2. Harry Houdini (his stage name) was born in Budapest in1874. He grew
up Jewish and his father was a Rabbi. He was not only a magician but
also an illusionist and stunt performer. His favorite trick was doing
escape acts. When he was 9 years old he was a trapeze artist.
He challenged police to keep him locked up, and handcuffed allowing
him to become a master at escaping. He published a book, The
Unmasking of Robert Houdin. His magic career began in 1891 and he
worked up to performing escape acts. His wife,Bess, worked with him
as his assistant. His later tricks involved Chinese water torture cell and
buried alive trick.
His last performance was that of being strapped in a straightjacket,
sealed in a casket and then buried in a large tank filled with sand and
once again he escaped.
He did have an agreement with his wife that after he died, he would
communicate with her by the message, "Rosabelle believe".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Houdini
