Term Papers on The Unmasking Of Harry Houdini

Term Paper Title	The Unmasking Of Harry Houdini
# of Words	876
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	3.5

The Unmasking of Harry Houdini

     Entertainment is a major part of our lives today.  Most everything we do has some
sort of entertaining value to it.  One of the most enjoyable activities that has been around
for nearly one-hundred years is the art of magic.  Magic has been performed all over the
world and won't be declining any time soon.  One of the greatest magicians of all time is
Harry Houdini born Erich (Ehrich) Weiss.
     According to the The New Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, Weiss was born in
Budapest, Hungary on March 24, 1874.  However it also states that Weiss claims to have
been born in Appleton, Wisconsin, on April 6, 1874.  Weiss grew up in Appleton, Wis.,
with his five brothers and parents.  His father was a Rabbi born in Budapest.  Weiss had
been born a natural entertainer.  At the young age of nine he began going to the circus and
watching the different acts.  Most people think of Houdini as an escape artist, but in his
early years he excelled at many talents.  Lace Kendall tells that he began as a tightrope
walker.  "Erich walked out onto the tightrope.  Nimbly, he went through his performance.
As he bowed and then went from the tent he felt his heart would burst with joy as he heard
the applause.  He was a real professional"  (20).
     Weiss learned his talent of unlocking doors, safes, and cabinets early also.  Kendall
says that Weiss's mother would lock sweets up in a cupboard.  This didn't do any good,
because he could unlock them all at the age of nine.  If Weiss didn't succeed at magic he
could always go in to bank robbery.
     When Erich was twelve years old, he ran away to New York so he could make a
living.  This is where he acquired the name of Houdini.  He often bought books and props
to further his knowledge of magic.  He read of the famous French magician Robert-
Houdin.  Kendall tells the story of how he gets his name.  "He was a Frenchman, you said.
When you add an 'i' to a word in French it means 'like.'  If you added an 'i' to the name
'Houdin' it would mean like Houdin.  Houdini"  (60).
     Houdini's family moved to New York shortly after Houdini had.  Once in New
York Houdini's brother Theo began to help in the acts. They were called the Houdini
Brothers.  This however didn't last long.  It was then he met a lady during one of his acts.
He spilled acid on her dress during an illusion.  He replaced the dress and found his wife-
to-be too  (Kendall 71).  He married Wilhelmina Rahner who later changed her name to
Beatrice Houdini.  She became Houdini's assistant.
     The most frequent question asked about Houdini is how he died, even I was
misinformed.  Before I re...

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