Black Farmers Ongoing Struggle for Justice
Soulclap to Black Politics on the Web for bringing us this commentary by Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III.
Well, villagers ... what say u about the issues faced by our nation's Black farmers?
In 1997, Timothy Pigford and 400 other African American farmers filed suit against the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for discrimination, Pigford v. Glickman or Pigford I. They alleged that the USDA treated Black farmers unfairly when deciding to allocate loans and subsidies. For example, the USDA on average took more than 380 days to process a loan application from an African American farmer while processing an application from a white farmer in less than 30. Also, the top ten percent of corporate and white farmers received on average $1M per year in farm subsidies while African American farmers received on average $200.
On April 14, 1999, Judge Paul Freidman approved a settlement agreement and consent decree in Pigford I. The consent decree established a two-track dispute resolution process (Track A and Track B) for farmers seeking relief. Track A provided a monetary settlement of up to $50K plus relief in the form of loan forgiveness and tax liability. Track B allowed those seeking actual damages to pursue relief provided they could meet a higher standard of proof by supporting their claims by a preponderance of the evidence.
According to the Congressional Research Service, “The deadline for submitting a claim as a class member was September 12, 2000. A court appointed Oregon based facilitator, (Poorman-Douglas Corporation) was selected to notify known and potential members of the class that a settlement had been reached, to receive and screen potential class members’ claims to determine whether they met the class definition, and to assign the claims to the adjudicator and arbitrator for action.”Poorman-Douglas’ core business is software development not claims administration. As a result of their inexperience in necessary processes compounded by their geographical distance and unfamiliarity with the affected class; more than 70,000 African American farmers were not notified in a timely manner of the Pigford I settlement. Failure to notify all of the potential claimants and not allowing those affected individuals to file timely claims resulted in the need for the Pigford II case.
Over 25,000 additional African American farmers were certified as a new class of litigants, Pigford II. On February 18, 2010, Attorney General Holder announced an additional $1.25B settlement in the case of Pigford II. Under Pigford II, claimants can seek Track A payments up to $50K plus debt relief, or pursue Track B payments for damages up to $250,000.
As the court works through the final details of what has become the Pigford II settlement Epiq/ Poorman Douglas’ (formally Poorman-Douglas) is again being considered as the Claims Administrator. This is causing great concern among the Pigford II claimants. Also, no minority businesses have been provided the opportunity to participate in the processing or administration of the claims process. Why is the company that dropped the ball in Pigford I being considered for a second opportunity in Pigford II?Also, why are individuals such as Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) calling for hearings to investigate these settlements after they have been adjudicated in US Courts and stating the Pigford settlement “is full of fraud” and “amounts to paying reparations to Black farmers in America. We don’t do reparations in America.” There is absolutely no proof that any “fraud” has been found in claims submitted in Pigford I and no claim’s have even been submitted as a result of Pigford II. Why should African American farmers be treated any differently than the Native Americans in the Cobell case who were awarded $3.4 billion over claims that they were cheated out of royalties overseen by the Interior Department for resources like oil, gas and timber.
Steve King (R-IA)
It is important to understand that redress under Pigford I or II does not make the victims whole. These remedies merely allow the impacted farmers to walk away from these cases of government sanctioned discrimination with some sense of redress.
If Rep. King is correct and “We don’t do reparations in America,” why did President Reagan sign The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 to redress $20,000 to Japanese American detainees for damages caused for wrongful interment during WWII? Also, in 1992, an additional $400 million was awarded Japanese American detainees and George H. Bush issued another public apology in accordance with the amendment to the act.
Why do members of Congress continue to treat African Americans in a different manner than other Americans? The same mentality that caused the problems for African American farmers with the USDA is now impacting their ability to expeditiously administer the court sanctioned remedy. Failing to allow competent minority owned businesses that are tied to the affected areas and can relate to the affected class to participate in the management and administration of the Pigford claims would be an additional slap in the face to the African American community above and beyond what has been done to America’s Black Farmers.
Even while celebrating their victory in court, America’s Black farmers struggle for justice.
Well, villagers ... what say u about the issues faced by our nation's Black farmers?
Britney Spears Deleted Scene from Jackass 3 (Stuck in pu poo)
Britney Spears Deleted Scene from Jackass 3
Britney Spears is a real trooper.
The “Hold It Against Me” songbird got covered in “human waste” for a Jackass 3D-inspired skit for Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday night. Watch the clip and check out more photos after the jump.
For the skit, Britney was trapped inside a blue Porta Potty and flung through the air, much like the “Poo Cocktail Supreme” skit that Steve-O took part in for the 2010 movie version of the hit MTV show.
Succes 2011: Charles Simonyi, un turist spaţial miliardar
Charles Simonyi is a Hungarian-American computer software executive who, as head of Microsoft's application software group, oversaw the creation of Microsoft's flagship Office suite of applications. He now heads his own company, Intentional Software, with the aim of developing and marketing his concept of intentional programming. In April 2007, aboard Soyuz TMA-10, he became the fifth space tourist and the second Hungarian in space. In March 2009, aboard Soyuz TMA-14, he made a second trip to the International Space Station. His estimated net worth is US$1 billion.
He was hired by Denmark's A/S Regnecentralen in 1966 and moved to the United States in 1968 to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his B.S. in Engineering Mathematics & Statistics in 1972.
Simonyi then went to Stanford University for graduate studies and was hired by Xerox PARC[1] during its most productive period, working alongside luminaries such as Alan Kay, Butler Lampson and Robert Metcalfe on the development of the Xerox Alto, the first personal computer. He and Lampson developed Bravo, the first WYSIWYG document preparation program, which became operational in 1974. He received his Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford in 1977 with a dissertation on a software project management technique called "metaprogramming". This approach sought to defeat Brooks' law by requiring all programmers to communicate through the manager rather than directly. Simonyi remained at PARC until 1981.
Microsoft
In 1981, at Metcalfe's suggestion, he applied directly to Bill Gates for a job at Microsoft. At the firm, Simonyi oversaw the development of what became its most profitable products, Word and Excel, as well as Excel's predecessor Multiplan. With Multiplan, Simonyi pursued a strategy called the "revenue bomb", whereby the product ran on a virtual machine that was ported to each platform. The resulting application was highly portable, although Simonyi did not foresee the rapid adoption of MS-DOS that made such efforts less important. Simonyi introduced the techniques of object-oriented programming that he had learned at Xerox to Microsoft. He developed the Hungarian notation convention for naming variables. Originally these standards were part of his doctoral thesis. The Hungarian notation has been widely used inside Microsoft.
Own company
Simonyi remained at Microsoft during its rapid rise in the software industry, becoming one of its highest-ranking developers. He left abruptly in 2002 to co-found, with business partner Gregor Kiczales, a company called Intentional Software. This company markets the intentional programming concepts Simonyi developed at Microsoft Research. In this approach to software, a programmer first builds a toolbox specific to a given problem domain (such as life insurance). Domain experts, aided by the programmer, then describe the program's intended behavior in a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG)-like manner. An automated system uses the program description and the toolbox to generate the final program. Successive changes are only done at the WYSIWYG level.
In 2004, Simonyi received the Wharton Infosys Business Transformation Award for the industry-wide impact of his innovative work in information technology.
