Houdini in Chicago

Houdini (right) in Chicago

Chicago, like Boston and NYC is another city very important in the life of Harry Houdini. His first appearance in Chicago was during the 1893 Columbian Exposition also known as the World's Fair. According to Pat Culliton Houdini was there, along with Jacob Hyman and Dash. Several of the Houdini biographies suggest that the 'Brothers Houdini' presented the Metamorphosis on the mile long midway.

The Holocaust Conjurer

The 20th Century was a time of great extremes. In the early part of the century we saw the introduction of radio and movies. Advances in the automobile and the airplane changed the way we traveled. By the end of the 20th Century we had ventured into space and even landed men on the moon and returned them safely to earth.

However, the century was not without it’s darker moments. The globe suffered through two world wars as well as numerous other conflicts. Diseases would continue to wipe out millions of people despite our best efforts. And probably the worst, man against man event was the Holocaust during World War II. This was what the Nazis called “The Final Solution” to solve the Jewish problem. They would wipe out the Jewish race from the face of the earth. What could be more wicked and evil than that? What kind of people can consider this kind of thing let alone actually do it? And yet, today in the 21st Century, there are still wicked people in the world with this mindset.

WILD ABOUT HARRY: The untold story of Hardeen Jr.

John Cox has done it again. This article on his blog is a great piece of historical detective work. It's a MUST READ! And when you're finished reading about Douglas Geoffrey the successor to Hardeen, come back and read about Houdini's Forgetten Protege, Leonard Hicks.

WILD ABOUT HARRY: The untold story of Hardeen Jr.: "Recently I had the pleasure of speaking with the nephew of Douglas Geoffrey aka 'Hardeen Jr.' Despite the fact that Geoffrey was the offici..."