Houdini, Harry, 1874-1926

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1874-03-24
Death 1926-10-31
Hungarians, Americans
German, French, English, French, English, German,

Biographical notes:

Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-born American escape artist, illusionist, stunt performer and mysteriarch, noted for his escape acts.

He first attracted notice in vaudeville in the United States 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 skyscrapers, straitjackets under water, and having to escape from and hold his breath inside a sealed milk can with water in it.

In 1904, thousands watched as he tried to escape from special handcuffs commissioned by London's Daily Mirror, keeping them in suspense for an hour. Another stunt saw him buried alive and 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 fake spiritualists. As President of the Society of American Magicians, he was keen to uphold professional standards and expose fraudulent artists. He was also quick to sue anyone who imitated 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 powered aircraft in Australia.

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Permalink:
http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60c4t2z
SNAC ID:

Subjects:

  • Entertainers
  • Escapes
  • Ghosts
  • Magic
  • Magicians
  • Magic tricks
  • Magic tricks
  • Performing arts
  • Psychical research
  • Spiritualism
  • Magic tricks

Occupations:

  • Magicians

Places:

  • 00, US
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)

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