OR

source:wikimedia.org
24 Mar, 1874
31 Oct, 1926
Peritonitis
Hungarian, American
Escapologist
52
Harry Houdini, originally named Erik Weisz, was born on March 24, 1874, in Budapest, Hungary. He was widely recognized as a famous magician and escape artist. Houdini’s astonishing stunts and complex escape acts still mesmerize audiences worldwide, even long after his death on October 31, 1926.
He faced hardship and showed great determination in his early life. He moved to the United States with his family when he was four years old, and they settled in Appleton, Wisconsin. His father, Mayer Samuel Weiss, worked as a rabbi but faced hardships in supporting the family. Despite the difficulties, young Houdini’s interest in magic started when he watched a show by Dr. Lynn, a magician who traveled.
During Houdini’s adolescence, his family encountered increased financial hardships due to his father’s unemployment. In order to support his family, Houdini took on a range of jobs, including being a messenger, locksmith, and fabric cutter. These experiences would be of great value to him as an escape artist in the future.
Harry Houdini began his career under his stage name, inspired by the French magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin. He initially performed with his wife, Bessie Rahner. Their magic tricks and escapology routines grabbed audiences’ attention.
Houdini’s breakthrough was in 1899 with his famous “Metamorphosis” trick. The illusion involved Houdini escaping from a locked trunk, while his assistant, usually Bessie, quickly replaced him in a matter of seconds. This gravity-defying feat became one of his signature acts, highlighting his skill and innovation.
Around the same time, Harry Houdini became well-known for his daring escape acts. Houdini consistently found a way to free himself from apparently impossible situations, whether he was handcuffed, suspended from a bridge, or submerged in water-filled tanks. News of his exceptional skills circulated, and he quickly began captivating crowds on global tours, impressing audiences in Europe, Australia, and beyond.
Houdini’s pursuit of perfection and self-improvement were key to his success. He always sought out new challenges, pushing the boundaries of what was deemed possible. In 1908, he introduced the Chinese Water Torture Cell, an impressive escape act involving being submerged upside-down in a tank of water while bound and locked. Audiences were astounded by Houdini’s ability to escape from this seemingly impossible situation, cementing his reputation as the master of escapes.
In addition to his magical acts, Houdini actively exposed fake spiritualists. Houdini’s mother’s death in 1913 sparked a profound interest in the afterlife, leading him to expose fraudulent mediums and psychics who falsely communicated with the deceased. He was the author of books on the subject and committed himself to uncovering the tactics used by these deceivers.
Houdini and his wife Bessie had a lasting relationship on a personal level. Even after Houdini’s untimely death, Bessie remained devoted and continued to serve as his trusted assistant.
Unfortunately, Houdini’s career came to an early end with his passing on October 31, 1926, at the age of 52. His sudden death surprised many, as he consistently amazed crowds with his daring acts. The reason for his death was peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix, possibly from repeated blows to the abdomen during a recent performance.
People all over the world are still inspired and captivated by Harry Houdini’s legacy. His original escape performances and talent for putting on a show influenced magicians and performers to come. His name continues to be synonymous with the art of escapology.
Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini
Male
Peritonitis
Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary, Austria-Hungary
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Virtuoso: Bold and practical experimenters, masters of all kinds of tools. His expertise in various tools and willingness to experiment made him one of the world’s greatest magicians.
Despite his death on Halloween in 1926, Houdini séances are still held every October 31st by fans, continuing a tradition started by his widow who tried for ten years to contact him after his death.
Houdini campaigned against fraudulent psychics and mediums later in life, even writing books exposing their tricks and offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who could demonstrate genuine supernatural abilities.
Houdini's real name was Erik Weisz, and he was born in Budapest, Hungary, before immigrating to the United States as a child.
In addition to being a famous escape artist, Houdini was also one of the world's first pilots and became the first person to successfully fly a plane in Australia in 1910.
He invented hundreds of magic tricks.
He is recognized as one of the greatest magicians of all time.