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Dorothy Dietrich
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Dorothy Dietrich is one of few women in history who have performed the fake bullet catch( (twelve have died) and the first and possibly only woman known to have caught it in the mouth. Ever interested in breaking new ground, she is also noted as the first woman to perform a straitjacket escape suspended hundreds of feet in the air from a burning rope starring on a Home Box Office Special headed up by movie star Tony Curtis, who played Houdini in the biopic.
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Encyclopedia
Dorothy Dietrich is one of few women in history who have performed the fake bullet catch( (twelve have died) and the first and possibly only woman known to have caught it in the mouth. Ever interested in breaking new ground, she is also noted as the first woman to perform a straitjacket escape suspended hundreds of feet in the air from a burning rope starring on a Home Box Office Special headed up by movie star Tony Curtis, who played Houdini in the biopic. The (Columbia Encyclopedia) (Columbia University Press) included Dietrich among their 8 most noted magicians of the late 20th century.
The recent book The Hollywood Walk of Fame called her a world class magician and said Dietrich is considered one of the worlds leading female magicians. She has duplicated many of Houdini's original escapes, and has gone one step further by including the Jinxed Bullet Catch Stunt — the one that Houdini backed away from.
Early career
Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA on Halloween.
The women's magazine Bust MagazineIn a six page article about the history of women in magic which contained only two full page pictures, one of Adelade Herrmann and the other of Dietrich the article said... Growing up in rural Pennsylvania with six brothers, she often found herself tied up as the damsel in distress during their games of cowboy and Indians but would some how manage to escape on her own. When an aunt saw her freeing herself one day, she said to her, "Who do you think your are, Houdini?"Dietrich had no clue who Houdini was but set off for the local library to find out. From then on, she was smitten. Doing odd jobs, at the age of 13, she saved enough money as a young teen to hitch a ride with a girl friend's older brother to New York and ran away from her abusive father, her first true escape act." Dorothy Dietrich came from a family of 8 siblings, mostly brothers. The only way she could play with her brothers was to be tied to a stake in "Cowboys and Indians" or tied or locked in a closet playing "Cops and Robbers." She would always escape. An Aunt commented "Who do you think you are? Houdini?" When Dorothy asked "Who is that?" the Aunt simply said go to the library and find out. "Among the books she read was a biography of Houdini, who became a childhood idol, a fact that later influenced her desire to perform straitjacket escapes. The spark was ignited.
Early on, she learned her craft mostly from books. Early on, in New York, she auditioned for Westchester Department of Parks from an ad in a show business newspaper and was booked on the spot for a full summer of work, was recommended to the school district for the winter months, and re-booked the following summer for an increase in dates and price. Around this same time she earned her performing chops working a dime museum "grind show" Ten-in-One operation in hectic Times Square run by legendary mouse pitchman Tommy Laird with such performers as Earl "Presto" Johnson, Lou Lancaster, Chris Capehart, Dick Brooks and others. Showcasing for the Parent Assembly of the Society of American Magicians at about the same time, well known magicians Russell Swann and Walter B. Gibson captivated by her performance style, took her under their wing. Walter Gibson, who was a confidant and biographer of Houdini's said "What you have is very reminiscent of Houdini, when Houdini come out on stage, the audience automatically fell in love with him. In my long years I've never seen anyone who had that." Dietrich was also studied with "Coney Island Fakir" Al Flosso, a regular performer on the Ed Sullivan television show, Jack London (for the bullet catch) and Lou Lancaster with the Straitjacket escape. "The recognition gradually put Dorothy Dietrich and her magic into resort hotels, nightclubs, school and college auditoriums, trade shows."She became a favorite of several New York booking agents.
Innovative routines
She developed what is known as a flash act that included doves, a rabbit, a duck and two poodles. Early on she was considered a "leading dove worker". She also developed several routines few women had ever attempted. Sawing men in half, escaping from a straitjacket, sleight of hand with coins via the Misers Dream, The Bullet Catch, and levitating audience members.
She has created special shows for such companies as Maidenform, Pooltrol, Yago Sangria, Manhattan Shirts, and is a regular performer for trade and industrial events.
Early television
On television, Dorothy Dietrich won attention as a woman who, instead of allowing herself to be sawed in half, reversed the traditional illusion and severed into two parts the male hosts of talk shows and network specials. As word got around she was called to do a Bill Cosby special while still in her early teens, but with the help of her sophisticated style and makeup she passed as an adult and was able to work night clubs and banquets in leading hotels and venues. Cosby was so impressed that he recommended her to several agents. At this same time she performed with Loretta Lynn and Tony Randall.
The Magic Towne House
Dorothy Dietrich was a founder along with Dick Brooks of New York's Magic Towne Housea popular magic show spot in New York City, which had one of the longest running magic shows in New York City. Always interested in magic history and innovation, Dorothy Dietrich learned that opening a magic show spot in New York City was a dream of legendary magicians Houdini, Thurston and "Doug Henning. It was in the posh area of the upper East side of Manhattan on Third Avenue and 61st Street just next to Bloomingdale's Department Store. She wanted to create a venue for adults as well as children to see and enjoy magic.
At the same time she wanted a place where well known performers could be seen, as well as to help to develop future generations of magicians. Along with partner Dick Brooks (entertainer) she accomplished this goal with The Magic Towne House. Just a few of the magicians who got much of their early start at The Magic Towne House includes Robert Baxt, Michael Chaut, Devlin, Eric DeCamps, Imam, Jeff Justice, Peter Kougasian, Landis & Company, Levent, Jeff McBride, Charlie Mount, Otto and George, Johnny Ace Palmer, Joeseph Pepitone, Joe Raven, David Regal, Rocco Silano, Peter Samelson, Meir Yedid and countless others.
