Sunday Stories: The Legendary Harry Houdini

Straitjackets, shackles, milk cans, packing trunks—nothing could hold Harry Houdini, renowned magician, escape artist, and legendary twentieth-century performer. In this Sunday Story, join us to discover Houdini’s unforgettable story, from his beginnings as the son of a poor Hungarian rabbi to his meteoric rise to international fame through his gripping theatrical presentations and heart-stopping outdoor spectacles. Don’t miss this exploration of Houdini’s life, legend, and enduring cultural influence. 

Houdini: Art and Magic (on view at The CJM October 2, 2011–January 16, 2012) included more than 160 objects including magic apparatus, a recreation of the famous Water Torture Cell, historic photographs, dramatic art nouveau-era posters, theater ephemera, and archival and silent films that allowed visitors to fully explore the career and legacy of the celebrated entertainer. The exhibition also featured the work of 26 contemporary artists who were inspired by his physical audacity and celebrity, his props and illusionist effects, and the themes of metamorphosis and escape. Artists included Matthew Barney, Whitney Bedford, Joe Coleman, Petah Coyne, Bruce Cratsley, Jane Hammond, Tim Lee, Vik Muniz, Ikuo Nakamura, Deborah Oropallo, Raymond Pettibon, Sara Greenberger Rafferty, Allen Ruppersberg, Christopher Wool, and Carol Yeh.