Harry+Houdini

Edited by Abhishek
= = __Harry Houdini__ = =

= __Accomplishments:__ = Known for his reputation for being what he called an "escape artist", Harry Houdini created many tricks and escape acts (Epstein 56). Of these acts and tricks the most popular are the Hindu Needle Trick, Challenge Act, Metamorphosis, Straitjacket escape, Walking through a Brick Wall, The Milk Can Escape and The Crate Escape. The Hindu Needle Trick, was where Houdini swallowed dozens of needles and thread and regurgitated the thread with all the needles neatly threaded on it. In the Challenge Act, Houdini issued a challenge to all to restrain him in handcuffs in any location and if he could not escape from them then he would forfeit some money. Metamorphosis was a ingenious trick that Houdini had invented when was in his teens, in this trick he would be bound and locked in a coffin and seconds later Houdini would come out and his assistant or his wife, Bess would be locked inside. The Strait Jacket Escape is literally an escape from a strait jacked but Houdini added altitude so he performed this act at high altitude from the ground. Houdini's Walking Through a Brick was a very popular trick, for it stumped everyone who watched it. In this trick, a brick wall was constructed on stage and a committee checked that the wall was devoid of any openings or cracks. Then, a screen would be placed around the wall and Houdini would show his hand and simply walk through the wall. This trick thoroughly stumped his audience. The Crate Escape was another favorite of Houdini's audience, here Houdini was locked into a crate and thrown into a river. Houdini then reemerged moments later. Houdini's Disappearing Act was also world-famous. Where most magicians made rabbits disappear and reappear, Harry Houdini made a elephant named Jennie disappear and reappear onto the stage. Besides his tricks and escapes, Harry Houdini had many other accomplishments such as becoming president of the Society of American Magicians, patenting a design of a new diving suit where the diver was allowed to rid themselves of the suit and escape to the surface, creating his own film company called Houdini Pictures Corporation and making some movies and earning the title of what he called "King of Cards" and the "King of Handcuffs" (Epstein 1, 52).

|| * Harry Houdini was born in Budapest, Hungary on April 6, 1874
 * = Social: =
 * He was born to Dr. Mayer Samuel Weiss and Cecelia Steiner.
 * His father was a Rabbi in Budapest, but his decision to marry Cecelia Steiner had severe implications and forced him to move to Appleton, Wisconsin.
 * In Appleton, the family's condition was poor, Elrich and his father both had to work to put food on the table
 * Young Elrich had stronger relations with his mother than his father. Elrich's father was confident in Elrich's obedience to his mother, that he declared that if something were to happen to him, Elrich would take proper care of his mother and his siblings
 * As Elrich, became a teen, he practiced magic more and assumed the first name Harry and the last name of his hero, Robert Houdin
 * In this way Erlich Weiss became Harry Houdini
 * Later on in life, around 1893, Houdini married Beatrice Rahner whom he called Bessie
 * Bessie came from a well- to do German Catholic family and eloped with Harry to get married
 * Houdini and Bessie became inseparable and Bessie supported and eventually became part of Houdini's act. Houdini died on October 31,1953, from unknown causes
 * There three theories of how Houdini died: died due to a blow to his stomach as a test to withstand severe blows which ruptured his stomach, onstage performing the Chinese Water Cell Torture and from the medical peritonitis
 * Bessie died a few years later than Houdini. ||
 * = Political: =

== || During Houdini's life, improvements were made all aspects of life. Events that occurred in the world during Houdini's life included:
 * 1) American spheres of influence,
 * 2) decolonization
 * 3) formation of European countries
 * 4) World War I, World War II and the Cold War

In the field of science, many new inventions were made.
 * The invention of the light bulb, telephone, machine gun, rabies vaccine, airplane, and new technological and weaponry based advance took place during Houdini's lifetime.

The years between the 1800's and 1900's were also years where the political views of many countries changed to democratic, dictatorships or communist. This was especially the case with countries such as Germany, Russia, Italy and the Middle Eastern countries. ||
 * = Economical: = || The economy went from one of great stability to one of unreliability when Houdini was alive. This is because towards start of the 1900's the World Wars took place and some time after the world wars the Great Depression hit the world.
 * The average income before the Great Depression was about $55 per week
 * When Houdini finally hit the road to fame, Houdini started out with a base salary of $90 per week and then went up to $150
 * In Europe, Houdini had double the salary and was paid in all sorts of currency from pounds, marks and francs
 * In essence, this means that in America Houdini was not taken seriously and was slightly better paid than the average citizen
 * However, in Europe, Houdini conquered and made more money than that he was offered in America. For this reason and the fact that Americans did not take him seriously, Harry Houdini refused to go back to America until 1905. ||

= __Video:__ = media type="custom" key="5551493"

= __Timeline:__ = media type="custom" key="5440005"

= __Questionnaire:__ =


 * 1) When was Harry Houdini born?
 * 2) What was Harry Houdini's real name?
 * 3) Where did the Weiss family come from?
 * 4) Where did they move to?
 * 5) Name some acts or escapes that Houdini performed.
 * 6) Houdini's two titles were what?
 * 7) What was Houdini's base salary?
 * 8) What major political event occurred during Houdini's life time?
 * 9) Who was Houdini's wife?
 * 10) Rate this wikispace from 1 to 10.

