Q 01/05

Under what name was Harry Houdini born on March 24, 1874?

A) Erik Weisz

B) Harry Weiss

C) Ehrich Kellar

D) Erik Hardeen

Answer · why

A) Erik Weisz

The family Germanised the spelling to Weiss after emigrating, and Erik became Ehrich.

Q 02/05

In which city was Houdini born?

A) New York

B) Vienna

C) Prague

D) Budapest

Answer · why

D) Budapest

He later claimed to have been born in Appleton, Wisconsin, where the family settled.

Q 03/05

Houdini's father, Mayer Sámuel Weisz, held what position in Appleton, Wisconsin?

A) Tailor

B) Locksmith

C) Schoolteacher

D) Rabbi

Answer · why

D) Rabbi

The family arrived in the United States in July 1878, when Ehrich was four.

Q 04/05

As a nine-year-old, Ehrich Weiss made his public debut as what?

A) A trapeze artist

B) A card manipulator

C) A boy soprano

D) A bare-knuckle boxer

Answer · why

A) A trapeze artist

He billed himself 'Ehrich, the Prince of the Air'.

Q 05/05

Houdini took his stage name from which French magician, whose autobiography he read in 1890?

A) Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin

B) Georges Méliès the illusionist

C) Bartolomeo Bosco of Turin

D) Alexander Herrmann the Great

Answer · why

A) Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin

He later turned on his idol, publishing 'The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin' in 1908 to brand him a fraud.