricktoprovethatFrenchmagicwasstrongerthanlocalshamanismtechniques:hepresentedanemptyboxwithanironbottomthatanyonecouldliftup.Byturningonanelectro-magnethiddenunderthefloor,hemadeitimmovable,"proving"thatthroughwillpower,hecouldmakeitimpossibletoliftforthestrongestAlgerianwarriors.Hefoundthetrickwasmoreimpressivewhenheclaimednotthathecouldmakethetrunkheavy,butwhenheclaimedhecouldmakethestrongmantooweaktoliftatrunkthatevenasmallchildcouldlift[4].Anotherautomatontrick,the"OrangeTree"wasusedbytheeponymousconjurerin



StevenMillhauser

sshortstory,"EisenheimTheIllusionist",subsequentlyfilmedasTheIllusionist(2006).Robert-Houdinisoftencreditedasbeing"thefatherofmodernmagic".Beforehim,magiciansperformedinmarketplacesandfairs,butRobert-Houdinperformedmagicintheatresandprivateparties.Healsochosetowearformalclothes,likethoseofhisaudiences.Manymagicianstodaymimicthisbywearingtail-coats,thoughothermagiciansviewthisasold-fashionedandbelievethattheyshouldwearcontemporaryclothes.DougHenningwasthefirsttorebelagainstthisstereotypewithadistinctivemodernlookofhisown.Readinganybiographiesofhim,it

sobviousthatRobert-Houdinlivedformagic,constantlyconjuringnewideasandperformingevenonvacation.Hiswifewasofteninvolvedinhisextremelycleverandinnovativetricks,whichhehadtoadmitwere

deceptions

toauthorities,toavoidprosecutionforwitchcraft.[edit]FamousillusionsRobert-Houdinfeltthateverymagicprogramshouldbearrangedsoonetrickbuildsuponeachother.Onesurpriseshouldleadtoanevenbiggersurprise.SomeofthetricksandillusionsRobert-Houdinpresentedbecameclassics.Hereareafewofthem.[edit]SecondSightWhenRobert-Houdinfirstopenedhistheatre,itwassparselyattended.Thoughhisinventionsweregood,theyneededadrawthatwouldbringthepublictohislittletheatre.Sohecameupontheideaofdoingatwopersonmindreadingact.He

evenconcoctedasillystoryonhowhissonEmilecreatedagameofhotandcoldthatresultedintoRobert-Houdinutilizingthatforthestage.[3]HetookthetitlethatwasusedbysuchmagiciansasJohnHenryAnderson,buttheeffectwasentirelydifferent.Andersonhadaboxintowhichitemswereinserted.Themediumwouldthendescribethecontentsinside.InRobert-Houdin’sversion,hewalkedintotheaudienceandtoucheditemsthattheaudienceheldupandhisblindfoldedassistant,playedbyhisson,describedeachoneindetail.ItcausedasensationandbroughtthethrongtoseehisSoirees.EventuallyRobert-Houdinchangedthemethodsoinsteadofaskinghissonwhatwasinhishands,hesimplyrangabell.Thisstunnedthosethatsuspectedaspokencode.Hewouldevensetthebellofftothesideandremainsilentandhissonstilldescribedeveryobjecthandedtohisfather.Robert-Houdinevenmadethetestdifficult.Heplacedaglassofwaterintohis

son’shandsandEmileproceededtodrinkfromit.Hewasabletoperceivethetasteoftheliquidsthatspectatorsfromtheaudiencemerelythoughtof.[5]Eventhentheaudiencesweren’tentirelyconvinced.TheytriedtotripupEmilebybringinginbookswritteninGreek.Heevendescribedoddtoolslikeathreadcounter.[2][edit]TheEtherealSuspensionDuringRobert-Houdin’stime,allofPariswasenthusiasticallytalkingaboutthemysterioususesof"ether".[3]Hetookadvantageofthisbypresentinganillusionthatappearedtousethepungentliquid.Hetoldtheaudiencethathediscoveredamarvelousnewpropertyofether.“Ifonehasalivingpersoninhalethisliquidwhenitisatitshighestdegreeofconcentration,thebodyofthepatientforafewmomentsbecomesaslightasaballoon,”Robert-Houdinclaimed.

