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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