Christopher's Ectoplastic Travels in Time: How A Clerical Error Changed The Course of Magic History

Today I'm so excited to introduce The Unhinged Historian's newest addition historical time traveling magician and Steampunk author Christopher Thisse who is an expert in all things magic and mystical in the Victorian Era and Gilded Age. His new segment "Christopher's Ectoplastic Travels in Time" will be featured here on The Unhinged Historian on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Post a welcome note to Chris and make him feel at home!

How A Clerical Error Changed 

The Course of Magic History

By Christopher Thisse

 If I could go back in time … And I can … One of the people I would most like to talk to is Jean Eugene Robert Houdin.

 Statue of Jean Eugene Robert Houdin
La Maison de la Magie Robert-Houdin
Photo Credit: OliBac via photopin cc

Ever heard of Houdini?  This isn’t him.  Jean Eugene Robert Houdin was a French watch maker.  His father was one of the best watch makers in Blois, France, their hometown.  He wanted Jean to be a lawyer. 

Hired as a clerk for his excellent penmanship, Jean instead tinkered with gadgets until the lawyer’s office told his father he’d make a better watchmaker than a lawyer. He then apprenticed to his cousins shop, where he became a watchmaker. 

In the mid-1820s, he ordered a two volume set of books called Traite de L’horlogerie (Treatise on Clockmaking), and when picking them up from the shop, the clerk accidentally gave him the two volume magic set, Scientific Amusements.  The books caught his interest, and he began practicing. Then, he started taking lessons from a local magician.  His skills grew, and eventually, he combined his passions.

Houdin was known for creating fantastic clock works. Ever seen that movie The Illusionist?  The orange-tree illusion that Edward Norton’s character, Eisenheim, was largely based on Houdin.  The Orange Tree was one of Houdin’s most famous illusions. 

photo credit: sushiesque via photopin cc

Another very impressive feat was when Houdin stopped a war using only his quick wits and knowledge of magic.  

After he had retired from magic, the French government was having some trouble with the Algerians.  A rebellion was brewing, led by the Marabouts who claimed to use magical abilities, which would allow them to defeat the French.  In 1856 Houdin was asked by Luis-Napoleon to go to Algeria and show the people that French magic was stronger than the Marabouts’ magic.

He went to Algeria and did several performances.  Generally they followed the same format and one stood out more than the others.  He had a small woman lift a box on stage and then set it down.  Then he called up a strong warrior to do the same, after claiming to sap the strength of the warrior.  The warrior was unable to lift the box and then suddenly ran from the theater screaming in pain. 

Houdin decided he needed to get to the leaders of this rebellion so he travelled into the desert looking for their main camp.  When he got there he was challenged to a duel by one of the most powerful priests.  Claiming that he needed time to rest and prepare, he asked to have eight hours to meditate, due to the fact that he’d left his talisman in the cities.   

They scheduled the duel for 8am the next day.  At dawn, they met.  Pistols were selected, they took the requisite number of steps, and Houdin allowed the priest to take a clean first shot.  The priest shot him in the chest.  Houdin then smiled, revealing the shining bullet held between his teeth.  He took aim, not at the priest, but at a nearby wall, and fired.  The wall began to bleed. 

With these tricks, the confidence in the rebellion was destroyed and Houdin returned home a hero of France. 

No wonder a guy named Erich Weiss decided to pay homage to this man when creating a stage name.  He combined his childhood nickname (Erry, or to an American, Harry) with a mistaken understanding of French, and came up with Harry Houdini, which he thought meant “Like Houdin”.

Christopher Thisse is a time traveling psychic magician.  Not all of those things are true. He has been performing semi-professionally for over eight years, starting in a small circus troupe in Providence, Rhode Island.  When he moved to Fresno he shifted his focus to magic and now works for Ellusionist, one of the largest magic companies in the world.  His troupe, Of The Fireflies, has performed for some of the largest events in the Central Valley and Fresno area of California including Trashique, Freedom Fest, CMAC’s Anniversary Event and many ArtHop events.  When not doing impossible things in front of crowds, Christopher can often be found writing urban fantasy themed Steampunk stories, cooking, tending bar at parties, or training his German shepherd puppy. And if all else fails, look for him out in the Black Rock Desert. Or on Facebook!

A huge thank you to Christopher for becoming a part of The Unhinged Historian. I can't wait to see what else we get from "Christopher's Ectoplastic Travels in Time!"

Ask Chris a Question or tell us your thoughts in the comment section!

Final Two Blog Tour Dates for A White Room

Tues July 30 – Reading the Past:  Giveaway and Guest Post:

Writing and Historical Thought - They Didn't Think Like We Did 100 Years Ago

Sat, Aug. 3 – History and Women:  Guest Post: Victorian Women and the Mystery of Sex 

A White Room is available on  

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