Heproceededtoprovejustthat.Heplacedthreestoolsonawoodenbench.HisyoungestsonEugènestoodonthemiddleone.Withtheinstructionsfromhisfather,heextendedhisarms.Robert-Houdinplacedtwocanesontopofthestoolsandpositionedthemunderhisson’sarms.Hetookavialofetherandopened.Theaudiencesmelleditwaftingthroughthetheatre.Heplacedthevialunderhisson’snosewhowentlimp.Inreality,thevialwasempty.AnothersonofhisEmilepouredrealetheronaveryhotironshovel.That’swhattheaudiencesmelled.Robert-Houdintookthestoolawayfromhisson’sfeetandhejusthunglimpasarag.Hetookawayoneofthecanessohewasdanglingbyonearmandcarefullypl



acedhisheadagainsthisupraisedhand.Thiswasstartlingenough.Whathedidnextwasstunning.Heliftedhisboyuprightinahorizontalpositionbyhislittlefinger.Thenletgountilhewassuspendedinmidair.[5]Robert-Houdinsteppedawaytoleavehissoninthatsuspendedstate,balancedonlybyhisrightelbowandnoothersupport.[3]Whenitwasapparentthatthedrugwaswearingoff,Robert-Houdinreturnedhissontohisuprightposition.Whenhewokeup,heseemednoworseforwear.[3][5]Robert-Houdinbuiltupthesurpriseofspectatorsuntil,“…bygraduallyheighteningituptothemomentwhen,sotospeak,itexploded.”[5]ThisbroughtlettersofprotestagainstRobert-Houdinthinkinghewasputtinghisson’shealthatjeopardybypunchinghiminthefacerepedly,althoughtheetherhadnothingtodowiththetrick.[3](Areplicaofthisperformancecanbeseenhere:[1])[edit]TheMarvelousOrangeTreeOnoneofRobert-Houdin’ssidetable,hehasanegg,alemon,andanorange.Hesoondisplayswhatheisgoingtodowiththem.Hegoesintotheaudienceandborrowsalady’shandkerchiefthatwasinstylethen.Herollsitintoaball.Herubstheballinbetweenhishandsandthehandkerchiefgetssmallerandsmalleruntilitdisappearspassingthroughtotheeggonthetable.Carefullyhepicksuptheegg.Theaudienceexpectshimtocrackitopenandproducethespectator’shandkerchief.Instead,hemakesthatdisappeartoo.Hetellstheaudiencethattheeggwenttothelemon.Thisisrepeatedwiththelemonandtheorange.Whenhemakestheorangedisappear,allthatisleftisafinepowd

er.Thisisplacedintoasilvervial.Hesoaksthisvialwithalcoholandsetsitonfire.Asmallorangetreeplantedinawoodenboxisbroughtforthbyoneofhisassistants.Theaudiencenoticesthatthetreeisbarrenofanyblossomsorfruit.Theblueflamefromthevialisplacedunderneathit.Thevaporsfromitcausestheleavestospreadandsproutorangeblossomsfromit.Robert-Houdinthenpicksuphismagicwandandwavesit.Theflowersdisappearandorangesbloomforth.Hepluckstheorangesfromthetreeandtossesthemtotheaudiencetoprovetheyarereal.Hedoesthisuntilheonlyhasoneleft.Hewaveshiswandagainandtheorangesplitsopenintofoursectionsrevealingawhitematerialofsortsinsideofit.Twoclockworkbutterfliesappearfrombehindthetree.Thebutterfliesgrabtheendofthecornerofthewhiteclothandspreaditopenrevealingthespectator shandkerchief.[5][6]

ThetrickcanbeseenperformedbyPaulDanielsonhisBBCtelevisionseries.(RefurbishedbyJohnGaughan.)PaulDaniels OrangeTreeautomataillusion.AmorecomplexvariantofTheMarvelousOrangeTreeisincludedinthefilmTheIllusionist.[edit]Robert-Houdin’sPortfolioRobert-Houdinbringsonalargeportfoliousedforholdingdocumentsorartworkunderhisarm.Theportfolioisonlyaboutoneandthreequartersofaninchthick.Toosmallortoothintoholdanythingbutpictures.[2]Hesetsitontwothintrestlestoholdthecasewiththespinefacingtheaudience.[2]Heremovedtheexpecteddrawingsfromit.[5]Oneofthosepicturesshowedabareheadedwoman.Thenheproducedtwoladiesbonnetsdecoratedwithflowers;oneforwinter,theotherforsummer.Helowerstheflapforeachproduction.

