Houdini Magician-Escape Artist

Harry Houdini: The most famous magician of all time.

Houdini's actual name was Ehrich Weiss.

Houdini's actual birthplace and date.

The performer known world wide as Harry Houdini was born on March 24, 1874 in Budapest. Although Houdini often claimed to be born in Appleton, Wisconsin, Houdini actually came to the United States when he was four years old. To this day many connected with the small town of Appleton still claim the untruth that Houdini was born there strictly to attract tourists. It is clear from copies of birth records and early family records on file at the Houdini Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania in the Pocono region, that Houdini was in fact born in Budapest, on March 24, 1874. Historians are now finally agreed on this fact. In later years, in a magazine interview, Houdini said about Appleton, "the greatest escape I ever made was when I left Appleton, Wisconsin."

Houdini's early years.

Houdini's father was Mayer Samuel Weiss. Houdini's father was a Rabbi. His father for a short time was Rabbi for the German Zoin Jewish Congregation in Appleton. His mother's name was Cecilia Steiner Weiss. Houdini's original family pictures are on display at the Houdini Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania in the Pocono region.


His parents spoke only Yiddish, Hungarian, and German.The family was quite poor so most of the children began to work at an early age. From the age of eight young Ehrich Weiss (Erik Weisz) sold newspapers and worked as a shoe shine boy. Please note that when coming ot the United States there were often many spellings of names as people adjusted to English. At the age of 12, young Ehrich left home to make his way in the world in an attempt to help support his family. This was a great sign of independance. This is contrary to those who incorrectly claim he was overly obsessed with his mother. However he did love her very much.

Houdini moves to New York City at the age of 13.

Young Ehrich traveled the country for about a year, always sending money home when he could. Finally he joined up with his father in New York City. His father would die about five years later on October 5, 1892, The move to New York would change his life and introduce him to the world of big time magic. The family moved to New York in the the hope of finding a better life there. In New York, Houdini worked as a messenger and as a cutter in a garment center sweat shop, Richter & Sons, a tie factory to help support his family. He was very athletic and won awards in swimming and track. He would use this athletic and swimming talents to great use in his future as an escape artist.

Houdini moves to New York City at the age of 13.

Young Ehrich traveled the country for about a year, always sending money home when he could. Finally he joined up with his father in New York City. His father would die about five years later on October 5, 1892, The move to New York would change his life and introduce him to the world of big time magic. The family moved to New York in the the hope of finding a better life there. In New York, Houdini worked as a messenger and as a cutter in a garment center sweat shop, Richter & Sons, a tie factory to help support his family. He was very athletic and won awards in swimming and track. He would use this athletic and swimming talents to great use in his future as an escape artist.

How Houdini gets his name.

Houdini began performing magic as a teenager first calling himself Eric the Great. Always a reader, two books would change his life. He read, as a teen ager in New York, "Revelations of a Spirit Meduim" by A. Medium, which exposed the tricks of phony psychics, who after being tied up would secretly release themselves to make ghostly things happen in darkened rooms. The second book was "The Memoirs of Robert-Houdin," the autobiography of one of the greatest magicians of the day. Influenced by what he read and learned about the internationally known magician Robert Houdin, young Ehrich changed his name to Houdini, hoping to be in some way like his new found mentor.

Houdini's early shows.

Houdini's first magic shows consisted of card tricks and other simple magic. Houdini early on called himself "The King Of Cards."


Soon Houdini began experimenting with hand cuffs and using them in his acts. Houdini performed with another young man who worked with him in the tie factory in New York. They called themselves the Houdini Brothers. Soon Houdini's younger brother Theo took the place of the boy from the factory. Houdini's father died when Houdini was a teenager. Together with his brother Theo, they tried to succeed as the Houdini Brothers. Their first performances included shows at amusement parks, beer halls, "dime museums," and at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893.

 

Houdini meets his life long love.

In 1894, Houdini met Wilhelmina Beatrice Rahner, who was singing and dancing as part of the Floral Sisters. They were working Coney Island at the time.