(answers at bottom of page)

= =

__ Source Citations for Pictures: __
1. Web link Harry Houdini and his wife Beatrice. //The American Variety Stage: Vaudeville and// //Popular Entertainment, 1870-1920//. Ed. AFI/Holt (H. L.) Collection (Library of Congress). N.p.: n.p., 1922. N. pag. //American Memory//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2010. <http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?varstg:37:./temp/ ~ammem_GClq::@@@mdb=mcc,gottscho,detr,nfor,wpa,aap,cwar,bbpix,cowellbib,calbkbib, consrvbib,bdsbib,dag,fsaall,gmd,pan,vv,presp,varstg,suffrg,nawbib,horyd,wtc,toddb ib,mgw,ncr,ngp,musdibib,hlaw,papr,lhbumbib,rbpebib,lbcoll,alad,hh,aaodyssey,magbe ll,bbc,dcm,raelbib,runyon,dukesm,lomaxbib,mtj,gottlieb,aep,qlt,coolbib,fpnas,aasm ,denn,relpet,amss,aaeo,mff,afc911bib,mjm,mnwp,rbcmillerbib,molden,ww2map,mfdipbib ,afcnyebib,klpmap,hawp,omhbib,rbaapcbib,mal,ncpsbib,ncpm,lhbprbib,ftvbib,afcreed, aipn,cwband,flwpabib,wpapos,cmns,psbib,pin,coplandbib,cola,tccc,curt,mharendt,lhb cbbib,eaa,haybib,mesnbib,fine,cwnyhs,svybib,mmorse,afcwwgbib,mymhiwebib,uncall,af cwip,mtaft,manz,llstbib,fawbib,berl,fmuever,cdn,upboverbib,mussm,cic,afcpearl,awh ,awhbib,sgp,wright,lhbtnbib,afcesnbib,hurstonbib,mreynoldsbib,spaldingbib,sgproto ,scsmbib,afccalbib>.

2. Web link Houdini in handcuffs Library of Congress, and Joan Higbee. "1899-1907: Vaudeville and Fame." //Great// //Escapes American Memory Web Site Hosts Houdini Collection//. Ed. AFI/Holt (H. L.) Collection (Library of Congress). Library of Congress, n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2010. .

3. Web link Harry Houdini (1874-1926) vanishing Jennie, the elephant, performing at the Hippodrome, New York. Others might vanish rabbits, but in 1918, on the brightly-lit stage of the Hippodrome in New York City, Houdini made a 10,000-pound elephant disappear. He created a sensation. When Houdini fired a pistol Jennie vanished from view. 1918. //The American Variety Stage:// //Vaudeville and Popular Entertainment, 1870-1920//. Ed. AFI/Holt (H. L.) Collection (Library of Congress). N. pag. //American Memory//. Library of Congress, n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2010. .

4. Web link Harry Houdini with his wife Beatrice and mother Cecilia Steiner Weiss, half-length portrait. //The American Variety Stage: Vaudeville and Popular// //Entertainment, 1870-1920//. Ed. AFI/Holt (H. L.) Collection (Library of Congress). N.p.: n.p., 1907. N. pag. //American Memory//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2010. <http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?varstg:1:./temp/ ~ammem_0O4m::@@@mdb=mcc,gottscho,detr,nfor,wpa,aap,cwar,bbpix,cowellbib,calbkbib, consrvbib,bdsbib,dag,fsaall,gmd,pan,vv,presp,varstg,suffrg,nawbib,horyd,wtc,toddb ib,mgw,ncr,ngp,musdibib,hlaw,papr,lhbumbib,rbpebib,lbcoll,alad,hh,aaodyssey,magbe ll,bbc,dcm,raelbib,runyon,dukesm,lomaxbib,mtj,gottlieb,aep,qlt,coolbib,fpnas,aasm ,denn,relpet,amss,aaeo,mff,afc911bib,mjm,mnwp,rbcmillerbib,molden,ww2map,mfdipbib ,afcnyebib,klpmap,hawp,omhbib,rbaapcbib,mal,ncpsbib,ncpm,lhbprbib,ftvbib,afcreed, aipn,cwband,flwpabib,wpapos,cmns,psbib,pin,coplandbib,cola,tccc,curt,mharendt,lhb cbbib,eaa,haybib,mesnbib,fine,cwnyhs,svybib,mmorse,afcwwgbib,mymhiwebib,uncall,af cwip,mtaft,manz,llstbib,fawbib,berl,fmuever,cdn,upboverbib,mussm,cic,afcpearl,awh ,awhbib,sgp,wright,lhbtnbib,afcesnbib,hurstonbib,mreynoldsbib,spaldingbib,sgproto ,scsmbib,afccalbib>.