Simonyi has been an active philanthropist. In 1995 he established an endowed chair, the Simonyi Professorship of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University, first held by the now retired Richard Dawkins. He also established a Charles Simonyi Professor for Innovation in Teaching endowed chair at Stanford University. In January 2004, Simonyi created the $50 million Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, through which Simonyi plans to support Seattle-area arts, science, and educational programs. Initial grant recipients include the Seattle Symphony ($10 million), and the Seattle Public Library ($3 million). In 2005, the Fund donated $25 million to the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. In January, 2008 the Simonyi Fund and Bill Gates pledged $20 million and $10 million respectively to the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope.
In early 2006, Simonyi expressed interest in becoming a space tourist and signed agreements with the space tourism company, Space Adventures, Ltd., for a ten-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
In August 2006, he passed a pre-qualification medical exam by the Russian Federal Space Agency, called the State Medical Commission (GMK). He started training at Star City in September 2006.
He launched on April 7, 2007 (GMT), on board Soyuz TMA-10. He shared a ride with two Russian cosmonauts to the International Space Station, and returned aboard Soyuz TMA-9, scheduled to depart from the ISS on April 20, 2007.
Upon arrival to the ISS on April 9, 2007 Simonyi said, "It is amazing how it appears from the blackness of the sky. It was very, very dramatic. It was like a big stage set, a fantastic production of some incredible opera or modern play. That's what I was referring to when I said I was blown away."
Simonyi's expected return on April 20, 2007 was delayed by one day due to 'boggy ground'. He returned to Earth on April 21, 2007 along with an American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut.
In October 2008, he booked for a second trip to the ISS through Space Adventures on board Soyuz TMA-14. On March 26, 2009 he returned to space aboard Soyuz TMA-14.He returned to Earth on board Soyuz TMA-13. Along with Soyuz Commander Yuri Lonchakov and Michael Fincke he landed in Kazakhstan on April 8, 2009
Simonyi then went to Stanford University for graduate studies and was hired by Xerox PARC[1] during its most productive period, working alongside luminaries such as Alan Kay, Butler Lampson and Robert Metcalfe on the development of the Xerox Alto, the first personal computer. He and Lampson developed Bravo, the first WYSIWYG document preparation program, which became operational in 1974. He received his Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford in 1977 with a dissertation on a software project management technique called "metaprogramming". This approach sought to defeat Brooks' law by requiring all programmers to communicate through the manager rather than directly. Simonyi remained at PARC until 1981.
Microsoft
In 1981, at Metcalfe's suggestion, he applied directly to Bill Gates for a job at Microsoft. At the firm, Simonyi oversaw the development of what became its most profitable products, Word and Excel, as well as Excel's predecessor Multiplan. With Multiplan, Simonyi pursued a strategy called the "revenue bomb", whereby the product ran on a virtual machine that was ported to each platform. The resulting application was highly portable, although Simonyi did not foresee the rapid adoption of MS-DOS that made such efforts less important. Simonyi introduced the techniques of object-oriented programming that he had learned at Xerox to Microsoft. He developed the Hungarian notation convention for naming variables. Originally these standards were part of his doctoral thesis. The Hungarian notation has been widely used inside Microsoft.
Own company
Simonyi remained at Microsoft during its rapid rise in the software industry, becoming one of its highest-ranking developers. He left abruptly in 2002 to co-found, with business partner Gregor Kiczales, a company called Intentional Software. This company markets the intentional programming concepts Simonyi developed at Microsoft Research. In this approach to software, a programmer first builds a toolbox specific to a given problem domain (such as life insurance). Domain experts, aided by the programmer, then describe the program's intended behavior in a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG)-like manner. An automated system uses the program description and the toolbox to generate the final program. Successive changes are only done at the WYSIWYG level.
In 2004, Simonyi received the Wharton Infosys Business Transformation Award for the industry-wide impact of his innovative work in information technology.
Simonyi has been an active philanthropist. In 1995 he established an endowed chair, the Simonyi Professorship of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University, first held by the now retired Richard Dawkins. He also established a Charles Simonyi Professor for Innovation in Teaching endowed chair at Stanford University. In January 2004, Simonyi created the $50 million Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, through which Simonyi plans to support Seattle-area arts, science, and educational programs. Initial grant recipients include the Seattle Symphony ($10 million), and the Seattle Public Library ($3 million). In 2005, the Fund donated $25 million to the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. In January, 2008 the Simonyi Fund and Bill Gates pledged $20 million and $10 million respectively to the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope.
In early 2006, Simonyi expressed interest in becoming a space tourist and signed agreements with the space tourism company, Space Adventures, Ltd., for a ten-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
In August 2006, he passed a pre-qualification medical exam by the Russian Federal Space Agency, called the State Medical Commission (GMK). He started training at Star City in September 2006.
He launched on April 7, 2007 (GMT), on board Soyuz TMA-10. He shared a ride with two Russian cosmonauts to the International Space Station, and returned aboard Soyuz TMA-9, scheduled to depart from the ISS on April 20, 2007.
Upon arrival to the ISS on April 9, 2007 Simonyi said, "It is amazing how it appears from the blackness of the sky. It was very, very dramatic. It was like a big stage set, a fantastic production of some incredible opera or modern play. That's what I was referring to when I said I was blown away."
Simonyi's expected return on April 20, 2007 was delayed by one day due to 'boggy ground'. He returned to Earth on April 21, 2007 along with an American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut.
In October 2008, he booked for a second trip to the ISS through Space Adventures on board Soyuz TMA-14. On March 26, 2009 he returned to space aboard Soyuz TMA-14.He returned to Earth on board Soyuz TMA-13. Along with Soyuz Commander Yuri Lonchakov and Michael Fincke he landed in Kazakhstan on April 8, 2009
Momentum Builds for Recall of GOP Legislators in Wisconsin
Elections have consequences. It would have been so much easier to combat these GOP initiatives last November during the mid-term elections. We need to ensure that we register and vote each and every time we have a chance to do so.
Succes 2011: Candy Dulfer: The Sax Woman & the Smooth Jazz
Candy Dulfer (born 19 September 1969) is a popular Dutch smooth jazz alto saxophonist. She started to play saxophone at the age of six. She has had her own band, Funky Stuff, since she was fourteen. Her debut album Saxuality (1990)received a Grammy Award nomination. Over the years she released nine studio albums, two live albums, and one compilation album. She has performed and recorded songs with several other musicians, such as her father Hans Dulfer, Prince, Dave Stewart, René Froger, Van Morrison, and Maceo Parker. For the Dutch television series Candy meets... (2007), she interviewed musicians she worked with.
Candy Dulfer played her first solo on stage with her father's band De Perikels ("The Perils"). At the age of eleven, she made her first recordings for the album I Didn't Ask (1981) of De Perikels.[3] In 1982, when she was twelve years old, she played as a member of Rosa King's Ladies Horn section at the North Sea Jazz
Festival. According to Dulfer, King encouraged her to become a band leader herself. In 1984, at the age of fourteen, Dulfer started her own band Funky Stuff. In 1987, the band performed as opening act at two concerts of Madonna's European tour. In 1988, the band's lineup was completely changed. In the following years, Funky Stuff gave sold-out concerts all over the Netherlands.
