It was not by chance that the master magician
rose from the background of a poor Jewish immigrant from
Hungary, to that of an American millionaire magician. It was the
discovery and use of Houdini's own marketing techniques,
publicity techniques and a keen sense of what was newsworthy
that made his special art of Escapology grow into a valuable
product.
Houdini's marketing techniques combined a
flare of the dramatic with an ample dose of "chutzpah."
As with his illusions and escape artistry work, he seemed to
maintain little conscience for an exaggeration of the truth in
advertising and publicity. "What they don't know won't hurt
them" becomes "What they don't know I will tell them,
even if I have to fabricate it."
It is certainly the nature of illusionists to
deceive the public in the name of entertainment. Houdini,
however, went one step further in his deceptions as if it is the
nature of magicians to deceive the public in the name of
publicity.
In the book, Houdini: His Life Story by
Harold Kellock from the document and recollections of Beatrice
Houdini, his career is referred to as "the dream of an
inspired press agent." More often than not, the illusions
were more illusion than reality.
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Deception, Trick, or Illusion?
Perhaps he acquired this pretentious vein
from his parents. Even at birth his life became immediately
surrounded by half-truths. According to Houdini, he was an
American by birth. However, he was not born in Appleton,
Wisconsin as Houdini had been led to believe by his parents. He
didn't know the truth until later in life when he discovered
that his true birthplace was in fact Budapest Hungary. While on
tour in Hungary, he also discovered a distinct possibility
though never proven that the man whom he called father was in
fact only his stepfather, and that his mother had actually
remarried after his illegitimate birth. Maybe he could justify
the half-truths in his own legend because of the half-truths in
his own life. |
His daring conduct knew few bounds even early
in life. It could have been a boldfaced lie that let him get his
very first job as a necktie cutter. The story goes that the
young Houdini went to the factory in response to an
advertisement announcing a job opening. When he arrived there
were already ten young boys in line waiting. The brash young
Houdini walked to the front to the line, took down the sign
which advertised the opening and announced to all the boys, "I'm
sorry, but the position has been filled." Being the only
candidate for the job was no doubt a competitive advantage.
Although there is little solid evidence to substantiate this
story, it could have easily actually transpired considering
Houdini's later actions and reactions concerning his
entertainment competitors.
The young Houdini made his "show
business" debut in a neighborhood circus which he and a
friend staged. He billed himself as "Erich the Prince of
the Air." He probably did some sort of trapeze type act,
but later in life this too, became part of the "legend."
According to Houdini, he would hang upside down and pick up pins
with his eyelids as well as tie and untie knots with his toes.
It wasn't until he was sixteen that he discovered a magic book
called "The Memoirs of Robert Houdin." He and a friend
from the necktie factory developed their first magic show. At
first he was known as Eric the Great, but at the suggestion of
his friend, Jack Hyman, the two took on the name of Houdin, the
famous French magician whom the admired so much. The determined
that adding and "i" in French would mean that they
would be "like Houdin." It was thus that the "Brothers
Houdini" were born.
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