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Theodore Hardeen

Hungarian-American entertainer (–)

The native form of this personal name is Weisz Ferenc Dezső. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.

Ferenc Dezső Weisz (March 4, &#;– June 12, ), known as Theodore "Dash" Hardeen, was a Hungarian-American magician and escape artist who was the younger brother of Harry Houdini.

Hardeen, who usually billed himself as the "brother of Houdini", was the founder of the Magician's Guild. Hardeen was the first magician to conceive escaping from a straitjacket in full view of the audience, rather than behind a curtain.[1]

Early life

Hardeen was born as "Ferenc Dezső Weisz" (or "Ferencz Dezső Weisz") in Budapest, and went by the name "Theodore Weiss" when he and his family were living in Appleton, Wisconsin.

He was known as "Deshi" and later "Dash" by his parents.

In , Hardeen performed with Houdini at Coney Island as "The Brothers Houdini". While he and Harry were there, Harry met and married Wilhelmina Beatrice "Bess" Rahner.

Career

Will Goldston, English stage magician and editor of the Magician Annual, wrote that:

"Hardeen learned his business from Houdini, and he learned it well, as no man could have failed to do with such a master.

But the natural ability was always there. Even if Houdini had not existed to point the way, it is quite likely that Hardeen would have become an escape artiste. I have seen him perform several times, and have marvelled at his achievements. The huge chains in the cartoon are hardly an exaggeration of those from which he breaks loose.

The handcuffs but a simple thing compared with those with which he is used to toy. Hardeen, like his more famous brother Harry Houdini is a great favourite in the magical world.

The great houdini biography Hall William A. But as wonderful as this was, no amount of success in America, which had barely begun to emerge from Europe's cultural shadow, could compare with acceptance across the Atlantic. New American Library. Houdini's interests were vast and varied.

He is a man of considerable culture and one of the best raconteurs I have ever met. Like Houdini, he is willing to expend both time and money freely to further the cause of magic. Both the amateurs and the professionals of our number regard him as a friend. And the general public regard him as a brilliant artiste and a thrilling entertainer."

After his brother's death in , Hardeen played the vaudeville circuit, doing many of his late brother's routines.

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    • From to , he was featured in Olsen and Johnson's Broadway revue, Hellzapoppin. During World War II, he performed for the troops (as his brother had done during World War I).

    In , Hardeen starred in a Vitaphone short film for Warner Bros. called Medium Well Done. In it, Hardeen played a "hardboiled detective" on the case of a bogus medium.

    The film was directed by Lloyd French, who directed many of the early Laurel and Hardy shorts.[2]

    Personal life and death

    Like his brother, Hardeen was skeptical of the claims of spiritualist mediums.

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    • With his friend Julien Proskauer, he exposed the fraudulent methods of the mediums.[3]

    Houdini, in his will, requested that all his files be given to Hardeen and destroyed ("I give, devise and bequeath to my brother, Theodore, Professionally known as "Hardeen" all my theatrical effects, new mysteries and illusions and accompanying paraphernalia, to be burnt and destroyed upon his death.")[4][5] On August 15, , Hardeen's Brooklyn home was broken into and some of Houdini's apparatuses were damaged.

    Later that year, Hardeen burned all of Houdini's personal files in a furnace in his basement.[6]

    In , while planning on writing a book about his brother, Hardeen went to Manhattan's Doctors Hospital for a simple operation. He unexpectedly died of complications while recovering from the procedure. He was 69 years old.[7][8]

    Legacy

    During his final show on May 29, , in Ridgeway, Queens,[9] Hardeen named his chief assistant, Douglas Geoffrey, his official successor.

    Geoffrey then went on to perform as "Hardeen, Jr.";[10] he died January 14, , at the age of [10]

    Richard Valentine Pitchford (–) took over the Magicians' Guild after Hardeen's death.[11]Sidney Hollis Radner received the Houdini collection from Hardeen.[12]

    Hardeen appears as a character in season one of Boardwalk Empire, played by Remy Auberjonois.[13][14]

    Gallery

    • Hardeen in

    • A poster for a performance at a theater, c.

