The period from 1890 to 1929 was the so-called golden age of magic in America, when Houdini, Thurston, Chicago native Harry Blackstone Sr., and others drew crowds to vaudeville houses and major theaters, and mounted enormous tent shows on tours across the country and around the world. The serendipitous meeting of Houdini and Thurston at the World’s Columbian Exposition signaled the dawn of a luminous era of magic in Chicago. Less than 20 years later, the once-impoverished young men would be the rival top magicians in the world, staging lavish touring productions in front of sold-out crowds. When not shilling for the sideshow, Thurston too has a side hustle, including a card trick in which he changes suits with a wave of his hand.Īs the story goes, the budding illusionists chance upon each other somewhere on the midway and compare cards, shells, and handkerchiefs. The 24-year-old calls out to passersby, promising that for a small fee they can see “savage” African dancers in jungle garb. On the same stretch, Howard Thurston, wearing a suit and hat, is standing in front of the re-creation of a West African village. When he’s not performing in costume, Houdini wanders the Midway Plaisance, swallowing and regurgitating sewing thread and needles to amazed audiences for tips. With his curly hair, it takes just a little dark makeup and a white, r obelike wrap to transform the 19-year-old, who was born to Jewish parents in Budapest, into a Hindu fakir attracting visitors to the exhibit.

Harry Houdini is sitting cross-legged playing a flute at the entrance to the Tunisian Village at Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair. Best of Chicago 2022: Sports & Recreation.

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Magic of houdini