M Magazine / 18 The History Museum at the Castle features exhibits about magician Houdini. His publicity stunts evolved from jail cell escapes to manacled bridge Escaping after being submersed jumps to suspended upside down in water was one of straitjacket Houdini’s tricks. “Other people could perform magic tricks but not the way he did, not getting the attention that Houdini did.” Billing himself up as a “superman,” Houdini created escapes that were increasingly more dangerous and shocking. “He was an expert at promotion, at getting publicity,” Voigt said.
WORLD FAMOUS SUPERSTAR By the age of 35, Houdini was a superstar, one of the most sought-after entertainers of his time. However, a top vaudeville booking agent named Martin Beck saw Houdini performing handcuff escapes in a beer hall and suggested that the magician concentrate more on escape and less on little tricks. With his career going nowhere, Houdini told his wife he was about ready to throw up his hands as an entertainer and become a locksmith. Two weeks later, Wilhelmina Beatrice “Bess” Rahner and Houdini were married. While working at Coney Island in June 1894, Houdini met an 18-year-old woman who was singing and dancing as part of the Floral Sisters. He legally changed his name to Harry Houdini in 1913. When his friend dropped out, Houdini continued on by himself and with his brother. “Houdini and his brothers went to work to help pay the bills, instead of going to school… When their father died in 1892 of cancer, the teenager vowed to take care of his family.” Dabbling in magic tricks, Houdini and a teenage friend worked up an act, calling themselves the Houdini Brothers after their idol, French magician Jean Robert-Houdin.
“The family lived in poverty,” Voigt said. After four years, Houdini’s father lost his job as rabbi – some say because he could not speak English well – and the family moved to Milwaukee and then to New York City in search of work. Houdini later said he first performed as a tight rope walker called “The Prince of the Air” for a neighborhood children’s circus. The story goes that young Ehrich was a master at picking locks.
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