The Scottish magician who inspired the great Houdini

Magician John Henry Anderson died in 1874, the same year Harry Houdini was born, however, despite the fact that the two never gathered, Anderson was allegedly the greatest inspirations of the legendary escalet.

Anderson, who was born in 1814 in the Kincardine O’Neil area of ​​Aberdenshire, is to have a leg among the first magicians to take out a living rabbit from a glass hat.

He became known as “the great Magician of the North” as his status grew throughout the world.

After Anderson’s death, the famous illusionist Houdini traveled to Aberdeen, visited the tomb of his fellow artist and began paying his maintenance.

As the centenary of Aberdeen’s magic society approaches, Anderson’s story is being told for a new generation.

Aberdeen and the northeast of Scotland are famous for things like the oil and gas industry, the northern dawn and the humble delicacy of local foods the maintenance.

The area is left to the world of magic, Howver, they are much less known.

John Henry Anderson became one of the most important names in the entertainment world in the mid -nineteenth century.

When he was a child, he had joined an itinerant theater company.

It is not known who presented it to magic or, in fact, he taught him.

But as his experience grew, he finally took his act to the public worldwide.

Dave Goulding is a historian of magic, escapologist and vice president of Aberdeen’s magic society.

“It was the most famous varieties in the United Kingdom for a while,” Scotland News of Anderson told BBC.

“He removed the magic of the streets and legitimized it.”

Anderson opened a theater in Glasgow, but was then destroyed by fire.

He would like to travel to Australia in the 1860s, and just act for Queen Victoria.

Anderson was seen as a safe publicist.

“He realized that more people were literate, which was good for advertising,” Dave said.

“I used to do silly things, such as using inverse molds in butter to leave beautiful designs.”

Anderson died the same year Houdini was born, but Dave said Houdini was inspired by “through his reputation” in the following years.

Dave explained: “It was a great showman.

“This was an idea that Houdini liked: many of his tricks were for advertising, he was selling his shows.”

Anderson died at age or 60.

Harry Houdini, his professional name, was born as Erik Weisz in Budapest in 1874.

He found fame thanks to his extraordinary escapes.

These included freeing of chains, strings and vests of force underwater.

His name is still known to this day, far beyond magical circles.

Glastonbury Music Festival’s poster head last year, Dua Lipa, had a recent song entitled Houdini.

It has the lyrics: “Catch or go to Holdini.”

In early 1900, Houdini made his only visit to Aberdeen to act.

While in the so -called city of Granite, he took the opportunity to visit John Henry Anderson’s tomb in St Nicholas Kirkyard, and was photographed by his side.

He decided to finance its maintenance.

Houdini died in 1926 at the age of 52.

The grave in Aberdeen still remains to this day.

Dave Goulding said Anderson’s tomb is far from being forgotten.

“I give it an order from time to time,” he said.

“We make American wizards come and they because to see Anderson’s tomb, since he is still noded.

“Magi are known through the world.”

Aberdeen’s magic society was founded in 1926, coincidentally the same year in which Houdini died.

With his Centary approaching next year, special events are being planned, including an exhibition.

He society It is attractive to the historical magical artifacts that I could borrow and present.

“Aberdeen and the northeast house many magical luminaries that are known in the world,” Dave said.

“In addition to highlighting celebrities, we want to make sure that the next exhibition tells the history of our society and its members, from 1926 to the present.

“If someone has a poster, programs or other artifacts with society, we would love to see them.”