Houdini returned to the United States, determined to become an even bigger star in the country he loved. Houdini had so much work in Europe that he summoned his brother Theo to work there under the name Hardeen. Houdini created a sensation in London, England and went on to travel throughout Europe for five years as a headliner. After some success in the United States Houdini decided to go to Europe in the year 1900. Houdini soon began to headline in several theaters throughout the country. He immediately placed Houdini in big time vaudeville as a supporting act. Martin Beck, Vaudeville’s most important booking agent caught Houdini’s act in 1899 and was impressed with his dynamic personality and booked him as a “challenge escape artist.” Martin Beck booked the Orpheum circuit, the largest chain of vaudeville theaters in the country and booked all of the stars of vaudeville. To help draw crowds and sell tickets, Houdini would do escape challenges, often at police stations with newspaper reporters present, assuring a headline story. For Houdini’s underwater stunts, Houdini would practice holding his breath in the bathtub for up to four minutes. Houdini spent many hours studying, practicing and conditioning. Some of Houdini’s escapes, such as the Straight Jacket or being tied with a hundred feet of rope, Houdini would do in full view of the audience. Houdini escaped from handcuffs, leg irons, straight jackets, jails and prison cells, a mail pouch, packing crates, a giant paper bag (without tearing the paper), a giant football, an iron boiler, milk cans, coffins, and the famous Water Torture Cell. Houdini began offering rewards to anyone who could successfully restrain him, first in handcuffs and later in all manner of objects. Bess took Theo’s place in the act that would now be called “The Houdini’s”. Bess, as she was called, worked and traveled with Houdini. After knowing each other only two weeks they were married in the month of July. They were working Coney Island at the time. In 1894, Houdini met Wilhelmina Beatrice Rahner, who was singing and dancing as part of the Floral Sisters. Their first performances included shows at amusement parks, beer halls, “dime museums,” and at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. Together with his brother Theo, they tried to succeed as the Houdini Brothers. Soon Houdini’s younger brother Theo took the place of the boy from the factory. They called themselves the Houdini Brothers. Houdini performed with another young man who worked with him in the factory in New York. Soon Houdini began experimenting with hand cuffs and using them in his acts. Houdini’s first magic shows consisted of card tricks and other simple magic. Influenced by what he read and learned about the internationally known magician Robert Houdin, young Ehrich changed his name to Houdini, hoping to be in some way like his new found mentor. Ehrich acquired the name Houdini from a book he read, “The Memoirs of Robert-Houdin,” the autobiography of one of the greatest magicians of the day. Houdini began performing magic as a teenager first calling himself Eric the Great. In New York, Houdini worked as a messenger and as a cutter in a garment center sweat shop, to help support his family. The family moved to New York in the hope of finding a better life there. Finally he joined up with his father in New York City. Young Ehrich traveled the country for about a year, always sending money home when he could. At the age of 12, young Ehrich left home to make his way in the world in an attempt to help support his family. From the age of eight young Ehrich Weiss sold newspapers and worked as a shoe shine boy. His parents spoke little English, and the family was quite poor so most of the children began to work at an early age. His mother’s name was Cecilia Steiner Weiss. To this day many connected with the small town of Appleton still claim the untruth that Houdini was born there strictly to attract tourists. Although Houdini often claimed to be born in Appleton, Wisconsin, Houdini actually came to the United States when he was four years old. The performer known worldwide as Harry Houdini was born on Main Budapest.
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