Buzz
By exploring various chapters of Houdini’s life from start to finish, this list reveals that not only was he the ultimate showman, but also one of the most extraordinary figures in history. 'It is still an open question, however, as to what extent exposure really injures a performer.' -Harry Houdini.
10. The Man of Multiple Aliases
Born Erik Weisz in Budapest, Hungary, in 1874 to Jewish parents, Houdini was one of six siblings. The Weisz family relocated to America in 1878. His original name was Ehrich, and his friends called him Ehrie, which inspired the Americanized version 'Harry.' He later adopted the surname Houdini, a tribute suggested by his partner Jake Hyman, meaning 'like Houdin' in honor of the magician Robert-Houdin. Some of his other stage names included 'Eric the Great,' 'The King of Cards,' and 'Eric, Prince of the Air.'
9. Early Stage Appearances
Houdini’s fascination with magic began at a young age, and his first performance took place when he was just 9 years old. During this act, he hung upside down and picked up pins with his eyelashes, earning thirty-five cents. In addition to his magic skills, he was a trapeze artist and later created an act known as 'The Wild Man,' where he was locked in a cage, wearing a loincloth and eating raw meat. Before achieving fame, Houdini worked for free as a locksmith to study lock mechanisms in detail. His early stunt as an escapologist included escaping from the belly of a whale.
8. Dark Ties
Houdini had a deep fascination with all things related to death. He acquired the first electric chair, Edgar Allan Poe’s desk, and often performed some of his most daring stunts on Death Row. He also became intrigued by infamous figures like John Wilkes Booth. After his mother’s death, Houdini turned his attention to spiritualism, but he later dedicated himself to exposing fraudulent mediums. He attended séances disguised with a false beard and hat, revealing himself at critical moments. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes and a close friend, was convinced that Houdini had the ability to communicate with the dead without realizing it.
7. Mrs. Houdini
Houdini and his wife, Wilhelmina Beatrice 'Bess' Rahner, always referred to one another as 'Mr. Houdini' and 'Mrs. Houdini.' They married just two weeks after meeting. Over the course of their thirty-year marriage, Houdini wrote her hundreds of love letters, often while they were in the same room. Bess was his unwavering onstage assistant. Whenever they had an argument, Houdini would take a walk to cool off. Upon returning, he would throw his hat into the room; if Bess threw it back out, it meant she was still upset. She was heartbroken after his death and attended numerous séances, even though he had exposed many of the mediums as frauds.
6. Mayer Samuel Houdini
Houdini and Bess never had children, leading to much speculation regarding the reason behind it. One theory suggested that after being x-rayed numerous times by his brother Leopold, New York’s first x-ray specialist, the radiation had a sterilizing effect on Houdini. In response, he created an imaginary child named Mayer Samuel Houdini, after his own father. Over the years, Houdini wrote numerous letters to Bess about Mayer's progress, but the correspondence ceased after their 'son' was said to have become President of the United States.
5. Expert Pilot
In 1909, six years after the Wright brothers demonstrated the possibility of human flight, Houdini developed a keen interest in airplanes. He once remarked to a friend that he only learned to drive in order to reach the airport faster. Houdini trained to fly in Germany, with the stipulation that he would later teach German pilots once certified. He regretted this decision afterward, angered by the fact that he had taught enemy pilots during World War I. He became the third person to fly across Australia, although he claimed to be the first. Following that, he never flew again.
4. Proudly American
Houdini was deeply patriotic, to the point where he fabricated his birthplace, claiming to have been born in Appleton, Wisconsin. In 1917, he offered to enlist in the First World War but was rejected due to his age. Instead, he traveled across Europe, performing for the troops free of charge. One of the tricks he performed, 'Money for Nothing,' involved producing an endless stream of coins from thin air for US soldiers, giving away over $7,000 of his own money in the process.
3. Death and the Afterlife
Houdini passed away from peritonitis on Halloween in 1926, following a severe case of appendicitis. His funeral was attended by over two thousand people, and in a symbolic act, a fellow magician broke a wand, initiating a tradition that continues to this day. Houdini was laid to rest beside his parents, with his mother’s letters placed under his pillow. He left his props to his brother Theo, with the stipulation that they should be destroyed after Theo’s death. A passionate book collector, Houdini also willed more than 5,000 books to the Library of Congress. During his life, he employed a librarian to care for his collection, and he took hundreds of books with him on tour.
2. Obsessed with Perfection
To master his death-defying acts, Houdini focused on both physical and mental conditioning. He had an oversized bathtub installed in his house for practicing breath-holding, a skill he perfected to the point of being able to hold his breath for three minutes. Houdini also trained to become ambidextrous, making his left hand as skilled as his right. A true perfectionist, he practiced card tricks endlessly without looking at the cards. Even in casual conversation with friends, Houdini would unconsciously untie knots with his feet.
1. The Tough Leader
Houdini’s assistants were hardly in a desirable position, often bearing the brunt of his unpredictable temper and constant suspicion. One of their primary responsibilities was to administer chloroform to any overly curious onlookers backstage, leaving them unconscious in a separate area. Despite authoring many books and magazine articles about magic, Houdini was fiercely protective of his own secrets. His need for absolute loyalty from his assistants was so strong that he had them swear an oath, a step he reportedly took alone in the world of performance.
