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36-621: The Houdini Tour, show, and museum attraction is a popular Scranton attraction. The museum features memorabilia, artifacts, mannequins and films of Houdini. The Houdini Tour includes a magic show. A tour and show takes about two and a half to three hours. The live show at the museum includes two nationally known magicians, Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brooks . The Houdini Museum was created by Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brooks (aka John Bravo and Ray Carter). The exhibits include items from their personal collections as well as artifacts given to Brooks by his father, who saw Houdini perform. Elements of

72-658: A flea circus , a half-man half-woman, and magicians such as Earl "Presto" Johnson . This museum was documented in photography by Diane Arbus . Later, in Times Square, mouse pitchman Tommy Laird opened a dime museum that featured Tisha Booty — "the Human Pin Cushion" — and several magicians, including Lou Lancaster , Criss Capehart , Dorothy Dietrich , Dick Brooks , and others. In 1882, C. E. Kohl and Middleton opened their first Dime Museum in Chicago . It

108-502: A "world-class magician" and "one of the world's leading female magicians". Early on, as a teenager, she already was referred to as "The First Lady of Magic", a reference later copied by others. Dietrich, often called the female Houdini, has duplicated many of Houdini's original escapes, and has gone one step further by doing the Jinxed Bullet Catch Stunt – the one that Houdini backed away from. Dorothy Dietrich

144-579: A $ 10,000 reward. Feature stories and articles about her have appeared in major publications such as The New York Times and TV Guide . On exhibit for many years at the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls, Canada, until it burned down, was a large two-panel display of Dorothy Dietrich and her accomplishments as "The Female Houdini". A similar display is now shown at Scranton's Houdini Museum . For many years she held

180-452: A nearby riverboat. The common promotion gimmick of a brass band at the front entrance of these Dime Museums featured some of the earliest documented traditional jazz; Robinson's riverboat museum also hired Papa Jack Laine . P. T. Barnum purchased Scudder's Dime Museum in 1841 and transformed it into one of the more popular single cultural sites that has existed, Barnum's American Museum . Together, P.T. Barnum and Moses Kimball introduced

216-493: A regular basis. Both John James Audubon and sculptor Hiram Powers produced displays for the Western Museum, organized by Dr Daniel Drake in 1818 and continued by Joseph Dorfeuille. "Satan and his Court" wax figures with moving parts and glowing eyes are typical of these displays. On Canal Street , "Eugene Robinson's Museum and Theater" featured entertainment on the hour and also presented some of its attractions on

252-526: A show business newspaper and was booked on the spot for a full summer of work, was recommended to the school district for the winter months, and re-booked the following summer for an increase in dates and price. Around this same time she earned her performing chops working a dime museum "grind show" Ten-in-One operation in Times Square run by legendary mouse pitchman Tommy Laird with such performers as Earl "Presto" Johnson, Lou Lancaster , Chris Capehart, Dick Brooks (a.k.a., Brookz), and others. Showcasing for

288-588: Is a native of Erie, Pennsylvania . In a six-page article about the history of women in magic in the women's magazine, Bust , which contained only two full-page pictures, one of Adelaide Herrmann and the other of Dietrich, Nichole Summer writes: Growing up in rural Pennsylvania with six brothers, she often found herself tied up as the damsel in distress during their games of cowboy and Indians but would somehow manage to escape on her own. When an aunt saw her freeing herself one day, she said to her, "Who do you think you are, Houdini?" Dietrich had no clue who Houdini

324-458: Is a regular performer for trade and industrial events. On television, Dorothy Dietrich won attention as a woman who, instead of allowing herself to be sawed in half, reversed the traditional illusion and severed into two parts the male hosts of talk shows and network specials. As word got around she was called to do a Bill Cosby special while still in her early teens, but with the help of her sophisticated style and makeup she passed as an adult and

360-536: Is also known for sawing men in half. She also does an updated version of the classic Miser's Dream , plucking coins from the air, nose, ears and pockets of a youngster from the audience. She is also known for levitating volunteers from the audience. In 2008, Bust reported about Dietrich's 1988 attempt to catch a bullet in a metal cup in her mouth. She performed it at Donald Trump 's Resorts International's 10th anniversary in Atlantic City , New Jersey . It

396-455: Is also performed and financed by Scranton's Houdini Museum, the administrators of the cemetery, and volunteers and donors. Dorothy Dietrich Dorothy Dietrich (born April 1, 1948 ) is an American stage magician and escapologist , best known for performing the bullet catch in her mouth (although Adelaide Herrmann reputedly did this earlier) and the first woman to perform a straitjacket escape while suspended hundreds of feet in

