No, many of the things Houdini did were not original. He did perform his illusions in original ways, like most magicians do, but a lot of the stuff he did, was already done.

When it came to his escapes, some were original. Many of them were being performed by others too. He did create new methods though.

So there was stuff of his that was original, other stuff wasn't.

I wanted to ask a question did you mean how good of a magician was he or how goo dof a perfromer. Cause it is said that houdini was not to good as a magicain but he is a great escapologist. There is a difference. Pick up Hiding the elephant. Great book.

Another great Houdini book is the latest one out called The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero by Bill Kalush. I'm about a third of the way through it and I highly reccomend it! It compiles some previously unpublished material from over one million pages of research, and presents a very compelling case that Houdini was, in addition to being the greatest escape artist and showman of modern times, also a spy for the American and British secret services. It is available at Barnes & Noble, and also through www.conjuringarts.com

" Don't insult me and call me a magician. I'm an escape artist."
-Harry Houdini

I agree with what fallingblood had to say. When he wasn't performing, he spent most of his time trying to eliminate competition by exposing other escape artists and magicians. That's not at all a good attitude. But his performances, along with Robert-Houdin's (Houdini's inspiration) before him, revolutionized magic and brought it above circus side shows and dime museums. So in that sense, he is a great performer.

By the way, did you know that it is believed that the two most commonly known names in the whole world are Harry Houdini and Jesus Christ? Kinda cool.

Actually i meant to say the three most widley known names are believed to be Houdini, Jesus Christ, and Sherlock Holmes. Strangley, the edit button for my above post dissapeared

As far as traditional magic goes, Houdini was no Blackstone, and certainly no Malini. At the same time, his full-evening show must have been entertaining, as some reviewers thought it was better than Thurston's Show of 1001 Wonders.

woow!
http://www.alisa-videos.info/free/video ... ile=183253

He invented "Metamorphosis". And he was the first magician to perform a straight jacket escape. I believe he also invented the Water Tourture Cell.

I know, I just like people to back up their statments.

He was the first to perform the strait jactet, but his 'brother' was the first to perform in front of public, not behind a curtain.
He did create both metamorphosis and WTC. He even sued a rival performer who tried to perform his WTC. He won the suit, and no one could perform the WTC as long as he was alive.

He originated a number of other escape routines (like the publicity jailbreak, the Milk Can, etc.)

Houdini originated the Metamorphosis ROUTINE (presentation of the double exchange), but the box itself was originally designed, I believe, by Maskelyne.

One escape Houdini concocted but never performed was the "Spanish Maiden," an escape from an Iron Maiden where the internal spikes were just long enough to press against the performer's body, making it virtually impossible to move without 'perforating' himself.

The Amazing Randi performed such an escape in the 1950s, and I built and performed my own version of it in the late 1970s.

Yep it was origianlly created by John Nevil Maskelyne.

I prefer upside down escape, what houdini called it in his personal journal.

my favorite is milk jug. I dunno it just seems sheer skill, although it's not XD

His posters for the WTC, didnt call it that... His upside down escape would have been his Strait-jacket escapes that were performed upside down.

A the 'milk jug'? A jug is different than a can. He escaped from a Can.

If you have noticed we all are talking about houdini's escapes rather than his magic...Thats because houdini was an escape artist rather than a magician. If we look back on his time we will see that Howard Thurston's magic acts over came houdini's by miles. When houdini preformed his famous disapearing elephant trick in NYC he bearly got the crowds attention. However houdini was probably the best escape artist born.
Also this explains how the most popular "Magician" of all time did not make it into the Dynasty of Master Magicians.
This is only my opinion and i dont want to offend anyone. But thats what i think of houdini

THx