After knowing each other only two weeks they were married in the month of July. Bess, as she was called, worked and traveled with Houdini and helped by singing, dancing, and performing the Metamorphosis exchange which Houdini invented.


Bess took Theo's place in the act that would now be called "The Houdini's". He then travels throughout the United States and then the world for the next thirty three years. Needless to say he leaves mom behind again proving his independence from his mother, though he did love her greatly. His early travels take him to North East Pennsylvania where the Houdini Museum is now located, for 2 seasons with the Welch Brothers Circus which traveled throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. He would return in later years to the Scranton area as a major star, and present several unique challenges. His brother Hardeen would also appear in the area as well.

Houdini invents the challenge escape act. The concept of the escape artist is born.

Houdini began offering rewards to anyone who could successfully restrain him, first in handcuffs and later in all manner of objects. Houdini escaped from handcuffs, leg irons, straightjackets, jails and prison cells, a mail pouch, packing crates, a giant paper bag (without tearing the paper), a giant football, an iron boiler, milk cans, coffins, and the famousWater Torture Cell. In most of these escapes, upon later examination, there was never a sign of how Houdini accomplished the release, that added to the miracle. Some of Houdini's escapes, such as the Straight Jacket or being tied with a hundred feet of rope, Houdini would do in full view of the audience. To help draw crowds and sell tickets, Houdini would do escape challenges, often at police stations with newspaper reporters present, assuring a headline story.

Houdini is discovered.

Martin Beck, Vaudeville's most important booking agent caught Houdini's act in 1899 and was impressed with his dynamic personality and booked him as a "challenge escape artist," a new form of entertainment. Martin Beck booked the Orpheum circuit, the largest chain of vaudeville theaters in the country and booked all of the stars of vaudeville. He had a trained eye for talent. He immediately placed Houdini in big time vaudeville as a supporting act. Houdini soon began to headline in several theaters throughout the country. Houdini having invented a new form of entertainment, "The Challenge Escape" soon would become an international star.

Houdini as "King of Handcuffs" goes to Europe at the age of 26.

After some success in the United States Houdini decided to go to Europe in the year 1900, on the advice of a friend, the greatest coin magician of all time, T. Nelson Downs. Houdini created a sensation in London, England and went on to travel throughout Europe for five years as a headliner. Houdini had so much work in Europe that he summoned his brother Theo to work there under the name Hardeen.

Houdini having invented a new form of entertainment, "The Challenge Escape" soon would become an international star. Houdini as "King of Handcuffs" goes to Europe at the age of 26.

After some success in the United States Houdini decided to go to Europe in the year 1900, on the advice of a friend, the greatest coin magician of all time, T. Nelson Downs. Houdini created a sensation in London, England and went on to travel throughout Europe for five years as a headliner. Houdini had so much work in Europe that he summoned his brother Theo to work there under the name Hardeen.

Houdini's fame continues to grow throughout the world.

Houdini returned to the United States, determined to become an even bigger star in the country he loved. He would cris-cross between Europe and the United States going where he could get the biggest offers. On one trip here he purchased a building in New York City on 113th Street that was to become his residence for the rest of his life. As escape artist imitators poped up to take advantage of Houdini's tremendous success, Houdini began to originate new and more difficult and dangerous escapes. Houdini invented the underwater packing box escape as a fabulous publicty stunt that was copied by many others. He was the first person to do the Straight Jacket Escape as well. He introduced the sensational Milk Can Escape in St. Louis on January 27, 1908.

He was a pioneer aviator, a fact not well known, and was the first person on record to fly a plane in Austrailia a feat he accomplished at Digger's Rest in 1910. Some claim he was one of the first 17 record breaking aviators of the day. After those series of flights he would never fly again. In 1913 he introduced his legendary Chinese Water Torture Cell.

This was the same year his mother died which was a great shock to Houdini. He was in Europe at them time and his family had not told of his mother's illness.

