11 Harry Houdini Quotes on Performance

Harry Houdini quotes on performance

3. I make the most money, I think, in Russia and Paris, for the people of those countries are so willing to be amused, so eager to see something new and out of the ordinary

10. 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 steadily shielded by the strict integrity of my assistants, most of whom have been with me for years.

11. 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.

13. 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 intense heat.

14. Exposure of the secrets of the fire-eaters, for instance, dates back almost to the beginning of the art itself.

16. Flames from the lips may be produced by holding in the mouth a sponge saturated with the purest gasoline.

18. In all feats of fire-eating it should be noted that the head is thrown well back, so that the flame may pass out of the open mouth instead of up into the roof, as it would if the head were held naturally.

21. My professional life has been a constant record of disillusion, and many things that seem wonderful to most men are the every-day commonplaces of my business.

22. No performer should attempt to bite off red-hot iron unless he has a good set of teeth.

25. The eating of burning brimstone is an entirely fake performance.

26. The great day of the Fire-eater - or, should I say, the day of the great Fire-eater - has passed.