The Houdini Family

Houdini was born Erich Weiss on March 24, 1874. Though he claimed throughout his life that Appleton, Wisconsin was his birthplace, he was really born in Budapest, Hungary. He was four years old when his family moved to America.

He had four brothers (Theodore, Leopold, Nathan and William) and a sister, Carrie. Heading the family were Samuel and Cecilia, Houdini's mother and father.

Houdini Family Scandal

Houdini's family had its share of conflicts. Not only was Houdini's childhood spent in poverty, but the individual family members seemed often to be at odds with each other. Consequently, permanent animosity arose when brother Nathan's wife Sadie divorced him and, within two weeks, married brother Leopold. Houdini himself caused friction in his Jewish family when he married Bess (Wilhelmina Rahner), who was Catholic. This choice would have consequences after Houdini's death: though he stipulated in his will that he wanted Bess buried beside him, the Machpelah cemetery would not allow the interment of someone outside the Jewish faith. Bess, who passed away aboard a passenger train traveling cross-country between Los Angeles and New York, instead is buried in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery (Hawthorne, NY), near Babe Ruth, Jimmy Cagney, Sal Mineo and Dutch Schultz.

Houdini's Traits

Houdini was small, standing a mere 5'5", with dark, wavy hair, dark gray eyes and a high-pitched voice. Like many people in his day (especially those from immigrant families), Houdini was poorly educated. He was, however, extremely athletic and highly motivated to succeed.

Houdini allowed his brother Leopold, New York's first X-ray specialist, to X-ray him frequently. Most likely this caused sterilization; Houdini had no children.

According to an autobiographical pamphlet published by the magician in 1920, Houdini said that his favorite place was Hollywood, California and that his favorite song was Auld Lang Syne (the traditional New Year's Eve tune). Houdini's motto? "And this, too, shall pass away".

Houdini's Interest in Magic

Houdini became fascinated with magic after seeing Dr. Lynn, a traveling magician, as a young boy. He did not, as legend has it, run away with a circus, nor was he an apprentice to a locksmith. In reality, he turned to magic at age 17 as an alternative to factory work. He teamed up with Jack Hayman, a fellow magic enthusiast, to form the Houdini Brothers. (The name "Houdini" was used in tribute to Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, the most famous magician of the era). The team's specialty was the Crate Escape. When Hayman became bored, Houdini's brother Theodore (later known as Hardeen) became his partner. Shortly, Hardeen was replaced by Bess Rahner, the woman who became Houdini's partner both in the act and in his life.

Houdini's Career

Surprising as it may seem, Houdini was not an instant success. For the first five years, he tried every type of magic, from card manipulations (billed as the "King of Cards") to illusions and run-of-the-mill box escapes. In 1896, ready to give up, he actually ran a newspaper ad offering to sell all of his magic and secrets for $20. There were no takers.

His one big success was the Needle Trick, a grisly effect involving the swallowing of dozens of needles and thread, then the regurgitation of the thread with all the needles neatly threaded on. This effect would be a cornerstone of his act throughout his life.

By 1898, Houdini had come up with the Challenge Act, the act that would make him a legend. As the Handcuff King, Houdini would escape from any pair of handcuffs produced by the audience. Generally, this act was well received. By 1904, Houdini was forced to make some modifications in the act, due to repeated attempts by various police officers who tried to spoil his routine by secretly jamming the cuffs offered.

Until the success of the Challenge Act, Houdini had even resorted to posing as a "spirit medium", gathering information from cemeteries and town clerks before shows to make his "messages" more convincing.

The Challenge Act was the turning point for Houdini. With its success came the development of the spectacular escapes that would make Houdini a legend.