In 1988, Funky Stuff was booked as the supporting act for three Prince concerts in the Netherlands. Prince canceled the supporting act, but invited Dulfer on stage to play an improvised solo. After this encounter, she starred in the video of the single "Partyman" (1989), where Prince sings:
When I need trombone, my dog is Handy.
But when I want sax, I call Candy.
This appearance led to session work with Eurythmics guitarist and producer Dave Stewart, who gave Dulfer a credit on "Lily Was Here" (the title song of a Dutch movie starring Marion van Thijn), reaching number six in the UK singles chart and number one in the Dutch radio charts in 1990. She also played with Pink Floyd at the band's performance at Knebworth '90 in June 1990.
Dulfer's debut album, Saxuality, was released later in 1990. With her funky alto sax stylings proving popular with fans of contemporary jazz at several recently launched smooth jazz radio stations in the United States, Saxuality was nominated for a Grammy and certified gold for worldwide sales in excess of half a million. "Lily Was Here" also crossed over to the pop charts in America, reaching #11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Though Dulfer has had no other pop hits in the U.S., she has had a number of major smooth jazz chart hits, including "For The Love Of You" and "Finsbury Park, Cafe 67".[citation needed]
Dulfer was also the featured saxophonist for Van Morrison's A Night in San Francisco, an album made from live recordings in 1993.
Dulfer collaborated with her father Hans Dulfer on the duet album Dulfer Dulfer (2001).
In 2007, she released her ninth studio album Candy Store. The album reached a #2 position in Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz charts.[8] Of the album Candy Store, the song "L.A. Citylights" reached a #1 position in National Airplay charts in the United States
Candy Dulfer played her first solo on stage with her father's band De Perikels ("The Perils"). At the age of eleven, she made her first recordings for the album I Didn't Ask (1981) of De Perikels.[3] In 1982, when she was twelve years old, she played as a member of Rosa King's Ladies Horn section at the North Sea Jazz
Festival. According to Dulfer, King encouraged her to become a band leader herself. In 1984, at the age of fourteen, Dulfer started her own band Funky Stuff. In 1987, the band performed as opening act at two concerts of Madonna's European tour. In 1988, the band's lineup was completely changed. In the following years, Funky Stuff gave sold-out concerts all over the Netherlands.
In 1988, Funky Stuff was booked as the supporting act for three Prince concerts in the Netherlands. Prince canceled the supporting act, but invited Dulfer on stage to play an improvised solo. After this encounter, she starred in the video of the single "Partyman" (1989), where Prince sings:
When I need trombone, my dog is Handy.
But when I want sax, I call Candy.
This appearance led to session work with Eurythmics guitarist and producer Dave Stewart, who gave Dulfer a credit on "Lily Was Here" (the title song of a Dutch movie starring Marion van Thijn), reaching number six in the UK singles chart and number one in the Dutch radio charts in 1990. She also played with Pink Floyd at the band's performance at Knebworth '90 in June 1990.
Dulfer's debut album, Saxuality, was released later in 1990. With her funky alto sax stylings proving popular with fans of contemporary jazz at several recently launched smooth jazz radio stations in the United States, Saxuality was nominated for a Grammy and certified gold for worldwide sales in excess of half a million. "Lily Was Here" also crossed over to the pop charts in America, reaching #11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Though Dulfer has had no other pop hits in the U.S., she has had a number of major smooth jazz chart hits, including "For The Love Of You" and "Finsbury Park, Cafe 67".[citation needed]
Dulfer was also the featured saxophonist for Van Morrison's A Night in San Francisco, an album made from live recordings in 1993.
Dulfer collaborated with her father Hans Dulfer on the duet album Dulfer Dulfer (2001).
In 2007, she released her ninth studio album Candy Store. The album reached a #2 position in Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz charts.[8] Of the album Candy Store, the song "L.A. Citylights" reached a #1 position in National Airplay charts in the United States
Supreme Court Rejects Appeal by Troy Davis
The justices refused to order the federal appeals court in Atlanta to examine Davis’ case and they declined to do so themselves.
In 2009, the high court ordered a federal judge to examine evidence Davis said would show he was innocent of the 1989 killing for which he has been sentenced to death.
But the judge decided last year that Davis had failed to clear his name. At the moment, executions are on hold in Georgia after federal agents seized the state’s supply of a key lethal injection drug.
Taser Lawsuit: Family of Audrecas Davis File Wrongful Death Lawsuit vs. DeKalb County Police
Davis' parents aren't buying it. Davis' family filed a wrongful death suit against DeKalb County police. [SOURCE]
"It doesn’t make sense. It’s just what they did is wrong. It’s plain wrong," said Anne Davis.Police officers, responding to a call from paramedics, arrived on the scene just in time to electrocute Davis six times. The police report said two officers used their 50,000-volt weapons when Davis resisted being handcuffed to a stretcher, became combative and flailed his arms.
The suit seeks unspecified damages."My son was not a threat to them at all. There was no crime involved. He was sick, he truly needed medical attention," said Davis. "I want them held accountable so they can see how they erred in their procedures, and this won’t be committed again."
The Resident (2011)
THE RESIDENT
Sub-Genre- Psychological/Thriller
Cast Members of Note- Hillary Swank, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lee Pace and Christopher Lee!
What's it About?- Hillary Swank is a doctor who needs a place to live. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is a creepy creep that has an apartment for rent... do you see where this is going? He's lonely, horny and mentally ill, she's dumb and a bit slutty... Get it yet? Long story short, she moves in, teases the creepy landlord, does it with him (I think), then kicks him to the curb to "work things out" with her ex-boyfriend. It's pretty much a recipe for disaster.
I'm pretty sure saying "let's be friends" to a mentally unstable psychopath is probably the worst idea ever. Those words can drive decent, gentle men into fits of rage, let alone a nut-job who jerks off in walls while watching women eat cereal or brush their hair. And once provoked, why snoop around trying to figure out "what's going on here?" Smile at him until he leaves, then quietly run put of the building and don't come back.
Of course there would be no movie if our heroine did this, so she stays and pisses him off. Libido's flare, tensions flare, Christopher Lee's arthritis flares... and we're left wondering if Hillary Swank can escape the evil clutches of rape-o the landlord. This is Hollywood though, so I mean you have to know how it's going to end.
The Good- This movie is like Fatal Attraction with pinches of Pacific Heights and Hider in the House thrown in for good measure. Really, the strongest thing going for the movie are Hillary Swank and Jeffrey Dean Morgan; Both are great actors and hold it down in this one, despite the fairly generic storyline. It's always nice to see Christopher Lee in action too, bless his aging little heart!
If you like the occasional by-the-numbers thriller, and don't really care if a movie feels rehashed and like it's been done before, then you should dig this one. It's safe, harmless, and entertaining enough. You'll want to love it more than you will, but you just have to take it at face value and not pick at it too much if you want to enjoy it at all.
The Bad- The last 15 minutes of this movie took away the feel of most of what came before it, as if the filmmakers felt they had to "Horror it up" a bit to finish strong. Not horrible, but it felt a little bit out of place.
The Downright Horrendous- Why in the world did she not call the cops once she realizes she's been drugged and that her landlord is creeping around in her walls? I mean, she installs some expensive cameras in her apartment because she's suspicious, but alerting the police or doing a background check on the guy or the building isn't a viable option? Weak sauce.
