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Houdini's marriage skipped a lot of modern steps. These steps in include dating for a few years (typically) proposing by getting down on one knee(again typically), and even being a fiance for a while(also again typically). Houdini's marriage went hello, hi, lets get married. Although this can happen in modern America it doesn't normally and it isn't the social norm. Although norms change a lot and 110 years ago this worked and got you the girl. Most of what Houdini did social wise was much different because he was presenting to a different generation but one thing is still the same he got married.

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Harry Houdini celebrate having a weekly salary of 1000$ which in that times was a lot. Modern day the average salary weekly for Americans is 930$ which is only a 70$ difference from someone considered rich. Now if we add inflation from the last 110 years to Houdini's weekly earnings would be equivalent to $29,249.07 a week. This is huge this shows how what Houdini was so excited about would be today. Ask almost any American today if they would like to have a salary of $29,249.07 weekly and they will say yes just like if you asked any American in 1912 if they would a salary of 1,000$

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Houdini tied the knot at age 20 in 1894. Harry Houdini married Wilhelmina Beatrice Rahner who went by Beatrice. Houdini was performing at a 16 year old girls birthday party when she approached him. She said she liked him, to that he replied how much, is it enough to marry me. Just like magic they were married. Beatrice stayed with Houdini till the day he died and she assisted him many time on stage and became his magic partner.

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Although unable t fight in the war Houdini insisted on helping the best he could. This involved giving free performances to the soldiers in training. For 2 years of his life went around training camps to try and give the soldiers high spirits and make them happy campers. He did tricks that involved money going to the soldiers and ended up giving around 7,000$ in gold pieces. Along with that Houdini used his fame and publicity to sell over 1,000,000$ in liberty bonds. Houdini helped war causes the best he could even though he himself was ineligible to fight.

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In 1917 when Houdini was 43 America entered WWI. Houdini wanted to help protect the place he called home so he registered to enlist. Houdini wrote to his friend telling how he was joining and from the tone of the letter he sounded excited to serve. Although his eager spirit he was rejected due to his age being 43. Although he could not fit he still wanted to do his part. "In 1917, when America joined the first world war, Houdini wrote to a friend: 'I register tomorrow for enlisting. HURRAH, now I am one of the boys.' He was by then forty-three, and rejected on grounds of age"(33).

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One thing that stuck with Houdini was the fact that he was the son of a rabbi. In the art of magic and illusion they were quite a few fellow magicians who were also sons of rabbi. When Houdini was 44 or in 1918 he found his on association. This association was called Rabbi's Son Theatrical Association. The members of this association were all sons of rabbi. Houdini being the founder of course made him self the president of the company.

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In 1912 when Houdini would be 38 life started finally turning for the better. Houdini was now making 1000$ weekly for his performances. People were loving him but he was only thinking about one thing. When he was going to get his check he asked for it in gold (coins). When he got the coins he went to his moms house and dumped it in her apron. This reference make to one of the first magic things he did, where he put gold in his clothes then his mom shook him and it all fell out. "When many years later (in 1912), he finally achieved a salary of$1,000 a week in New York, he requested his first week's pay in god, drove straight to his mother with the bag of coins and emptied them into her apron"(30).

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After Houdini had his enlightening moment his farther wasn't to stoked. Houdini had a job that was supporting the family and now he was throwing it away to purse an art. This uncertainty made the rabbi uneasy as the future was no longer secure. Although he didn't have a lot of time to voice this concerned because he passed away in 1892, when Houdini was just 18. Although Houdini's father wasn't the best at providing for the family, he was still family and important to Houdini is some way shape or form. "What rabbi would wish to see his brightest son throw up a steady job in the shatteh a business where Jewish boys traditionally make good (or at least make a living), in order to take up the uncertain life of traveling conjure? Rabbi Weiss had little time to brood: in 1892, almost as soon as the decision had been taken, he made the final abdication and died" (30).

