Mark Lyons O--O Cuffs
#1I've been looking for old advertisements and newspaper articles about Houdini's brother, Hardeen.
Houdini was known to dislike his competitors in the magic/escape artist business, so the two collaborated to corner the market.
To my knowledge, they kept this a secret as best they could. Keep it in the family.
I don't recall reading a book about Hardeen and unfortunately most Hardeen references I've seen are small chapters or paragraphs in Houdini books.
This research will be interesting for me as I have the desire to learn more about his career. I don't even know what work he was involved in before entering show business full time.
I do know that he had a good career in this trade and as I try to find and post some articles here, I hope to learn much more about Hardeen!
The Washington Times. October 31, 1912, LAST EDITION, Page 10,
"Handcuff King" Learned Wonderful Feats While Boy At Play.
The question that Is asked the most often when the name of Hardeen, nick-named "The Handcuff King" is mentioned Is --what relation Is he to
Houdini, the other Handcuff King?
The answer is: His brother.
Years ago. In their hometown In Appleton, Wis., these two brothers, whose real name is Weiss, used, to indulge in the pastimes of other boys of
the neighborhood, playing games of battle and adventure which always ended the same way. by one or more of them being dragged off to prison.
In the gang of boys there was one who could always get out of the temporary prisons, no matter how securely he might be tied by his playfellows.
This boy was Harry Weiss, son of the Rev. M. Weiss, LL. D., Ph. D., and brother of Hardeen, who is the subject of today's gossip. Of course, the
other brother was taken into his confidence, and before very long, both brothers had reached a stage of dexterity ln freeing themselves from locks
and bolts, ropes and handcuffs that brought them more than local prominence. People ln other cities heard of them, and It was not long until a tempting
offer came to them from the manager of a circus, and both boys were engaged at what was then considered a large salary to perform their
mysterious and baffling feats.
Quit Circus For Commercial Career.
Theodore, the younger brother, performed only for a short time, then entered into a commercial career, but his brother, Harry traveled the world over,
gaining prominence and fortune and being conceded the biggest drawing card the amusement world had ever known. then came trouble for Houdini.
The managers clamored for him. It was impossible for him to fill all the flattering engagements that came his way. So, they castabout for some one
who could duplicate his success, and one more than ordinarily progressive manager from Magdeburg, Germany, having heard that Houdini had a brother
in America, engaged him, and a few weeks later the country was Introduced to Hardeen, who. not wishing to confuse the public by adopting the same
stage name as his brother, had coined the name Hardeen, which is now as well-known as that of Houdini.
This Young Man In Capital Now.
This young man is In Washington this week, appearing at Poli's Theater in an exhibition of his marvelous powers over bars, bolts, handcuffs, and chains.
What his brother does, no can do, and since his separation from his brother he has added several new and astounding feats to his repertoire. He has broken
from the cells of nearly every well-known prison In the world. He has visited every civilized country in the world and has appeared before every crowned
head or the world. The darkest cell of a Siberian prison, the deepest dungeons In China, have no terrors for Hardeen. He escapes as easily from them as
from an open door. He has thwarted the efforts of scientific Germans who have attempted to keep him confined In their fortresses, and he has even
succeeded in escaping unaided from the rock-hewn chambers of Gibraltar.
Nothing intimidates Hardeen. Yesterday I 'Stood by his side while a committee of men manacled and handcuffed him, preparatory to a plunge into the
Potomac River. While 6,000 people stood on the Highway bridge and hundreds of others. in autos, on bicycles and on foot, lined the blinks of the river, he
stood on the deck of the little motorboat and chatted as pleasantly as though he were in a parlor. He was apparently as unconscious of doing
something unusual as though he were a hundred miles from the scene.
As he stepped upon the high platform and prepared to jump, voices from the bridge called to him: "Good-by, Hardeen, if we never see you again, "I'd
rather It would be you than me, old top," and other greetings.
Smiles at Persons As He Takes Plunge.
He smiled at all of them, waved his manacled hands, and with no effort whatever he Jumped Into the icy waters of the Potomac River. While the crowd
watched breathlessly he sunk to the bottom, and in a time, he came to the top, blowing the water from his face, while he held aloft the chains and hand
cuffs that had confined his hands and arms but a few moments before.
Apparently unmindful of the cheers that came from the hundreds who had watched this unusual feat, he turned to the little boatload of persons who had
sailed out into the middle of the stream with him, and resumed the conversation that had been Interrupted when he took the plunge.
Hardeen has escaped from nearly every prison ln the United States. He has baffled the police of every large city in the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
end there Is practically no lock,
bolt or bar so strong or complicated that It does not answer to his marvelous and uncanny power. He is the puzzle or everyone who sees him, and his
daredevil feats have been the wonder of the civilized world.
JULIA MURDOCK.
The Washington Times. October 31, 1912, LAST EDITION, Page 10, (Houdini would die on this day, 14 years later)
An interesting take on how these brothers worked together to form separate acts yet control the market.