The Gory- We get some fun needle violence and some messy nail gun violence, but it's nothing too crazy.
The Naked- Hillary Swank has no problem either getting naked or bathing on film. Also, it appears as if she likes to lotion her body up all seductive-like on film too. Fine with us.
What did we learn?- Never move into any building if it means that Christopher Lee is going to be your neighbor. Also, There's always rats in the walls.
The Master Says- C+ For a direct to DVD thriller, this is a pretty decent movie. A solid cast helps of course, but beyond that, the movie gives us a straight forward story and manages to keep things interesting throughout, and builds the tension fairly effectively. You could do worse than adding this one to your Netflix queue. Then again, you could certainly do better too.Final Thoughts- Hillary Swank: sometimes I think she's really hot, sometimes not so much. It confuses me. Still, I think she's a "Do Want"... maybe...
Coroner Says Hanging of Frederick Jermaine Carter Was 'Not a Suicide'
The story didn't make sense. Why would a young Black man go into a predominantly white community in a small Mississippi town and tie a rope around a tree to hang himself? Many villagers joined us in questioning authorities on this matter.
Well, it turns out we were right! The deputy medical examiner for the state of Mississippi confirms that Carter did not commit suicide.
We need to continue to agitate for a full and complete investigation into the lynching of this young man. We need to make sure that the people of Mississippi clearly understand that we will never again allow lynching to run rampant in this country as it did back in the day.
Autograph from The Handcuff King. 137 years ago, a certain Harry Houdini escaped in this world
Harry Houdini (născut Ehrich Weisz; 24 martie 1874 – 31 octombrie 1926) a fost un magician, actor și producător de film. Iluzionistul Harry Houdini, nascut pe data de 24 martie 1874, la Budapesta, a fost una dintre figurile legendare ale magiei. Numele lui era asociat intotdeauna cu intamplari iesite din comun, eliberari spectaculoase si cascadorii care sfidau moartea. Chiar daca Houdini a murit acum 81 de ani, oamenii isi mai amintesc de el atunci cand sunt intrebati numele unui faimos magician.
Houdini a petrecut ani intregi invatand cum functioneaza mecanismele lacatelor si catuselor, pana a ajuns unul dintre cei mai mari experti din lume in domeniu. Maestru in deschiderea dispozitivelor de securitate de orice tip, avea talentul de a-si prezenta numerele de iluzionism intr-o maniera unica. Aducea carisma si magnetism spectacolelor sale, hipnotizand audienta care ajungea sa creada in miracole.
Magicianul, al carui nume real era Erik Weisz, s-a nascut in Ungaria si era de origine evreu. A plecat in Statele Unite impreuna cu familia la varsta de patru ani, principalele motive ale plecarii raman incerte, dar se banuieste ca antisemitismul a stat la baza acestei decizii. Tatal lui Houdini a acceptat un post de rabin in Appleton, Wisconsin, unde a gasit o comunitate de unguri. Din nefericire insa, era foarte conservator, neputandu-se adapta ideilor liberale americane. De aceea, a fost nevoit sa plece. S-a mutat mai intai in Milwaukee si apoi la New York.
Familia avea tot timpul nevoie de bani, asa ca tanarul Eric a acceptat tot felul de slujbe ciudate pentru a o ajuta. A plecat de acasa la 12 ani sa-si caute norocul, dar dupa nici doi ani s-a intors la New York, unde familia lui inca mai locuia.
La 17 ani a fost captivat de memoriile marelui magician francez Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin si nu este de mirare ca a fost atras in lumea stralucitoare a spoectacolului si magiei, unde a gasit faima si bani. A fost atat de impresionat de viata lui Houdin incat, atunci cand i s-a cerut un nume de scena, pur si simplu a mai adaugat un "i" la numele acestuia, devenind Houdini.
Initial, Houdini se specializase pe trucurile cu carti de joc. La un moment dat, el chiar se autointitulase "Regele Cartilor", insa adevarata faima a castigat-o dupa ce a inceput sa apara pe scena cu numere din ce in ce mai bizare si mai incitante. In 1895, cautand ceva diferit fata de ceilalti artisti, el s-a gandit sa provoace politistii unei sectii, sustinand ca poate scapa de catuse si din celula. In anii 1898-1899, in primul rand datorita acestor evadari spectaculoase, a inceput sa fie cunoscut si apreciat, au aparut angajamente mai bune. Unul dintre numerele cu care a ramas in legenda este cel in care, pe hipodromul din Londra, a reusit sa faca sa "dispara" un elefant impreuna cu dresorul sau. In acea perioada o cunoaste pe Wilhelminia Beatrice Rahner - "Bess", cu care se casatoreste pe data de 22 iunie 1895. Mariajul celor doi a insemnat unirea a doua familii rigide, una catolica si cealalta evreiasca. Dar cei doi au invins prejudecatile. La inceputul anului 1900 plecat in turneu in Europa, alaturi de sotia lui, unde a continuat sa puna la cale trucuri de iluzionism prin care insela moartea. Cu timpul, datorita publicitatii, au venit angajamente din Franta, Olanda, Germania si Rusia. El si Bess au petrecut urmatorii cinci ani bucurandu-se de succesul european. Pe masura ce faima ii crestea, Houdini depasea toate recordurile de audienta in fiecare oras, devenind cel mai bine platit artist pe continent si in insulele britanice. In 1920, dupa decesul mamei sale, Houdini si-a canalizat intreaga energie in incercarea sa de a demasca falsii clarvazatori sau mediumi. Vasta sa experienta in ceea ce priveste numerele de magie i-a permis sa demaste multi escroci care reusisera sa pacaleasca pana atunci oameni de stiinta si cercetatori renumiti. Mai mult decat atat, el a fost un membru al comitetului American Stiintific care oferea un premiu in bani oricarui medium care isi putea demonstra clar abilitatile paranormale.
Pana la moartea sa, comitetul nu daduse nici un premiu. Pe masura ce faima sa de "vanator de fantome" crestea, el chiar incepuse sa se deghizeze si sa participe la sedinte de spiritism, impreuna cu un reporter si cu un ofiter de politie. Probabil ca cel mai faimos medium pe care l-a demascat a fost Mina Crandon, din Boston, care era cunoscuta ca "Margery". Aceste activitati l-au costat pe Houdini prietenia sa cu Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creatorul lui Sherlock Holmes. Doyle credea cu tarie in spiritism, desi Houdini insista asupra ideii ca mediile spiritiste se folosesc de anumite trucuri.
Acesta a fost convins ca Houdini insusi poseda puteri supranaturale, o parere exprimata in cartea sa Granita necunoscutului. Se pare ca Houdini nu a reusit sa-l convinga ca folosea doar elemente de scamatorie, in fata un public insuficient de antrenat ca sa-si dea seama ca era tras pe sfoara.Din aceasta cauza, din prieteni, cei doi au ajuns sa fie adversari in mod public. Halloween - o data magica pentru caderea cortinei in cazul lui Houdini Pe 22 octombrie 1926, in timpul unui spectacol la Princess Theater din Montreal, un student de colegiu, J. Gordon Whitehead, a cerut permisiunea de a testa duritatea muschilor abdominali ai maestrului si l-a lovit. Acesta era un moment obisnuit al spectacolului, asa ca magicianul a ignorat durerile abdominale care l-au cuprins pentru ca nu avusese timp sa contracte muschii inainte de lovitura, continuand reprezentatia. Ajuns la Detroit a doua zi, a fost diagnosticat cu apendicita acuta, dar a insistat sa continue spectacolele.
