GHOSTS OF MAGIC: PRESTO, REDUX

Magic, like martial art and meditation, has a lineage. 

The Houdini File is devoted to Houdini, of course, but we are also devoted to Houdini's great love - magic itself, the lineage of artists who flow from the present day back, back into the deep well of time. 

It's fitting and important to remember our ancestors in the art. So today we showcase a very rare piece of old film featuring Presto, the late Earl Johnson. We saw Presto ourselves many times at Hubert's Flea Circus in New York when we were young. His cigarette act was so good we started smoking just to be able to perform it. Our only regret in quitting was that we had to quit doing Presto's routine. Seen here (albeit blurrily), the act was a show stopper. 

It still is.





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RELATED:

ZEN & THE ART OF MAGIC

HOUDINI & HOFZINSER

INSPIRED BY ROBERT-HOUDIN

CARDINI'S GHOST

HUBERT'S VS. HUBER'S

GHOSTS OF MAGIC: PRESTO

GHOSTS OF MAGIC