Our record for website visits has been smashed to smithereens, and it's not even 10AM yet. Turns out today is Harry Houdini's 137th(!) birthday, and Google has him as the search logo (see above). So the world wants to know if he was Jewish... Thanks, Google!
Harry was one the Great Jews. To find out how amazing he was, read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-Houdini-Americas-Superhero/dp/0743272072/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1300980774&sr=8-1
ReplyDeleteI have read many biographies of Houdini, but this does the best job of capturing his spirit while staying true to the facts.
There's a really excellent exhibit on him at the Jewish Museum in New York City. I think it's closing soon, though, unfortunately, so you may want to check it out ASAP.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I read that his (not Jewish) assistant passed away recently.
http://www.drew.edu/news/2011/03/21/drew-arts-patron-passes-at-103
With his passion for exposing frauds and trickery combined with performing magic, he was in many ways the early 20th century's version of Penn and Teller.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know the "spy" angle until I looked up the Amazon.com link another poster put in. Very interesting....
He also for awhile was CEO of Martinka & Co, a NYC based "magic supply" company that still exists (now HQ'd in NJ).
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