Magic Stories

My Apologies to Ms. Dietrich

 

My Hero: Dororthy Dietrich

In yesterday?s Inside Magic and in the Inside Magic Daily News, I incorrectly wrote that the incredible Dorothy Dietrich performed the Bullet Catch two times.  As those words were written, a chill of uncertainty ran up my spine, messed with my hair, and jumped off my head and ran towards the door.

 

I had the nagging thought that Ms. Dietrich ? did I tell you that she was my hero? ? performed the trick three times. 

 

I was right only insofar as I was wrong and knew it.  Huh?

 

Ms. Dietrich not only performed the very dangerous Bullet Catch, but she did it under ?test conditions.? Ms. Dietrich risked her life three times to perform the most dangerous effect in our business.  Each time you perform the effect, you run the risk of something happening that no one expected; like killing you. 

 

Ms. Dietrich said one of the reasons for doing the Bullet Catch was her connection and appreciation for Houdini.  Historians will recall that the great magician did not perform the effect ? too dangerous. 

 

Performance of the effect also provided the types of credentials necessary to establish Ms. Dietrich as “one of the guys, by in fact doing things even male magicians cannot or will not do.? 

 

Ms. Dietrich?s accomplishments are legion and impressive.  She was the only woman to escape 150 feet in the air ?suspended from a parachute ride with the rope set on fire. 

…

 

My Hero: Dororthy Dietrich

In yesterday?s Inside Magic and in the Inside Magic Daily News, I incorrectly wrote that the incredible Dorothy Dietrich performed the Bullet Catch two times.  As those words were written, a chill of uncertainty ran up my spine, messed with my hair, and jumped off my head and ran towards the door.

 

I had the nagging thought that Ms. Dietrich ? did I tell you that she was my hero? ? performed the trick three times. 

 

I was right only insofar as I was wrong and knew it.  Huh?

 

Ms. Dietrich not only performed the very dangerous Bullet Catch, but she did it under ?test conditions.? Ms. Dietrich risked her life three times to perform the most dangerous effect in our business.  Each time you perform the effect, you run the risk of something happening that no one expected; like killing you. 

 

Ms. Dietrich said one of the reasons for doing the Bullet Catch was her connection and appreciation for Houdini.  Historians will recall that the great magician did not perform the effect ? too dangerous. 

 

Performance of the effect also provided the types of credentials necessary to establish Ms. Dietrich as “one of the guys, by in fact doing things even male magicians cannot or will not do.? 

 

Ms. Dietrich?s accomplishments are legion and impressive.  She was the only woman to escape 150 feet in the air ?suspended from a parachute ride with the rope set on fire. 

 

“As you may know several men have died or been hurt doing the suspended straight jacket and few men and no women have done it successfully from that kind of height suspended by a burning rope.? Ms. Dietrich notes there is no indication Houdini ever performed a straight jacket escape while the rope by which he was suspended was on fire.

 

Ms. Dietrich was inspired by the legend of Houdini as well as the individual behind the publicity.  Houdini was the reason she studied and performed magic despite the sexist admonition “Girls do not do magic.”

 

After all, Ms. Dietrich notes, ?Houdini did not let adversity to stop him, broke new ground and was a pioneer. So he is my idol and one of the reasons I constantly take on new challenges in the field. 

 

“Both Houdini and Thurston wanted to have a house of magic in New York City, but never did.  I am proud to say that we had one for 15 years, The Magic Towne House.  Many of the finest magicians of today started with us, some even while still in school.?

 

The alumni of Ms. Dietrich?s Magic Towne House include: Meir Yedid, Eric DeCamps, Imam, Jeff McBride, Peter Kougasian, Johnny Ace Palmer, Michael Chaut, Peter Samelson. The following performed at The Magic Towne House including: Harry Blackstone, Jr., Slydini, Lou Lancaster, Bobby Baxter, Robert Baxt, Al Goshman, James Mapes, Frank Garcia, Bill McQueen, Richard Robinson, Theodore, Michael Ammar, Abb Dickson, Scalzo, Steve Dacri, Gary Ouellet, Levent, Al Mann, George Schindler, Bob Little, Ron London, Bill Wisch, Fantasio, Sam Schwartz, Howie Schwartzman, Jose de la Torre, Landis and Company, Jack London, and Max Maven.

 

They also had the following major lights pass through the doors: Penn and Teller, Harry Anderson, David Copperfield, Johnny Carson, Doug Henning, Peter, Paul and Mary, David Merrick, Milbourne Christopher and Walter B. Gibson. 

 

Ms. Dietrich had a chance to be with the magicians who actually knew Houdini.  ?Milbourne Christopher and Walter B. Gibson for many years did our well covered “Houdini S?ances” in New York, the town that was officially Houdini’s home for most of his life.

 

?Walter B. Gibson was a friend confidant of Houdini and Bess, Houdini’s wife, and when she stopped doing the s?ances after 10 years asked him to continue. I was honored, when before Walter B. Gibson died, Walter asked me to continue the tradition and carry on with the s?ances.  I am proud and honored to continue this legacy and tradition.  We also published while in New York, a magazine Hocus Pocus for three years.  Houdini published his for 2 years.?

 

Thanks to Ms. Dietrich for her patience and kind correction of our blatant and ignorant mistakes. 

 

Please check out the Houdini Museum by clicking here.

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