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Harry Houdini(bornErik Weisz, laterEhrich WeissorHarry Weiss; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was performer, noted for his sensationalescape acts. He first attracted notice in vaudeville in the US and then as "Harry Handcuff Houdini" on a tour of Europe, where he challenged police forces to keep him locked up. Soon he extended his repertoire to include chains, ropes slung from water, and having to escape from andhold his breathinside a sealed milk can.
In 1904, thousands watched as he tried to escape from by London'sDaily Mirror, keeping them in suspense for an hour. Another stunt saw himburied aliveand only just able to claw himself to the surface, emerging in a state of near-breakdown. While many suspected that these escapes were faked, Houdini presented himself as the scourge of fakespiritualists. As President of theSociety of American Magicians, he was keen to uphold professional standards and expose fraudulent artists. He was also quick to sue anyone who pirated his escape stunts.
Houdini made several movies, but quit acting when it failed to bring in money. He was also a keen aviator, and aimed to become the first man to fly a plane in Australia.
3.2Milk can escape- 3.3Chinese water torture cell
- 3.4Suspended straitjacket escape
- 3.5Overboard box escape
- 3.6Buried alive stunt
- 4Movie career
- 5Aviator
- 5.1Falsely reported as pioneer
- 5.2After Australia
- 6Debunking spiritualists
- 7Appearance and voice recordings
- 8Death
- 9Houdini grave site
- 9.1Proposed exhumation
- 10Artifacts, libraries, and museums
- 11Publications
- 12Filmography
- 13See also
- 14Notes
- 15References
- 16Further reading
- 17External links
Early lifeNot yet Houdini, Ehrich Weiss is shown exhibiting his competitive spirit and wearing medals he won as a member of the Pastime Athletic Club track team in New York circa 1890.
Harry Houdini was born asErik on March 24, 1874.[2]His parents wereRabbiMayer Sámuel Weisz (1829–1892), and Cecília Weisz (née Steiner; 1841–1913). Houdini was one of seven children: Herman M. (1863–1885) who was Houdini's half-brother, by Rabbi Weisz's first marriage; Nathan J. (1870–1927); Gottfried William (1872–1925);Theodore D. (1879–1962); and Carrie Gladys (born 1882–1959[4]) who was left almost blind after an accident that occurred during her childhood.[5]
Weisz arrived in the United States on July 3, 1878, on the SSFresiawith his mother (who was pregnant) and his four brothers.[6]The family changed the Hungarian spelling of their German surname toWeiss(the German spelling) and Erik's name was changed toEhrich. Friends called him "Ehrie" or "Harry".
They first lived inAppleton, Wisconsin, where his father served as Rabbi of the Zion Reform Jewish Congregation.
According to the1880 census, the family lived on Appleton Street.[7]On June 6, 1882, Rabbi Weiss became an American citizen. Losing his tenure at Zion in 1887, Rabbi Weiss moved with Ehrich to New York City, where they lived in a boarding house onEast 79th Street. He was joined by the rest of the family once Rabbi Weiss found permanent housing. As a child, Ehrich Weiss took several jobs, making his public début as a 9-year-oldtrapeze artist, calling himself "Ehrich, the Prince of the Air". He was also a championcross countryrunner in his youth. When Weiss became a professionalmagicianhe began calling himself "Harry Houdini" after the French magician,Jean Eugène Robert-Houdinafter reading Houdin's autobiography in 1890. Weiss incorrectly believed that aniat the end of a name meant "like" in French. In later life, Houdini claimed that the first part of his new name, Harry, was an homage toHarry Kellar, whom he also admired.[citation needed]
After much research, in 1908 Houdini publishedThe Unmasking of Robert-Houdin, in which he called his former idol a liar and a fraud for having claimed the invention of automata and effects such asaerial suspensionwhich had been in existence for many years.[8]
Houdini was an activeFreemasonand was a member of St. Cecile Lodge #568 in New York City[9]
In 1918, he registered forselective serviceas Harry Handcuff Houdini.[10]
Magic careerHoudini, circa 1900.He began his magic career in 1891.[11]He had little success. He performed in dime museums and sideshows, and even doubled as "The Wild Man" at a circus. Houdini focused initially on traditional card tricks. At one point, he billed himself as the "King of Cards". He soon began experimenting withescape acts.
In 1893, while performing with his brother "Dash" (Theodore) atConey Islandas "The Brothers Houdini," Harry met a fellow performer,Wilhelmina Beatrice "Bess" Rahner. Bess was initially courted by Dash, but she and Houdini married in 1894, with Bess replacing Dash in the act, which became known as "The Houdinis." For the rest of Houdini's performing career, Bess worked as his stage assistant.
Houdini's big break came in 1899 when he met managerMartin Beckin ruralWoodstock, Illinois. Impressed by Houdini'shandcuffsact, Beck advised him to concentrate on escape acts and booked him on Within months, he was performing at the top vaudeville houses in the country. In 1900, Beck arranged for Houdini to tour Europe. After some days of unsuccessful interviews in London, Houdini managed to interest Dundas Slater, then manager of theAlhambra Theatre. He gave a demonstration of escape from handcuffs at Scotland Yard, and succeeded in baffling the police so effectively that he was booked at the Alhambra for six months.
"My Two Sweethearts"—Houdini with his mother and wife,c.1907Houdini became widely known as "The Handcuff King." He toured England, Scotland, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Russia. In each city, Houdini challenged local police to restrain him withshacklesand lock him in their jails. In many of these challenge escapes, Houdini was firststripped nude and searched. In Moscow, Houdini escaped from aSiberian prisontransport van. Houdini claimed that, had he been unable to free himself, he would have had to travel to Siberia, where the only key was kept. InCologne, he sued a police officer, Werner Graff, who alleged that he made his escapes via bribery.[12]Houdini won the case when he opened the judge's safe (he later said the judge had forgotten to lock it). With his new-found wealth, Houdini purchased a dress said to have been made forQueen Victoria. He then arranged a grand reception where he presented his mother in the dress to all their relatives. Houdini said it was the happiest day of his life. In 1904, Houdini returned to the U.S. and purchased a house for $25,000, abrownstoneat 278W. 113th Street inHarlem,New York City.[13]
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