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At age 17 Houdini read a book that would change his life. This book was the memoirs of Robert Houdin, a great French magician. This book talked about Roberts magic career and this inspired Houdini (at the time still Ehrich) to learn the art and become a magician. Houdini took so much inspiration for Robert that he made is stage name Harry Houdini. He thought Houdini was close enough to Houdin to pay his respect to the inspiration.

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Harry Houdini was an amazing illusionist that new a lot about locks. As perversely stated when he was younger he was good a picking locks. The locks he picked then are not the locks he pick now. Many locks are becoming electronic for things like doors, safes and cars. While many of the locks like key locks still exist they are much more complex. If Houdini was in the modern world he would have trouble stealing the pie that used to be a breeze. Its cool to see how things change over time and how one of the thing Houdini was best know for might be a struggle for him in life now.

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When you think about it, keys are irritating-they're bulky, you've got to keep track of them, and your keychain just picks up more and more of them as time goes by. A convenient alternative is an electronic lock: In the middle ground between traditional keyed locks and fully connected smart locks, these keyless locks open with a code entered on a touchscreen or a keypad. Their ability to add or delete multiple user codes comes close to a smart lock's versatility, but using these doesn't require any kind of connected device. We tested six electronic locks, and the Yale YRD256 Assure Lock SL offers the best combination of security, features, and overall looks.

Our pick

The Yale YRD256 Assure Lock SL has an excellent interface that makes it simple to use, program, and adjust feature settings. The touchscreen buttons are easy to press, even with bulky gloves on. The lock offers a wide array of customizations that others don't have, such as volume control, language options, and a feature that automatically locks the door behind you. It can hold up to 25 unique codes and has the second-highest ANSI security rating. The Yale was also the most attractive among those we tested, taking up the smallest footprint and having the lowest profile. It is not a smart lock so it can't be controlled through a phone or device, but unlike the others, it can be retrofitted with a smart module at a later date, giving it full connectivity.

Runner-up

If the Yale is not available, or if you prefer the hands-on feel of turning the deadbolt yourself, we like the Schlage BE365 Keypad Deadbolt. The deadbolt on the Schlage doesn't automatically retract like it does on the Yale, so once the code is entered, it still needs to be turned and unlocked manually. The Schlage has a higher security grade than the Yale, but it lacks a few features (like language options) and is also a little fussier to program.

Everything we recommend

Our pick

Runner-up

The research
Collapse all

We've been covering locks for years, including traditional keyed locks and smart locks. We've spoken to locksmiths, security experts, and manufacturers. We've installed locks, tested them, and even picked them to arrive at the best recommendations.

An electronic lock opens via a code entered into a keypad or touchscreen. It's keyless convenience but stops short of device connectivity. "They're not for someone looking to automate their entire life," Leimer told us. They're for people who "understand the value of being able to assign codes or not carry a key or they may even just like the look and feel of having the electronics on their door."

These locks typically accept around 15 to 20 codes, so you could have one number for your family, one for a dog walker, and another for a plumber who is working on your house. Codes can be added or deleted at any time. There is no longer a need to give someone a key (that could be copied) or to hide one under the mat. So, for example, a code could be given to a contractor while work is going on, but once the job is done, the code can be deleted. There are also benefits for those with kids too young to handle the responsibility of keeping a key safe and in their possession.

If you want to keep it super simple

After 40 hours of research and interviews with locksmiths and security experts, the Schlage B60N deadbolt is the best door lock for most homes-it's tough, secure, widely available, and universally recommended.

We began our selection process by narrowing the field based on security ratings and manufacturer reputation. After seeing the finalists firsthand, ease of use proved to be a major factor in our ultimate decisions. Here are the criteria:

Security grade of 2 or higher: As a basic requirement, all of the locks we considered had an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) security grade of either 1 (the highest) or 2 (out of a possible 3). Both are considered acceptable for residential use, and these ratings, sometimes listed as a Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) rating, are at times described as an ANSI/BHMA rating. This grading is based on testing involving durability, security, and finish. To attain Grade 1, a lock must withstand 1 million open/close cycles and hold up against 10 strikes from 75 pounds of force. Grade 2 is 800,000 open/closes and five strikes from 75 pounds of force.