Ultima aparitie pe scena a lui Houdini a fost la teatrul Garrick din Detroit, Michigan la data de 24 octombrie. Urmatoarea zi, el a fost dus de urgenta la Spitalul Grace din cauza temperaturii ridicat, unde i-a fost extirpat apendicele cangrenat, insa peritonita deja se instalase. Houdini a murit de peritonită, în urma unei rupturi de apendice. Evenimentul care a dus la moarte, se crede a fi o reprezentație la universitatea McGill, unde un student, J. Gordon Whitehead, l-a întrebat pe Houdini dacă poate suporta să fie lovit în abdomen fără a simți nici o durere. Primind răspuns afirmativ, acesta l-a lovit de repetate ori pe magician, cauzându-i ruptura de apendice. Cum Houdini suferea de apendicită de câtva timp, el a refuzat tratamentul medical, continuând să călătorească. Harry Houdini moare la spitalul Detroit's Grace, la ora 1:26 pm, în camera 401, pe 31 octombrie 1926, în vârstă de 52 de ani. Houdini a murit de Halloween, pe data de 31 octombrie 1926, la varsta de 52 de ani. Trupul neinsufletit a fost dus la New York. Servicul religios a avut loc in sala de festivitati a Lojii Elks, din W. 43rd Street., la care au asistat peste 2000 de persoane. Houdini a fost elogiat de rabini, apoi a avut loc o ceremonie de rupere a baghetei, oficiata de Societatea Magicienilor Americani. Inmormantarea a avut loc la cimitirul Machpelah din Brooklyn, un loc pe care Houdini insusi il alesese. Sedinte de spiritism pentru Houdini Inainte de moartea sa, Houdini a spus ca ii va trimite sotiei sale un mesaj din lumea de dincolo, daca va fi posibil. In fiecare an, de Halloween, sotia sa organiza sedinte de spiritism, dar sotul ei nu a aparut niciodata. Dupa zece ani, in 1936, dupa o ultima incercare de a a lua legatura cu sotul ei defunct, ea a stins lumanarea pe care o tinea aprinsa inca de la moartea acestuia, spunand ca "am asteptat destul. Zece ani sunt o perioada de timp suficienta pentru a astepta un barbat". In orice caz, traditia a ramas, si chiar si in prezent, de Halloween, se organizeaza sedinte de spiritism pentru Houdini, tinute de Sidney H. Radner, un magician care poseda cea mai mare colectie de obiecte care i-ar fi apartinut lui Houdini.
Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-born American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer noted for his sensational escape acts. He was also a skeptic who set out to expose frauds purporting to be supernatural phenomena.
Harry Houdini was born as Erik Weisz (he later spelled his birth name as Ehrich Weiss) in Budapest, Hungary, on March 24, 1874. From 1907 on, however, Houdini would claim in interviews to have been born in Appleton, Wisconsin, on April 6, 1874.
His parents were Rabbi Mayer Samuel Weiss (1829–1892) and his wife, Cecelia (née Steiner; 1841–1913). Houdini was one of seven children: Herman M. (1863–1885); Nathan J. (1870–1927); Gottfried William (1872–1925); Theodore "Theo" (1876–1945); Leopold D. (1879–1962); and Gladys Carrie (born 1882–unknown year of death).
Weiss came to the United States on July 3, 1878, sailing on the SS Fresia with his mother (who was pregnant) and his four brothers. The family changed the Hungarian spelling of their German surname into Weiss (the German spelling) and the spelling of their son's name into Ehrich. Friends called him "Ehrie" or "Harry".
They first lived in Appleton, Wisconsin, where his father served as Rabbi of the Zion Reform Jewish Congregation. According to the 1880 census, the family lived on Appleton Street.On June 6, 1882, Rabbi Weiss became an American citizen. Losing his tenure at Zion in 1887, Rabbi Weiss moved with Ehrich to New York City. They lived in a boarding house on East 79th Street. They were joined by the rest of the family once Rabbi Weiss found permanent housing. As a child, Ehrich Weiss took several jobs, making his public début as a 9-year-old trapeze artist, calling himself "Ehrich, the Prince of the Air". He was also a champion cross country runner in his youth. Weiss became a professional magician and began calling himself "Harry Houdini" because he was heavily influenced by the French magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, and his friend Jack Hayman told him, erroneously, that in French, adding an "i" to Houdin would mean "like Houdin" the great magician. In later life, Houdini would claim that the first part of his new name, Harry, was a homage to Harry Kellar, whom Houdini admired.
Houdini began his magic career in 1891. At the outset, he had little success. He performed in dime museums and sideshows, and even doubled as "The Wild Man" at a circus. Houdini focused initially 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 Houdini Brothers", Harry met fellow performer Wilhelmina Beatrice (Bess) Rahner, whom he married. Bess replaced Dash in the act, which became known as "The Houdinis." For the rest of Houdini's performing career, Bess would work as his stage assistant.
Houdini's "big break" came in 1899 when he met manager Martin Beck in rural Woodstock, Illinois. Impressed by Houdini's handcuffs act, Beck advised him to concentrate on escape acts and booked him on the Orpheum vaudeville circuit. Within months, he was performing at the top vaudeville houses in the country. In 1900, Beck arranged for Houdini to tour Europe. After some days of unsuccessful interviews in London, Houdini managed to interest Dundas Slater, then manager of the Alhambra Theatre. He gave a demonstration of escape from handcuffs at Scotland Yard, and succeeded in baffling the police so effectively that he was booked at the Alhambra for six months.
Houdini became widely known as "The Handcuff King." He toured England, Scotland, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Russia. In each city, Houdini would challenge local police to restrain him with shackles and lock him in their jails. In many of these challenge escapes, Houdini would first be stripped nude and searched. In Moscow, Houdini escaped from a Siberian prison transport van. Houdini claimed that, had he been unable to free himself, he would have had to travel to Siberia, where the only key was kept. In Cologne, he sued a police officer, Werner Graff, who alleged that he made his escapes via bribery. Houdini won the case when he opened the judge's safe (he would later say the judge had forgotten to lock it). With his new-found wealth and success, Houdini purchased a dress said to have been made for Queen Victoria. He then arranged a grand reception where he presented his mother in the dress to all their relatives. Houdini said it was the happiest day of his life. In 1904, Houdini returned to the U.S. and purchased a house for $25,000, a brownstone at 278 W. 113th Street in Harlem, New York City.
From 1907 and throughout the 1910s, Houdini performed with great success in the United States. He would free himself from jails, handcuffs, chains, ropes, and straitjackets, often while hanging from a rope in plain sight of street audiences. Because of imitators, on January 25, 1908, Houdini put his "handcuff act" behind him and began escaping from a locked, water-filled milk can. The possibility of failure and death thrilled his audiences. Houdini also expanded repertoire with his escape challenge act, in which he invited the public to devise contraptions to hold him. These included nailed packing crates (sometimes lowered into water), riveted boilers, wet-sheets, mailbags, and even the belly of a Whale that had washed ashore in Boston. Brewers challenged Houdini to escape from his milk can after they filled it with beer.
