File:Houdinis.jpg

Public Domain Title: Photograph of a Houdini poster, about 1895. Date: [not after 1993] Description: 1 photograph : gelatin silver ; 11 x 8 cm. Copyright status: This work is out of copyright Terms of use: No copyright restrictions apply. Cite as: Cite as: W. G. Alma conjuring collection. Photographs. Identifier(s): Accession no: P.325/NO.107 Subjects: Houdini, Harry, 1874-1926 -- Posters; Houdini, Beatrice, 1876-1943; Escape artists -- United States; Gelatin silver prints; Portrait photographs Index terms: Harry Houdini; escape artists; magicians; posters; United States Notes: Photographic print of a poster, original date 1895. Photographic print undated, but not later than 1993, the year Will Alma died. Many of these images are photographic copies made by Will Alma from original images in newspapers, magazines or publicity so the quality is variable. Title taken from accompanying material. Original date taken from accompanying material. Magician and escape artist, Harry Houdini was born as Ehrich Weisz in Budapest, Hungary on March 24, 1874. His interest in magic was raised after his father took him to see Dr. Lynn, a traveling magician. After happening upon a book entitled "The Memoirs of Robert-Houdin, Ambassador, Author, and Conjuror, Written by Himself.", Houdini added an "i" to his name and assumed the name that would go down in history. Houdini was soon escaping from numerous devices, including leg irons, coffins, straitjackets, and prison cells. Unliked other magicians, Houdini began to make his escapes in full view of the audience, increasing the drama. Harry Houdini died from peritonitis on October 31 1926. William George Alma (1904 - 1993) was a magician, collector and manufacturer of magic apparatus. Contents / Summary: Shows portrait sketches of Houdini and his wife. Printed above and below image: Harry /The Houdinis / Bessie. / Introducing / The Only and Original / Metamorphosis / change in 3 seconds! Source / Donor: Gift; W. G. Alma; 1993] Series / Collection: W. G. Alma conjuring collection. Photographs Link to online item: http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/332102 Link to this record: http://search.slv.vic.gov.au/MAIN:Everything:SLV_VOYAGER1188353