5. Web link Harry Houdini, King of Cards. 1895. //The American Variety Stage: Vaudeville and// //Popular Entertainment, 1870-1920//. Ed. AFI/Holt (H. L.) Collection (Library of Congress). N.p.: n.p., 1945. N. pag. //American Memory//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2010. <http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?varstg:1:./temp/ ~ammem_fEFq::@@@mdb=mcc,gottscho,detr,nfor,wpa,aap,cwar,bbpix,cowellbib,calbkbib, consrvbib,bdsbib,dag,fsaall,gmd,pan,vv,presp,varstg,suffrg,nawbib,horyd,wtc,toddb ib,mgw,ncr,ngp,musdibib,hlaw,papr,lhbumbib,rbpebib,lbcoll,alad,hh,aaodyssey,magbe ll,bbc,dcm,raelbib,runyon,dukesm,lomaxbib,mtj,gottlieb,aep,qlt,coolbib,fpnas,aasm ,denn,relpet,amss,aaeo,mff,afc911bib,mjm,mnwp,rbcmillerbib,molden,ww2map,mfdipbib ,afcnyebib,klpmap,hawp,omhbib,rbaapcbib,mal,ncpsbib,ncpm,lhbprbib,ftvbib,afcreed, aipn,cwband,flwpabib,wpapos,cmns,psbib,pin,coplandbib,cola,tccc,curt,mharendt,lhb cbbib,eaa,haybib,mesnbib,fine,cwnyhs,svybib,mmorse,afcwwgbib,mymhiwebib,uncall,af cwip,mtaft,manz,llstbib,fawbib,berl,fmuever,cdn,upboverbib,mussm,cic,afcpearl,awh ,awhbib,sgp,wright,lhbtnbib,afcesnbib,hurstonbib,mreynoldsbib,spaldingbib,sgproto ,scsmbib,afccalbib>.

6. Web link Harry Houdini performs the great milk can escape. //The American Variety Stage:// //Vaudeville and Popular Entertainment, 1870-1920//. Ed. AFI/Holt (H. L.) Collection (Library of Congress). 1908. N.p.: n.p., 1908. N. pag. //American Memory//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2010. <http://memory.loc.gov/ cgi-bin/query/D?varstg:27:./temp/ ~ammem_mLbs::@@@mdb=mcc,gottscho,detr,nfor,wpa,aap,cwar,bbpix,cowellbib,calbkbib, consrvbib,bdsbib,dag,fsaall,gmd,pan,vv,presp,varstg,suffrg,nawbib,horyd,wtc,toddb ib,mgw,ncr,ngp,musdibib,hlaw,papr,lhbumbib,rbpebib,lbcoll,alad,hh,aaodyssey,magbe ll,bbc,dcm,raelbib,runyon,dukesm,lomaxbib,mtj,gottlieb,aep,qlt,coolbib,fpnas,aasm ,denn,relpet,amss,aaeo,mff,afc911bib,mjm,mnwp,rbcmillerbib,molden,ww2map,mfdipbib ,afcnyebib,klpmap,hawp,omhbib,rbaapcbib,mal,ncpsbib,ncpm,lhbprbib,ftvbib,afcreed, aipn,cwband,flwpabib,wpapos,cmns,psbib,pin,coplandbib,cola,tccc,curt,mharendt,lhb cbbib,eaa,haybib,mesnbib,fine,cwnyhs,svybib,mmorse,afcwwgbib,mymhiwebib,uncall,af cwip,mtaft,manz,llstbib,fawbib,berl,fmuever,cdn,upboverbib,mussm,cic,afcpearl,awh ,awhbib,sgp,wright,lhbtnbib,afcesnbib,hurstonbib,mreynoldsbib,spaldingbib,sgproto ,scsmbib,afccalbib>.

