Who Was Houdini?

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Do you like to perform magic tricks for friends or family? You may have read about Harry Houdini, a famous illusionist from the early 20th century. Houdini’s acts involved escaping — from prison cells, handcuffs, straitjackets and even wooden crates thrown into deep waters. Harry Houdini died on Halloween in 1926, 90 years ago. This week, The Mini Page learns more about this legendary escape artist.

Early life Harry was born in 1874 in Budapest, Hungary. His birth name was Erik Weisz. When his family came to America in 1878, Erik’s name was changed to Ehrich Weiss. His father was a Jewish rabbi, and his family settled for a time in Appleton, Wisconsin. Later they moved to Milwaukee and New York City, but times were hard for the Weisses. Harry knew he had to help out. He worked as a messenger boy and in a necktie factory. After reading about a famous French magician, Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, Harry decided to start a magic act. He called himself Harry Houdini, the King of Cards, as a tribute to Robert-Houdin.

Escape tricks Harry brought his brother Dash into his act, and together they performed a trick called Metamorphosis. In it, Harry would bind Dash’s

hands and tie him inside a canvas sack. Then he would place Dash inside a large trunk that was locked and tied with ropes. A curtain was pulled around the trunk, and when it was pulled away just seconds later, Dash was standing next to it. Harry was inside the trunk and the tied sack with his hands bound — right where Dash had been!

A new partner Harry fell in love with an entertainer named Bess Rahner, and they quickly married. While Dash went on to start his own act, Bess became Harry’s partner. One night, a businessman saw Houdini’s act and offered him and Bess a job in California. They improved their act and focused on Harry’s ability to escape from containers and handcuffs. People were invited to bring their own handcuffs and shackles, or leg irons, and challenge Houdini to escape them. He and Bess took their successful act to Europe, where Harry would challenge each local police chief to lock him up. Harry escaped every time!

Jumping into danger When he returned to America, Harry knew he had to make his act even more daring. He trained himself to hold his breath for three minutes and to withstand cold temperatures. Then he tried his fi rst bridge

escape, jumping into the Detroit River in November 1906 with handcuffs and chains weighing him down. Harry was back at the surface in no time. Thousands of people came to watch him perform. Harry continued to make his acts more and more dangerous. He had himself lowered into a glass box full of water and wedged himself into a metal milk can fi lled with water. He always escaped.

Harry’s last act Over the years, Harry had often bragged that he could take any punch to the stomach, no matter how hard. One evening in Montreal, a young man took the challenge and hit him three times. The next day, doctors discovered that Harry’s appendix had burst, and he died on Halloween from the infection that followed.

Words that remind us of Houdini are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can fi nd:

Teachers:For standards-based activities toaccompany this feature, visit:bbs.amuniversal.com/teaching_guides.html

On the Web:• thegreatharryhoudini.com

At the library:• “Harry Houdini: A Magical Life” by

Elizabeth MacLeod• “The Houdini Box” by Brian Selznick

For later:Look in your newspaper for ads for magic or other entertaining shows.

Mini Jokes

Elizabeth: What kind of tea do queens like to drink?

Edward: Royaltea!

Victoria: What is a queen’s favorite butterfl y?

George: A monarch!

Try ’n’ Find

You’ll need:• 1 (16-ounce) bag shredded cabbage

(coleslaw mix)• 1 (8-ounce) can pineapple tidbits or

rings, cut into cubes (reserve juice)• 1 medium apple, cut into cubes• 1 cup chopped celery

• 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins

• 1 cup light mayonnaise

• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

• 3 tablespoons reserved pineapple juice

Cook’s CornerTriple Fruit Coleslaw

Unscramble the words below that remind us of magic.

lsioiuln

riktc

pasiadepr

edacneiu

Answers: illusion, trick, disappear, audience.

Puzzling

All plants and animals need each other. Plants make the oxygen that people and animals breathe; people and animals exhale the carbon dioxide that plants need to live. Plants also reduce air pollution. If every person in the U.S. planted a couple of seeds, there would be more than 300 million more plants, and Earth would be healthier!

Eco Note

The Mini Page® © 2016 Universal Uclick

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Founded by Betty DebnamIssue 44, 2016

ACT, BESS, BROTHER, BUDAPEST, DANGER, ESCAPE, EUROPE, HANDCUFFS, HARRY, HOUDINI, ILLUSIONIST, LOCK, MAGIC, METAMORPHOSIS, PRISON, SHACKLES, TRUNK, WATER, WISCONSIN.

adapted with permission from “The New 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth” by The Earthworks Group, Andrews McMeel Publishing (andrewsmcmeel.com)

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What to do:1. Combine coleslaw mix, pineapple, apple, celery and dried cranberries or raisins in a

large bowl. Mix well.2. In a smaller bowl, blend light mayonnaise, cider vinegar and pineapple juice.3. Add mayonnaise mixture to cabbage mixture and toss gently until well-mixed.4. Cover and chill for several hours. Serves 8 to 10.

C I L L U S I O N I S T E Y Q H N C O R J E B E W H S R R S M O P C T E U L F H C C E M F C S U K K D G E K A K H T B F I I Y D A N L N P C T J A E U G R W P I X U E A O A C W S C A P E A L N Z R R D R H D S D M S T C A F I B T J M U S S N T S I S O H P R O M A T E M A Y R R A H N I S N O C S I W H

Harry prepares to jump into the Charles River in Boston in April 1908. He is wearing handcuffs and chains.

Harry Houdini around 1913.

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