Thenheshowedapictureofbirdsfollowedbyastuffedbirdflatasapancake.[2]Withthatheproceededtoproducefromtheportfoliofourliveturtledoves.[5]Heshowedapictureofacartoonoftwocooksfightingwithpots.[2]Thiswasfollowedbythreeenormouscopperpots.Oneisfilledwithbeans,anotherwithflamesburstingforth,andthethirdpotisfilledwithboilingwater.[5]Asanafterthought,heliftedthetopflapoftheportfolio[2]andpulledoutalargecagefilledwithbirds.[5]Hewalkedforwardtowardstheaudiencewiththesquarecageandtheyapplaudedthinkingthetrickwasover.“Nothingherenow-neitheranything,noranybody,”ash



eknockedontheuprightflap.[2]Forafinale,heclosestheportfolioonelasttimeandproduceshisyoungsonfromit.[5][6][edit]TheLightandHeavyChestTheamountoftricksheinventedforhistheatrewasextensive,buthismostremarkableonewastheLightandHeavyChest.Hetookadvantageoftheinfancyoftheusageofelectricity,especiallythethennoveltyofHansChristianOersted

sdiscoveryofelectromagnetism,tohisadvantage.Robert-Houdinbroughtonasmallwoodenboxaboutafootwide.Hesaidthathehadfoundawaytoprotectitfromthieves.Heaskedaspectatortoliftit,usuallyasmallchild.Thechildlifteditwithease.Thenhebroughtanadultmaleupfromtheaudienceandaskedhimtoliftthesamebox.Eventhoughheusedallofhismight,theadultmalewasunabletoliftthebox!WhatmadethistrickevenmoreincredibleisthatRobert-Houdinusedthis(amongothers)tohelpsquelcharebellion.ThistrickcanbeseenperformedbyDerrenBrownonhisChannel4televisionseriesTheEvents.DerrenBrown-TheEvents3-PsychicSpyPart1[edit]InventionspiratedRobert-Houdin sinventionswerepiratedbyhistrustedmechanicLeGrand,whowasarrestedformakingandsellingduplicateillusions.[3]ManyofthoseillusionsfellintothehandsofhiscompetitorslikeJohnHenryAnderson,Robin,RobertHeller,andComparsHerrmann.ItisnotknownwhetherHerrmannortheothersboughttheillusionsdirectlyfromLeGrandorfromanothersource.Buttheywilling

lyperformedtheillusionsafterknowingthattheywereinventedbyRobert-Houdin.[edit]Robert-HoudinontourRobert-Houdin’slittletheatrebecameameccaformagicenthusiasts.[3]HerrmannwasaconstantvisitortothePalaisRoyal.ThepubliccomplainedbecauseRobert-Houdincouldn’tmagicallymakehistheatrebigger.ItbecametheplaceforthePariselitetogo.EventheKingLouisPhilipperentedouttheroomforaprivateperformance.AfterthetriumphhegaveattheRoyalPalace,in1847,thekingdecidedtotakehisentouragetoseeRobert-HoudinatthePalaisRoyal.ThefollowingFebruaryarevolutionendedthereignofLouis-Philippe.Withitshowbusinessalsoended.[3]TheRevolutionclosedallParisiantheatres.[2]Robert-Houdinshutdownhistheatreandwentontheroad.[3]HetouredtheContinent

