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==Career== |
==Career== |
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| ⚫ | Under the stage name the "Georgia Wonder" or "Laughing Lulu", the teenage Hurst specialised in demonstrations of great physical strength. Her act involved having a number of men hold an object (such as a chair or pole), and then moving the object and the men holding it with an apparently light touch.<ref>Harrington, Hugh. (2005). ''Remembering Milledgeville: Historic Tales From [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]'s Antebellum Capital''. [[The History Press]]. p. 129. ISBN 978-1-59629-041-9</ref> Her performances were popular in the early 1880s, drawing crowds in major cities such as [[Atlanta]], [[New York City|New York]], [[Indianapolis]],<ref>{{cite web|title=The Magnetic Woman who Overpowered Indy|url=http://historicindianapolis.com/misc-monday-the-magnetic-woman-who-overpowered-indy/|website=HistoricIndianapolis.com}}</ref> and [[Chicago]].<ref name=Nickell/> She performed for only two years, before cancelling a planned [[Europe]]an tour and retiring in 1885 (aged 16).<ref name="Hutto">Hutto, J; TcGehee, L. (2005). ''Southern Seen: Meditations on Past and Present''. [[University of Tennessee Press]]. pp. 188-189. ISBN 978-1-57233-359-8</ref><ref>[http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2906 "New Georgia Encyclopedia: "Georgia Wonder" Phenomenon"]. Retrieved 1st March 2012.</ref> |
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<ref>Proskauer, Julien J. (1946). ''The Dead Do Not Talk''. Harper & Brothers. p. 150. "Lulu Hurst, later called the "Georgia Magnet," whose reputed powers began when strange noises and clatters of pebbles occurred in her presence. Fortunately, Miss Hurst outgrew those symptoms, and later published a complete account of how she fooled everyone."</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Under the stage name the "Georgia Wonder" or "Laughing Lulu", the teenage Hurst specialised in demonstrations of great physical strength. Her act involved having a number of men hold an object (such as a chair or pole), and then moving the object and the men holding it with an apparently light touch.<ref>Harrington, Hugh. (2005). ''Remembering Milledgeville: Historic Tales From [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]'s Antebellum Capital''. [[The History Press]]. p. 129. ISBN 978-1-59629-041-9</ref> Her performances were popular in the early 1880s, drawing crowds in major cities such as [[Atlanta]], [[New York City|New York]], [[Indianapolis]],<ref>{{cite web|title=The Magnetic Woman who Overpowered Indy|url=http://historicindianapolis.com/misc-monday-the-magnetic-woman-who-overpowered-indy/|website=HistoricIndianapolis.com}}</ref> and [[Chicago]].<ref name=Nickell/> She performed for only two years, before cancelling a planned [[Europe]]an tour and retiring in 1885 (aged 16).<ref name="Hutto">Hutto, J; TcGehee, L. (2005). ''Southern Seen: Meditations on Past and Present''. [[University of Tennessee Press]]. pp. 188-189. ISBN 978-1-57233-359-8</ref><ref>[http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2906 "New Georgia Encyclopedia: "Georgia Wonder" Phenomenon"]. Retrieved 1st March 2012.</ref> Soon after her retirement, she married her manager.<ref name="Nickell">Nickell, Joe. (2005). ''Secrets of the Sideshows''. [[University of Kentucky Press]], pp. 247-248. ISBN 978-0-8131-2358-5</ref> |
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==Methods== |
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According to an article in ''[[Popular Mechanics]]'' her effects were "based almost exclusively on the pivot-and-fulcrum theorem of physics."<ref>Anonymous. (1928). ''Two Pounds''. ''[[Popular Mechanics]]''. March, p. 402.</ref> |
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==Publications== |
==Publications== |
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Revision as of 21:21, 23 June 2016
Lulu Hurst | |
|---|---|
 Lulu Hurst demonstrates her technique of overpowering three men on a chair | |
| Born | 1869 |
| Died | 1950 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Stage magician |
Lulu Hurst (1869–1950) also known as the Georgia Wonder was an American stage magician remembered for her demonstrations of physical strength.[1]
Career
Under the stage name the "Georgia Wonder" or "Laughing Lulu", the teenage Hurst specialised in demonstrations of great physical strength. Her act involved having a number of men hold an object (such as a chair or pole), and then moving the object and the men holding it with an apparently light touch.[3] Her performances were popular in the early 1880s, drawing crowds in major cities such as Atlanta, New York, Indianapolis,[4] and Chicago.[5] She performed for only two years, before cancelling a planned European tour and retiring in 1885 (aged 16).[6][7] Soon after her retirement, she married her manager.[5]
Methods
Hurst later admitted, in her autobiography, that her "supernatural" powers were in fact due to the judicious application of body mechanics and deflection of force, although she claimed that, during her teenage years, she herself had believed them to be genuine.[5][6]
According to an article in Popular Mechanics her effects were "based almost exclusively on the pivot-and-fulcrum theorem of physics."[8]
Skeptical investigator Joe Nickell has written that "Hurst was not the first such performer (nor the last) to make use of force deflection, along with other physical principles and tricks."[5]
Publications
- Lulu Hurst (the Georgia Wonder) Writes Her Autobiography, and for the First Time Explains and Demonstrates the Great Secret of Her Marvelous Power (1897)
References
- ^ Price, David. (1985). Magic: A Pictorial History of Conjurers in the Theater. Cornwall Books. p. 458. ISBN 978-0845347386
- ^ Proskauer, Julien J. (1946). The Dead Do Not Talk. Harper & Brothers. p. 150. "Lulu Hurst, later called the "Georgia Magnet," whose reputed powers began when strange noises and clatters of pebbles occurred in her presence. Fortunately, Miss Hurst outgrew those symptoms, and later published a complete account of how she fooled everyone."
- ^ Harrington, Hugh. (2005). Remembering Milledgeville: Historic Tales From Georgia's Antebellum Capital. The History Press. p. 129. ISBN 978-1-59629-041-9
- ^ "The Magnetic Woman who Overpowered Indy". HistoricIndianapolis.com.
- ^ a b c d Nickell, Joe. (2005). Secrets of the Sideshows. University of Kentucky Press, pp. 247-248. ISBN 978-0-8131-2358-5
- ^ a b Hutto, J; TcGehee, L. (2005). Southern Seen: Meditations on Past and Present. University of Tennessee Press. pp. 188-189. ISBN 978-1-57233-359-8
- ^ "New Georgia Encyclopedia: "Georgia Wonder" Phenomenon". Retrieved 1st March 2012.
- ^ Anonymous. (1928). Two Pounds. Popular Mechanics. March, p. 402.
Further reading
- Walter B. Gibson. (1927). The Book of Secrets, Miracles Ancient and Modern: With Added Chapters on Easy Magic You Can Do. Personal Arts Company.
- Barry H. Wiley. (2004). The Georgia Wonder: Lulu Hurst and the Secret That Shook America. Hermetic Press.