Gysel planned to work as a pharmacist but dropped out of college. He practised as a medium under the name Joseph R. Johnson in Toledo, Ohio. He learned the tricks of the séance room and was a supplier of magic effects for fraudulent mediums.[1] It has been suggested by magic historians that Gysel worked as an agent for Harry Houdini in the 1920s, debunking spiritualist mediums and psychics.[2][3] However, John Cox has written that Gysel "provided Houdini with information on mediums and other magic-related matters, but it doesn't appear Gysel was ever employed as one of Houdini's agents."[4]
Gysel claimed he could expose the tricks of any medium. He considered Arthur Conan Doyle to be "the nickel plated dumbell of Spiritualism." He shared with Houdini his pamphlets on psychic fakery.[2] Gysel was known for performing the needle-through-arm trick.[5] He contributed articles to magic magazines such as Genii and The Sphinx. His article "Spirit Tie" appeared in the Tarbell Course in Magic, Volume 6.
Houdini's deathedit
Gysel is alleged to have predicted Houdini's death. In a letter to Fulton Oursler, he described an incident on October 24, 1926 at 10:58pm in which a framed picture of Houdini fell off his wall and smashed. He stated in the letter that he knew Houdini would die.[6]
^Kalush, William; Sloman, Larry. (2006). The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero. Atria Books. ISBN0-7432-7207-2
^ abSilverman, Kenneth. (1996). Houdini!: The Career of Ehrich Weiss. HarperCollins Publishers. p. 363
^Polidoro, Massimo. (2001). Final Séance: The Strange Friendship Between Houdini and Conan Doyle. Prometheus Books. p. 180. ISBN1-57392-896-8
^"Houdini & Gysel by Wayne Wissne" Wild About Harry.
^Robenalt, James D. (2004). Linking Rings: William W. Durbin and the Magic and Mystery of America. Kent State University Press. p. 185. ISBN0-87338-808-9
^Kalush, William; Sloman, Larry. (2006). The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero. Atria Books. p. 533. ISBN0-7432-7207-2
External linksedit
The Houdini Envelopes
January 01, 1970
robert, gysel, robert, henry, gysel, november, 1880, january, 1938, also, known, gysel, american, escape, artist, magician, skeptic, contents, biography, houdini, death, publications, also, references, external, linksbiography, editgysel, planned, work, pharma. Robert Henry Gysel November 18 1880 January 5 1938 also known as Bob Gysel was an American escape artist magician and skeptic Robert H Gysel Contents 1 Biography 2 Houdini s death 3 Publications 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBiography editGysel planned to work as a pharmacist but dropped out of college He practised as a medium under the name Joseph R Johnson in Toledo Ohio He learned the tricks of the seance room and was a supplier of magic effects for fraudulent mediums 1 It has been suggested by magic historians that Gysel worked as an agent for Harry Houdini in the 1920s debunking spiritualist mediums and psychics 2 3 However John Cox has written that Gysel provided Houdini with information on mediums and other magic related matters but it doesn t appear Gysel was ever employed as one of Houdini s agents 4 Gysel claimed he could expose the tricks of any medium He considered Arthur Conan Doyle to be the nickel plated dumbell of Spiritualism He shared with Houdini his pamphlets on psychic fakery 2 Gysel was known for performing the needle through arm trick 5 He contributed articles to magic magazines such as Genii and The Sphinx His article Spirit Tie appeared in the Tarbell Course in Magic Volume 6 Houdini s death editGysel is alleged to have predicted Houdini s death In a letter to Fulton Oursler he described an incident on October 24 1926 at 10 58pm in which a framed picture of Houdini fell off his wall and smashed He stated in the letter that he knew Houdini would die 6 Publications editPsychic Fakery No 1 2 and 3 1935 Hypnotizing Wild and Domestic Animals 1936 Picks and Padlocks 1936 See also editRose MackenbergReferences edit Kalush William Sloman Larry 2006 The Secret Life of Houdini The Making of America s First Superhero Atria Books ISBN 0 7432 7207 2 a b Silverman Kenneth 1996 Houdini The Career of Ehrich Weiss HarperCollins Publishers p 363 Polidoro Massimo 2001 Final Seance The Strange Friendship Between Houdini and Conan Doyle Prometheus Books p 180 ISBN 1 57392 896 8 Houdini amp Gysel by Wayne Wissne Wild About Harry Robenalt James D 2004 Linking Rings William W Durbin and the Magic and Mystery of America Kent State University Press p 185 ISBN 0 87338 808 9 Kalush William Sloman Larry 2006 The Secret Life of Houdini The Making of America s First Superhero Atria Books p 533 ISBN 0 7432 7207 2External links editThe Houdini Envelopes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert H Gysel amp oldid 1214778756, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
