Houdini goes to war (Part 1)
On 31 October 1926, Harry Houdini died in Detroit, aged 52. A century later, he remains one of magic's most recognisable figures. To mark the centenary of his death, Magic at War is stepping briefly beyond its usual Second World War focus to explore his connections with the First. In this two-part article, we examine Houdini's encounters with the military, his efforts to prepare American soldiers for war, and the ways he put his remarkable talents and celebrity to work for the Allied cause. His story even has a Second World War postscript. Harry Houdini, 1913 (Source: Campbell-Gray Ltd, ChatGPT colourised) The escapologist and the soldiers In February 1918, American soldiers preparing for war in Europe were offered an unusual form of military instruction. At the New York Hippodrome, a room had been set aside where Harry Houdini, the world's most famous escapologist, would teach men in uniform how to free themselves from handcuffs, ropes and other restraints. Officers could ...