Harry Houdini Essay

Harry Houdini is a famous magician from Hungary. He was born on March 24, 1874 in Budapest, Hungary. He died on October 31, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan. He was 52 years old. His real name was Erik Weisz. He “arrived in the United States on July 3, 1878, on the SS Fresia with his mother (who was pregnant) and his four brothers.The family changed their name to the German spelling Weiss, and Erik became Ehric. Friends called him "Ehrie" or "Harry".” Harry began his magic career in 1891, but had barely any success.
“Houdini's big break came in 1899 when he met manager Martin Beck in St. Paul, Minnesota. Impressed by Houdini's handcuffs act, Beck advised him to concentrate on escape acts and booked him on the Orpheum vaudeville circuit. Within months, he was performing at the top vaudeville houses in the country. In 1900, Beck arranged for Houdini to tour Europe. After some days of unsuccessful interviews in London, Houdini managed to interest Dundas Slater, then manager of the Alhambra Theatre. He gave a demonstration of escape from handcuffs at Scotland Yard,
In each city, Houdini challenged local police to restrain him with shackles and lock him in their jails”. In many of these challenge escapes, Houdini was first searched.”
“In 1913, Houdini introduced perhaps his most famous act, the Chinese Water Torture Cell, in which he was suspended upside-down in a locked glass-and-steel cabinet full to overflowing with water. The act required that Houdini hold his breath for more than three minutes. Houdini performed the escape for the rest of his career.” There are even movies with Harry Houdini or about him.
Harry Houdini died of peritonitis in 1926. But he is still remembered today. Six flags, which is a franchise of amusement parks, has a ride which is called Houdini’s Great Escape. It is a illusion ride. Harry Houdini will be a great