In 1913 he introduced his legendary Chinese Water Torture Cell.

This was the same year his mother died which was a great shock, as he was in Europe and not told of his mother's illness. He was also the first to do the largest stage illusion to that day, making the largest object known at the time - an elephant disappear. This was done in 1918 at the Hippodrome in New York City. According to Houdini the elephant Jenny, weighed 10,000 pounds. Houdini was very creative and introduced and invented many magic tricks that are depicted at the Houdini Museum in the Scranton, Pennsylvania Pocono region. After escaping underwater Houdini would often hide under a dock forcing people to think Houdini might have drowned. At the opportune moment Houidni would make his reappearance. Houdini had great strength and agility that he used in accomplishing his stunts. Houdini also spent many hours studying, practicing and conditioning. For Houdini's underwater stunts, Houdini would practice holding his breath in the bathtub for up to four minutes. He also stayed in an underwater "coffin" for over an hour.

Houdini's film career.

In 1916 Houdini began a film career. This gave people all over the world a chance to see the great artist. Houdini made five major silent films up until1923. He is the only magician in history to have starred in 5 films. He also wrote several of them. His films include "The Master Mystery," "The Grim Game," "Terror Island" and "The Man From Beyond." Houdini was given one of the first stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to the film industry. The star is in a prominent spot out side of Hollywood's famous Chinese Theater. Houdini was the first magician to be so honored. Houdini is the only magician in history to make five feature films, and the only one to have a full length feature film made about his life story. Houdini wrote and even directed several of his movies. Had Houdini lived longer he would have probably made more films, possibly a talking movie, as they were just coming into prominence. Houdini's film "The Man From Beyond," as well as"Terror Island"

is on constant view at the Houdini Museum in the Scranton, Pennsylvania Pocono region. Both are also available from the museum.

Houdini hated cheats and frauds.

Throughout his career Houdini exposed cheats and frauds in the areas of gambling, spiritualism, and psychic frauds. Houdini never believed in spiritualism, but would often pretend to in order to gain entry to seances, etc. Early on he attempted to do a spiritualist act when he was down and out, but found it so distasteful that he stopped and would forever expose those who made such claims.

Houdini would write many books and articles throughout his life. Theyh included "The Right Way To Do Wrong," an expose of swindlers, "A Magician Among The Spirits," an expose of psychic frauds, and "The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin," which was up until that time the greatest book on the history of magic.

Death to Legend.

On October 22, 1926, Houdini was in Montreal performing at the Princess Theater. Houdini also gave a lecture exposing spiritualism at McGill University. In his dressing room at the theater, while lying on a couch backstage, an young athlete from McGill University, asked if Houdini could actually withstand punches to the stomach as he had heard. Before Houdini could prepare himself by tightening his stomach muscles, the student began to punch the legendary magician in the mid section. Houdini did not know it, but his appendix was ruptured. Houdini did several more shows in Montreal and then headed for Detroit. Houdini did one performance there and then collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. Houdini did not die in an escape or fail in some final escape as many believe. The greatest "ghost buster" of all time died on October 31, 1926, Halloween of peritonitis ( an inflamation (-itis) of the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity), a kind of internal Gangrene. Houdini loved his fellow magicians and promoted magic and the Society of Americian Magicians all over the world. Houdini was its president for some ten years until the day he died. He also left quite a bit of money for the Society of American Magicians in his will (we have a copy in our collection at the museum). He had the crest of the Society of American Magicians on his gravesite. He also throughout his life paid for the repair of famous magicians around the world whose graves were in disrepair. No other famous magician worked as hard as Houdini to promote his craft and those around him. Houdini today is one of the best know performers and promoters in theatrical and film history and Houidni's name has come to mean the ability to escape from any restraint or difficult situation. He always insisted that all he did was by natural means, and that he had no supernatural powers of any kind. One of his last inventions was to escape after being buried alive, a stunt he did very few times. For some twenty six years Houdini was a major headliner. Houdini not only earned a place in history but in the dictionary as well.

