Episode #170- Who Knows Houdini? (Part III)

Our Fake History

PodcastOne

History, Education, Society & Culture

4.7 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 10 January 2023

⏱️ 87 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Houdini had a truly impressive run as an entertainer. In the decade between 1904 and 1913 he developed a number of escapes and illusions that are still considered the gold-standard for stage magicians. Houdini's "Milk Can" and "Chinese Water Torture" escapes are still inspiring magicians to this day. Houdini's stock and trade was deception and yet by the early 1920's he became tireless campaigner against people he considered frauds. He became convinced that "spiritualist mediums" were using magicians tricks to con grieving families into believing that they could communicate with the dead. He believed that his quest to expose the spiritualists would become his greatest legacy. Sadly, Houdini's life was cut short after a strange incident in Montreal. Is there more to the story of Houdini's death? Tune-in and find out how Orson Wells, Sherlock Holms, and ectoplasmic goo all play a role in the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, this is Chris Sauer from the Plugin' With Chris R Podcast, and I'm taking the Mavericks
0:03.4	over the Hawks in their Game Wednesday, January 18th.
0:06.1	Bedolon has three odds and lines available online or on your mobile device.
0:09.4	Visit Bedolon.net today.
0:17.9	There's a story.
0:19.1	The before World War I swallowed Europe, Houdini got a chance to tour Russia.
0:25.6	While there, he was invited by Zar Nicholas II and the Empress Alexandra to perform
0:31.0	in front of the Royal Family while they were staying in Moscow.
0:35.6	It was well known that the Russian Royals had a special interest in magic, conjurers,
0:41.4	and spiritual gurus.
0:43.8	Houdini's performances around Europe had clearly peaked their interest.
0:49.4	So the master magician was given a special invitation to perform for the Romanov's and their
0:55.2	guests within the walls of the Kremlin.
0:59.7	We're told that even Russ Sputon himself joined the royals to carefully observe the
1:06.4	world famous Houdini.
1:10.4	The performance for the Romanov's began with Houdini performing a number of his trademark
1:15.0	illusions and escapes.
1:17.7	But for his finale, Houdini passed out small slips of paper to everyone in attendance.
1:25.0	On the slips, each audience member was to write down some miracle that they wished for him
1:30.1	to perform.
1:31.7	All they needed to do was think of some incredible occurrence and Houdini would make it happen
1:37.8	right there on the spot.
	...

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