Many of these challenges were pre-arranged with local merchants in what is certainly one of the first uses of mass tie-in marketing. Rather than promote the idea that he was assisted by spirits, as did the Davenport Brothers and others, Houdini's advertisements showed him making his escapes via dematerializing, although Houdini himself never claimed to have supernatural powers.
In 1912, Houdini introduced perhaps his most famous act, the Chinese Water Torture Cell, in which he was suspended upside-down in a locked glass-and-steel cabinet full to overflowing with water. The act required that Houdini hold his breath for more than three minutes. Houdini performed the escape for the rest of his career. Despite two Hollywood movies depicting Houdini dying in the Torture Cell, the act had nothing to do with his death. Throughout his career, Houdini explained some of his tricks in books written for the magic brotherhood. In Handcuff Secrets (1909), he revealed how many locks and handcuffs could be opened with properly applied force, others with shoestring. Other times, he carried concealed lockpicks or keys, being able to regurgitate small keys at will. When tied down in ropes or straitjackets, he gained wiggle room by enlarging his shoulders and chest, moving his arms slightly away from his body, and then dislocating his shoulders.
His straitjacket escape was originally performed behind curtains, with him popping out free at the end. However, Houdini's brother, (who was also an escape artist, billing himself as Theodore Hardeen), discovered that audiences were more impressed when the curtains were eliminated so they could watch him struggle to get out. On more than one occasion, they both performed straitjacket escapes whilst dangling upside-down from the roof of a building for publicity.
In 1904, the London Daily Mirror newspaper challenged Houdini to escape from a special handcuff that it claimed had taken Nathaniel Hart, a locksmith from Birmingham, seven years to make. Houdini accepted the challenge for March 17 during a matinée performance at London's Hippodrome theater. It was reported that 4000 people and more than 100 journalists turned out for the much-hyped event. The escape attempt dragged on for over an hour, during which Houdini emerged from his "ghost house" (a small screen used to conceal the method of his escape) several times. On one occasion, he asked if the cuff could be removed so he could take off his coat. The Mirror representative, Frank Parker, refused, saying Houdini could gain an advantage if he saw how the cuff was unlocked. Houdini promptly took out a pen-knife and, holding the knife in his teeth, used it to cut his coat from his body. Some 56 minutes later, Houdini's wife appeared on stage and gave him a kiss. It is believed that in her mouth was the key to unlock the special handcuff. Houdini then went back behind the curtain. After an hour and ten minutes, Houdini emerged free. As he was paraded on the shoulders of the cheering crowd, he broke down and wept. Houdini later said it was the most difficult escape of his career.
After Houdini's death, his friend, Martin Beck, published in his book, Sensational Tales of Mystery Men, in which he said that Houdini was bested that day and had appealed to his wife, Bess, for help. Goldstone goes on to claim that Bess begged the key from the Mirror representative, then slipped it to Houdini in a glass of water. However, it was stated in the book "The Secret Life of Houdini" that the key required to open the specially designed Mirror handcuffs was 6" long, and thus could not have been smuggled to Houdini in a glass of water. Goldstone offered no proof of his account, and many modern biographers have found evidence (notably in the custom design of the handcuff itself) that the entire Mirror challenge was pre-arranged by Houdini and the newspaper, and that his long struggle to escape was pure showmanship. In support of this, it has been reported that the sterling silver replica of the Mirror cuffs presented to Houdini in honor of his escape was actually made the year before the escape actually took place (again from "The Secret Life of Houdini").
Harry Houdini died of peritonitis, secondary to a ruptured appendix. Eyewitnesses to an incident in Montreal gave rise to speculation that Houdini's death was caused by a McGill University student, J. Gordon Whitehead, who delivered multiple blows to Houdini's abdomen to test Houdini's claim that he was able to take any blow to the body above the waist without injury.
The eyewitnesses, students named Jacques Price and Sam Smilovitz (sometimes called Jack Price and Sam Smiley), proffered accounts of the incident that generally corroborated one another. The following is Price's description of events:
Houdini was reclining on his couch after his performance, having an art student sketch him. When Whitehead came in and asked if it was true that Houdini could take any blow to the stomach, Houdini replied groggily in the affirmative. In this instance, he was hit three times before Houdini could tighten up his stomach muscles to avoid serious injury. Whitehead reportedly continued hitting Houdini several more times and Houdini acted as though he were in some pain.
Houdini reportedly stated that if he had time to prepare himself properly he would have been in a better position to take the blows. He had apparently been suffering from appendicitis for several days prior and yet refused medical treatment. His appendix would likely have burst on its own without the trauma. Although in serious pain, Houdini continued to travel without seeking medical attention.
When Houdini arrived at the Garrick Theater in Detroit, Michigan on October 24, 1926, for what would be his last performance, he had a fever of 104 °F (40 °C). Despite a diagnosis of acute appendicitis, Houdini took the stage. He was reported to have passed out during the show, but was revived and continued. Afterwards, he was hospitalized at Detroit's Grace Hospital.
Houdini died of peritonitis from a ruptured appendix at 1:26 p.m. in Room 401 on October 31, aged 52.
After taking statements from Price and Smilovitz, Houdini's insurance company concluded that the death was due to the dressing-room incident and paid double indemnity.
Houdini a petrecut ani intregi invatand cum functioneaza mecanismele lacatelor si catuselor, pana a ajuns unul dintre cei mai mari experti din lume in domeniu. Maestru in deschiderea dispozitivelor de securitate de orice tip, avea talentul de a-si prezenta numerele de iluzionism intr-o maniera unica. Aducea carisma si magnetism spectacolelor sale, hipnotizand audienta care ajungea sa creada in miracole.
Magicianul, al carui nume real era Erik Weisz, s-a nascut in Ungaria si era de origine evreu. A plecat in Statele Unite impreuna cu familia la varsta de patru ani, principalele motive ale plecarii raman incerte, dar se banuieste ca antisemitismul a stat la baza acestei decizii. Tatal lui Houdini a acceptat un post de rabin in Appleton, Wisconsin, unde a gasit o comunitate de unguri. Din nefericire insa, era foarte conservator, neputandu-se adapta ideilor liberale americane. De aceea, a fost nevoit sa plece. S-a mutat mai intai in Milwaukee si apoi la New York.
Familia avea tot timpul nevoie de bani, asa ca tanarul Eric a acceptat tot felul de slujbe ciudate pentru a o ajuta. A plecat de acasa la 12 ani sa-si caute norocul, dar dupa nici doi ani s-a intors la New York, unde familia lui inca mai locuia.
La 17 ani a fost captivat de memoriile marelui magician francez Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin si nu este de mirare ca a fost atras in lumea stralucitoare a spoectacolului si magiei, unde a gasit faima si bani. A fost atat de impresionat de viata lui Houdin incat, atunci cand i s-a cerut un nume de scena, pur si simplu a mai adaugat un "i" la numele acestuia, devenind Houdini.
