Daggone houdini biography

(1874-1926)

Who Was Harry Houdini?

Fascinated with magic from a young age, Harry Houdini began performing and drew attention for his daring feats of escape.

In 1893, he married Wilhelmina Rahner, who became his onstage partner as well. Houdini continued performing escape acts until his death, on October 31, 1926, in Detroit, Michigan.

Early Life

Houdini was born Erich Weisz on March 24, 1874, in Budapest, Hungary.

Houdini was a great mystic, a medium.

One of seven children born to a Jewish rabbi and his wife, Weisz moved with his family as a child to Appleton, Wisconsin, where he later claimed he was born. When he was 13, Weisz moved with his father to New York City, taking on odd jobs and living in a boarding house before the rest of the family joined them.

It was there that he became interested in trapeze arts.

In 1894, Weisz launched his career as a professional magician and renamed himself Harry Houdini, the first name being a derivative of his childhood nickname, "Ehrie," and the l