Many people know Houdini solely by his mysterious escapes, but he was a much more notable person. He forever changed the public's viewpoint on spiritualism by exposing false mediums, often making newspaper headlines. Additionally, Houdini made amazing contributions and accomplishments in aviation and the war effort. Houdini showed American soldiers how to pick German handcuffs and escape torpedoed ships, and entertained them before they went off to war. In the long run, Houdini helped America win World War One. On top of that, Houdini broke aviation records in Australia, which helped set the stage for future aviators. All in all, Houdini's impact was large and can still be seen today.
"My professional life has been a constant record of disillusion, and many things that seem wonderful to most men are the every-day commonplaces of my business."
-- Harry Houdini