Project 3 - Houdini

There is no question that Houdini is the most famous magician in history. His name is synonymous with escapes; his ability to get out of seemingly impossible situations- and his knack for publicizing these events- made him a legend in his own time. The Houdini myth is about to be examined, and truth really is stranger than fiction.

Harry Houdini, born Ehrich Weisz in Budapest, Hungary 1874, was one of the seminal entertainers of the 20th century. He understood at an early age that the key to captivating an audience lay in telling a story, in getting them to identify with the little man who defied all odds, and take them on an exciting journey with unknown outcome.

Through all his many performances this was his hallmark: the excitement, the uncertainty, the magic of the moment. In this, he was so successful that his name lives on long after his death as a trademark for the nigh-impossible.
Houdini died of complications following a ruptured appendix on Halloween, the 31st of October 1926. Behind him he left a long and illustrious career.

He made a fortune as a prominent vaudeville performer. He was a pioneer in many technical fields and became the first person to pilot a plane over Australia. He was a prolific writer and produced tons of articles and books. He devoted a large part of his life to the debunking of charlatans, fake mediums and self-professed paranormals. He made a brief foray into the world of motion pictures and starred in a series of movies, where he also performed his own - often very dangerous - stunts. In 1921 he even founded his own studio, The Houdini Picture Corporation.

All his life, Houdini overcompensated for his lack of formal education and built up a formidable collection of literature, mainly on the subject of illusionism.

Before passing on, Houdini promised his wife Bess that he would try to contact her from "the other side". They agreed that Bess would hold a seance on the anniversary of his death during a ten year period and try to establish contact, but despite many serious efforts the escapist was never again heard from. Or so it would seem...