Harry Houdini's "big break" came in 1899 when he met manager Martin Beck in rural Woodstock, Illinois. Impressed by Houdini's handcuffs act, Beck advised him to concentrate on escape acts and booked him on the Orpheum vaudeville circuit. Within months, he was performing at the top vaudeville houses in the country. In 1900, Beck arranged for Houdini to tour Europe. (wikipedia)
The Right Way to Do Wrong
Harry Houdini, master illusionist and contortionist, unmasks the various ways that criminals take advantage of their victims. (summary by Lee Ann Howlett)
Runntime approx 3 hrs
| 00 - Preface - 00:03:18 |
| 01 - Income of a Criminal - 00:08:40 |
| 02 - Professional Burglary - 00:11:36 |
|
03 - Difficulties of Burglary - 00:10:59 |
| 04 - Burglars’ Superstitions - 00:09:18 |
| 05 - Thieves and Their Tricks - 00:08:09 |
| 06 - The Aristocrat of Thievery - 00:08:27 |
| 07 - Pickpockets at Work - 00:05:55 |
| 08 - Beggars and Dead Beats - 00:12:31 |
| 09 - Begging Letter Swindles - 00:06:03 |
| 10 - Tricks of Bunco Men - 00:08:43 |
| 11 - The Game of Wits - 00:09:34 |
| 12 - Fake! Fake! Fake! - 00:09:05 |
| 13 - Bogus Treasures - 00:04:43 |
| 14 - Famous Swindles - 00:04:59 |
| 15 - The Fair Criminal - 00:08:59 |
| 16 - The Brace Game - 00:07:55 |
| 17 - Cheating Uncle Sam - 00:08:58 |
| 18 - Humbugs - 00:05:15 |
| 19 - Houdini - 00:07:42 |
| 20 - Conclusion - 00:02:03 |
The Miracle Mongers, an Exposé,
“A complete exposé of the modus operandi of fire eaters, heat resisters, poison eaters, venomous reptile defiers, sword swallowers, human ostriches, strong men, etc.”, [by Harry Houdini, from the subtitle].
Runntime approx 4.5 hrs
| 00 - Preface - 00:04:25 |
| 01 - Fire Worship - 00:19:34 |
| 02 - 17th-18th Centuries - 00:17:55 |
| 03 The Nineteenth Century - 00:19:27 |
| 04 - Chabert, The Master - 00:26:46 |
| 05 - The Fire Eaters - 00:21:10 |
| 06 - Fire-eater Arcana - 00:29:41 |
| 07 - Liquids - 00:17:31 |
| 08 - Sword Swallowers - 00:18:25 |
| 09 - Stone Eaters - 00:21:07 |
| 10 - Poisonous Reptiles - 00:20:31 |
| 11 - 18th Century Strongmen - 00:25:05 |
| 12 Contemporary Strongmen - 00:25:38 |