During the early twentieth century, Harry Houdini was the world's most celebrated illusionist and escape artist. He won world renown performing death-defying stunts that captured media attention and the imaginations of his audiences.

Houdini was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1874; his birth name was Erich (or Ehrich) Weiss. His family came to America in 1878. He first became intrigued by trickery and illusion while a teenager and renamed himself after famed French magician Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin (1805–1871). Determined to forge a career as a magician, he labored for several years in obscurity before winning national acclaim in vaudeville (see entry under 1900s—Film and Theater in volume 1) and, then, international acclaim upon performing in England.

Houdini started out executing simple magic tricks but eventually developed and perfected the escape acts that won him notoriety. In these acts, he would free himself from straitjackets, prison cells, packing...