Interesting Harry Houdini Facts and Trivia from the Houdini Museum in the Scranton Pocono region.

Harry Houdini's real name:: Eric Weiss
The love of Harry Houdini's life:: He married 17 year old Beatrice Rahner at the age of 19. They stayed together and traveled the world until Harry Houdini's untimely death at the age of 52.
Harry Houdini's most impressive character trait:: Loyalty to those around him and those who helped him. Houdini had only one agent in the United States and one in Europe his entire career. Harry Houdini allowed his younger brother to do the same act in competition with himself. Harry Houdini took off a year during World War One to promote the war effort and taught soldiers how to get out of handcuffs. Harry Houdini took care of many in the family including his mother. Harry Houdini promoted magic all over the world encouraging magicians to join the then small Society of American Magicians everywhere he traveled. Harry Houdini was the organizations President for 10 years until he died, left a substantial sum in his will for the organization, and the crest of the Society of Americans is boldly engraved on Houdini's grave site.
Harry Houdini's littlest known accomplishments:: Harry Houdini was a pioneer pilot. Harry Houdini was given an award for being the first to fly a plane in Australia. Houdini also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his film career. It is in a prominent spot in front of the famous Chinese Theater.
Houdini's education:: Harry Houdini left home at the age of 12 to seek his fortune. A self taught genius who wrote many best sellers, wrote his publicity and many movie scripts. Harry Houdini had a huge library that he gave to the Library of Congress and the University of Texas after he died. Harry Houdini did not keep it for personal gain.
Harry Houdini's dislikes:: Harry Houdini had great disdain for those that used his art of trickery, to cheat people. Harry Houdini exposed frauds and cheats everywhere he traveled and because of this had many threats on his life. Harry Houdini exposed phoney spiritualists and gambling cheats throughout his long career. Harry Houdini loved magicians but disliked those who copied the challenge escape that was his invention.
Biggest misconceptions by the public about Houdini:: That Harry Houdini ever believed in any kind of mysticism, that Harry Houdini died in an escape and that he did not like magicians. Harry Houdini did not, however, like those who copied his challenge escape act, which was his own invention. Another misconception is that Harry Houdini was overly obsessed with his mother, mostly due to the Hollywood biography having him retire when his mother dies, hearing her voice under water, etc. Harry Houdini was independent man who ran away from home at 12, and married at 19, left his mother behind and traveled the world with his wife till he died. Harry Houdini did, however, love his mother deeply and was shaken by her death.
Harry Houdini's favorite quote:: The best escape I ever did was the day I left Appleton! We also have several books with the following inscription, 'My brain is the key that sets me free.'

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Address: 1433 N. Main Ave., Scranton, Pennsylvania (PA), 18508

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