Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini was the stage name of Erik Weisz, a Hungarian-born American magician and escape artist who became the most famous illusionist of the early twentieth century.
He was renowned for escaping from handcuffs, straitjackets, and locked containers, often while submerged in water.
His name has become synonymous with seemingly impossible escapes or feats of evasion: The suspect pulled a Houdini and vanished before police arrived.
Locking wrist restraints
- straitjacketGarment restricting arm movement
- shacklesMetal bonds for prisoners
- chainsLinked metal restraints
- manaclesWrist shackles for prisoners
escapology · lockpick · milk can · confinement · extrication · contortionist · dexterity · breakout
One who disproves falsehoods
- séanceSpirit communication ritual
- spiritualistGhost communicator believer
- mediumMiddle size or state
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
exposé · charlatan · psychic · Scientific American · supernatural · hoax · trickery · investigation
Theatrical variety entertainment
- showmanDramatic, attention-grabbing performer
- spectacleVisually striking event
- theatricalExaggeratedly emotional for effect
- entertainerOne who amuses others
headliner · touring · publicity stunt · crowd · applause · stage · spotlight · box office
Performer of visual deception
- conjurerPerformer of magic tricks
- prestidigitatorPractitioner of legerdemain
- sleight of handSkillful manual deception
- stage magicPerformed illusory feats
vanishing · levitation · card tricks · disappearing act · misdirection · trapdoor · secret compartment · assistant
Pictorial screen symbol
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- immortalizedMade permanently remembered
- namesakeOne sharing another's name
- mythologyBody of traditional tales
legacy · famous · renowned · household name · era-defining · historic · influential · remembered
handcuffs
Locking wrist restraints
- straitjacketGarment restricting arm movement
- shacklesMetal bonds for prisoners
- chainsLinked metal restraints
manacles · escapology · lockpick · milk can · confinement · extrication · contortionist · dexterity · breakout · liberation
debunker
One who disproves falsehoods
- séanceSpirit communication ritual
- spiritualistGhost communicator believer
- mediumMiddle size or state
fraud · exposé · charlatan · psychic · Scientific American · supernatural · hoax · trickery · investigation · Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
vaudeville
Theatrical variety entertainment
- showmanDramatic, attention-grabbing performer
- spectacleVisually striking event
- theatricalExaggeratedly emotional for effect
entertainer · headliner · touring · publicity stunt · crowd · applause · stage · spotlight · box office · audience
illusionist
Performer of visual deception
- conjurerPerformer of magic tricks
- prestidigitatorPractitioner of legerdemain
- sleight of handSkillful manual deception
stage magic · vanishing · levitation · card tricks · disappearing act · misdirection · trapdoor · secret compartment · assistant · props
icon
Pictorial screen symbol
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- immortalizedMade permanently remembered
- namesakeOne sharing another's name
mythology · legacy · famous · renowned · household name · era-defining · historic · influential · remembered · celebrated
- MagiciansDavid Copperfield, Copperfield, Penn and Teller, Penn, Teller
- HungariansFranz Liszt, Saint Stephen
- Paranormal ResearchersRhine, ghost hunters
- paranormalghosts, paranormal, haunting, poltergeist, apparition
- Radio EntertainersJack Benny, George Burns, Bob Hope, Mel Blanc, Rochester
- spiritualismseance, mediumship, seances, medium, channeling
Harry Houdinijailer
Prison guard
captor · warden · prison guard · Alcatraz · Devil's Island
Harry HoudiniArthur Conan Doyle
psychic · clairvoyant · channeler · fortune teller · mystic