This was the same year his mother died which was a great shock, as he was in Europe and not told of his mother's illness. He was also the first to do the largest stage illusion to that day, making the largest object known at the time - an elephant disappear. This was done in 1918 at the Hippodrome in New York City. According to Houdini the elephant Jenny, weighed 10,000 pounds. Houdini was very creative and introduced and invented many magic tricks that are depicted at the Houdini Museum in the Scranton, Pennsylvania Pocono region. After escaping underwater Houdini would often hide under a dock forcing people to think Houdini might have drowned. At the opportune moment Houidni would make his reappearance. Houdini had great strength and agility that he used in accomplishing his stunts. Houdini also spent many hours studying, practicing and conditioning. For Houdini's underwater stunts, Houdini would practice holding his breath in the bathtub for up to four minutes. He also stayed in an underwater "coffin" for over an hour.

Houdini's film career.

In 1916 Houdini began a film career. This gave people all over the world a chance to see the great artist. Houdini made five major silent films up until1923. He is the only magician in history to have starred in 5 films. He also wrote several of them. His films include "The Master Mystery," "The Grim Game," "Terror Island" and "The Man From Beyond." Houdini was given one of the first stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to the film industry. The star is in a prominent spot out side of Hollywood's famous Chinese Theater. Houdini was the first magician to be so honored. Houdini is the only magician in history to make five feature films, and the only one to have a full length feature film made about his life story. Houdini wrote and even directed several of his movies. Had Houdini lived longer he would have probably made more films, possibly a talking movie, as they were just coming into prominence. Houdini's film "The Man From Beyond," as well as"Terror Island"

Houdini hated cheats and frauds.

Throughout his career Houdini exposed cheats and frauds in the areas of gambling, spiritualism, and psychic frauds. Houdini never believed in spiritualism, but would often pretend to in order to gain entry to seances, etc. Early on he attempted to do a spiritualist act when he was down and out, but found it so distasteful that he stopped and would forever expose those who made such claims.

Houdini would write many books and articles throughout his life. Theyh included "The Right Way To Do Wrong," an expose of swindlers, "A Magician Among The Spirits," an expose of psychic frauds, and "The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin," which was up until that time the greatest book on the history of magic.

Death to Legend.

On October 22, 1926, Houdini was in Montreal performing at the Princess Theater. Houdini also gave a lecture exposing spiritualism at McGill University. In his dressing room at the theater, while lying on a couch backstage, an young athlete from McGill University, asked if Houdini could actually withstand punches to the stomach as he had heard. Before Houdini could prepare himself by tightening his stomach muscles, the student began to punch the legendary magician in the mid section. Houdini did not know it, but his appendix was ruptured. Houdini did several more shows in Montreal and then headed for Detroit. Houdini did one performance there and then collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. Houdini did not die in an escape or fail in some final escape as many believe. The greatest "ghost buster" of all time died on October 31, 1926, Halloween of peritonitis ( an inflamation (-itis) of the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity), a kind of internal Gangrene. Houdini loved his fellow magicians and promoted magic and the Society of Americian Magicians all over the world. Houdini was its president for some ten years until the day he died. He also left quite a bit of money for the Society of American Magicians in his will (we have a copy in our collection at the museum). He had the crest of the Society of American Magicians on his gravesite. He also throughout his life paid for the repair of famous magicians around the world whose graves were in disrepair. No other famous magician worked as hard as Houdini to promote his craft and those around him. Houdini today is one of the best know performers and promoters in theatrical and film history and Houidni's name has come to mean the ability to escape from any restraint or difficult situation. He always insisted that all he did was by natural means, and that he had no supernatural powers of any kind. One of his last inventions was to escape after being buried alive, a stunt he did very few times. For some twenty six years Houdini was a major headliner. Houdini not only earned a place in history but in the dictionary as well.

