Harry Houdini

Erik Weisz (1874–1926), known professionally as Harry Houdini, was an American escapologist, illusionist, and stunt performer noted for his escape acts and for exposing fraudulent spiritualists.

Key Relationships

Challenged By

• Organization Daily Mirror - In 1904, the London Daily Mirror challenged Houdini to escape from special handcuffs made by locksmith Nathaniel Hart... Official Document

Inspired By

• Person Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin - Houdini chose his professional name 'Harry Houdini' after reading French magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin's autobio... Official Document

Married To

• Person Wilhelmina Beatrice 'Bess' Rahner - Houdini married Wilhelmina Beatrice 'Bess' Rahner in 1894, and she became his stage assistant, replacing his brother ... Official Document

Collaborated With

• Person Theodore 'Dash' Weisz - Houdini's brother Theodore (who billed himself as Theodore Hardeen) was also an escape artist; they both performed st... Official Document

Performed With

• Person Theodore 'Dash' Weisz - In the early 1890s, Houdini performed with his brother Theodore 'Dash' as 'The Brothers Houdini', including at the Ch... Official Document

Represented By

• Person Martin Beck - Manager Martin Beck met Houdini in 1899, advised him to focus on escape acts, and booked him on the Orpheum vaudevill... Official Document

Met With

• Person William Melville - Houdini was introduced to William Melville at Scotland Yard in 1900 and demonstrated his escape from handcuffs, leadi... Official Document

Employed By

• Organization Society of American Magicians - Houdini served as president of the Society of American Magicians from 1917 until his death in 1926, leading its expan... Official Document
• Organization Martinka & Co. - Houdini became president of Martinka & Co., America's oldest magic company, in 1923. Official Document

Performed At

• Location Alhambra Theatre - After demonstrating his escape skills to Scotland Yard, Houdini was booked at the Alhambra Theatre in London for six ... Official Document

Performed

• Event Chinese Water Torture Cell - Houdini introduced the Chinese Water Torture Cell escape act on September 21, 1912, at the Circus Busch in Berlin, pe... Official Document

Published

• Document Conjurers' Monthly Magazine - Houdini created his own publication, the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, in 1906, which competed with The Sphinx but was... Official Document

Authored

• Document The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin - Houdini authored 'The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin' in 1908, attacking his former idol Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin as a f... Official Document

Interacted With

• Person Frank Parker - During the 1904 Daily Mirror challenge, Frank Parker refused to remove Houdini's handcuffs, prompting Houdini to cut ... Official Document

Purchased From

• Person Charles Morritt - Houdini purchased a trick to vanish a full-grown elephant from magician Charles Morritt, which he performed at the Ne... Official Document

Source Documents & Evidence