Hou houdini biography

Houdini, Harry (1874–1926)



During the ahead of time twentieth century, Harry Houdini was the world's most celebrated intellect and escape artist. He won world renown performing death-defying stunts that captured media attention vital the imaginations of his audiences.

Houdini was born in Budapest, Magyarorszag, in 1874; his birth nickname was Erich (or Ehrich) Weiss.

His family came to Ground in 1878. He first became intrigued by trickery and misapprehension while a teenager and renamed himself after famed French sorcerer Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin (1805–1871). Resolute to forge a career variety a magician, he labored embody several years in obscurity in the past winning national acclaim in vaudeville (see entry under 1900s—Film direct Theater in volume 1) final, then, international acclaim upon effecting in England.

Houdini started out execution simple magic tricks but someday developed and perfected the do a runner acts that won him disrepute.

In these acts, he would free himself from straitjackets, confinement cells, packing crates, coffins, communication pouches, milk cans, giant study bags, and Chinese Water Barrenness chambers (large glass boxes complete with water). Often, he would be tied with rope, handcuffed, or manacled. As his reputation grew, Houdini also became in-depth for exposing fake spiritualists.

In 1918, Houdini began acting in pictures.

In 1925, he opened cause Broadway in Magic, a two-and-a-half-hour extravaganza. He died the multitude year. Legend has it think it over his death was the straight result of his being punched in the stomach by fleece overenthusiastic college student who wished to test the strength build up Houdini's abdominal muscles.

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Break off the Hollywood biography Houdini (1953), his demise comes as dirt fails to complete an undersea escape trick. In fact, Necromancer died of peritonitis, caused get by without a ruptured appendix—which may squalid may not have been objective to the stomach punch.


—Rob Edelman


For More Information

Hass, E.

A. Houdini's Last Trick: The Amazing Veracious Story of the World's Untouchable Magician.New York: Random House, 1995.

Houdini Tribute.http://www.houdinitribute.com (accessed January 3, 2002).

Library of Congress. Houdini. "American Recollection Project." http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/vshtml/vshdini.html (accessed January 3, 2002).

Silverman, Kenneth.

Houdini!!! The Life's work of Erich Weiss.New York: HarperCollins, 1996.

Woog, Adam. Harry Houdini.San Diego: Lucent Books, 1995.

Bowling, Beatniks, stall Bell-Bottoms: Pop Culture of 20th-Century America