7. Web link Beatrice Houdini and Theodore Hardeen visit Houdini's grave. //The American// //Variety Stage: Vaudeville and Popular Entertainment, 1870-1920//. Ed. AFI/ Holt (H. L.) Collection (Library of Congress). 1928. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. //American Congress//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2010. <http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?varstg:1:./temp/ ~ammem_3bhS::@@@mdb=mcc,gottscho,detr,nfor,wpa,aap,cwar,bbpix,cowellbib,calbkbib, consrvbib,bdsbib,dag,fsaall,gmd,pan,vv,presp,varstg,suffrg,nawbib,horyd,wtc,toddb ib,mgw,ncr,ngp,musdibib,hlaw,papr,lhbumbib,rbpebib,lbcoll,alad,hh,aaodyssey,magbe ll,bbc,dcm,raelbib,runyon,dukesm,lomaxbib,mtj,gottlieb,aep,qlt,coolbib,fpnas,aasm ,denn,relpet,amss,aaeo,mff,afc911bib,mjm,mnwp,rbcmillerbib,molden,ww2map,mfdipbib ,afcnyebib,klpmap,hawp,omhbib,rbaapcbib,mal,ncpsbib,ncpm,lhbprbib,ftvbib,afcreed, aipn,cwband,flwpabib,wpapos,cmns,psbib,pin,coplandbib,cola,tccc,curt,mharendt,lhb cbbib,eaa,haybib,mesnbib,fine,cwnyhs,svybib,mmorse,afcwwgbib,mymhiwebib,uncall,af cwip,mtaft,manz,llstbib,fawbib,berl,fmuever,cdn,upboverbib,mussm,cic,afcpearl,awh ,awhbib,sgp,wright,lhbtnbib,afcesnbib,hurstonbib,mreynoldsbib,spaldingbib,sgproto ,scsmbib,afccalbib>.

8. Web link Crimean Conference--Prime Minister Winston Churchill, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Marshal Joseph Stalin at the palace in Yalta, where the Big Three met /U.S. Signal Corps photo. //By Popular Demand: Portraits of the// //Presidents and First Ladies, 1789-Present//. Ed. AFI/Holt (H. L.) Collection (Library of Congress). 1945. N.p.: n.p., 1945. N. pag. //American Memory//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2010. <http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/ D?presp:2:./temp/ ~ammem_SeUu::@@@mdb=mcc,gottscho,detr,nfor,wpa,aap,cwar,bbpix,cowellbib,calbkbib, consrvbib,bdsbib,dag,fsaall,gmd,pan,vv,presp,varstg,suffrg,nawbib,horyd,wtc,toddb ib,mgw,ncr,ngp,musdibib,hlaw,papr,lhbumbib,rbpebib,lbcoll,alad,hh,aaodyssey,magbe ll,bbc,dcm,raelbib,runyon,dukesm,lomaxbib,mtj,gottlieb,aep,qlt,coolbib,fpnas,aasm ,denn,relpet,amss,aaeo,mff,afc911bib,mjm,mnwp,rbcmillerbib,molden,ww2map,mfdipbib ,afcnyebib,klpmap,hawp,omhbib,rbaapcbib,mal,ncpsbib,ncpm,lhbprbib,ftvbib,afcreed, aipn,cwband,flwpabib,wpapos,cmns,psbib,pin,coplandbib,cola,tccc,curt,mharendt,lhb cbbib,eaa,haybib,mesnbib,fine,cwnyhs,svybib,mmorse,afcwwgbib,mymhiwebib,uncall,af cwip,mtaft,manz,llstbib,fawbib,berl,fmuever,cdn,upboverbib,mussm,cic,afcpearl,awh ,awhbib,sgp,wright,lhbtnbib,afcesnbib,hurstonbib,mreynoldsbib,spaldingbib,sgproto ,scsmbib,afccalbib>.

__ Source Citation for Accomplishments: __
1. Magic Tricks. "Harry Houdini." //Magic Library//. Magic Tricks, Oct.-Nov. 2009. Web. 3 Mar. 2010. .

__ Source Citation for Social, Political and Economical Chart: __
1. Williams, Beryl, and Samuel Epstein. //The Great Houdini//. New York: Julian Messner, 1950. Print.

__Answers to Questionnaire__ 1. April 6, 1874 2. Elrich Weiss 3. Budapest,Hungary 4. Appleton, Wisconsin 5. Hindu Needle Trick, Challenge Act, Metamorphosis, Straitjacket escape, Walking through a Brick Wall, The Milk Can Escape and The Crate Escape 6. King of Cards and King of Handcuffs 7. $90 8. World War I, World War II and the start of the cold war 9. Beatrice Rahner 10. Your choice