logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2024
49m 38s

BONUS: Harry Houdini

NOISER
About this episode

Harry Houdini is undoubtedly the best-known escape artist of all time. Even today, almost 100 years after his death, his celebrity lives on, and his incredible tricks, illusions and escapes have become the stuff of legend.


But how did Houdini, a Hungarian immigrant, lift himself out of abject poverty to become a vastly wealthy celebrity? And why did he risk his life again and again, for over 30 years?


This is a Short History Of…Harry Houdini.


A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Yesterday
The Mitford Sisters
Rarely out of the papers during their lifetimes, and still figures of fascination in modern media, the six Mitford sisters have become notorious. From a shared, if eccentric childhood, the sisters grew into very different women. As adults, they inhabited diverse worlds, from the ... Show More
52m 34s
Aug 17
Florence Nightingale
Pre-order our new book: Short History of Ancient Rome Revered as a heroine, and mythologised as ‘the Lady with the Lamp’, Florence Nightingale has gone down in history as the founder of modern nursing. She battled ill-health and the prejudices of her age to leave an indelible mar ... Show More
54m 13s
Aug 10
The Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings
In May 1945, the Second World War ended in Europe, but Japan refused to surrender - despite seemingly facing inevitable defeat. So, confronted by the prospect of drawn-out and costly fighting, Washington sought to bring the conflict in the East to an end as quickly as possible. M ... Show More
56m 33s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Best of 2024: The Death of Harry Houdini [VIDEO]
In Carter's second Best of 2024 pick, we're returning to explore the remarkable life of legendary magician Harry Houdini and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death. We’ll be back with new episodes of Conspiracy Theories next week! Learn more about your ad choices. Vis ... Show More
48m 11s
Jan 2025
The mystery of Raoul Wallenberg
Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, saved thousands of Hungarian Jews from the Nazis during World War Two.Once Soviet troops reached Budapest, Wallenberg reported to Soviet officials on 17 January 1945. But he was never seen in public again. Rumours of his fate have circled eve ... Show More
8m 58s
Aug 2024
169.2 - The Magical World of Harry Houdini
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try atbetterhelp.com/AMERICANENGLISH and get on your way to being your best self. The theater is packed. Anticipation electrifying the air. It's the early 1900s, and you're about to witness the legendary Harry Houdini ... Show More
40m 58s
Dec 2024
526. Mozart: History's Greatest Prodigy LIVE at the Royal Albert Hall
In 1756 a musical prodigy was born in Salzburg, Austria: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Thanks to the efforts of his exacting father, Mozart's genius was exhibited and celebrated in some of the greatest courts of Europe from a young age. At four years old he wrote his first keyboard co ... Show More
1h 9m
Oct 2024
Fleeing Afghanistan alone as a child
In 1999, Waheed Arian left his family in Afghanistan to seek refuge in the UK. He was just 15.He was escaping violence, poverty and the threat of being recruited as a child soldier. He tells Vicky Farncombe about how a dream of one day becoming a doctor sustained him. Eye-witness ... Show More
9m 8s
Sep 2024
Why Tupac was fired from Menace II Society
In 1993, a gritty and unflinching crime movie called Menace II Society was released to huge acclaim.The debut picture from the teenage directors, Allen and Albert Hughes, provided a deep dive into the harsh realities faced by many young African Americans growing up in Los Angeles ... Show More
8m 58s
Nov 2024
Introducing The Illuminator: Art, Conspiracy and Madness
The Illuminator is OUT NOW. Subscribe to get early releases and listen ad-free. http://brazen.fm/plus Mark Lombardi, a conceptual artist on the cusp of international success, had everything to live for. So why was the 48-year-old found hanged and deemed suicidal? Was his death th ... Show More
4m 8s
Apr 2019
Ludwig van Beethoven
Famously temperamental, this musical genius is celebrated today as one of the most influential cultural figures in history. His story has stood the test of time; a difficult childhood, marked by an abusive, alcoholic father, would serve as his inspiration to seek a better life. S ... Show More
51m 2s
Jul 2024
Pourquoi pense-t-on que Michael Jackson n’a jamais existé ?
Si le chanteur le plus célèbre de l’histoire a été relié à de nombreuses rumeurs, celle de la réalité de son existence est à voir sous différents angles. Dans cet épisode, on revient sur cette folle rumeur.Si cette question peut faire sourire certains, elle n’est pas juste à pren ... Show More
4m 30s
Jan 2025
Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia, one of history's most controversial figures, was known for his ruthless ambition and political cunning. From his dramatic rise to power through to his notorious military campaigns and the legends surrounding his alleged crimes and complex relationships, he inspired ... Show More
37m 3s