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[[File: StewartJames2.png|right|thumb|200px|[[ Stewart James]]]]


'''Stewart James''', one of magic's most prolific inventors, was a Canadian postman.
'''Harry Houdini''' (March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian American magician, escapologist (widely regarded as one of the greatest ever), and stunt performer, as well as a skeptic and investigator of spiritualists, film producer, and actor.


== Biography ==
== Biography ==


Inspired by imaginary friends to create magic, Stewart James was one of the 20th century’s most prodigious inventors of magic effects and one of the art form’s most prolific authors. Though he was a skilled magician who performed for the allied forces during his Canadian tour of duty during World War II – James is best known in the magic world for his uncanny ability to create.  
[[File: HarryHoudini2.png|right|thumb|200px|[[Harry Houdini]]]]


Throughout his 88 years of life, he conceived and published over 400 different trick "plots," which have been adapted by countless other magicians for use in their performances. He can be described as a mastermind who focused his energy on imagining new impossibilities at a table backstage instead of presenting them on-stage.
Initially, Houdini's magic career resulted in little success. He performed in dime museums and sideshows, and even doubled as "the Wild Man" at a circus.
One of his legendary effects was [[Miraskill]] published first in The [[Jinx]], No. 24, September 1936, page 147, then in [[Jean Hugard]]'s [[Encyclopedia of Card Tricks]] (1937).  Some of his effects were call Jogestja, using letters from his full name.
Early in his career, Houdini focused on traditional card tricks. At one point, he billed himself as the "King of Cards". But he soon began experimenting with escape acts.
In 1893, while performing with his brother "Dash" at Coney Island as "The Brothers Houdini", Harry met and married fellow performer Bess ([[Wilhelmina Beatrice Rahner]]).  


The collected volumes of his magic written by his Allan Slaight are some of the largest books on magic ever published.  
Bess soon replaced Dash in the act, which became known as "The Houdinis", and in 1894 they were married. For the rest of Houdini's performing career, Bess would work as his stage assistant.
He had changed his name to Harry Houdini because the French conjurer, [[Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin]] was one of his biggest inspirations.


[[Stewart James|Read more about Stewart James....]]
[[Harry Houdini |Read more about Harry Houdini...]]

Revision as of 12:25, 26 October 2025

Previous featured articles are located in Category:Featured Article

Proposed candidates are listed in Category:Featured Article Candidate


Harry Houdini (March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian American magician, escapologist (widely regarded as one of the greatest ever), and stunt performer, as well as a skeptic and investigator of spiritualists, film producer, and actor.

Biography

Initially, Houdini's magic career resulted in little success. He performed in dime museums and sideshows, and even doubled as "the Wild Man" at a circus. Early in his career, Houdini focused on traditional card tricks. At one point, he billed himself as the "King of Cards". But he soon began experimenting with escape acts. In 1893, while performing with his brother "Dash" at Coney Island as "The Brothers Houdini", Harry met and married fellow performer Bess (Wilhelmina Beatrice Rahner).

Bess soon replaced Dash in the act, which became known as "The Houdinis", and in 1894 they were married. For the rest of Houdini's performing career, Bess would work as his stage assistant. He had changed his name to Harry Houdini because the French conjurer, Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin was one of his biggest inspirations.

Read more about Harry Houdini...