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ColtonRaelund Regular user COLTON ZOROASTER RAELUND 116 Posts |
It has burned me up for a long time that Houdini's correct birthday and birthplace are almost never published. Even in many magic books the false "April 6th Appleton WI" is very common. In reality he was born March 24th in Budapest Hungary. The records were "politely changed" during his work for the secret service. I hope this will enlighten a few people, but many magicians may already know this.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Jay Marshall, Sid Radner and I were sitting together at a HOUDINI CLUB ANNUAL CONVENTION, a "few" years ago. (Sid owned "a whole bunch" of Houdini's props.) We discussed a lot of "stuff" about Houdini's life. We may never know some of the details of his early life!
I had the good fortune to know Werner Dornfeld ("DORNY") in his later years. We spent many evenings at "Zum Deutchen Eck" in Chicago,and, over a bratwurst and, a bottle of wine, we discussed many things, including some of the "stories" about Houdini. Dorny knew Houdini, and had even "backed Houdini down" at a magic club annual show in Chicago in the late '20s. Appleton Wisconsin finally realized Houdini's importance. There is now a "Houdini Elementary School" in Appleton. Also, there is a Houdini Museum.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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John Cox Elite user Studio City, CA 494 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 12, 2016, ColtonRaelund wrote: Every year on April 6 the AP posts an old "this day in history" video saying it's Houdini birthday. Doesn't really burn me up. More makes me crack up. You really don't see the April 6 date much these days unless you are looking at older (pre 1970) magic books. Here's are a few posts on the topic you might find interesting: Re the birthdays... http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2011/04/re-birthdays.html Houdini's greatest secret: http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2014/06/......ret.html |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hello John!
Since I live about a hundred miles from Appleton, Wisconsin, and, knew a few who had known Houdini personally, I've always had interest in his "story". I've known about his actual birthplace since the SAM article, but, found the reason for Ernst's concern for maintaining the Appleton birth, most interesting! Thanks for providing the information.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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