Dorothy Dietrich

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Dorothy Dietrich is a living female magician. She has appeared on numerous television specials and has been called a pioneer in her field. She is one of very few women who have performed the bullet catch and the first and only woman to escape from a straight jacket suspended 15 stories in the air from a burning rope. Houdini did not attempt these tricks. Her work since the 1980s has been different from many other female magicians.

In addition, she performs with live animals such as doves, rabbits, poodles and ducks. One of her routines is an updated version of the classic Miser's Dream, plucking coins from the air, as well as from the nose, ears, and pockets of a youngster from the audience. The basic routine for this was established by one of Houdini's best friends, T. Nelson Downs, "The King of Koins." Houdini himself would also later do a version of this routine. The basics of Dorothy's routine were taught to her by legendary "Coney Island Fakir" Al Flosso, who was a regular performer on the Ed Sullivan television show. Others who helped her refine her ideas included magician Jack London with the bullet catch, and Lou Lancaster with the Straight Jacket escape.

The Columbia Encyclopedia (Columbia University Press) picked the 8 most noted magicians of the late 20th century and included Siegfried and Roy, Doug Henning, Harry Blackstone Jr., David Copperfield and Dorothy Dietrich.

She left an abusive home at the age of twelve to pave her way in New York's magic scene in an era when "women did not do magic", but always performed as the assistant. She was a founder of New York's Magic Towne House, a magic show spot in New York City. A dream of Thurston, Houdini and Doug Henning, which they never finalized. She currently heads up the famous Houdini Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the only building in the world entirely dedicated to Houdini, where she performs on a regular basis.

For many years she held the Houdini Seances in New York as a tribute to the legendary magician, with such notables as Milbourne Christopher and Walter B. Gibson. Houdini's wife held the seance tributes to Houdini for ten years after Houdini's death, and then asked Walter B. Gibson, along with others, to continue the tradition. Before Walter died he passed on the legacy, honor and responsibility of doing the seance to Dorothy.

Although known worldwide for her TV performances, she is an accomplished entertainer, whose show features live animals, comedy, and large stage illusions such as the levitation of an audience member.

Several books have chapters on her accomplishments including "Twelve Have Died!, the story of the Bullet Catch", and "The Guide to Magic As A Hobby". She was also co-editor, contributor and publisher of Hocus Pocus Magazine along with magician/mentalist Dick Brooks. Some of the television shows she has appeared on include "What's My Line" with Garry Moore, "The World's Greatest Escapes" a Home Box Office Special starring Tony Curtis, The Tom Snyder Show along with Kiss, "Evening Magazine", "The Montel Williams Show", twice with Rich Little on "Ripley's Believe It Or Not", "Real People", the Travel Channel's "Magic Road Trip", "Exploring The Unknown", the Biography Channel's "Dead Famous-Houdini", "Just For The Record, The Best of Everything", "Behind The Scenes" with Jonathan Winters, "Man and His Mysteries" with Dick Van Patton and many others.

[edit] External links

• Dorothy Dietrich's page
• The Houdini Museum