The allure of Houdini
Fans of illusionist continue to flock to Appleton attractions
APPLETON - Harry Houdini wasn’t born in Appleton, but he claimed it as his hometown.
And Appleton is more than happy to embrace the internationally known illusionist as one of its own.
Houdini Plaza is the heart of downtown Appleton, and it’s the center of activity for the city’s signature community events, like Mile of Music and Octoberfest. Businesses, schools and events are named for him, including Houdini’s Escape Gastropub, Houdini Elementary School and the Houdini 10K.
Actually, Houdini was born in Budapest and moved to Appleton in 1878 when he was 4. His father, Mayer Samuel Weiss, was Appleton’s first rabbi. The family lived here for four years, according to the Museum at the Castle, which is the epicenter of Houdini culture with its permanent display of Houdini’s life and memorabilia.
The Houdini connection is worth an estimated $1 million a year in economic impact in the community, said Matt Carpenter, the museum’s executive director.
But it isn’t the locals who are spending all that money.
“The interest or fascination with Houdini would not be sustained locally if it were not for the out-of-town visitors,” he said. “Sixty-two percent of our visitors last year were from outside the area. Out-of-town visitors cite Houdini as the first reason they come to this museum.”
Carpenter said his small museum gets a hefty boost of publicity from the Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“They promote pretty heavily. They bring in travel writers from throughout the U.S. and they do write about Houdini and his connection with Appleton,” said Carpenter.
Houdini attracts both leisure travelers and convention groups, said Pam Seidl, CVB executive director. Her bureau has given more than $200,000 to the museum for Houdini exhibits.
“We’ve had the Houdini Club of Wisconsin convention here a couple of times. It’s a convention of illusionists,” she said.
The club brought in more than 275 people for annual conventions in 2001 through 2003, but then canceled visits to Appleton to protest the 2004 AKA Houdini exhibit, which explained the secret to one of Houdini’s signature escape acts.
“It took us a few years to get them to come back,” said Seidl. The group returned in 2015 with 300 people.
Some of the magic has a local source.
Rajon Lynch is a 20-year-old University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh student who pays his rent by doing magic. He goes by the stage name RJ the Magician.
Lynch puts on workshops for young aspiring magicians, and has a business called Now Serving Magic, a dinner theater that pairs a threecourse dinner with magicians performing tableside in Appleton restaurants, including Houdini’s Escape Gastropub.
From his perspective, more could be done to promote the Appleton/Houdini link.
“Appleton has been waiting for a rebirth of magic in the area,” he said. “People have to rebrand and renew Houdini and make sure young people know who he is.”
With more promotion and stunts, like Mike Schroeder’s suspended straitjacket act over the museum, a more active connection will be made in people’s minds, he said.
“People will say, ‘Wow that’s cool.’ It will make them think Appleton is a place for magic, not just a place where a celebrity is from.”