Reputable manufacturer: With the security of your home at stake, we only considered locks from long-standing reputable lock manufacturers. We wanted a recommendation that would have good availability, reliable customer service, and a credible warranty. That meant avoiding unknown brands with rudimentary websites and no apparent phone number. Fortunately, even limiting our search to models priced reasonably (under $200, approximately), we had multiple options from three established companies: Yale, Kwikset, and Schlage.

Easy to use: On paper, our finalists looked fairly similar: All were programmable with roughly 15 to 20 codes, all had some kind of a backlit display, and so on. The true distinctions emerged in firsthand tests, when we could look beyond the spec sheets and see what it would be like to live with these.

For our testing, we installed multiple locks on a single 2-by-10-foot board and used them daily for more than a month. Using this test rig (rather than actual doors) allowed us to easily run tests side by side in a standardized setting, removing the variety of fit and operation issues common to exterior doors, many of which can affect any lock's performance. In tests, we looked for the models with the simplest programming process and the most customization of the options, like volume and the timed auto-lock setting. We noted how loud each lock was and how the buttons felt and responded to our fingers, with and without gloves on. We also wanted a model that had clear and easy-to-reference instructions.

We specifically looked at deadbolts, but most of the models we tested have handled versions. So if your home does not have a deadbolt, you can still swap in the electronic locks that we recommend.

Our pick: Yale YRD256 Assure Lock SL

The Yale has a very nice interface. When not in use, the touchscreen stays blank and is activated by drawing a few fingers across it or tapping it with the back of a hand. This initial step keeps the screen constantly smudged, so fingerprints don't just sit over the code numbers. When activated, the backlit numbers are easy to read and have a nice sensitivity. We rarely missed a number or hit the wrong one, even while wearing leather work gloves. While pressing the numbers, a tone sounds and a voice occasionally chimes in ("Time expired"). None of the other models have a voice, and the beep on the Yale is much nicer than the Kwikset harsh digital tone. If you find these sounds distracting, they can be muted.

Programming the Yale lock is easy. It's all done through the front keypad, and the voice prompts you through the process, similar to an automated phone menu. It's helpful to keep the instructions nearby, but we used them less and less as time went on. Other models, specifically the Kwiksets, were much harder to program and included taking apart the interior portion of the lock to access a programming button and tiny switches. Because the Yale programming is so quick and simple, we found it easier to experiment with different settings for a few days at a time in order to find the ones that best suited us.

The Yale also offers the most customization. It has three volume settings (high, low, and mute), three language settings (English, Spanish, and French), and a number of auto-lock settings, which lock the door behind you after a pre-established duration. This feature can be disabled or set to 30 seconds, 60 seconds, two minutes or three minutes. This gives a little time if you're bringing groceries or packages in from the car or if you have kids in tow that slowly wander in the house behind you like little lost ducklings. The Schlage models don't have this feature at all, and the Kwikets can only be set to 30 seconds.

A unique feature of the Yale is that it can be upgraded to a smart lock with the installation of a small module on the inside portion of the lock ( Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, HomeKit, Z-Wave, or Z-Wave Plus, depending on your system and needs). With these smart features installed, the Yale lock still stands above the competition and is the kind of lock we'd include in our guide to the best smart locks. The other electronic locks are "as is," so an upgrade to smart technology requires the purchase of an entirely new lock. This feature makes the Yale a nice stepping stone if you like the idea of an electronic lock and feel you may want to upgrade to a smart version at a later date.