Established performers of the era also performed with them such as Bobby Baxter, Harry Blackstone, Jr., Milbourne Christopher, Daryl, Fantasio, Frank Garcia, Walter B. Gibson, Wesley James, Presto Earl Johnson, Lou Lancaster, Jack London, Bill McQueen, Max Mavin (Phil Goldstein), Ben Robinson, James Randi, Richard Robinson, David Roth, George Schindler, Slydini and countless others. Imam would, after several years, break away and form his own competing club downtown in Greenwich Village.
Dick Brooks (entertainer) and Dorothy Dietrich also searched out Brother Theodore, whose career, had waned, and helped to bring him back to prominence that led to his appearing on The Tom Snyder Tomorrow Show and a series of TV and movie appearances. A picture of the Magic Towne House ad that appeared in local New York newspapers such as the Village Voice and The New York post can be found at http://www.shockcinemamagazine.com/brother.html
Upon the closing of the Magic Towne House, Michael Chaut and Peter Samelson would later develop "Monday Night Magic" along with Frank Brents, Todd Robbins, and Jamy Ian Swiss, which still runs successfully in New York City.
The Bullet Catch
In 2008, Bust Magazine reportedwith her long blond hair swept back from her face, Dietrich stood on stage at an International Brotherhood of Magicians convention in Pittsburgh. Across from her, a man raised a gun and fired a .22 caliber bullet directly at her face. She caught the bullet in a metal cup in her mouth. Dietrich thus become the first woman on record to successfully complete the bullet catch, a trick that has killed 12 men and that not even Houdini dared attempt. More important, she had just earned the much sought-after respect of her magical male brethren and her place in the pantheon of magic history. Dietrich is one of only a few women to have made her mark in this male-dominated field. Feature stories and articles about her have appeared in major publications such as the New York Times and TV Guide.
Houdini Magical Hall of Fame
One exhibit for many years, until it burned down, the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls, Canada had a large two panel display of Dorothy Dietrich and her accomplishments as "The Female Houdini"http://www.intervalmagic.com/houdinimuseum.org/hall/index.html on display. A similar display is now shown at Scranton's Houdini Museum.
The Houdini Seances
For many years she held the Houdini Seances in New York as a tribute to the legendary magician, continuing a tradition started by Houdini's wife and perpetuated by Walter B. Gibson. Even though Bess gave up the séances herself, she asked magician Walter B. Gibson to carry on the October 31 tradition. For many years, Gibson, along with several other magicians, held the séances at the Magic Towne House in New York City. Before Mr. Gibson died he asked Dorothy Dietrich to carry on the tradition.Walter was a confidant and biographer of Houdini and also wrote the famous Shadow Series. Dietrich currently continues the seances at The Houdini Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania, each Halloween, the day Houdini died. The seances have been shown on such shows as TV Lands Myths and Legends, Biography's Dead Famous-Houdini and Exploring the Unknown.
Portrait
Ron Walotsky, famous science fiction artist who appeared on many magazine covers and did covers for the Conan the Barbarian books, was taken by Dorothy Dietrich and painted her portrait. Ron Walotsky, died of kidney failure around midnight Monday, July 29, 2002, in Florida.
Walotsky was a leading artist of the fantastic. Ron Walotsky's paintings have been exhibited in many public and private collections including Worlds of Wonder in Washington, D.C. His work spans Day-Glo posters, album covers, fantasy art, science fiction book covers, etc.
The Houdini Museum
When not traveling, Dorothy Dietrich heads up The Houdini Museum where she performs on a regular basis when in town. She has been featured on many television shows and channels including CBC, BBC, CBC, NBC, ABC, Travel Channel, Biography Channel, TV Land, etc. She is also a featured performer at the museum's hit show four years running Psychic Theater's "Haunted! Mind Mysteries & THE Beyond!" along with Paranormalist Dick Brooks.
Dietrich was co-editor, contributor and publisher of Hocus Pocus Magazine along with magician/mentalist Dick Brooks.
In addition to escapes and large scale stunts Dietrich has performs illusions with live animals such as doves, rabbits, poodles and ducks. She is also known for sawing men in half. She also does an updated version of the classic Miser's Dream, plucking coins from the air, nose, ears and pockets of a youngster from the audience. She is also known for levitating volunteers from the audience.
Debunker
In Houdini fashion, Dorothy Dietrich also crusades against those who falsely claim to speak to dead relatives of vulnerable grieving citizens. Early on, Dorothy Dietrich realized that there were those who would use magic and various deceptive arts to manipulate and even cheat people out money. So following inthe footsteps of famous debunkers who came before her such as Houdini, Milbourne Christoper and James Randi where possible she takes on such a role. She has a $10,000.00 reward for anyone who can they can contact the spirit of Houdini. One who tried recently was Canadian television "medium" Kim Dennis who had contacted the Houdini family claiming she was getting messages from Houdini.
Television appearances
Just a few of the television shows in which she has appeared include:
- 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 You Asked For It
- Real People
- The Travel Channel's Magic Road Trip
- TV Land's Myths & Legends
- PBS Conversations
- PBS On The Pennsylvania Road
- PBS Strange and Unusual Museums
- Exploring The Unknown
- Biography Channel's Dead Famous-Houdini
- Just For The Record, The Best of Everything
- Behind The Scenes with Jonathan Winters
- Klein Time with Robert Klein
- Man and His Mysteries with Dick Van Patton
- "Jean-Pierre Ferland's,Autobus du Canada CBC Three segments
- KDKA Pittsburg Evening News Bullet Catch Story
Bibliography
- Twelve Have Died!, the story of the Bullet Catch
- The Guide to Magic As A Hobby by Bill Severn
- The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, Columbia University Press, (2006)
- Feature article on women in magic. Bust Magazine, May 2008
External links
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