The Right Way to Do Wrong by Harry Houdini

This volume presents the best of those writings alongside little-known articles by Houdini on his own brand of deception: magic. It collected Houdini’s findings, from interviews with criminals and police officers, on the most surefire ways to commit crime and get away with it. Originally published in 1906, The Right Way to Do Wrong was a masterclass in subversion conducted by the world’s greatest illusionist. It took many years and a lot of investigation to reveal the truth of Harry Houdini’s Hungarian origin.īut how did the truth came to light? Follow our future posts to find out.One of the most intriguing figures of the twentieth century conducts a master class in subversion … One should not be surprised that the Editor repeated the same false information. In a passage referring to his private life, he states, on page 94: „I am an American by birth, born in Appleton, Wis., U.S.A., on April 6, 1873.”įor some mysterious reason he declared 1873 as his year of birth in this book… Houdini published The Right Way To Do Wrong in 1906. On both of these official documents, Houdini states under oath that he was born in Appleton on April 6, 1874. The record has been reproduced as *Passport Applications, Janu– Ma*(National Archives Microfilm Publication M1490, roll 912, Records of the Department of State, Record Group 59). This file consists of four pages and a photograph of Mr. He repeated this place of birth in his passport application from 1919: Passport application #116792 was issued on Septemto Harry Houdini.

Houdini’s self-reported birth place, Appleton, can be seen in the center of the page.

This record consists of one page and has been reproduced as* Passport Applications, Janu– March 31, 1925* (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1490, roll 193, Records of the Department of State, Record Group 59) In one example, he submitted the following passport application in 1913: Passport application #13451 was issued on Jto Harry Houdini. Houdini himself denied his Hungarian origin. The public was not aware that Houdini was born at another time and in another place… The Editor did not mean to falsify the facts. Readers sat back thinking that they had the full truth: the legendary artist, one of the most famous people in the world, was born – where else? – the United States!

The Editor answers that Houdini was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1874. The following article appeared in the June 12, 1926, issue of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

The Right Way to Do Wrong by Harry Houdini