Google has marked Harry Houdini’s 137th Birthday with a retro looking Google Doodle. Houdini was born on 24th March in 1874, his real name Ehrich Weisz was replaced with his stage name – Harry Houdini.
Houdini was famous for a variety of spectacular escape tricks of which his most famous was the Chinese Water Torture Cell. Houdini was suspended above the tank restrained in chains and lowered into the tank; he had to unlock padlocks which in many cases took over 3 minutes – all of which was underwater. This is but one of the acts that gained him notoriety as one of the greatest escapologists of all time.
Today’s Doodle shows Houdini in his stage gear, suited and booted with wrist shackles and chains. The logo takes on a retro style that would have been used to advertise Houdini’s stage shows.
Houdini died aged only 52 from peritonitis – this has recently been refuted by relatives who are seeking permission to exhume his body to run tests for suspected poisoning. On his deathbed Houdini remained humble despite his celebrity status, he said to the doctor: “The difference between me and you is that you actually do things for people. I, in almost every respect, am a fake.”
Happy Birthday Harry Houdini – the great Houdini lives!
