Harry Houdini

By rkl085

  • Born

    Harry was born in Budapest, Hungary on March 24

  • Father dies

    Rabbi Weiss Harry's father dies at the age of 63.

  • married

    Houdini is married to Beatrice Rahner, and they make their own act together.

  • Moved to New York

    Harry and Beatricereturn to New York to live with his mother. After not having any shows, Harry is frustrated and considered leaving show business.

  • Big Break

    Houdini catches his big break. Theater manager Martin Beck sees his handcuff act in St. Paul and willpay him $60 a show.

  • Europe

    He went to Europe hoping to have much success there as he did in America.

  • london

    Performed mirror cuff escape at the hippodrome in London

  • Washington D.C.

    Houdini makes a widely publicized escape from the Washington, D.C. jail.

  • New York

    The first of Houdini’s Manacled Bridge Jumps is captured on film in Rochester, New York.

  • Box Escape

    Houdini performs his underwater box escape in New York's East River before a huge crowd. Scientific American magazine pronounces it "one of the most remarkable tricks ever performed."

  • Changes Name

    Houdini legally changes his name from Ehrich Weiss to Harry Houdini.

  • Cecilia Weiss

    Cecilia Weiss, mother of Harry Houdini dies.

  • Houdinize

    Dictionary includes the verb "houdinize," meaning to release or extricate oneself from (confinement, bonds, or the like), as by wriggling out.

  • Houdini Dies

    Houdini dies in Detroit on Halloween, from an appendicitis. Several days earlier, he had been in the stomach.

  • Funeral

    Houdini's funeral is held on November 4th at the Elks Clubhouse on West Forty-third Street in New York. He was buried with letters from his mother.