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432-480: Is known as a flash act that included doves, a rabbit, a duck and two poodles. Early on she was considered a "leading dove worker". She also developed several routines few women had ever attempted. Sawing men in half, escaping from a straitjacket, sleight of hand with coins via the Misers Dream, The Bullet Catch , and levitating audience members. It was her goal to level the playing field between men and women in

468-542: The American Dime Museum in 1999, which operated for eight years before closing permanently and auctioning off its exhibits in late February 2007. Kimball's Museum and Austin & Stones Museum in Scollay Square were both well-known attractions, the former having a friendly connection to, and sometimes competition with, P. T. Barnum . Barnum and Moses Kimball even shared "Fee Gee Mermaids" on

504-748: The Houdini seances in New York as a tribute to the legendary magician, continuing a tradition started by Houdini's wife and passed on to Walter B. Gibson . Even though Bess gave up the séances herself, she asked magician Walter B. Gibson to carry on the October 31 tradition. For many years, Gibson, along with several other magicians, held the séances at the Magic Towne House in New York City. Before Gibson died he asked Dietrich to carry on

540-540: The Progressive Era (c. 1890–1920). Although lowbrow entertainment, they were the starting places for the careers of many notable vaudeville -era entertainers, including Harry Houdini , Lew Fields , Joe Weber , the Griffin Sisters , and Maggie Cline . In Baltimore , Maryland , Peale's Museum is credited as one of the first serious museums in the country. This type of attraction was re-created in

576-501: The Houdini family, who are the closest living relatives of Bess Houdini, making this the closest event connected back to the original seances that Bess Houdini held. Dietrich also crusades against those who falsely claim to speak to dead relatives of vulnerable grieving citizens. Early on, Dietrich realized that there were those who would use magic and various deceptive arts to manipulate and even cheat people out of money. So following in

612-642: The Parent Assembly of the Society of American Magicians at about the same time, well-known magicians Russell Swann and Walter B. Gibson , captivated by her performance style, took her under their wing. Walter Gibson, who was a confidant and biographer of Houdini's, said "What you have is very reminiscent of Houdini, when Houdini came out on stage, the audience automatically fell in love with him. In my long years I've never seen anyone who had that." Dietrich also studied with "Coney Island Fakir" Al Flosso (for

648-507: The air from a burning rope. She was the first woman to gain prominence as an escape artist since the days of Houdini, breaking the glass ceiling for women in the field of escapes and magic. The 2006 Columbia Encyclopedia included Dietrich among their "eight most noted magicians of the late 20th century", and entertainment writer Samantha Hart in Hollywood Walk of Fame: 2000 Sensational Stars, Star Makers and Legends , called her

684-458: The art of magic. Long considered by film buffs as lost, Dietrich was aware since her teens that the only copy of Houdini's The Grim Game was buried in the apartment of Brooklyn collector Larry Weeks. She had seen it several times along with her partner Dick Brooks and attempted to acquire it from him several times to no avail. Finally with the help of film producer Rick Schmidlin she got him to turn it over to Turner Classic Movies and produce

720-421: The care of the grave site at Machpelah Cemetery (Queens), which they agreed to by unanimous vote. Dietrich commented on this, "I will not live forever, but The Society of American Magicians will!" Because of their work over the years, in 2016 Dietrich and Brooks were given the highest honor that can be bestowed on any magician: The Society of American Magicians rare Presidential Citation for their work in promoting

756-610: The coin routine), a regular performer on the Ed Sullivan television show, Jack London (for the bullet catch ) and Lou Lancaster with the Milk Can and the Straitjacket escape, as well as sleight-of-hand magic. "The recognition gradually put Dorothy Dietrich and her magic into resort hotels, nightclubs, school and college auditoriums, trade shows." She became a favorite of several New York booking agents. She developed what

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792-563: The collection were on display for 15 years at the Magic Towne House in New York City, from the 1970s to the 1980s, before the move to Scranton, Pennsylvania. Also on display at the New York location was the Society of American Magicians replica of Houdini's bust at Houdini's grave site, an item that the Society could not store. They were placed there for safe keeping. On September 27, 2011, The Houdini Museum along with "Houdini Commandos" (Dorothy Dietrich, Dick Brooks, and Steve Moore) replaced

828-499: The field of magic, and to innovate and break barriers where no women, and in some cases no men, have gone. Until she broke many of these barriers, women were not allowed full membership in organizations such as The Society of American Magicians , which she tried to join. She has pioneered and paved the way for women in the field today. Dietrich has created special shows for such companies as Maidenform, Pooltrol, Yago Sangria, Manhattan Shirts, as well as fashion and cosmetic companies. She

864-438: The footsteps of famous debunkers who came before her, such as Houdini, Milbourne Christopher and James Randi , she takes on such a role where possible. She has a $ 10,000 reward for anyone who says they can contact the spirit of Houdini. Those who have tried, unsuccessfully, include Canadian television "medium" Kim Dennis, who had contacted the Houdini family claiming she was getting messages from Houdini. Dietrich also sends out