Initial, Houdini se specializase pe trucurile cu carti de joc. La un moment dat, el chiar se autointitulase "Regele Cartilor", insa adevarata faima a castigat-o dupa ce a inceput sa apara pe scena cu numere din ce in ce mai bizare si mai incitante. In 1895, cautand ceva diferit fata de ceilalti artisti, el s-a gandit sa provoace politistii unei sectii, sustinand ca poate scapa de catuse si din celula. In anii 1898-1899, in primul rand datorita acestor evadari spectaculoase, a inceput sa fie cunoscut si apreciat, au aparut angajamente mai bune. Unul dintre numerele cu care a ramas in legenda este cel in care, pe hipodromul din Londra, a reusit sa faca sa "dispara" un elefant impreuna cu dresorul sau. In acea perioada o cunoaste pe Wilhelminia Beatrice Rahner - "Bess", cu care se casatoreste pe data de 22 iunie 1895. Mariajul celor doi a insemnat unirea a doua familii rigide, una catolica si cealalta evreiasca. Dar cei doi au invins prejudecatile. La inceputul anului 1900 plecat in turneu in Europa, alaturi de sotia lui, unde a continuat sa puna la cale trucuri de iluzionism prin care insela moartea. Cu timpul, datorita publicitatii, au venit angajamente din Franta, Olanda, Germania si Rusia. El si Bess au petrecut urmatorii cinci ani bucurandu-se de succesul european. Pe masura ce faima ii crestea, Houdini depasea toate recordurile de audienta in fiecare oras, devenind cel mai bine platit artist pe continent si in insulele britanice. In 1920, dupa decesul mamei sale, Houdini si-a canalizat intreaga energie in incercarea sa de a demasca falsii clarvazatori sau mediumi. Vasta sa experienta in ceea ce priveste numerele de magie i-a permis sa demaste multi escroci care reusisera sa pacaleasca pana atunci oameni de stiinta si cercetatori renumiti. Mai mult decat atat, el a fost un membru al comitetului American Stiintific care oferea un premiu in bani oricarui medium care isi putea demonstra clar abilitatile paranormale.
Pana la moartea sa, comitetul nu daduse nici un premiu. Pe masura ce faima sa de "vanator de fantome" crestea, el chiar incepuse sa se deghizeze si sa participe la sedinte de spiritism, impreuna cu un reporter si cu un ofiter de politie. Probabil ca cel mai faimos medium pe care l-a demascat a fost Mina Crandon, din Boston, care era cunoscuta ca "Margery". Aceste activitati l-au costat pe Houdini prietenia sa cu Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creatorul lui Sherlock Holmes. Doyle credea cu tarie in spiritism, desi Houdini insista asupra ideii ca mediile spiritiste se folosesc de anumite trucuri.
Acesta a fost convins ca Houdini insusi poseda puteri supranaturale, o parere exprimata in cartea sa Granita necunoscutului. Se pare ca Houdini nu a reusit sa-l convinga ca folosea doar elemente de scamatorie, in fata un public insuficient de antrenat ca sa-si dea seama ca era tras pe sfoara.Din aceasta cauza, din prieteni, cei doi au ajuns sa fie adversari in mod public. Halloween - o data magica pentru caderea cortinei in cazul lui Houdini Pe 22 octombrie 1926, in timpul unui spectacol la Princess Theater din Montreal, un student de colegiu, J. Gordon Whitehead, a cerut permisiunea de a testa duritatea muschilor abdominali ai maestrului si l-a lovit. Acesta era un moment obisnuit al spectacolului, asa ca magicianul a ignorat durerile abdominale care l-au cuprins pentru ca nu avusese timp sa contracte muschii inainte de lovitura, continuand reprezentatia. Ajuns la Detroit a doua zi, a fost diagnosticat cu apendicita acuta, dar a insistat sa continue spectacolele.
Ultima aparitie pe scena a lui Houdini a fost la teatrul Garrick din Detroit, Michigan la data de 24 octombrie. Urmatoarea zi, el a fost dus de urgenta la Spitalul Grace din cauza temperaturii ridicat, unde i-a fost extirpat apendicele cangrenat, insa peritonita deja se instalase. Houdini a murit de peritonită, în urma unei rupturi de apendice. Evenimentul care a dus la moarte, se crede a fi o reprezentație la universitatea McGill, unde un student, J. Gordon Whitehead, l-a întrebat pe Houdini dacă poate suporta să fie lovit în abdomen fără a simți nici o durere. Primind răspuns afirmativ, acesta l-a lovit de repetate ori pe magician, cauzându-i ruptura de apendice. Cum Houdini suferea de apendicită de câtva timp, el a refuzat tratamentul medical, continuând să călătorească. Harry Houdini moare la spitalul Detroit's Grace, la ora 1:26 pm, în camera 401, pe 31 octombrie 1926, în vârstă de 52 de ani. Houdini a murit de Halloween, pe data de 31 octombrie 1926, la varsta de 52 de ani. Trupul neinsufletit a fost dus la New York. Servicul religios a avut loc in sala de festivitati a Lojii Elks, din W. 43rd Street., la care au asistat peste 2000 de persoane. Houdini a fost elogiat de rabini, apoi a avut loc o ceremonie de rupere a baghetei, oficiata de Societatea Magicienilor Americani. Inmormantarea a avut loc la cimitirul Machpelah din Brooklyn, un loc pe care Houdini insusi il alesese. Sedinte de spiritism pentru Houdini Inainte de moartea sa, Houdini a spus ca ii va trimite sotiei sale un mesaj din lumea de dincolo, daca va fi posibil. In fiecare an, de Halloween, sotia sa organiza sedinte de spiritism, dar sotul ei nu a aparut niciodata. Dupa zece ani, in 1936, dupa o ultima incercare de a a lua legatura cu sotul ei defunct, ea a stins lumanarea pe care o tinea aprinsa inca de la moartea acestuia, spunand ca "am asteptat destul. Zece ani sunt o perioada de timp suficienta pentru a astepta un barbat". In orice caz, traditia a ramas, si chiar si in prezent, de Halloween, se organizeaza sedinte de spiritism pentru Houdini, tinute de Sidney H. Radner, un magician care poseda cea mai mare colectie de obiecte care i-ar fi apartinut lui Houdini.
Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-born American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer noted for his sensational escape acts. He was also a skeptic who set out to expose frauds purporting to be supernatural phenomena.
Harry Houdini was born as Erik Weisz (he later spelled his birth name as Ehrich Weiss) in Budapest, Hungary, on March 24, 1874. From 1907 on, however, Houdini would claim in interviews to have been born in Appleton, Wisconsin, on April 6, 1874.
His parents were Rabbi Mayer Samuel Weiss (1829–1892) and his wife, Cecelia (née Steiner; 1841–1913). Houdini was one of seven children: Herman M. (1863–1885); Nathan J. (1870–1927); Gottfried William (1872–1925); Theodore "Theo" (1876–1945); Leopold D. (1879–1962); and Gladys Carrie (born 1882–unknown year of death).
Weiss came to the United States on July 3, 1878, sailing on the SS Fresia with his mother (who was pregnant) and his four brothers. The family changed the Hungarian spelling of their German surname into Weiss (the German spelling) and the spelling of their son's name into Ehrich. Friends called him "Ehrie" or "Harry".
