By: Malachi D.

HARRY HOUDINI

WHERE DID HOUDINI GROW UP?Harry Houdini was born in Appleton, WI, in 1874.

WHAT WAS HOUDINI’S REAL NAME?His real name was Erik Weiss, but he changed his name to Harry Houdini in honor

of his favorite magician, Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin (pronounced John-U-jean Robert-WHO-deen).

WHAT WERE SOME OF HOUDINI’S MOST FAMOUS ESCAPES?I. The Underwater Handcuff Release, performed in 1907

II. The Water Torture Cell, performed in 1912

III. The Suspended Straitjacket, performed in 1915

IV. The Milk Can Escape, performed in 1908

V. The Metamorphosis, performed in 1894

WHAT IS THE UNDERWATER HANDCUFF RELEASE?

In the Underwater Handcuff Release, Harry Houdini is chained up with his hands cuffed behind his back. He jumps off the bridge he is on and plunges into the Fox River. One minute later, He comes to the surface with his hands free.

WHAT IS THE WATER TORTURE CELL?

In the Water Torture Cell, Houdini is hung up by his feet. Then, he is lowered into the water-filled cell. When he is inside, his assistants lock him inside and close the curtain. Minutes later, the curtain opens and Houdini is standing in front of the cell.

WHAT IS THE SUSPENDED STRAITJACKET? In the Suspended Straitjacket, Houdini is hung by his feet from at least 500 ft.

while laced in a straitjacket. He twists and turns, and seconds later, he is out of the straitjacket.

WHAT IS THE MILK CAN ESCAPE?

In The Milk Can Escape, Houdini is locked into a water- filled milk can .The curtain closes. Two minutes later, the curtain opens and Houdini is standing there.

WHAT IS THE METAMORPHOSIS?In the Metamorphosis, Houdini is handcuffed and put into a trunk. His wife, Bess,

closes the curtain. Exactly three seconds later, the curtains open and Houdini is standing in front of the trunk, and Bess is inside, wearing the handcuffs Houdini wore.

WHEN DID HOUDINI DIE?Houdini sadly died on Halloween night in 1926, but it didn’t happen during one of

his great escapes. He was performing with a fractured ankle and appendicitis.

BornErik Weiss(1874-03-24)March 24, 1874Budapest, Austria-Hungary

DiedOctober 31, 1926(1926-10-31) (aged 52)Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

OccupationIllusionist, magician, escapologist, stunt performer, actor, historian, film producer, pilot, debunker

Years active 1891–1926

Signature

"My Two Sweethearts"—Houdini with his mother and wife, c. 1907

Houdini as a magician

Houdini’s early years

Houdini’s grave in Queens, NY

Houdini’s grave marker

BIBLIOGRAPHY• Houdini: World’s Greatest Mystery Man and Escape King, by Kathleen Krull

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Houdini