Harry Houdini
by: Shay Morgan
Ehrich Weisz
Harry Houdini was born in Budapest Hungary on March 24 1874. He was born with the name Ehrich Weisz. He had five siblings and he was the son of a rabbi. Him and his family immigrated to the United States in 1876 when he was 2 years old. He began to study the art of trapeze and he became Ehrich the Prince of the Air. He ran away from home as a child for one year then returned to his home. Nothing is known of his travels during that time. Once he returned him and his brother Theo Weisz developed a liking of magic. Ehrich changed his nickname to the american version Ehrie=Harry and he made his last name the name of his favorite french magician but changed it up a little. Houdin=Houdini.
Adulthood
"Mysterious Harry and La Petite Bessie", was the show name for Harry and his wife when they performed at amusement parks and other small events. They traveled with a circus for a while. when the responses to their performances were mediocre they vamped it up a little bit with comedy from old newspapers. Harry began a needle trick where he swallowed 40 needles and pulled them out all stringed together and Bessie performed as a mind reader using a letter and number code only known by her and Harry. Harry then grew in popularity as he came up with ideas of escaping handcuffs and even the local police. He was awarded for this. Many tried to imitate Houdini but all failed as he grew in popularity with his escape routines including straight jackets, coffins, shackles and water cans filled with milk and he could escape in 3 minutes! He made a film using all his tricks with no camera pizzazz added.
Major Events
Straight Jacket Escape
Houdini would be suspended in the air and he would escape a straight jacket for free before every show for free to attract a crowd.
Vanishing Elephant
Houdini had a famous trick that was a huge crowd-pleaser. He would make an elephant disappear off stage in a matter of seconds.
Water Can Escape
Houdini would get inside a water can full of milk and he could escape in three minutes without drowning.
Harry Houdini - Straight Jacket Escape
Impact of Houdini
Harry Houdini was a wonder to the brain. People would stop their daily routine even be late to work to see Houdini in his work of art. Many tried to become as good as the magician but all failed. No one was just as good as he could be.