Today is Harry Houdini’s birthday. If you do not know who Houdini is, he was a famous magician back in the late 1800’s. Although his tricks are not spectacular by today’s standards, he was considered extraordinary during his time. Here are a few interesting facts about one of the most famous magicians!!
Harry Houdini was his stage name. His real name was Erik Weisz and he was born in Hungary in March 1874.
Houdini claimed on several occasions to have been born in Appleton, Wisconsin, in the United States, and not Budapest, Hungary as his birth record indicates.
To honor Houdini’s trade, the U.S. Postal Service put a hidden image on their 2002 commemorative stamp. With a special viewing lens that could be obtained from the post office (no longer available), one could see the image of Houdini wrapped in chains.
Houdini was not only famous for his magic tricks, but he was also a published author and a famous actor.
Houdini was thought to be able to hold his breath long enough so he could unlock shackles around his feet and unlock hand cuffs around his hands while in a water cell and then unlock the top of the water cell so he could escape. Kristen Johnson the top woman escape artist is the only person to do this besides Houdini. Houdini was thought to do it close to 1,000 times but Kristen is getting close to breaking that record with about 867 or something like that. Pretty interesting huh!!