HARRY HOUDINI
Master Magician
A study of a master's childhood and how it affected his adulthood

Magic, escapes, fame and fortune: this is what comes to mind when think of Harry Houdini. Houdini was a master magician as well as a superb escape artist. Houdini was so obsessed that no matter what got in his way whether it was his parents, or anything that was crowding the view of his goal, he pushed it aside. Many things got in his way but he was so focused, so determined to be what he wanted to be, that he finally achieved his goal. He was rejected by the general public early in his career. Harry Houdini struggled hard throughout his life to achieve his fame and fortune. This struggle began as a child. Houdini obviously did not give up on his career but something carried him. It might have been something that he realized as an adult or it could be some quality that was instilled in him as a child. We wanted to find out so, we examined this and we would like to show you what we found and give you the conclusion we came to.

Ehnric Weiss (Houdini) loved magic and escapes since childhood. Houdini loved to go to the circus because the circus taught him everything he wanted to know about magic, magic tricks and knot tieing. Within a few days, he joined that same circus. In this circus he would astound people with his magic tricks. But to the people watching Houdini's tricks ,they were more than just tricks. They were no less than true magic. Magic was not all he learned for he was taught to walk the tightrope. But to Houdini, the tightrope was nothing, for magic and escapes were his one and only love. Houdini yearned to leave home and join a large circus to practice his magic and escapes, but his family was poor and needed his support more than he ever knew. Since Houdini's family was so poor he felt it his duty to give them as much as he could financially and mentally. But, magic was his main focus and, if he could use that to support his family and himself then that was great but if not, so be it. The circus was no longer an ambition but becoming a full time magician and escape artist was. He reasoned that if he was good enough he would be able to support his family by sending them hundred dollar bills instead of one's. He put all of the spare money that he earned into magic tricks.

Ehnric became a full time magician. He traveled around the states putting on shows from Washington to Wisconsin. Unfortunately he didn't hit it off. People couldn't care less about a Jewish magician! That's not what they wanted so, he wasn't an immediate success. Many times he was at rock bottom living on little more than a few dollars, no assets or means of living. He felt as if he let his family down because he could not send them money in those times. He also felt like he left himself down. Houdini's dream began to die. Then he started to focus on escapes. Once Houdini did this his career-sky- rocketed because this was the exciting thing people wanted to see. He flew to Europe and made the headlines escaping from many things such as Scotland Yard. He challenged people and jails to lock him up and keep him there. As we all know by now he would escape.

Houdini's childhood influenced his adult success as an adult. He was committed to stick to magic and escapes no matter what opinions he got from his parents or how little money he had. Many times they told him not to keep playing with magic. They told him that his dreams were unrealistic. But he kept going! His obsession and commitment is what got him to the top. His first attempts were an absolute flop but he kept going. His life was like a basketball game. Many times it looks like the game is over, your clock is running down, your team is tired and there is no hope left. But, you expend your last bit of energy and you prevail, the shot goes in. Then, you get to start over in the sense of an overtime. You pull yourself together and if you win, you become a success. If you lose, you still have pride because you know you tried. Houdini ended up winning the game of life. Just like basketball it was passion, commitment and a will to win is what kept him going!

We believe Houdini's commitment was exemplary. He was always committed to his work some of the time giving up his own free time. He displayed the quality of commitment from childhood all the way through adulthood. Because of his never-say-die attitude, Houdini's career was a success. We believe that without this attitude and his commitment, that the Harry Houdini we know of now would not be the same. He would just be another escape wanna-be or a never-was or maybe titled, a failure. But Harry was not deemed a failure of a wanna-be but a success and his commitment as a child helped lead to his success. A success that could only be contemplated by people like us.

Harry Houdini was a very interesting man. He devoted his whole life to magic and escapes. Houdini's commitment amazes us all and is what led to his success. But this quality was achieved as a child. There are few people who are capable of demonstrating such commitment. This commitment started as a child and was with him until his death. He, "refused to loose," and this was a form of commitment. His career was a success because of an outstanding example of commitment.

 

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