Acting Appreciation
At some point in our lives, the name "Houdini" has come up in conversation. Usually following some sort of unexplained escape, "Who do you think you are, Houdini?"
Born on March 24, 1874, Harry Houdini, born Erik Weisz, was known as an escape artist, illusionist, stunt performer, and actor. He took the pseudonym Harry Houdini after his spiritual master, French magician Robert-Houdin.
Houdini was born in Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary to a Jewish family. At age 4, he and his family immigrated to the United States and settled in Appleton, Wisconsin.
At nine years old, Houdini made his public début as a trapeze artist, Ehrich, the Prince of the Air."
As a teenager, Houdini was coached by magician Joseph Rinn, before beginning his magic career in 1891. He performed in dime museums--entertainment centers targeted for the working class--sideshows, and circuses. His act was at first card tricks and close-up magic but then moved to escape acts.
In 1894, he and his brother, Dash, performed at Coney Island as The Brothers Houdini. Dash was then replaced by Wilhelmina Beatrice "Bess" Rahner, who became Houdini's wife. Bess would work as Houdini's assistant throughout his career.
In 1899, his escape acts were recognized and he was booked on the Orpheum vaudeville circuit. Vaudeville is a French theatre variety show.
The next couple of decades, Houdini would trill spectators with performances where he freed himself from jails, handcuffs, chains, ropes, straitjackets, and buried alive. I'm sure I left some performances out.
English comedian Alan Davies explores Harry Houdini in a short documentary for Timeline.
Source: Wikipedia, Youtube