Last, the Yale has the most streamlined look of any lock we tested. This is subjective, and the logo on the interior side is a little too noticeable for our tastes, but what can't be disputed is that the exterior portion of the Yale has the lowest profile and the smallest footprint. The rounded edges and a stylish metallic trim add to the nice look. The only close competitor in this department is the Kwikset Obsidian, but that lock doesn't compare with the Yale in most other areas.

At $140, the Yale is on the upper middle end of the price range. It is available in brass, bronze, or satin nickel.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Keyless entry plus smartphone connectivity

A smart lock lets you go key-free and control your door from afar. Our pick, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro, is small, attractive, versatile, and reliable.

Runner-up: Schlage BE365 Keypad Deadbolt

If the Yale Assure is not available or if you're not ready to go with a fully automated electronic lock, we like the Schlage BE365 Keypad Deadbolt. With this lock, the keypad only unlocks the ability to use the deadbolt, it does not withdraw or extend the deadbolt itself-you still need to twist the thumb turn manually. The Schlage was the only lock we tested with the highest security grade of 1, and it has a traditional keyway that can open the door, in case the battery dies or if that's your preference. It's a bulky lock and has none of the streamlined fit and finish of the Yale, but the tactile nature of the keypad buttons and the manual deadbolt are satisfying, and we appreciated the added security of the higher ANSI grade.

The Schlage lock is not as automated as the rest. Once the code is entered, the lock makes a little click, which frees the deadbolt so it can then be controlled by the thumb turn. The code doesn't retract the deadbolt automatically, like on the Yale and most of the others. Schlage's Leimer explained the appeal of the manual lock: "A lot of people like the idea of knowing that their deadbolt actually locked because they turned the bolt themselves." During testing we felt the nice satisfaction of manually engaging with the deadbolt.

The BE365 has a keyway, so there is a traditional backup if the battery dies (or the key can just be used like a normal lock). So, in a way, the Schlage is like a traditional deadbolt, but with an added keypad option. It does not have the 9-volt terminals, like the Yale.

The buttons on the Schlage are large and pronounced, and it's easy to tell when one has been pressed. They're spaced apart enough that bulky gloves don't pose an issue. In a low-light situation, the top "Schlage" button activates a backlight to the numbers.

Of all the tested models, the Schlage BE365 is the least streamlined. Even Leimer mentioned this to us: "It's big and bulky and beefy looking." The keyway is integrated into the thumb turn, creating a large protrusion out the front of the lock.

We tested three Kwiksets: Obsidian, SmartCode 915, and SmartCode 913. While they differ from one another in the keypad/touchscreen style and the backup option (one has the 9-volt terminals, two have the keyway), the guts and functions are all similar. Programming these is much more difficult than with both the Yale and the Schlage. To add or delete codes or change any options, the cover needs to be removed from the interior portion of the lock, which requires taking out two very small set screws, which are just begging to be dropped (we lost one). This reveals a programming button (to add or delete codes) and a series of almost microscopic switches to alter the other functions, like volume control or to disable the auto lock. These switches are so small, we used a toothpick to move them, and even that felt bulky.

Beyond this, the Kwikset models don't have the versatility of the Yale lock. The volume is either off or on, and the auto-lock can only be set to 30 seconds, and not up to three minutes like with the Yale. The deadbolt is also slightly delayed compared with the Yale, taking two seconds to fully engage or retract, as opposed to just one. Last, the movement of the deadbolt is much louder than with the Yale, emitting a whine as it moves.

About your guide

Doug Mahoney is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering home improvement. He spent 10 years in high-end construction as a carpenter, foreman, and supervisor. He lives in a very demanding 250-year-old farmhouse and spent four years gutting and rebuilding his previous home. He also raises sheep and has a dairy cow that he milks every morning.

After 40 hours of research and interviews with locksmiths and security experts, the Schlage B60N deadbolt is the best door lock for most homes-it's tough, secure, widely available, and universally recommended.

A smart lock lets you go key-free and control your door from afar. Our pick, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro, is small, attractive, versatile, and reliable.