Houdini began his magic career in 1891. At the outset, he had little success. He performed in dime museums and sideshows, and even doubled as "The Wild Man" at a circus. Houdini focused initially 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 Houdini Brothers", Harry met fellow performer Wilhelmina Beatrice (Bess) Rahner, whom he married. Bess replaced Dash in the act, which became known as "The Houdinis." For the rest of Houdini's performing career, Bess would work as his stage assistant.
Houdini's "big break" came in 1899 when he met manager Martin Beck in rural Woodstock, Illinois. Impressed by Houdini's handcuffs act, Beck advised him to concentrate on escape acts and booked him on the Orpheum vaudeville circuit. Within months, he was performing at the top vaudeville houses in the country. In 1900, Beck arranged for Houdini to tour Europe. After some days of unsuccessful interviews in London, Houdini managed to interest Dundas Slater, then manager of the Alhambra Theatre. He gave a demonstration of escape from handcuffs at Scotland Yard, and succeeded in baffling the police so effectively that he was booked at the Alhambra for six months.
From 1907 and throughout the 1910s, Houdini performed with great success in the United States. He would free himself from jails, handcuffs, chains, ropes, and straitjackets, often while hanging from a rope in plain sight of street audiences. Because of imitators, on January 25, 1908, Houdini put his "handcuff act" behind him and began escaping from a locked, water-filled milk can. The possibility of failure and death thrilled his audiences. Houdini also expanded repertoire with his escape challenge act, in which he invited the public to devise contraptions to hold him. These included nailed packing crates (sometimes lowered into water), riveted boilers, wet-sheets, mailbags, and even the belly of a Whale that had washed ashore in Boston. Brewers challenged Houdini to escape from his milk can after they filled it with beer.
Many of these challenges were pre-arranged with local merchants in what is certainly one of the first uses of mass tie-in marketing. Rather than promote the idea that he was assisted by spirits, as did the Davenport Brothers and others, Houdini's advertisements showed him making his escapes via dematerializing, although Houdini himself never claimed to have supernatural powers.
In 1912, Houdini introduced perhaps his most famous act, the Chinese Water Torture Cell, in which he was suspended upside-down in a locked glass-and-steel cabinet full to overflowing with water. The act required that Houdini hold his breath for more than three minutes. Houdini performed the escape for the rest of his career. Despite two Hollywood movies depicting Houdini dying in the Torture Cell, the act had nothing to do with his death. Throughout his career, Houdini explained some of his tricks in books written for the magic brotherhood. In Handcuff Secrets (1909), he revealed how many locks and handcuffs could be opened with properly applied force, others with shoestring. Other times, he carried concealed lockpicks or keys, being able to regurgitate small keys at will. When tied down in ropes or straitjackets, he gained wiggle room by enlarging his shoulders and chest, moving his arms slightly away from his body, and then dislocating his shoulders.
His straitjacket escape was originally performed behind curtains, with him popping out free at the end. However, Houdini's brother, (who was also an escape artist, billing himself as Theodore Hardeen), discovered that audiences were more impressed when the curtains were eliminated so they could watch him struggle to get out. On more than one occasion, they both performed straitjacket escapes whilst dangling upside-down from the roof of a building for publicity.
In 1904, the London Daily Mirror newspaper challenged Houdini to escape from a special handcuff that it claimed had taken Nathaniel Hart, a locksmith from Birmingham, seven years to make. Houdini accepted the challenge for March 17 during a matinée performance at London's Hippodrome theater. It was reported that 4000 people and more than 100 journalists turned out for the much-hyped event. The escape attempt dragged on for over an hour, during which Houdini emerged from his "ghost house" (a small screen used to conceal the method of his escape) several times. On one occasion, he asked if the cuff could be removed so he could take off his coat. The Mirror representative, Frank Parker, refused, saying Houdini could gain an advantage if he saw how the cuff was unlocked. Houdini promptly took out a pen-knife and, holding the knife in his teeth, used it to cut his coat from his body. Some 56 minutes later, Houdini's wife appeared on stage and gave him a kiss. It is believed that in her mouth was the key to unlock the special handcuff. Houdini then went back behind the curtain. After an hour and ten minutes, Houdini emerged free. As he was paraded on the shoulders of the cheering crowd, he broke down and wept. Houdini later said it was the most difficult escape of his career.
Harry Houdini died of peritonitis, secondary to a ruptured appendix. Eyewitnesses to an incident in Montreal gave rise to speculation that Houdini's death was caused by a McGill University student, J. Gordon Whitehead, who delivered multiple blows to Houdini's abdomen to test Houdini's claim that he was able to take any blow to the body above the waist without injury.
The eyewitnesses, students named Jacques Price and Sam Smilovitz (sometimes called Jack Price and Sam Smiley), proffered accounts of the incident that generally corroborated one another. The following is Price's description of events:
Houdini was reclining on his couch after his performance, having an art student sketch him. When Whitehead came in and asked if it was true that Houdini could take any blow to the stomach, Houdini replied groggily in the affirmative. In this instance, he was hit three times before Houdini could tighten up his stomach muscles to avoid serious injury. Whitehead reportedly continued hitting Houdini several more times and Houdini acted as though he were in some pain.
Houdini reportedly stated that if he had time to prepare himself properly he would have been in a better position to take the blows. He had apparently been suffering from appendicitis for several days prior and yet refused medical treatment. His appendix would likely have burst on its own without the trauma. Although in serious pain, Houdini continued to travel without seeking medical attention.
Houdini died of peritonitis from a ruptured appendix at 1:26 p.m. in Room 401 on October 31, aged 52.
After taking statements from Price and Smilovitz, Houdini's insurance company concluded that the death was due to the dressing-room incident and paid double indemnity.
25 Writers Shaping My World
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| Originally Posted: 3/23/2009 |
- Na'im Akbar
- Scott Alexander
- Robert G. Allen
- Derrick Bell
- Octavia Butler
- Agatha Christie
- Jim Clingman
- Ralph Ellison
- Melvin Gravely II
- John Grisham
- Arthur Haley
- Robert Heinlein
- Napoleon Hill
- Kyra Hicks
- Robert Kiyosaki
- Louis L'Amour
- Tim Lahaye
- Robert Ludlum
- Og Mandino
- Walter Mosely
- Larry Niven
- Barack Obama
- Robert J. Ringer
- Ralph Wiley
- Richard Wright
A few of my AfroSpear colleagues have talked about starting a book club. However, we haven't moved very far with that idea. Maybe this meme will get us going.
The rules say that I'm supposed to tag 25 others. I am interested to see the 25 influential authors listed by La Shawn Barber, Necole Bitchie, Julius Clark, Mike Collins, Cheryl Contee, Kai Dupe, Milt Haynes, Karen, Danielle Lee, Los Angelista, Ajuan Mance, Marenda, Kevin Myles, Tariq Nelson, Keith Owens, Daryl Plummer, Monica Roberts, Cliff Samuel, Pam Spaulding, Baratunde Thurston, Urban Scientist, Jose Vilson, Shawn Williams, Oliver Willis and Womanist Musings.
The act of creating the list of influential authors makes me want to read more over the coming days and weeks. I'm currently reading 'Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (And Stick You With the Bill)' by David Cay Johnston. What are you reading now?
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