View source for His Dinosaur Film a Hoax, says Doyle

''His Dinosaur Film a Hoax, says Doyle'' is an article published in [[The New-York Times]] on 4 june 1922, including a letter written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] to [[Harry Houdini]].

Conan Doyle's letter is an explanation of the trick he used [[Dinosaurs Cavort in Film for Doyle|two days before]] (2 june) at the annual meeting of the Society of American Magicians where he was invited by Houdini. Conan Doyle brought a movie projector and projected dinosaur scenes of [[The Lost World (movie 1925)|The Lost World]] (which was not yet released), with the following remarks as a preamble:

« ''These pictures are not occult... this is psychic because everything that emanates from the human spirit or human brain is psychic. It is not supernatural. Nothing is. It is preternatural in the sense that it isn't known to our ordinary senses. It is the effect of the joining on the one hand of imagination, and on the other hand of some power of materialization. The imagination, I may say, comes to me. The materializing power comes from elsewhere.'' »

The following day (i.e. 3 june 1922), [[The New-York Times]] published sensational headlines: DINOSAURS CAVORT IN FILM FOR DOYLE. SPIRITIST MYSTIFIES WORLD-FAMED MAGICIANS WITH PICTURES OF PREHISTORIC BEASTS KEEPS ORIGIN A SECRET. MONSTERS OF OTHER AGES SHOWN, SOME FIGHTING, SOME AT PLAY, IN THEIR NATIVE JUNGLES. ([[#Dinosaur_Cavort_in_Film_for_Doyle_(3_june_1922)|see article]])



== His Dinosaur Film a Hoax, says Doyle (4 june 1922) ==
[[File:the-new-york-times-1922-06-04-p18-his-dinosaur-film-a-hoax-says-doyle.jpg|thumb|150px|right|[[The New-York Times]] (4 june 1922)]]

''Below is only reproduced the Conan Doyle letter to Houdini, see image on the right for the whole article.''


My Dear Houdini,

My cinema interlude upon the occasion of the magician's dinner should, I think, be explained, now that its purpose was fulfilled. The purpose was simply to provide a little mystification to those who have so often and so successfully mystified others.

In presenting my moving dinosaurs I had to walk warily in my speech, so as to preserve the glamor and yet say nothing which I could not justify as literally true. But I was emphatic that it was not occult and only psychic, in so far as all things human come from a man's spirit.

It was preternatural in the sense that it was not nature as we know it. All my other utterances were, as I think you will agree, within the actual facts.

The dinosaurs and other monsters have been constructed by pure cinema, but of the highest kind, and are being used for 'The Lost World' picture which represents pre-historic life upon a South American plateau. Having such material at hand and being allowed by the courtesy of Watterson Rothacker to use it, I could not resist the temptation to surprise your associates and guests. I am sure they will forgive me if for a few short hours I had them guessing.

And now, Mr. Chairman, confidence begets confidence and I want to know how you got out of that trunk.

Yours sincerely,
 
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

















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* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:Complete Works|Back to Complete Works]]
* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|Back to Conan Doyle]]