The Bros Herne “Substitution”

The Bros Hernes, were none other than Jacob and Joseph Hyman.

Credit: Harry Ransom Center (HRC)

You may recall that Jacob and Joe Hyman both performed Metamorphosis with Houdini as The Brothers Houdini.

As Joe put it:

Things were not so good for the The Brother’s Houdini in those days. Bookings were few and money was scarce. Suddenly my brother Jack decided to give up show business [April 10, 1894], even though the boys had a few more weeks booked under the team name, so my Brother suggested that I play these weeks with Harry. I did and became the second member of the Hyman clan, who appeared under the magic name of Houdini. [SAS]

Once Joe and Harry were finished with their engagements, Jacob took the name Jack Hayman, and began practicing a song and dance act with his brother Joe. [SAS]

After a short while, Jacob left the act, with his brother, and took off on his own as, Houdini, Oriental Conjurer and Mysterious Juggler. [SAS]

Sometimes his billing name was JH Houdini, which stood for Jack Hayman Houdini. [SAS]

He also went by JH Herne, when his brother (now Jos Herne) rejoined the act (now called The Bros Herne direct from Europe). Robert Fulgora of Hopkins Trans-Oceanic Star Special Co first booked them for 1897-98 season. The brothers would present the startling theosophical illusion, Substitution, which was their name for The Metamorphosis. [HRC]

Later, the Substitution transformed from a box into the prison barrel escape performed by The Bros Herne. [P&P]

1902 Postcard (Potter & Potter Auction 2014)

And, Houdini would eventually acquire the barrel [1903] used in The Bros Herne act and perform the Prison Cell & Barrel Mystery [1904-1906].

References:

  • SAS: The Brothers Houdini lecture notes by Stephen A. Sparks (HHCE Collection)
  • HRC: Harry Ransom Center
  • P&P: Potter & Potter

Related:

6 thoughts on “The Bros Herne “Substitution”

  1. Great stuff Joe! Do you know where the barrel is these days? Is it considered a lost Houdini historical item like the Margery Box?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *