He was given a Google Doodle for his 137th birthday yesterday, and so we'll check out some more stuff on the man.
Known as The Handcuff King, the Hungarian-born American magician, stunt performer, actor and film producer was famed for his daring escape acts. He was born Erik Weisz on 24th March, 1874 and died of peritonitis from a ruptured appendix on 31st October, 1926, aged 52. (Coincidentally, his doodle comes in the same week his last surviving stage assistant passed away at the age of 103).
The highest-paid performer in American vaudeville for most of his career, Houdini freed himself from straitjackets, handcuffs, chains, ropes and even jails, often while hanging from a rope as street audiences looked on. In each city, he would challenge local police to restrain him and put him in prison.
One of Houdini's most memorable non-escape stage illusions took place at the Hippodrome in New York when he made a full-grown elephant (with its trainer) disappear from a stage, beneath which was a swimming pool. Some more of his greatest tricks include:
Milk Can Escape
It takes a brave man to be handcuffed and sealed in a big milk can full of water, but the inimitable Houdini used to do just that – and escape. Even when the can was sealed inside a wooden chest.
It takes a brave man to be handcuffed and sealed in a big milk can full of water, but the inimitable Houdini used to do just that – and escape. Even when the can was sealed inside a wooden chest.
The act was advertised with dramatic posters that read 'Failure Means A Drowning Death'. He laughed in the face of failure, though.
Chinese Water Torture Cell
Or, as Houdini called it – The Upside Down. So named because the illusionist would be lowered down into a tank filled with water, upside down and with his feet locked in stocks, which were fixed to the ceiling. The audience could see him through the glass front of the cell. However, they never saw how he escaped, because he'd do that behind a curtain.
Or, as Houdini called it – The Upside Down. So named because the illusionist would be lowered down into a tank filled with water, upside down and with his feet locked in stocks, which were fixed to the ceiling. The audience could see him through the glass front of the cell. However, they never saw how he escaped, because he'd do that behind a curtain.
Suspended straitjacket escape
Being suspended upside down in a straitjacket, while hanging from a crane, was child's play for the master-wriggler. Watch the YouTube video below to see him amaze a huge crowd in New York by defeating the close-fitting coat.
Being suspended upside down in a straitjacket, while hanging from a crane, was child's play for the master-wriggler. Watch the YouTube video below to see him amaze a huge crowd in New York by defeating the close-fitting coat.
Crate stuff
Houdini loved soaking up the applause for his river-based crate escape. This involved him breaking free from a packing crate that was nailed shut and bound in rope. He first performed it in New York's East River in 1912. Oh, and he was handcuffed and in leg-irons, too. Surely there must have been easier ways to make a living!
Rope trick
Once again, Houdini escapes the seemingly inescapable after being completely bound up with rope.
Houdini loved soaking up the applause for his river-based crate escape. This involved him breaking free from a packing crate that was nailed shut and bound in rope. He first performed it in New York's East River in 1912. Oh, and he was handcuffed and in leg-irons, too. Surely there must have been easier ways to make a living!
Rope trick
Once again, Houdini escapes the seemingly inescapable after being completely bound up with rope.
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