Harry Houdini

How good is harry houdini? really? how did he do it? what is it about him that captivates the minds of our children and grandmothers worldwide? Lets take a closer look at the escapes of harry houdini, read on ...

timeline

Harry Houdini Timeline

Milk can escape comic

Who was Harry Houdini?

Who was Harry Houdini Who was Harry Houdini is a novel written by Tui T. Sutherland and illustrated by John O'Brien. It talks about the entire story of his life, not only the magical escape wonders, but also his flying career, movie career, his childhood, his novel, his friendship with Sir Doyle, and so much more. They were able to sum up the fascinating life in only a few hundred pages, with a time line at the end and pictures. There are small pictures of things on some pages where something is mentioned that might require a visual aid, such as an unknown country provided with a map, or an unknown object with a picture to show how it was used. Also, when it mentions famous historic figures, a short 1 page biography accompanied by a picture usually follows. It is very informing and interesting. There are also small diagrams on how he performed simple tricks, such as the vanishing coin. And sometimes, for his larger tricks that are more well known a page will be dedicated to describing how he performed it, but only for those where the secret is known, because many of his tricks are still a mystery. At the end of the book there is a useful time line of his life, and time line of the world during his lifetime. The author has a specific simplistic voice that helps get the point across without being too excessive or too blunt. It is a very good book, and i would recommend it to anyone who wishes to read about the interesting life of Harry Houdini!

The Milk Can Escape Trick

One of Harry Houdinis most famous tricks was his milk can escape trick. He invented it in 1908 and premiered it in St Louis. He had colorful posters that said "Failure means a Drowning Death" this death threat made it one of his most famous tricks, and made many people try and imitate it, which in many cases resulted in death of the imitator. His trick was where a large milk can made of gavanized steel was filled to the brim with water. It was allowed to be inspected by any momber of the audience. Houdini would then step inside the milk can, handcuffed and curl himself up into a ball inside of it. As the water rushed out the top his assistant would quickly secure the lid, and lock it shut with six padlocks. Then the curtains would close, while a clock started and the audience would be left on the edge of their seats while waiting to see if he would fail and have a drowning death. Many audience members would hold their own breath until Houdini would leal through the curtain, soaking wet. Many of them could not. But Houdini would also sometimes wait behind the curtain after excaping for up to a half hour before revealing himself, when people were sure that he was dead. His wife would train him to hold his breath for a long time in cold water in the bath tub. And, after he had escaped the curtain would be drawn to reveal the milk can, closed with all six padlocks, locked.

Harry Houdini

On March 24 1874 Ehrich Weiss was born in Budapest Hungary, and only one year later, he and his family moved to America. He lived with his family in Wisconsin, where he made backyard trapeze shows with his siblings and called himself prince of the air. In 1887 he moved to New York where he read “The Memoirs of Robert Houdin” and was inspired to become a magician. For his stage name, he used the last name Houdin that was already associated with magic, but added an “I” to give it some pizzazz, And then used the American version of his nickname Ehri, Harry. In 1892 he and his brother Theo began to perform magic tricks. In 1894 Houdini met Bess Raymond and he proposed on the 1st date. In 1899 Houdini was discovered by Martin Beck and began to perform in Vaudeville houses. In 1900, Harry and Bess began to tours. He became famous when he escaped from the handcuffs of London’s top police force. Houdini offered 25 pounds to anyone whose handcuffs he couldn’t escape. On October 24 1902 he broke out of the most difficult cuffs, and also broke out of the famous mirror cuffs. In 1908, Houdini premiered his milk can escape trick, and in 1910 his vanishing elephant trick. In 1919 he starred in his first movie of many, “The Mystery Man”. His book “A magician among the Spirits” was published in 1923. And on Halloween of 1926, while performing a trick where someone punches him and it doesn’t hurt, he was not prepared and was punched in the appendix and died after the show.