Harry Houdini

Houdini

Harry Houdini is, was, and will always be, the most skilled escape artist. I consider him to be great because he could do splendid tricks many could not do. He could do the Needle Trick, which consisted in swallowing a dozen needles and thread, then the regurgitating the thread with all the needles neatly on it. He could also do the Challenge Act, the trick that made him a legend, in which he would escape from any pair of handcuff produced by the audience. He was extraordinary.

He was born on March 24, 1874, in Budapest, Hungary. In 1878, his family moved to the U.S., and his name was changed to Ehrich Weiss, but he was called “Ehrie” or “Harry” by his friends. In 1891, he became a professional magician, and called himself Harry Houdini. Then, Harry met the showman Martin Beck. Beck convinced Harry to become an escape act artist. From 1904 to 1910, Houdini performed successfully in the U.S. In 1919, he became president of America’s oldest magic company.

Houdini's last performance was at the Garrick Theatre in Detroit, Michigan, on October 24, 1926. He died on a Halloween night on 1926, but he’ll always be the greatest magician ever.