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When you think about it, keys are irritating-they're bulky, you've got to keep track of them, and your keychain just picks up more and more of them as time goes by. A convenient alternative is an electronic lock: In the middle ground between traditional keyed locks and fully connected smart locks, these keyless locks open with a code entered on a touchscreen or a keypad.

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This video shows that in 2013, 9 years ago the trick that Houdini did is still being done. After many years the trick that Houdini loved is still alive. In the description of the video you can see that Houdini is mentioned and payed honor too. This proves that this trick although he didn't invent it is represent by his love for it. Although the proper name for it is the Substitution Trunk most illusionist call it the Metamorphosis trick after Houdini.

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Houdini was fascinated with a much different circus then we see now. No are circus are filled with bright colorful lights, crazy music and sound effects, and things like smoke machines and moving doors. Back when Houdini went to the circus it was simple. You would just sit in the stand and watch people on elephants, tiger tamers, and pretty ladies dancing. To get into the circus now a days you must go throw applications and hiring process. This differs from Houdini's time because he just walked in and connived them to let him into the show last minute.

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"Da Oben" - Ekaterina Shustova in Flic Flac The Modern art of Circus, 2015

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Houdini's consumption of alcohol and drugs was effected by his father and his disapproval for moral reasons and his coach said they were bad for him. Since Houdini was quite athletic and he might have been able to make a career out of it so made sure to keep drugs/alcohol out of his system. He was a fairly strong swimmer and able to swim quite fast. Houdini was also a great runner. At age 16 he was able to win a prize from the AAAU for the mile run. Although soon after he was disqualified for competed in some unapproved games.

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Right after circus life Houdini found a new fascination locks. Houdini was good at picking locks from the young age of 9. His mother would make pie and lock it up so her kids would not be able to eat it before it was time. Although when she came back to the pie to find it all eaten she was mightily confused. Upon realization of his talent with locks Houdini's parents signed him up for an apprenticeship are a locksmith. He was quite good at his apprenticeship and he now had a new love for locks. " A publicity pamphlet tells how is mother locked up her larder so that he sons shouldn't raid it, whereupon Ehrich learned how to picks the lock, leaving Mrs. Weiss mystified when she found the door still locked and the pie plate empty" (25&26).

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When Houdini was 9 the circus came to his town and he was thrilled. He was fascinated by the performances but the magician act especially stood out. It was the one where a persons limbs were cut off this hypnotized Houdini as at time he did not know how it was done and this moment stuck with him. One time when a visiting circus was in town he convinced them to give him 35 cents to do a trick. This trick consisted of him hanging upside down and picking up needles with his eyelashes. This was Houdini's first ever public performance even though it wasn't magic. " Various stories exist of his childhood exploits. According to on of these, his first public performance was at the age of nine, when he persuaded a visiting circus to pay him thirty-five cents to demonstrate his virtuosity at hanging upside down and picking up needles with his eyelashes" (25).

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Although a lot of what Houdini said to the press was made up one thing that is true is his relationship to Compar Herrman. Compar was a famous magician also, he performed before Abraham Lincoln at the White House. Although the relationship was there second cousins and all that stuff and Houdini never met him didn't mean he wasn't inspired. When he was a kids is when he found out the relationship was instantly fascinated. Houdini mentioned him a few times in the press and how Compar was one of his inspirations.

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After traveling around America looking for jobs Houdini ended up in New York. While there he found his father Samuel Weiss. He was running a Jew school there in New York. Working with what Houdini's farther was earning and what Houdini had made they put it together to buy a flat. They then moved they entire family into this flat and had to live off of very little. "Ehrich did not return to Milwaukee, but worked his way over the next two year to New York. There he found his father, whom he had left in Milwaukee but who had decided to try his luck running a Hebrew school in the city with the biggest Jewish population in America ... He and Ehrich put their money together and found a flat" (22).

