Houdini: A Life Worth Reading by Higher Read Page B

gauze, and the child had no other dress than a cap made of amianthine cloth.

 
XIII. Houdini, the Proud

 
Read It and Know It
     
    After reading this chapter, you will know more about
     
Houdinize: The magician was famous enough to inspire a new word.
Dash’s role: Houdini set up his brother as a false rival to try to control imitators.
The Houdina Company: Houdini allegedly smashed furniture in a rival’s office.
Jacob Hyman: Houdini’s old partner claimed a right to the Houdini name.
     

 
    By his mid-forties, Houdini had surpassed celebrity status and become a living legend. His image and name was known throughout the world, and a dictionary of the time even published an edition with the word “houdinize,” meaning to escape or to wriggle out of confinement or restraint. Houdini’s legend, however, is not without its detractors. Many magicians in Houdini’s time and now have criticized Houdini’s massive ego and his willingness to expose other magicians and to stretch the truth in order to stay on top of the magic world.
     
    In the magic community, Houdini was known as a fantastic egomaniac who believed that he was a deity among magicians and conjurers and who loved to talk about himself. Houdini’s writing of the Encyclopedia Britannica’s entry on “Conjurers” lends support to this opinion, as Houdini spoke only of his own contributions to magic without mentioning a single other magician. Houdini’s diary entries also reflect that he got angry when newspapers mentioned lesser magicians than he when he had also performed.
     
    Houdini’s fervor to debunk his original icon Robert-Houdin reflects a blinding desire to be known as the best conjurer and mystifier not only of his generation, but also in the history of magic. In fact, Houdini had rocky relationships with most other famous magicians of the time, including Harry Blackstone and Howard Thurston. The only magician that he ever came close to acknowledging might be equal or superior to himself was Heinrich Keller, an American-born magician with whom Houdini formed a close bond.
     
    Houdini’s zeal for crushing imitators is also indicative of the size and importance of his ego. While Houdini allowed that other magicians were technically permitted to also do escape tricks, he publically and privately reacted poorly when his imitators used his title, The King of Handcuffs, or the name Houdini. Houdini put ads in newspapers and magic magazines in England and the United States, warning that performers who used these titles would be prosecuted. Houdini tried to control his challengers by installing his younger brother Dash as his main rival. Knowing that Dash worshipped him and was content to remain in second place, Houdini gave Dash the name Hardeen and arranged for him to tour Europe and the States.
     
    Houdini’s ego also made itself known in other ways. A notable incident occurred at the Houdina Company in New York, where Houdini burst in to confront the owners for using his name. A rowdy scene ensued wherein Houdini reportedly smashed office furniture. Houdini was summoned to court the next day by Francis Houdina, the owner of the company, although Houdina later dropped the charges.
     
    Houdini was also notoriously litigious himself. He had a reputation of “raising hell” in theaters that broke contracts with him or that sued him for breaking contracts with them. At a show in Los Angeles, Houdini saw that the world heavyweight champion Jess Willard was in the crowd, and invited him to be part of the committee that sat on every stage to evaluate the authenticity of his methods. Willard refused, likely out of shyness, but when Houdini persisted, called Houdini a fake. Houdini quickly told Willard off and Willard was booed out of the theater. Houdini chastised Willard as he went, saying, “Don’t forget … I will be Harry Houdini when you are not the heavyweight champion of the world.” The public supported him and he took great delight in