WILD ABOUT HARRY (HOUDINI)

DID YOU KNOW...That it was 100 years go this year that Harry Houdini passed away? Appropriately enough, on Halloween 1926, Houdini made his final escape into what lies beyond.

You need to remember that back before television, in fact before talking motion pictures, live performances were very popular. Even radio was still in its infancy. At that time, Harry Houdini was THE performer. He was an international superstar. He grabbed headlines wherever he went. Not only was he a skilled entertainer, but he was also wonderful when it came to self-promotion.

How good was he? Well, consider this. Virtually nobody alive today saw Houdini perform in person. Still, his name is synonymous with magic and escapes. How many people have named their pets "Houdini" because they have a knack for getting out of cages or back yards? His fame lives on.

Harry Houdini was the 11th President of the Society of American Magicians, the world's oldest and most prestigious magic organization. A decade ago I was honored to become the 100th President of that same organization. To say that it was an honor would be an understatement. On July 2nd the Society of American Magicians is going to try to set a new world record for the largest number of magicians to perform an escape at the same time. It will be held in Appleton, Wisconsin, the boyhood home of Harry Houdini. I am proud not only to be participating in this event, but also to be one of the organizers.

I've heard it said that you die twice. Once when you pass away and once when your name is spoken for the last time. If this statement is true, then I think that Harry Houdini will only be half-dead for a long, long time.