Not yet Houdini, Ehrich Weiss is shown wearing medals he won as a member of the Pastime Athletic Club track team in New York. Harry Houdini (1874 - 1926) was a Hungarian-American illusionist and stunt performer, noted for his sensational escape acts. His repertoire included chains, ropes slung from skyscrapers, straitjackets under water, holding his breath inside a sealed milk can, and being buried alive. McManus-Young Collection, 1890 (cropped and cleaned).