Houdini's Other Significant Accomplishments
Houdini and Aviation
Houdini was the first person to fly a controlled and powered airplane in Australia.
In order to complete the feat, Houdini purchased a specially-designed Viosin plane for $5,000 in Hamburg, Germany.
Newspaper with Houdini's plane (Library of Congress).
A poster advertising Houdini's flights in Australia (Museums Victoria).
Newspaper with Houdini's plane (Library of Congress).
Not only was Harry Houdini the first person to fly a controlled and powered plane over Australia, but he also broke the record for longest flight in Australia. He also was the first person to film a flight.
Houdini and Film
After starring in a number of successful films, Houdini decided to create his own film-making business. He called it "Houdini Picture Corporation." With his company, he not only starred in films but wrote and produced them as well. Below is a portion of the film Terror Island.
Video taken from dailymail.co.uk.
Houdini and WW1
During WW1, Houdini convinced the members of SAM (Society of American Magicians) to aid in the war effort. He also cancelled every show for about a year to travel the country to train soldiers how to pick German handcuffs and to entertain them. By doing this, he lost about $50,000 in profit. To boost the soldiers' morales, he performed a simple trick of pulling a $5 gold piece from behind their ear and then giving it to them for good luck. He gave away around $7,000 by performing this trick.
"I always have on my mind the thought that next year I must do something greater, something more wonderful."
-- Harry Houdini
Background image credit: Library of Congress