briefly[6]andthenheheadedofftoGreatBritain.WithacompanyofFrenchdramatists,Robert-HoudinmadehisEnglishdebutattheSt.JamesTheatreinLondon.Hepresentedhisprogramthreetimesaweek.[3]Muchtohisdismay,hefoundoutthatComparsHerrmannbeathimtotheterritory.NotonlywashebillinghimselfasthePremierPrestidigitateurofFrance,[3]buthewasalsousingpiratedversionsofhisillusions.[2]Despitethis,Robert-Houdinstillaccomplishedasuccessthere.Somuchso,in1848,hedidacommandperformanceforQueenVictoria.AfterathreemonthtourofEngland,hewentbackhomeafteraboutayearandahalfaway.HereopenedthetheatreandbecameapermanentfixtureinParis.[3]In1850,HehandedthePalaisRoyaltohisbrother-in-lawHamilton(PierreEtienneChocat).ThislefthimfreetotourFrance.Hedidsofortwoyears.ThenhewenttoGermanyandareturnengagementtoEnglandwhereheendedupperformingasecondtimeforQueenVictoria.

HedidabrieftourofFranceandthenattheageof48,retiredfrompublicperformances.HegavethetheatrebacktoHamiltonwhocontinuedtofillthelittletheatre.[2][edit]TheMagicalMissionAfterRobert-Houdinretired,hedevotedhimselftohisinventionswithelectricityandhiswritings.HishomelePrieuré(thePriory),wasamarvelinadvancement.[3]Hishomewasrunentirelybyelectricity.In1856,hewasaskedbyLouis-NapoleontopacifythetribesinFrenchAlgeria.Duringthisperiod,theFrenchArmycommandersmaintainedorderinthenewlypac



ifiedregion.TheysupervisedlocalMuslimadministrationsandthebureauxarabes.TheseareaswereclosedofftocolonizationbytheEuropeans.NapoleonIIIwasworriedaboutareligioustribecalledtheMarabouts.TheMaraboutswereabletocontroltheirtribewiththeirfauxmagicalabilities.[6]TheyadvisedtheirleaderstobreakrankswiththeFrench.[2]NapoleonwantedRobert-HoudintoshowthatFrenchmagicwasstronger.[6]ThemagicalmissionbeganwithaninformalshowattheBabAzounTheatreinAlgeriawherehewouldgiveperformancestwiceweekly.[2]Healsogavemanyspecialgalasbeforethecountry’stribalchiefs.HeusedTheLightandHeavyChestduringtheseperformances,butinsteadofplayingitforcomedyashehadinParis,hereheplayeditstraight.Robert-HoudinonceinvitedthestrongesttribesmanonstageandaskedtheArabiantopickupthewoodenchestplacedonstage.TheArabianpickeditupwithnoproblem.ThenRobert-Houdinannouncedthathewasgoingtosaphisstrength.Hewavedhiswandanddeclared,"Contemplez!Maintenantvousêtesplusfaiblequ

unefemme;essayezdesouleverlaboîte."("Behold!Nowyouareweakerthanawoman;trytoliftthebox.")TheArabianlaughedatthisandwithallofhismight,pulledonthehandleofthechest.Butitwouldnotbudge!Hetriedandtrieduntilhetriedtoripitapart.Instead,hescreamedinpain,asRobert-HoudinhadriggedtheboxtogivetheArabiananelectricalshockifhetriedtoripthehandlesoff.TheArabianletgoofthehandle,ranoffintotheaisle,andranscreamingoutofthetheatre.[3]AvariationofthiseventwasincludedinthefilmTheIllusionist.Afterhisperformancesweredone,hegaveaspecialpresentationforseveralchiefmenoftheirtribe.Hewasinvitedtothehomeoftheheadofthetribeofth

edesertinterior,Bou-Allem.IndawnoftheArabdesert,Robert-Houdinwaschallengedtodoaspecialtrick.Heobligedbyinvitingoneoftherebelstoshootathimwithamarkedbullet,whichhecaughtbetweenhisteeth.HewasgivenacertificatefromBou-Allem,[5]whoworearedrobesymbolizinghisloyaltytoFrance.Withthisscrollpraisinghismysteriousmanifestations,Robert-HoudinwentbacktoFrancewiththemissionaccomplished.[2]"Theblowwasstruck,"Robert-Houdinsaid,"...henceforththeinterpretersandallthosewhohaddealingswiththeArabsreceivedorderstomakethemunderstandthatmypretendedmiracleswereonlytheresultofskill,inspiredandguidedbyanartcalledprestidigitation,innowayconnectedwithsorcery."Hewentontosay,“TheArabsdoubtlessyieldedtothesearguments,forhenceforthIwasonthemostfriendlytermswiththem."[5]HewasrewardedforhisservicesoftheFrenchgovernmentbysuppressinganypossiblerebellion.[6]

