When Groucho Met Houdini

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Jack Shalom
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When Groucho Met Houdini

Postby Jack Shalom » June 23rd, 2018, 12:09 am


Max Maven
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Re: When Groucho Met Houdini

Postby Max Maven » June 23rd, 2018, 3:29 am

I wouldn’t say that it is well known, but it’s certainly been around. Groucho told it during at least one television talk show interview, and it has been written up in several books about him and/or comedy history.

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Re: When Groucho Met Houdini

Postby Joe Mckay » June 23rd, 2018, 5:15 am

I remember Penn once saying (or writing?) that he and Teller were once on the Letterman show. They did the Needles trick and Letterman examined Teller's mouth at the start of the trick. He was asked if he could find anything inside the mouth? Letterman responded, "Nothing except possible halitosis".

I am not sure if it was during the show or afterwards - but Penn told Letterman that Groucho Marx once made the same gag when Houdini performed the Needles trick for him. Apparently Letterman got a real kick out of that.

Jack Shalom
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Re: When Groucho Met Houdini

Postby Jack Shalom » June 23rd, 2018, 7:14 am

Thanks, Max and Joe. I wonder if Letterman's writers provided that "ad lib." Or even Teller himself. Or maybe it's just a comic opportunity that can't be resisted.

Tom Gilbert
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Re: When Groucho Met Houdini

Postby Tom Gilbert » June 23rd, 2018, 12:45 pm

I had that Groucho album when it came out. Was there ever "the rest of the story?" What did HH do after that?

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JohnCox
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Re: When Groucho Met Houdini

Postby JohnCox » June 23rd, 2018, 1:03 pm

I'd say it's well known among Houdini nuts. It's a great story.
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Mr. Charming

Re: When Groucho Met Houdini

Postby Mr. Charming » June 25th, 2018, 6:53 pm

Can you please tell me what word he says when Houdini asked him what do you see in there?

I speak english but it's not my native language, so I missed this word.

Anyways is there a way to verify that it's a true story? Maybe he was telling this "memory" in a way that sounded much more funny than it really was

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Re: When Groucho Met Houdini

Postby JohnCox » June 25th, 2018, 7:08 pm

He says "Pyorrhea." It's a type of gum disease.

Who knows if it's true.
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