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Arnold de Biere

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Arnold de Biere

Arnold De Biere (1878 – 6 August 1934) was a German magician.

Biere, who was of Jewish origin, was born in Germany in 1878 and moved to the United States as a child. He spent most of his childhood in Bradford, Pennsylvania, where he developed an interest in magic tricks. He originally worked as a shop keeper, but took interest in magic shows and stage illusions.[1]

Biere became well known in Europe and Australia where he toured. His most well known tricks were the Egg Bag, Clock Dial and the Ten-Ichi Thumb Tie.[2] He also performed the vanishing bird cage act and in the 1920s gave stage illusions at the St. George's Hall. He died in London on August 6, 1934.[3]

Biere had once invested in a movie of Harry Houdini, but lost a considerable amount of money as the film was not a success.[4]

Biere had stated that he had solved the riddle of how to perform the Indian rope trick in open air. A few days before his death he claimed he was going to perform this feat and reveal its secret.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Price, David. (1985). Magic: A Pictorial History of Conjurers in the Theater. Cornwell Books. p. 256. ISBN 978-0845347386
  2. ^ Dodge, Richard Irving; Rogers, Will. (2000). The Indian Territory Journals of Colonel Richard Irving Dodge. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 283. ISBN 978-0806132570
  3. ^ Price, David. (1985). Magic: A Pictorial History of Conjurers in the Theater. Cornwell Books. p. 258. ISBN 978-0845347386
  4. ^ Andrews, Val. (1998). Sherlock Holmes and the Houdini Birthright. Linford. p. 152. ISBN 978-0708952924
  5. ^ Maskelyne, Jasper. (2009 reprint, originally published in 1936). Maskelyne's Book of Magic. Dover Publications. pp. 126-127. ISBN 978-0486471778