[edit]RetirementanddeathAfterhismissioninAlgeriacompleted,Robert-HoudingavehislastpublicperformanceattheGrandThéâtreinMarseille,thenreturnedtohishomeinSaint-Gervais,nearhisnativeBlois,wherehewrotehismemoirs,Confidencesd’unPrestidigitateur.Healsowroteseveralbooksontheartofmagic.HelivedhappilyinretirementforaboutfifteenyearsuntiladventoftheFrancoPrussianWar.HissonEugenewasacaptaininaZouaveregiment.OnAugust6,1870,Robert-HoudinheardnewsofhissonbeingmortallywoundedattheBattleofWorth.Meanwhile,Hessians(soldiers)capturedParisandRobert-Houdinhidhisfamilyinacavenearhisproperty.TheHessiansoldierswereveryrude,accordingtoRobert-Houdin,buthefoundthePolishsoldierstobealotkinder.[3]Fourdayslater,Robert-Houdinwastofindoutthathissonhaddiedofhiswoun

ds.Withthestressfromthatandthewar,hishealthdeterioratedandhecontractedpneumonia.OnJune13,1871,hediedofhisillness,attheageofsixty-five.[edit]Legacy

Thisisthepublic"dragons"displayatJeanEugèneRobert-Houdin

shouseinBlois,whichhasbeenturnedintoamuseum.The"dragons"moveinandoutofthewindowsinatheatricaldisplay.AstatueofRobert-Houdinisatlowerright.



HishomeinBloisisopentothepublicasamuseumandtheatrefirstopenedbyhisgrandsonPaulRobert-HoudininApril1966.[2]OnDecember1852,theTheatreRobert-HoudinmovedfromitsoriginallocationtotheBoulevarddesItaliens.OwnershippassedfromHamiltontoCleverman(FrançoisLahire),thentoRobert-Houdin’ssonEmile.Emilewastoobusytoperformatthetheatre,sohearrangedforPierreEdouardBrunnettopresenttheshow.Afterhisdeath,Emile’swidowsoldthetheatretoGeorgeMélièsin1888.Mélièslatersentedthefirstmoviesthere.HeaccidentallydiscoveredstopactionspecialeffectsandpresentedhiscreationattheTheatreRobert-Houdin.OneofhisclassicsisATriptotheMoon.In1924thebuildingwasdemolished.[2]Robert-Houdin

sautobiographyisTheMemoirsofRobert-Houdin.HislifeandworksarealsocitedinRobertsonDavies "DeptfordTrilogy",notablyinthetrilogy

sthirdnovelWorldofWonders,whichtakesplaceonthesetofamovieaboutRobert-Houdin.JimSteinmeyersaidinhisbook,HidingtheElephant,thateverymagicianofthe20thcenturywashauntedbyRobert-Houdin,“…whocastanenormousshadowovertheirgeneration.”[6]AmericanmagicianandescapeartistHarryHoudini(bornEhrichWeiss)wassoimpressedbyRobert-Houdinthatafterreadinghisautobiographyin1890,Ehrichadoptedthestagenameof"Houdini"inhonorofRobert-Houdin.Heincorrectlybelievedthat"i"ontheendofanamemeant"like"inFrench.ButHoudini,hisowncareerandreputationestablishedbythattime,laterlosthisyouthfulrespectforRobert-Houdin,believingthathetookunduecreditforothermagicians

sinnovations,andwroteTheUnmaskingofRobert-Houdinin1908.[edit]

NameItisincorrecttorefertoJeanEugèneRobert-Houdinas"Houdin."HislastnamewasRobert-Houdin.HisbirthnamewasJeanEugèneRobert.HemarriedMademoiselleHoudin,andunderspecialdispensationfromtheFrenchgovernment,wasallowedtousethehyphenatedlastname.

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Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin