When Weisz became a professional magician, he began calling himself "Harry Houdini" after the French magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, whose autobiography he read in 1890. In later life, Houdini claimed the first part of his new name, Harry, was an homage to American magician Harry Kellar whom he also admired – though it was likely adapted from "Ehri", a nickname for "Ehrich", which is ...
Harry Houdini's grand illusions and daring, spectacular escape acts made him one of the most famous magicians of all time.
Harry Houdini, American magician, possibly the most famous of all time, noted for his sensational escape acts.
Harry Houdini. Actor: The Man from Beyond. The great American escape artist and magician Houdini (immortalized by a memorable performance by Tony Curtis in the eponymous 1953 film) was born Erich Weiss on in Budapest, Hungary, though he often gave his birthplace as Appleton, Wisconsin, where he was raised. One of five brothers and one daughter born to rabbi Samuel Weiss and his ...
Harry Houdini was a magician who specialized in escape scenarios. He was of Hungarian and American descent and first came into prominence in Europe using the title of Harry “Handcuff” Houdini.
Early life Although Harry Houdini claimed to be born on , in Appleton, Wisconsin, the fact was that Erich Weiss, born , in Budapest, Hungary, was the youngest of three sons of Rabbi Samuel and Cecilia (Steiner) Weiss (who also had a daughter, Gladys). To find a better life, the Weiss family left Hungary and settled in Appleton. "Perhaps April 6 was the date Samuel ...
Inside Harry Houdini’s wild life as the king of magic—and his mysterious death on Halloween Ehrich Weiss transformed himself into one of history's best magicians—but he never gave away his ...