The Genii Forum

Does anyone know where I can find a picture of Horace Goldin performing the East Indian Rope Trick?

The only thing I can remember is the cover of one his programs. It had an image of him and also of the rope trick, besides other things. I forget what's inside the program now, but the program turns every so often.

There was guy, I think he has passed away recently, that collected only the rope trick and anything related to it. Right now I can't think of his name.

Good Luck......Kevin

Brad;
Check page 272 of It's Fun to be Fooled by Horace Goldin. There is a full stage photo on this page.
Jim

Brad;
Here is a scan of the picture:

http://www.jamesriser.com/Magic/GoldinHinduRope.jpg

The scan is not bad - it's the picture itself. It shows enough to determine the method in use by Goldin.
Jim

Jim Riser wrote:Check page 272 of It's Fun to be Fooled by Horace Goldin. There is a full stage photo on this page.
Jim

Does the book give the date that this picture was taken?

There is film footage of Goldin flotating around. He was quite good and worked FAST FAST FAST. Almost as if he felt ill and had to finish the show so he could run to the toilet.

Brad;
The book is in a box in my workshop right now. As I recall, there was no date given.
Jim

Checked my copy; there is no date against the phot.

I like the description of Goldin, in ILLUSTRATED MAGIC, where he is described as performing as if the theater were on fire and he is determined to finish his show before he has to run out.

A few years ago, I talked with a man (still living in Canada), who traveled with Golden and played the Indian boy who climbed up the rope.

Re--The date.

If the effect is listed in Max Holden's programes of famouus magicians, you know Goldin was doing it pre 1936.
Goldins whirlwind stage act, came from an early british movie, that featured almost all of the great music hall stars of the day. It is on youtube, and can be found by searching for Horace Goldin.

just checked, and it's not listed in his show from 1933.
But, it is shown on the cover of his pitch book, complete with the Buzz saw. so i think it's something introduced after 1933.
but only just, as Goldin died in 1939.

In his book "Gamblers Don't Gamble", Mickey MacDougall tells of leaving home at age 14 to tour as an assistant to Horace Goldin. He was the boy who climbed the rope in the East Indian Rope Trick. This was from 1917 to 1918.
I was thinking that the boy in the picture might be him.