Harry Houdini grew up as Ehrich Weiss, the son of a Jewish rabbi who could not keep a job because he spoke no English. When Ehrich turned twelve, his father called him to his bedside. “I am poor in this world’s goods, but rich in the wonderful woman God gave me as my wife and your mother. Promise me that after I am gone your dear mother will never want for anything.” Young Ehrich put his hand on his father’s holy book. “I promise with all my heart and soul.” His father died of cancer, and Ehrich worked as a messenger boy, cutting neckties, boxing, and giving all of his money to his mother, Cecilia.

At seventeen, he changed his name to Houdini and performed magic at Coney Island, married Bess Rahner, and traveled the vaudeville circuit for a decade, but it wasn’t enough to do magic. He wanted to use his sharp intellect and powerful body to do things that had never been done.

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