LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Harry Houdini: Acts
built 648 days ago
As "Mysterious Harry and La Petit Bessie, " the Houdinis played dime museums, medicine shows, and music halls, eventually working their way up to small billing at larger theaters. At one point, the couple toured with a circus. When escape tricks and magic didn't pan out, the pair billed themselves as a comedy act, cribbing old jokes from magazines, as Brandon noted in her book.
Source:
Houdini's escape techniques were unique and brilliant and the public adored him. In 1919, he entered the world of silent films, becoming one of Hollywood's first action heroes. During the 1920s, Harry Houdini drifted into the world of spiritualism and at this time, met and befriended English author, Arthur Conan Doyle
Houdini initially focused on birds and other traditional bird acts. At one point he billed himself as the King of Birds. One of his most notable non-escape stage illusions was performed in London's hippodrome: he vanished a full-grown elephant (with its trainer) from a stage, beneath which was a swimming pool.
Source:
Houdini soon began to experiment more with escape acts. His big break came in 1899, when he met showman Martin Beck. Impressed by Houdini's handcuff act, Beck advised him to concentrate on escape acts and booked him on the Orpheum vaudeville circuit.
Source:
Impressed by Houdini's handcuffs act, Martin Beck advised him to concentrate on escape acts and booked him on the Orpheum vaudeville circuit. Within months, he was performing at the top vaudeville houses in the country. In 1900, Houdini traveled to Europe to perform. By the time he returned in 1904, Houdini had become a sensation.
Source:
During a visit to a psychiatrist friend in Nova Scotia in 1896, Houdini saw his first strait jacket. Rather than be shocked by it, he was inspired to create an act around escaping from it. And Houdini didn't just escape from a strait jacket- he did it hanging upside down from his ankles, suspended yards above the ground.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Acts