Brian G. Hughes
Brian G. Hughes | |
|---|---|
| Born | circa 1849 |
| Died | 1924 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, prankster, banker |
| Known for | Practical jokes and hoaxes; leadership roles at Dollar Savings Bank |
Brian G. Hughes (circa 1849–1924) was an American entrepreneur and noted prankster.
Hughes was involved in the paper-box manufacturing industry and held leadership roles at the Dollar Savings Bank, initially as vice-president and subsequently as president.
Practical jokes
Hughes became well-known for his intricate hoaxes aimed at various New York organizations. On one occasion, he "gifted" a small 2-by-8-foot parcel in Brooklyn to the Board of Aldermen, proposing it as a public park. In another stunt, he offered a run-down Bronx residence claiming it to be the former dwelling of Marquis de Lafayette during the American War of Independence, which led a local historical group to question his mental state.
He is recognized for creating the prank involving dropping counterfeit diamonds near Tiffany's to attract passersby—a trick later adopted by the Marx Brothers. Hughes also left empty picture frames and artist tools outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, causing a false alarm about missing artwork, and issued tickets for events that did not exist.
Under the guise of a Prince from Absdam, Cyprus, and Aragon, he conferred a fabricated noble title on actress Lavinia Queen. Additionally, Hughes placed costly umbrellas designed to display "stolen from Brian G. Hughes" banners upon opening, cleverly enticing potential thieves.
Among his famous pranks involving animals, Hughes entered a cleaned-up alley cat under the elaborate name "Nicodemus, by Broomstick out of Dustpan by Sweeper, the last of the exotic Brindle breed," which initially won an award before being revealed as a joke. He also showcased a retired trolley horse dubbed "Orphan Puldeca, out of Metropolitan by Electricity," which captivated audiences until judges deciphered the name as meaning "Often Pulled the Car."
Hughes asserted that he led an expedition into South America in pursuit of the reetsa, a mythical creature said to walk backward. He provided reporters with fabricated updates on this quest before ultimately revealing it as a hoax in New York.
Death
His obituary referred to him as both a "famous practical joker and banker."