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When Houdini was 12 his father gave up since his job was unsuccessful. This left Houdini to take care of his mother. He was about to hit puberty and decided to having a fresh start would give him a better opportunity in life. He bought a train ticket hoping to go to Galvaston Texas. Unfortunately (at the time) he got the wrong ticket and ended up in Kansas

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Life in the 1880's was short and Houdini witnessed it. The first but defiantly not last death Houdini witnessed was of his older brother. Houdini's siblings consisted of 4 brother and 1 sister. When is brother died 1885, Houdini was 11. Seeing death changed his perspective a bit on life and may have impacted Houdini in ways that were never shared. "In 1885, when he was eleven, Ehrich's elder half-brother Herman died of tuberculosis" (21).

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Early life for Houdini was tough since they were living off the salary of a rabbi. This required Houdini to get small day jobs like selling newspapers and shining shoes. This was most defiantly needed due to the unsuitability of his fathers work. The need of money had to come for where ever they could get it so Houdini played his part and got day jobs. Along with his day job in Milwaukee Houdini was sent to an enforced study where he wrote a letter to his mother about how he hated it there. This study was good for him since he didn't get an education so he couldn't read or write very well or if at all.

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Houdini's farther was not getting many job offers in Appleton so they got up and moved to Milwaukee where there were more Jews. Houdini's farther was a rabbi which is a religious leader for Jews. In Milwaukee the search for a job for Samuel Weiss begin. Between 1883 and 1887 it was estimated that the Weiss family moved at least 5 times. This was either to get a cheaper home or staying ahead of the rent collectors. "Without the rabbi's stipend life could not be sustained in Appleton. So they moved Milwaukee, a large city with more Jews who might want what Rabbi Weiss had to offer. But his success, or lack of it,may be judged by the number of times they moved from one address to the another in that city. They made at least five moves between 1883 and 1887" (20).

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Before this show Houdini had done a lot of other tricks. He wanted the first trick he did on a professional stage to be special. He decided on doing a trick called "Substitution Trunk" but, Houdini preferred to call it "Metamorphosis". This ticked involved a giant trunk where Houdini would go in and then he would lock it. Through illusion Houdini would end up out of the box while the partner was in the trunk while the trunk still stayed locked. "The very first trick ever performed bu Houdini on the professional stage was a simple but effective illusion known generally as the 'Substitution Trunk,' though he perferrd to call it 'Metamorphosis'"(14).

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A lot of what Houdini claimed was false. One of the major things he lied about was his birth. He said he was born April 6th 1874 in Appleton Wisconsin. Well this in fact is lie, there is no birth certificate to proves although there is a certificate saying otherwise. This certificate says the Erich Weiss (Harry Houdini was a name he made for himself) was born March 24th in Budapest Hungary. "Houdini himself would always give his date of birth a 6 April 1874 and it place Appleton. But there is no record of him being born in Wisconsin, ... there is a certificate attesting to his birth–or the birth of an Erik Weiss–in Budapest on 24 March 1874"(13).

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When talking to the press about his life Houdini spun many tales. He told the press that his family was royalty in Budapest at that he was a prince. He said his farther (a king) had fallen out of line and they were forced to move causing them to end up in Appleton Wisconsin . Even after Houdini had passed his wife and sister kept up the fairy tale like lie. They would pretend to recall memories or stories about Houdini's past to feed to the press.

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Houdini was born in Budapest to Cecilia and Samuel Weiss. When he was four his family migrated from Budapest to escape antisemitism. Since his family was Jewish staying in Budapest could have been dangerous. His family didn't have a lot of money since his dad was a rabbi and didn't get paid a lot. With the fear of staying the Weiss family packed up and moved to Appleton Wisconsin "What did Cecilia Weiss imagine when, with her five boys, including Ehrich (future Houdini), then age four, she left Budapest, that most European of cities, for New York? The Weiss were on the run from anti-Semitism" (10).