The Great Houdini: His British Tours
This fascinating biography "brings to life the excitement and thrills" of the master escape artist's legendary turn-of-century tour in Great Britain (Lancashire Post).
 
Between 1900 and 1920, a century before endurance artist and street magician David Blaine, Hungarian-born Harry Houdini traveled Great Britain, performing in its major villages and cities. He befriended Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, immersed himself in spiritualism and most notably, escaped from jails, survived death-defying leaps into rivers while bound in chains, and executed amazing tricks and illusions. On each stop, he challenged locals to design "inescapable" contraptions. He was always triumphant, and his awesome, crowd-drawing feats made him the highest paid entertainer in the world at the time.
 
Extensively researched, The Great Houdini: His British Tours follows Houdini's decades-long UK tour through rare archival material, vintage newspaper clippings, photos, and original playbills and ballyhoo advertisements—many of which have not been seen since they were originally published. This "must read . . . cause for celebration . . . packed with new, fascinating facts" delivers a thrilling look into the life and career of history's greatest escapologist (Wild About Harry).
1125850486
The Great Houdini: His British Tours
This fascinating biography "brings to life the excitement and thrills" of the master escape artist's legendary turn-of-century tour in Great Britain (Lancashire Post).
 
Between 1900 and 1920, a century before endurance artist and street magician David Blaine, Hungarian-born Harry Houdini traveled Great Britain, performing in its major villages and cities. He befriended Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, immersed himself in spiritualism and most notably, escaped from jails, survived death-defying leaps into rivers while bound in chains, and executed amazing tricks and illusions. On each stop, he challenged locals to design "inescapable" contraptions. He was always triumphant, and his awesome, crowd-drawing feats made him the highest paid entertainer in the world at the time.
 
Extensively researched, The Great Houdini: His British Tours follows Houdini's decades-long UK tour through rare archival material, vintage newspaper clippings, photos, and original playbills and ballyhoo advertisements—many of which have not been seen since they were originally published. This "must read . . . cause for celebration . . . packed with new, fascinating facts" delivers a thrilling look into the life and career of history's greatest escapologist (Wild About Harry).
11.99 In Stock
The Great Houdini: His British Tours

The Great Houdini: His British Tours

by Derek Tait
The Great Houdini: His British Tours

The Great Houdini: His British Tours

by Derek Tait

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$11.99 

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Overview

This fascinating biography "brings to life the excitement and thrills" of the master escape artist's legendary turn-of-century tour in Great Britain (Lancashire Post).
 
Between 1900 and 1920, a century before endurance artist and street magician David Blaine, Hungarian-born Harry Houdini traveled Great Britain, performing in its major villages and cities. He befriended Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, immersed himself in spiritualism and most notably, escaped from jails, survived death-defying leaps into rivers while bound in chains, and executed amazing tricks and illusions. On each stop, he challenged locals to design "inescapable" contraptions. He was always triumphant, and his awesome, crowd-drawing feats made him the highest paid entertainer in the world at the time.
 
Extensively researched, The Great Houdini: His British Tours follows Houdini's decades-long UK tour through rare archival material, vintage newspaper clippings, photos, and original playbills and ballyhoo advertisements—many of which have not been seen since they were originally published. This "must read . . . cause for celebration . . . packed with new, fascinating facts" delivers a thrilling look into the life and career of history's greatest escapologist (Wild About Harry).

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781473867963
Publisher: Pen & Sword History
Publication date: 02/20/2019
Sold by: OPEN ROAD INTEGRATED - EBKS
Format: eBook
Pages: 304
File size: 59 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Derek Tait is a full-time author who lives in Plymouth. Born in 1961, he lived his early years in Singapore and Malaysia and has written several books about his time there, including Sampans, Banyans and Rambutans. A former photographer and cartoonist, his work has been featured in newspapers and magazines around the world. Being a keen historian, his books include 1950s Childhood, A 1960's Childhood, A 1970s Childhood, and several Great War books for Pen & Sword. He has also written many local history books, including _Plymouth at War, Saltash Passage, St Budeaux, Mount Edgcumbe,_ and _Images of Plymouth: Stonehouse._

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

Chapter 1 1900 - The First Tour 1

Chapter 2 1901 - Bradford 13

Chapter 3 1902 - Houdini Returns 21

Chapter 4 1903 - Further Shows 41

Chapter 5 1904 - The Mirror Challenge 49

Chapter 6 1905 - Hilbert and Evanion 95

Chapter 7 1907 - University Matinee, Sheffield 121

Chapter 8 1908 - Suffragettes and Safes 125

Chapter 9 1909 - The Water Can Escape 133

Chapter 10 1910 - Tarpaulins and Cannons 163

Chapter 11 1911 - The Brewers' Challenge 173

Chapter 12 1913 -The Water Torture Cell 193

Chapter 13 1914 - The Grand Magical Revue 223

Chapter 14 1919 - Houdini's Highest Earnings 249

Chapter 15 1920 - The Final Tour 255

Chapter 16 Timeline of Appearances and Events 275

Acknowledgements 281

Bibliography 283

Index 287

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