The House of Houdini explained

The House of Houdini
Location:11, Dísz Square, Budapest
Founder:David Merlini
Architecture:neobaroque
Built:1500

The House of Houdini is a private exhibit and performance venue located at 11, Dísz Square, within the walls of the Buda Castle in Budapest, Hungary. The building houses the only collection of original Houdini artifacts in Europe.

History

The owners' private collection includes original Houdini memorabilia: e.g., handcuffs, personal correspondence, and "precious artifacts." A Bible once owned by Houdini is part of the collection.[1] [2] [3] [4] It also includes original props from the Houdini film Oxygen (1999), which featured Adrien Brody, an Oscar winner, and the later miniseries.[5] [6] The facility opened on June 16, 2016.[5] [7]

Budapest was selected as the location of the premises as Houdini was born in the city.[2]

The owner is David Merlini, an escapologist who served as technical advisor on the Houdini miniseries. Its artifacts were previewed at Budapest's National Széchényi Library.[8] Joe M. Turner exchanged commemorative plaques with Merlini at the then proposed site of exhibit on Houdini's birthday. This followed an earlier exhibition in Milan, Italy.[9] [10]

The venue is also a center for research into Houdini's life, highlighting his Hungarian and Jewish origin.[2] [11] [12] [1] Notwithstanding his Hungarian birth, Houdini never performed in Hungary.[3]

Six magicians rotate performance in the "Orpheum" the in house small theater.[11]

Admission

As of September 2023, admission is 3,600 forints for adults and 2,400 forints for children under age 11. English and Hungarian language shows are available.[13] Visitor entrance can only be gained through decoding a secret "arcane" message; if the visitor fails to solve it, they refund the price of admission

Awards

The House of Houdini has been jointly recognized as a world magic heritage institution by the National President of the Society of American Magicians and the International President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.[14]

Confusing names and claims

This "house" should not be confused with the "House of Houdini" which was a former Houdini home, purchased in 1908, at 278 West 113th Street, Harlem, now called Morningside Heights, New York City that also displays artifacts.[15] [16] [17]

Likewise, in 1919 he rented the cottage at 2435 Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Los Angeles, while making movies for Lasky Pictures. His wife occupied it for a time after his death. As of 2011 the site of the cottage was a vacant lot and up for sale.[16] The main mansion building itself was rebuilt after it was destroyed in the 1959 Laurel Canyon fire, and is now a historic venue called The Mansion.[18] While Houdini did not likely live at the "mansion," there is some probability that his widow did.[19]

Acquisition rumors

News reports in the preceding months had raised the suspicion that the majority stake of the company and its assets were to be purchased by Centurion, a US based capital fund for $18.6M. The offer was reportedly turned down by the owner David Merlini.[20]

Other Houdini museums

See also

References

Citations

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: House of Houdini Opens in Hungary . Compeer . December 13, 2016 . . . January 23, 2017 . It’s true, the American illusionist was Hungarian, born in Budapest in 1874, the son of a rabbi and part of a large family with seven children..
  2. News: The Scroll: Museum Dedicated to Harry Houdini Opens in Budapest . . December 9, 2016 . Jonathon . Zalman . January 23, 2017.
  3. News: Legendary 'handcuff king' Houdini's secrets unlocked in Hungary . . December 6, 2016 . January 23, 2017.
  4. Web site: The Ehrich Weiss Bible is in The House Wild About Harry . December 4, 2016 . John . Cox . Wild About Harry . February 4, 2017.
  5. Web site: The House of Houdini opens today in Budapest . June 16, 2016 . Wild About Harry . John . Cox . January 23, 2017.
  6. Web site: House of Houdini Official website . The House of Houdini . January 22, 2017.
  7. Web site: Inside the Budapest Escape Room That Started the Worldwide Craze: Why Hungarians are so good at puzzles—from Houdini and Rubik's Cubes to escape rooms. . . Jennifer . Walker . August 26, 2016 . January 23, 2016.
  8. Web site: New Houdini Museum Rises in Budapest . March 29, 2016 . Wild About Harry . John . Cox . January 23, 2017.
  9. Web site: Houdini in Milano, October 22–29 . October 3, 2015 . Wild About Harry . John . Cox . January 23, 2017.
  10. Web site: Photos from "Houdini in Milano" Escape artist . November 11, 2015 . David Merlini shares with us today photos from the recent Houdini in Milano exhibition at the Expo Milano 2015. The display was presented by David and the General Commissioner of Hungary and marked the first major Houdini exhibition in Europe.. John . Cox . January 23, 2017.
  11. News: Krisztina . Fenyo . Krisztina . Than . Alison (Editor) . Williams . Szabo . Bernadette (Photographer) . Budapest museum lifts lid on Houdini's magic, Hungarian roots . . Reuters. December 20, 2016 . January 23, 2016.
  12. News: 'Handcuff king' Houdini's secrets unlocked in Hungary . Peter . Murphy . December 8, 2016 . . Set high in the capital's lofty Castle district, the House of Houdini lifts the veil on the box of tricks used by the famous magician, who lived most of his life in the United States. . January 23, 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170202033630/http://www.france24.com/en/20161208-handcuff-king-houdinis-secrets-unlocked-hungary . February 2, 2017 .
  13. Web site: Culture and Museums: Budapest's new House of Houdini honors the famous Magyar magician . Petra . Berende . July 19, 2016 . We love Budapest . February 4, 2017.
  14. Web site: House of Houdini Opens in Hungary. December 13, 2016. The Magic Compass.
  15. Web site: Discovering 278: the home of Houdini . ... I certainly knew the famous address -- “278” which is how Houdini always referred to his Harlem home. . Wild About Harry . John . Cox . January 17, 2011 . January 22, 2017.
  16. Web site: Houdini's Homes: Houdini owned homes in New York and California . magictricks.com . January 23, 2017.
  17. Web site: Inside Houdini's 278 . June 25, 2017 . John . Cox . wildabouthoudini.com . January 8, 2018.
  18. Web site: Welcome to the Houdini Estate . The Houdini Estate . February 5, 2017.
  19. Web site: Inside the Laurel Canyon Houdini Estate . March 30, 2012 . Wild About Harry . John . Cox . February 5, 2017.
  20. News: Mueller . Rosie . Houdini's magic worth more than 18.6M . 17 December 2020 . Pacific West . WFMJ.com . 25 August 2020 . New York.

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