Erik Weisz was born in Budapest, Hungary, April 6, 1874, to Rabbi Mayer Samuel Weiss and his wife Cecelia. The family immigrated to Wisconsin in 1878, at which time the family name was changed from the German spelling (Weisz) to Weiss, and Erik was changed to Ehrich.

He added the i to his name when a friend of his told him that adding the i made the name read "Like Houdini." (This, of course, was not so.) In 1899 he met and married Bess, who became part of his act as his stage assistant, and they became known as The Houdinis. As he began adding escape artistry to his act, he suddenly became a success and Bess faded into the background, no longer a part of his act.

He learned to free himself from chains, jails, handcuffs, shackles, ropes, and straitjackets and became known as "The Handcuff King." As an escape artist, he amazed audiences with his innumerable feats that, to this day, have never been perceived. He died an untimely death at the young age of 52.

The Skirball Cultural Center in Brentwood is featuring the first major museum exhibition to explore the life, career and lasting influence of this legendary man who has influenced many famous magicians throughout the world. This exhibition was organized by The Jewish Museum in New York and replicated at the Skirball Cultural Center. On display are more than 150 artifacts relating to his life, family and work as well as wonderful videos showing him in action. Some of his props are available to peruse, such as a copy of his famous milk can from which he escaped. But perhaps his most famous prop was his Chinese Water Torture Cell, the one in this exhibition being one of only two in the world, and an addition not seen in the New York exhibition.

Quoting Uri D. Herscher, Skirball Founding President and CEO, "We are pleased to celebrate Harry Houdini, the son of a rabbi who fled anti-Semitism in his native Budapest in 1878 and rose from humble origins to become an American icon. Once cultural outsiders, Houdini, and the many Jews who became magicians during magic's Golden Age, helped to shape the cultural landscape and exhilarate tens of thousands through their imaginative entertainment." In conjunction with the traveling exhibition, Houdini: Art and Magic, the Skirball Cultural Center has developed a companion exhibition, Masters of Illusion: Jewish Magicians of the Golden Age. Both exhibitions will be on view through September 4, 2011.

There will be a number of related programs offered at the Skirball, including appearances by Magicians Joshua Jay and Max Maven, a family-friendly Magic Day and many other programs. These two exhibitions are informative, educational and entertaining and unusual in their concept. The Skirball Cultural Center is located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. in Los Angeles. For general information regarding the center, call (310) 440-4500, or go online at www.skirball.org.