Théâtre Robert-Houdin

Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, the man who built this theater, did not set out to be a performer. He was a highly skilled watchmaker who accidentally received a book on magic instead of a manual on clockmaking. This mistake sparked an obsession that led him to combine his mechanical expertise with sleight of hand. He famously transformed magic from a crude fairground spectacle into a refined art form by adopting the evening dress and elegant stage setting that remains the standard for magicians today.