    • Magicians Julien Proskauer (left) and Hardeen (right) revealing a fraudulent method of table-turning. Both wore wrist bands with metal hooks to lift the séance table.

    • Hardeen's tombstone at the Houdini gravesite at Machpelah Cemetery in Queens. The inscription reads: "He went about doing good.

      We miss you, dear."

    References

    1. ^Hardeen, Theodore. (). Life and History of Hardeen. A promotional pamphlet sold at performances wherein Hardeen explains how he came to do the straitjacket escape in front of an audience. Hardeen does not take credit for the idea, he merely states the facts.
    2. ^"The forgotten films of Theo Hardeen".

      Retrieved February 19,

    3. ^Worden, Helen (November ). "Exposing Tricks of the Fake Mediums". Popular Science. Vol.&#;, no.&#;5. pp.&#;67–71, – Retrieved May 7,
    4. ^Randi, James; Sugar, Bert Randolph. (). Houdini, His Life and Art. Grosset & Dunlap.

      Bess houdini biography: International Acclaim and Tours Houdini's fame spread globally through extensive international tours. The discouerie of witchcraft,: wherein the lewde dealings of witches and witchmongers is notablie detected, the knauerie of coniurors, the impietie of inchantors, thefollie of soothsaiers, the impudent falshood of cousenors, the infidelitie of atheists, the pestilent practices of Pythonists, the curiositie of figure casters, the vanitie of dreamers, the beggerlie art of alcumystrie, the abhomination of idolatrie, the horrible art of poisoning, the vertue and power of naturall magike, and all the conueiances of legierdemaine and iuggling are deciphered and many other things opened which have long lien hidden, howbeit verie necessarie to be knowne. Illusionist escapologist stunt performer. Dover Publications.

      p. ISBN&#;

    5. ^Price, David. (). Magic: A Pictorial History of Conjurers in the Theater. Cornwall Books. p. ISBN&#;
    6. ^Kalush, William; Sloman, Larry. ().

      Houdini biography book He is a man of considerable culture and one of the best raconteurs I have ever met. Illusionist escapologist stunt performer. MUM Magazine. The Society of American Magicians, which Houdini led for years, continues to honor him.

      The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero. Atria Books. pp. ISBN&#;

    7. ^"Hardeen Dead, Houdini's Brother. Illusionist, Escape Artist, a Founder of Magician's Guild. Gave Last Show May 29". The New York Times. June 13, Retrieved August 21,
    8. ^"Houdini's Brother Dies with Escape Secrets".

      Kirby brothers houdini biography Retrieved March 15, It communicated to audiences at once warm amiability, pleasure in performing, and, more subtly, imperious self-assurance. Hungarian-American escapologist and stuntperson. He became exhausted and panicked while trying to dig his way to the surface and called for help.

      Chicago Tribune. June 13,

    9. ^The source says Ridgeway, Queens. This may be a mistake for Ridgewood, Queens.
    10. ^ ab"The untold story of Hardeen, Jr". Retrieved May 22,
    11. ^"Richard V. Pitchford Dies. Magician Known as Cardini".

      The New York Times. November 13, Retrieved July 21,

    12. ^Murphy, Dean E. (October 29, ). "In Sadness, Prime Houdini Artifact Collector Puts Items on Auction Block".

      Houdini biography for kids He recreated "spirit photographs," showing how easily these images could be manipulated. References [ edit ]. Houdini then recites the same poem in German. Where Are They Buried?

      The New York Times. Retrieved February 14,

    13. ^Adams, Sam (November 29, ). ""Boardwalk Empire" recap: Accusations fly". . Retrieved September 18,
    14. ^Venutolo, Anthony (November 29, ). "'Boardwalk Empire' recap: Jimmy Darmody's father finally revealed". . Retrieved September 18,

    Further reading

    • Goldston, Will.

      The Magician Annual (–)

    • Hardeen, Theodore. (). Life and History of Hardeen. New York.

    External links