From No Man to Show Man - The Transformation of Ehrich Weiss (a.k.a. Houdini)

Based on information collected from Sid Fleischman's book Escape!

His Background: From No Man-- It began in the small town of Appleton, Wisconsin. At least, that's what Weiss told everyone. But, then again, who would want to know that what would become the world's greatest magician was born in a Jewish ghetto? Well now, that doesn't sound quite right, does it? But it's true. As Mr. Fleischman said, Ehrich, you pulled a trick on us. That's not where you were born. Some snoop dug up your birth certificate. His first escape in this world was being born into it, in Budapest, Hungary. His father was a rabbi, Mayer Samuel Weiss. He had initials trailing his name, formidable degrees that entitled him to a doctor. He wrote poetry, and spoke several languages. He excelled at everything except making a living.

After Ehrich Weiss' family transferred themselves to America, his father's talent for failure flourished. Eventually, to ease the burden on his family, Ehrich made his twelve-year-old minded escape: running away. Later taken in by a kindly woman who schooled him, he earned enough money to read lots of books, becoming fascinated with magic tricks. And, while scouting around for some magic books in a bookstall one day, he picked up a battered copy of the autobiography of a great French magician. He bought the book, The Memoirs of Robert-Houdin, ambassador, Author and Conjuror. For a dime or so. Ehrich was "struck by lightning". Here was an adventure! It appeared to be that Houdin had triumphed over many stumbling blocks that were very similar to Ehrich's. "He became my guide and hero." He wrote of the French man. "I ask nothing more of life than to become in my profession, 'like Robert-Houdin'".