Harry Houdini for Kids: His Life and Adventures with 21 Magic Tricks and Illusions

Harry Houdini for Kids: His Life and Adventures with 21 Magic Tricks and Illusions — page 5
ple immigrants continued arriving and the country was in turmoil as labor unions expanded and pressed for a better quality of life Parades protests and riots were common Crowds gathered in the streets for a variety of reasons and for Houdini entertaining the mob grew naturally out of the circumstances He would do a stunt as thousands gathered in the street below watching for hours something the public happily engaged in before moving pictures and other forms of entertainment were invented People were also eager to visit inexpensive circus sideshows and cheap amusements which allowed people like Hou dini to make a living from their unusual or quirky tal ents As a kid Harry Houdini began with card tricks and simple magic acts Gradually he developed his talents as an escape artist which became his signa ture act He dared anyone to come up with some thing he couldn't escape Working against ropes handcuffs or whatever contraption at hand he always wriggled loose somehow People loved it A lone individual against powerful forces emerging free through his own wits and strength was very popular His career really grew in Europe where he worked for five years The people loved him espe cially in Russia and Germany which were countries with stiff police control over the citizenry People thrilled to see an ordinary fellow escape handcuffs and restraints Houdini returned to the United