Henry houdini biography wikipedia

German-American sleight of hand magician (–)

Emil Jarrow (April 8, – March 4, ) was a sleight of hand magician.

The Life And Death Of Harry Houdini - Grunge

He sometimes referred to himself humorously as a "prestidigitator." Jarrow (also spelled Jaro & Jarow) was perhaps best known for creating the “lemon trick,” in which he would procure paper money from an apparently fresh lemon.^[1][2]

Career and performances

Jarrow was born Emil Javorzynski in Pleschen Stadt, in Prussia (now Pleszew, Poland).

In , as a young man of 15, he began his professional career as a strongman for the Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show in Germany. He travelled with the show when it moved to England and then the United States the following year. Later, he began working independently by performing acts of strength in local venues, in Chicago and New York.^[3]

Some years later, after a stage accident left a leg permanently damaged, he reinvented himself as a sleight of hand artist with a flair for humor Harry Houdini (1874-1926) | American Experience | PBS QOTO