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About this quote

What does it mean?
He reveals a specific trick where a cup with a false bottom hides the liquid from the audience.
In plain terms
A trick cup hides liquor in a false bottom.
What can you take from it?
Simple mechanisms can create amazing illusions.

Where it applies

  • magic performances
  • prop design
  • curiosity

Putting it to work

  • design props
  • create illusions
  • reveal mechanics

Questions to consider

  • How does a trick work?
  • What hides in plain sight?

Another view

Explaining tricks removes their wonder.

More from Harry Houdini

  1. But then, so far as I know, I am the only performer who ever pledged his assistants to secrecy, honor and allegiance under a notarial oath.

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  2. Eating coals of fire has always been one of the sensational feats of the Fire Kings, as it is quite generally known that charcoal burns with an extremely inten…

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  3. But it must not be thought that I say this out of personal experience: for in the many years that I have been before the public my secret methods have been ste…

    Permalink to quote #10

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