#ThrowbackThursday – 31 October
It’s 31 October, and that means it’s time for another edition of Throwback Thursday! Today, we’re taking a look back at three prominent events that went down on this day in history:
1756 – It Ain’t Over for Casanova!
A prison sentence in 18th-century Europe virtually equated to a death sentence. For Giacomo Casanova, however, it set the scene for one of the most daring jailbreaks in history!
Casanova was a stereotypical Italian of note: an adventurer, a writer, a cleric, a gambler and – most famously of all – a womaniser. He was quite the colourful character in a world far too conservative for his tastes.
Whether it was because of his libertine ways, his gambling habits, or for his audacious opinions on society, morality and religion, the 30-year-old found himself arrested in July 1755 and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. He was subsequently incarcerated at “Il Piombi” – more commonly known as “The Leads” – a prison located at the Doge’s Palace in Venice, Italy.
For 15 months, Casanova endured the dank, flea-infested conditions of his cell, suffering from poor nutrition and ill health.
“The loneliness behind the prison bars is terrible, but it must be learnt by experience to be understood, and such an experience I would not wish even to my enemies,” he later wrote in his memoirs, “To Paris and Prison”.
Luckily, Casanova was able to join forces with another prisoner, a renegade monk named Father Balbi. Using a pike provided by Casanova, Balbi continuously hacked a hole into the ceiling of his cell. When it was big enough, the duo – reportedly dressed in the clothes they wore when they arrived at the prison – climbed through the hole and onto the rooftop of The Leads, and quickly made their great escape on the night of 31 October 1756.
“Keeping on my hands and knees, and grasping my pike firmly, I pushed it obliquely between the joining of the plates of lead, and then holding the side of the plate which I had lifted, I succeeded in drawing myself up to the summit of the roof,” Casanova recalled. “The monk had taken hold of my waistband to follow me, and thus I was like a beast of burden who has to carry and draw along at the same time; and this on a steep and slippery roof.”
When Casanova and Balbi descended into one of the locked offices of the Palace through a skylight, they were spotted by a nightwatchman. Mistaking the elegantly dressed men for courtiers who had inadvertently become trapped, the watchman let them go, unwittingly liberating two infamous fugitives.
And so, Casanova escaped to Paris, France, promising to change his ways for the better. Alas, his commitment to reformation was short-lived: he quickly resumed his life as the charming libertine for which history remembers him today!
1926 – Houdini’s Death: A Real Punch in the Gut
World-famous illusionist Harry Houdini was known for defying death when performing his famous escape tricks. Unfortunately for him, death would claim him in the most unimaginative (yet still very painful) way possible.
Two months after performing the most daring trick of his career – locking himself in an underwater coffin for 91 minutes – Houdini was in the dressing room of the Princess Theatre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where had performed a show on 22 October 1926. He was reclining on a couch and nursing a broken ankle, an injury that he sustained during a show several days before.
Students from a local university, where the Hungarian illusionist had recently given a lecture, visited him in the dressing room. Reportedly, one of these students, who was called J. Gordon Whitehead, asked Houdini if he was strong enough to endure a few punches to the stomach. Houdini, known for his incredible physical resilience and theatrical bravado, agreed to the challenge.
Before he had a chance to brace himself, Whitehead unexpectedly delivered several punches to Houdini’s abdomen while he was still reclining. Although Houdini initially seemed unaffected by the blows, it wasn’t long before he began experiencing severe abdominal pain. This discomfort escalated to the point that, just two days later, he collapsed during his performance in Detroit, Michigan.
Eventually, Houdini was admitted to a local hospital, where the 52-year-old died from peritonitis as a result of a ruptured appendix on 31 October 1926.
Theories abound, particularly surrounding the punches he received. Some speculate that his appendix may have already been inflamed or ruptured prior to the incident with Whitehead, while others disagree and blame Whitehead.
Whatever the case, it was hard to believe that the great Houdini – who had escaped from numerous life-threatening situations that defined his life, career and legacy – would ultimately fall victim to what many would deem as a medical issue.
1964 – Never Closed, Never Clothed … Until Now
Nude, crude and only to be viewed … yes, the Revudeville was the highlight of the Windmill Theatre, an establishment known for its variety acts and – shall we say – risqué accompaniments.
Opened in 1931 and managed by Vivian Van Damm, the Windmill Theatre became an iconic venue in London, England, celebrated for its unique blend of entertainment that pushed the boundaries of conventional theatre. Many comedians, writers and actors such as Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Barry Forsyth got their start at the Soho-based venue.
To attract more customers, Van Damm came up with a special (albeit slightly scandalous) programme: the Revudeville would feature beautiful showgirls and models in various states of undress, referred to as “nude tableaux vivants.” In other words, from 2PM right until 11:30PM, patrons were treated to live acts while women remained completely still, completely naked, in various poses in the onstage backdrop.
As they were viewed as resembling nude statues and remained still, the Revudeville managed to avoid being shut down by the authorities. The only one permitted to move was the lead dancer, who performed a suggestive fan dance.
Jill Millard Shapiro, a former Windmill Theatre girl, explained in her memoirs: “Nudes were not allowed to move. It worked on the principle that if it moves, it’s rude. The only nude the censorship law permitted to move on the Windmill stage was the principal fan dancer. Staying within this law required considerable strength and skill on her part as she had to remain covered while manipulating the huge and heavy ostrich feather fans during a choreographed performance where timing, and trust in the four girls who covered her when her fans were raised, was everything.”
The Revudeville enjoyed great success, attracting large audiences every night. Even during the peak of World War II, it remained open to the public, earning the Windmill its renowned motto, “We never closed” – though some might quip that they were “never clothed”!
Unfortunately, the Windmill did close on 31 October 1964: other theatres and clubs began to copy their tableaux vivants formula, luring away their customers. In the end, Soho became more dingy and less appealing as a destination.
So, with the theatre’s closure, the curtain inevitably fell on the Revudeville. Although it may be gone, it certainly cannot be forgotten!
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