Houdini had posed a standing challenge to magicians: Show me a trick three times in a row and I'll be able to tell you how you did it. Vernon showed him a card trick, a simple effect, seven times and Houdini couldn't get it. He didn't come close. Worse, for the explosive Houdini, Vernon did it in front of other magicians. He had Houdini pick a card, mark it clearly with his initials "HH" and then slip it back into the deck. In a snap, there it was right back on top. Vernon repeated the trick once, and then again. It didn't matter where he put Houdini's card, it always ended back on top. He even slipped it . . . slowly . . . and . . . obviously . . . Right under the top card. Vernon showed it right there, second from the top, and then, there it was right back on top again. Everyone could see the "HH" still clearly marked on the card. It was Houdini's card, all right. "You got to have two cards alike," Houdini finally declared. It was the third go-round of the trick and this was Houdini's verdict: a duplicate card. "With your initials, Harry?" Vernon answered casually. "You use a thumb writer!" He practically yelled at Vernon now, referring to the little device magicians would clip to their thumb tip in order to write secretly during a trick. "How could I use a thumb writer when it's in ink?" Vernon countered. All the magicians knew that thumb writers, also called nail writers, only wrote in pencil. They waited now to see how Houdini would get out of that one. "They make them in ink now!" he finally blustered with authority. None of the magicians had ever heard of an ink thumb writer. The Great Houdini was clearly floundering. "Harry you're fooled!" cried Sam Margules, who had been watching closely. "Three times!" Margules yelled now. "Three times!" Houdini started to boil. "Do it again!" he barked at Vernon "Do it again!" Vernon obliged happily, running through the trick a fourth time, one more than Houdini's self-imposed limit. "Once more!" Houdini commanded still again. But Vernon didn't care. He could do this trick a hundred times if Houdini liked. There was the card, the "HH" obvious to anyone watching, and yet there it was right back on top once more. Vernon did it again, and still again, seven times in all for Houdini, more than twice the number of times called for in his challenge. Of course, Houdini never admitted he had been fooled. But Vernon knew, and because of the other magicians in attendance, the word spread. That particular trick became known in Magic as "The Trick That Fooled Houdini."
I within the last 5 years or so discovered the professor. However I miss this man dearly. His death made the world a much duller place but what he brought to and passed on in magic is truly a remarkable thing. A true legend and once in a lifetime person. RIP Professor
Here's what I know. CT is Carole Taylor, the rest is speculation. I remember a show she co hosted with Peter Pit back in the 70's. The closest I can get is Celebrity Revue shot in Vancouver in 1977. I looked in the show's lineup and didn't see Vernon. Perhaps Pit co hosted during a magic week
"Some say he may be Jesus" is a neat trick, yes, but it's not new or all that unique. Dai Vernon had the neat new unique trifecta & we'll be studying his holy Trinity when Chriss Anjel's name is lost to the sands of time & RUclips comment archives
Not only was Houdini stumped but he was also pissed. He refused to admit that he was fooled but.....he was. Dai Vernon. The best.
Houdini had posed a standing challenge to magicians: Show me a trick three times in a row and I'll be able to tell you how you did it. Vernon showed him a card trick, a simple effect, seven times and Houdini couldn't get it. He didn't come close. Worse, for the explosive Houdini, Vernon did it in front of other magicians. He had Houdini pick a card, mark it clearly with his initials "HH" and then slip it back into the deck. In a snap, there it was right back on top. Vernon repeated the trick once, and then again. It didn't matter where he put Houdini's card, it always ended back on top. He even slipped it . . . slowly . . . and . . . obviously . . . Right under the top card. Vernon showed it right there, second from the top, and then, there it was right back on top again. Everyone could see the "HH" still clearly marked on the card. It was Houdini's card, all right. "You got to have two cards alike," Houdini finally declared. It was the third go-round of the trick and this was Houdini's verdict: a duplicate card. "With your initials, Harry?" Vernon answered casually. "You use a thumb writer!" He practically yelled at Vernon now, referring to the little device magicians would clip to their thumb tip in order to write secretly during a trick. "How could I use a thumb writer when it's in ink?" Vernon countered. All the magicians knew that thumb writers, also called nail writers, only wrote in pencil. They waited now to see how Houdini would get out of that one. "They make them in ink now!" he finally blustered with authority. None of the magicians had ever heard of an ink thumb writer. The Great Houdini was clearly floundering. "Harry you're fooled!" cried Sam Margules, who had been watching closely. "Three times!" Margules yelled now. "Three times!" Houdini started to boil. "Do it again!" he barked at Vernon "Do it again!" Vernon obliged happily, running through the trick a fourth time, one more than Houdini's self-imposed limit. "Once more!" Houdini commanded still again. But Vernon didn't care. He could do this trick a hundred times if Houdini liked. There was the card, the "HH" obvious to anyone watching, and yet there it was right back on top once more. Vernon did it again, and still again, seven times in all for Houdini, more than twice the number of times called for in his challenge. Of course, Houdini never admitted he had been fooled. But Vernon knew, and because of the other magicians in attendance, the word spread. That particular trick became known in Magic as "The Trick That Fooled Houdini."
It’s a cool story but not likely. If you want I can show you the truck I fooled dai vernon with? 😂
I within the last 5 years or so discovered the professor. However I miss this man dearly. His death made the world a much duller place but what he brought to and passed on in magic is truly a remarkable thing. A true legend and once in a lifetime person. RIP Professor
He wasn't the greatest magician and he was not the best with cards.
But, Houdini achieved what no other magician has.
Immortality.
Thank you so much for this.
This is fantastic. Thanks. Any idea what show this is from and when? Would love to see the entire interview.
Here's what I know. CT is Carole Taylor, the rest is speculation. I remember a show she co hosted with Peter Pit back in the 70's. The closest I can get is Celebrity Revue shot in Vancouver in 1977. I looked in the show's lineup and didn't see Vernon. Perhaps Pit co hosted during a magic week
Theres literally no explanation for that but actual magic hahahahaha this mans are legend.
Yes, still hard to see how he got it from the middle of the deck.
Any magician knows this😂
@bv2745 even houdini couldn't figure it out but every magicians knows? you make no sense.
Classic
Woww
Who's the little cutie?
its Dai Vernon, He was much taller when he was younger.
Her initials are C.T.
Houdini was an escape artist not a good magician. You could fool him with just about anything😂
How was he fooled by a double decker?
because in 1919, gaff cards wasn't well known. Houdini probably didn't know they exist.
Vernon did not use a double backed card. It was all second dealing. Plus, Houdini wrote about double backed cards in one of his books.
@@robertangell9681 how does he do it from halfway in the deck though that's crazy
@@flelite3994I don’t know how but I’m guessing the card he put in the middle was not the 10 of spades.
@@jackpast True sure does look like it though lol
Back to the nursing home, grandpa. Criss Angel walks on water and raises the dead. Some say he may be Jesus, returned as he promised. #word
"Some say he may be Jesus" is a neat trick, yes, but it's not new or all that unique. Dai Vernon had the neat new unique trifecta & we'll be studying his holy Trinity when Chriss Anjel's name is lost to the sands of time & RUclips comment archives
Say what? You smoking whacky tobacy? Angel floated above the Luxor. Hangtime!
Vernon’s over rated. Not impressed really boring!