He was also known for attempting to expose frauds who claimed to be supernatural. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Houdini (born Erik Weisz) was one of the most popular American magicians, and he was well known for being an escape artist and stunt performer. In short, for a price less than a movie with popcorn you may get to watch your husband get pretend stabbed in the neck - how you gonna beat that?Located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the Houdini Museum was founded in 1988 to celebrate the life and career of famous magician Harry Houdini. Another tip: if children came with audience members, they pretty much were going to wind up in the gift shop (or "gift corner" more accurately) anyway so no need to push so hard (also the "I'm psycho" thing is a little offputting - maybe dial it down a notch). The male half of the team, the unlikely named "Jonny Bravo" presents like of the junior version of the same tricks interposed with an overly earnest attempt to sell inexpensive magic-related trinkets. Given the small audience drawn, you're likely to wind up as one of them. Specifically her magic act rises out of the general mediocrity of the proceedings not from the tricks - which include just the well-worn classics - but her willingness to drag audience members into the fray charming and vamping her way into their hearts. The saving grace of the experience comes from the female half of the proprietors - Dorothy Dietrich. Here's a tip: just because you own it doesn't mean you have to display it (also maybe dust once in a blue moon). After that comes the short walk around two medium-sized rooms chock-a-block with Houdini bric-a-brac most of it unlabeled in no particular order and a lot of it frustratingly sitting behind other stuff. The opening presentation of a video (on what must be on televisions bought in the 1980s) from the Travel Channel visiting the very museum you are sitting in get points for sheer ballsy-ness and meta-ness. Two eccentric magicians with an obsession around the founding father of escape acts, Harry Houdini vamp, do tricks, do shtick, and sell their odd little hearts out. Lovers of clutter and old-timey magic tricks (floating woman, balls and cups, pulling the rabbit out of the hat, etc.) you have found your Eden. For me, maybe even again if we are in the Scranton area. At the juncture I could not tell you how long we were there. I personally judge visits like this one by how frequently I look at my watch. True or not the show was very entertaining and well worthwhile. The tour is capped off with a show performed by a magician that is said to be among the 10 highest rated in the world. The rest is as enjoyable as you make it looking at show advertisements, photographs and props. To see the water tank leading to his death and hearing the true details was a high point particularly when told by someone that knew him personally. To fully appreciate it one must search for items that stand out looking them over carefully before transferring attention to something else. In one respect the Houdini Museum was like most except more cluttered. known only as a place we passed through on our way to N.Y. Frankly we were not so excited to discover it was Scranton, Pa. We were not told of the destination until the bus departed.
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