While researching Houdini's connection to Harvard we ran across this rare picture in the Houghton Library archive. It shows preparations for the studio portrait of Harry in chains that is one of the famous shots of our hero.
We especially like these pictures because they clearly show Harry's remarkable toes - prehensile, he called them, able to tie and untie knots.
They're a bit pixilated in this digital enlargement, but you can clearly see the development in the toe joints. We're curious - do any of you Houdiniphiles practice anything with your feet?
P.S.:
The great thing about a blog is that you can add material after publication! Our friend Leonard Hevia challenged the idea that it's possible to tie knots with the feet (see comments below). We did some more research and found this amazing clip from Movietone News. She actually threads a needle with her feet!
Human feet are not designed to grasp things the way simians do. Our feet are designed for upright walking with short toes and our fingers are long to grasp things.
ReplyDeleteI suspect this is one of those stories that should be filed in the Babe the Blue Ox folder along with the dislocated shoulder and throat storage tales. HH was fond of telling reporters tall tales to build his legend one brick at a time.
Oh, I so much want this to be true! I do believe in the "throat storage," the regurgitation technique he claims to have learned by practicing with a small potato on a string. Here's an article on the same technique as practiced by yogis : http://www.spabusiness.com/detail.cfm?pagetype=detail&subject=news&codeID=312169. As for ultra-developed feet, we do know that Houdini's friend Unthan the Armless Wonder played the violin with his feet, and was so skilled he even toured with Paderewski!
ReplyDeleteWe went back to do more research and found some interesting examples of foot-dexterity.
ReplyDeleteSee above.
You got me David! I forgot about those people who are missing their arms and develop some dexterity with their feet. But take into considering that this kind of skill takes a lot of years to develop to a marvelous level. I doubt HH had a lot of time to spend practicing this kind of work to a high degree. We know that HH could grab things between his big and second toes from that keyhole scene in the Master Mystery.
ReplyDelete