The manager in Germany adds a new twist of the story for me. Not aware of this fact , so stay tuned!
Houdini was known to dislike his competitors in the magic/escape artist business, so the two collaborated to corner the market.
To my knowledge, they kept this a secret as best they could. Keep it in the family.
I don't recall reading a book about Hardeen and unfortunately most Hardeen references I've seen are small chapters or paragraphs in Houdini books.
This research will be interesting for me as I have the desire to learn more about his career. I don't even know what work he was involved in before entering show business full time.
I do know that he had a good career in this trade and as I try to find and post some articles here, I hope to learn much more about Hardeen!
+1
"Handcuff King" Learned Wonderful Feats While Boy At Play.
The question that Is asked the most often when the name of Hardeen, nick-named "The Handcuff King" is mentioned Is --what relation Is he to
Houdini, the other Handcuff King?
The answer is: His brother.
Years ago. In their hometown In Appleton, Wis., these two brothers, whose real name is Weiss, used, to indulge in the pastimes of other boys of
the neighborhood, playing games of battle and adventure which always ended the same way. by one or more of them being dragged off to prison.
In the gang of boys there was one who could always get out of the temporary prisons, no matter how securely he might be tied by his playfellows.
This boy was Harry Weiss, son of the Rev. M. Weiss, LL. D., Ph. D., and brother of Hardeen, who is the subject of today's gossip. Of course, the
other brother was taken into his confidence, and before very long, both brothers had reached a stage of dexterity ln freeing themselves from locks
and bolts, ropes and handcuffs that brought them more than local prominence. People ln other cities heard of them, and It was not long until a tempting
offer came to them from the manager of a circus, and both boys were engaged at what was then considered a large salary to perform their
mysterious and baffling feats.
Quit Circus For Commercial Career.
Theodore, the younger brother, performed only for a short time, then entered into a commercial career, but his brother, Harry traveled the world over,
gaining prominence and fortune and being conceded the biggest drawing card the amusement world had ever known. then came trouble for Houdini.
The managers clamored for him. It was impossible for him to fill all the flattering engagements that came his way. So, they castabout for some one
who could duplicate his success, and one more than ordinarily progressive manager from Magdeburg, Germany, having heard that Houdini had a brother
in America, engaged him, and a few weeks later the country was Introduced to Hardeen, who. not wishing to confuse the public by adopting the same
stage name as his brother, had coined the name Hardeen, which is now as well-known as that of Houdini.
This Young Man In Capital Now.
This young man is In Washington this week, appearing at Poli's Theater in an exhibition of his marvelous powers over bars, bolts, handcuffs, and chains.
What his brother does, no can do, and since his separation from his brother he has added several new and astounding feats to his repertoire. He has broken
from the cells of nearly every well-known prison In the world. He has visited every civilized country in the world and has appeared before every crowned
head or the world. The darkest cell of a Siberian prison, the deepest dungeons In China, have no terrors for Hardeen. He escapes as easily from them as
from an open door. He has thwarted the efforts of scientific Germans who have attempted to keep him confined In their fortresses, and he has even
succeeded in escaping unaided from the rock-hewn chambers of Gibraltar.
Nothing intimidates Hardeen. Yesterday I 'Stood by his side while a committee of men manacled and handcuffed him, preparatory to a plunge into the
Potomac River. While 6,000 people stood on the Highway bridge and hundreds of others. in autos, on bicycles and on foot, lined the blinks of the river, he
stood on the deck of the little motorboat and chatted as pleasantly as though he were in a parlor. He was apparently as unconscious of doing
something unusual as though he were a hundred miles from the scene.
As he stepped upon the high platform and prepared to jump, voices from the bridge called to him: "Good-by, Hardeen, if we never see you again, "I'd
rather It would be you than me, old top," and other greetings.
Smiles at Persons As He Takes Plunge.
He smiled at all of them, waved his manacled hands, and with no effort whatever he Jumped Into the icy waters of the Potomac River. While the crowd
watched breathlessly he sunk to the bottom, and in a time, he came to the top, blowing the water from his face, while he held aloft the chains and hand
cuffs that had confined his hands and arms but a few moments before.
Apparently unmindful of the cheers that came from the hundreds who had watched this unusual feat, he turned to the little boatload of persons who had
sailed out into the middle of the stream with him, and resumed the conversation that had been Interrupted when he took the plunge.
Hardeen has escaped from nearly every prison ln the United States. He has baffled the police of every large city in the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
end there Is practically no lock,
bolt or bar so strong or complicated that It does not answer to his marvelous and uncanny power. He is the puzzle or everyone who sees him, and his
daredevil feats have been the wonder of the civilized world.
JULIA MURDOCK.
The Washington Times. October 31, 1912, LAST EDITION, Page 10, (Houdini would die on this day, 14 years later)
An interesting take on how these brothers worked together to form separate acts yet control the market.
The manager in Germany adds a new twist of the story for me. Not aware of this fact , so stay tuned!