Harry+Houdini

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Birth:Harry was born on March 24, 1874 in Budapest, Hungary and died Halloween October 31 at age 52

Education: none because he ran away from home at age 12, but was aught a little by his father, Rabbi Dr. Mayer Samuel Wiess

Influences: When Harry ran away from home he was 12 years old following the circus. He was an acrobat called "Ehrich, The Prince of Air". Jean Robert Houdin was the most influential on Harry because at age 15 he read an autobiography on the french magician. Houdini added the letter "i" to Houdin because the letter "i" meant "like".

Profession: At First Harry was a trapeze performer and then became a magician. As a magician he made 12 dollars a week for around 20 shows a day. When Harry was performing at Coney Island, an amusement park, when he met an 18 year old dancer named Wilhemina Beatrice Rahner who was part of the Floral-Sisters. Harry was an escape artist as well. He escaped from over 50 feet of rope tied to a chair. Harry tried out for the U.S Olympic team and didn't make it. He also was the first person to pilot an airplane in Australia.

Achievements: Harry was known as the king on handcuffs and the king of cards and would give 100 dollars to any person who made handcuffs he couldn't break out of. Harry escaped from numerous amount of jail cells. Most people didn't know that he took baths in ice water. He also had a patent on a diving suit. This year on Halloween will be the 82nd anniversary of Houdini's death. His most famous illusions were: The suspended strait jacket escape, Milk can escape, and Chinese water torture cell escape.

Quotes: Harry Houdini had 17 different quotes that he used quite frequently. His first recorded quote was"but it must not be thought that I say this out of personal experience: for in the many years that I have been befroe the public my secret methods have been steadily shielded by the strict integrity of my assistants, most of whom have been with me for years." another famous quote from harry explaining the importance of loyalty and secressy of his assistants was "But thyen, so far as I know, I am the only performer who ever pledged his assistants to secressy, honor, and allegiance under a notorial oath." Houdini was know for his love of his assistants and was said to have treated them as if the were his family.

Comparison: Harry Houdini is compared to many magicians and escape artist today. Harry is most compared to David Blane, a famous escape and illusion expert that shared many similar tricks. He is also said to be compared to Chris Angel. Chris Angel's appearance and variety of tricks differ from Harry's but is said to be the only other person in the world like Harry Houdini who was buried completly alive and escaped. David Blane is said to have an appearance like Harry in the way he dresses and the way he looks and acts. Harry and Blane both share a love of fire.