900-413: The highest amount ever paid a magician on Canadian television. It was done under test conditions with the bullets bought by a committee. Brought in under guard, an independent marksman picked and fired the bullet. One of two chosen bullets was fired into a concrete backstop and the second was fired at Dorothy. Dietrich challenged anyone who could prove that the bullet did not leave from the gun by offering

936-410: The restoration, who then put up the funding to have it professionally restored and commissioned two new movie scores to be added to the film. Turner flew Dietrich and Brooks to Hollywood to introduce the film as the climax to their week long yearly film festival. As part of the festival Turner asked Dorothy to perform a challenge strait jacket escape for which she got a standing ovation. Larry Weeks, who

972-650: The so-called " Edutainement ", which was a moralistic education realized through sensational freak shows , theater and circus performances, and many other means of entertainment. The first incarnation "American Museum" on Ann Street burned down in 1865. It was relocated further up Broadway, but this venue too, fell victim to fire. For many years in the basement of the Playland Arcade in Times Square in New York City, Hubert's Museum featured acts such as sword swallower Lady Estelene, Congo The Jungle Creep,

1008-418: The statuary Houdini bust that was destroyed by vandals and missing at the grave for 36 years with the permission of the administration of the cemetery and Houdini family members. This project was funded by the not-for-profit Houdini Museum at a cost of about $ 10,000. With the urging of The Houdini Museum, The Society of American Magicians now contributes yearly to the upkeep of the Houdini grave site. Maintenance

1044-611: The tradition. Walter was a confidant and biographer of Houdini and also wrote the famous Shadow series. Dietrich continues the seances at The Houdini Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania, each Halloween, the day Houdini died. The seances have been shown on such shows as TV Land: Myths and Legends , Biography's Dead Famous -Houdini and Exploring the Unknown . The seances at the Houdini Museum in Scranton are often attended by

1080-555: The two. Dime museum Dime museums were institutions that were popular at the end of the 19th century in the United States . Designed as centers for entertainment and moral education for the working class ( lowbrow ), the museums were distinctly different from upper middle class cultural events ( highbrow ). In urban centers like New York City , where many immigrants settled, dime museums were popular and cheap entertainment . The social trend reached its peak during

1116-415: The world's only continuous traveling Houdini exhibit. Besides featuring it as part of her many shows, it has also traveled to corporations, banks, and casinos. On September 27, 2011, a group she formed, that came to be known in the media as The Houdini Commandos, secretly replaced the statuary bust at Houdini's grave site: Machpelah Cemetery (Queens) that had been missing due to vandalism for 36 years. This

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1152-547: Was able to work night clubs and banquets in the best hotels and venues. Cosby was so impressed that he recommended her to several agents. At this same time she performed with Loretta Lynn , Dick Van Patten , Henny Youngman , Jonathan Winters , and Tony Randall . Dietrich was co-editor, contributor and publisher of Hocus Pocus Magazine along with magician/mentalist Dick Brooks . In addition to escapes and large-scale stunts, Dietrich has performs illusions with live animals such as doves , rabbits , poodles and ducks . She

1188-556: Was but set off for the local library to find out. Doing odd jobs, at the age of 13, she saved enough money as a young teen to hitch a ride with a girlfriend's older brother to New York and ran away from her abusive father, her first true escape act. Among the books that inspired her as a child was a biography of Houdini, who became a childhood idol, a fact that later influenced her desire to perform magic and escapes. Early on, she learned her craft mostly from books. In New York, she auditioned for Westchester Department of Parks from an ad in

1224-506: Was ill and 96 years old died about 5 months before the showing in March. As a tribute to Weeks she demonstrated a trick vest of Houdini's that she had acquired from Weeks as a teenager. Dietrich and Brooks are featured on the second title card of the restored film, which was shown on television the following October. "Because of our efforts more people and future magicians will now see Houdini's best work, than saw him in his entire lifetime!" said

1260-664: Was reported in a half-page story worldwide in The New York Times on October 24, 2011. Her world-famous attraction, Scranton's Houdini Museum that she runs with mystery entertainer Dick Brooks , has been asked by both the family of Houdini and the management of the Machpelah Cemetery (Queens) to take over the upkeep of the grave that has been in disarray for many years. In 2013 she petitioned The Society of American Magicians, magic's most prestigious and wealthiest organization, thanks to Houdini, to help take over

1296-609: Was televised on a special called, Just For The Record, The Best Of Everything. This came about after catching a .22 caliber bullet for the yearly convention of the International Brotherhood of Magicians in Pittsburgh . It was shown on Network TV's Evening Magazine , and on The New You Asked For It with Rich Little as host. She performed it again in Canada on a TV show called Autobus du Canada for

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