Perhaps as a result of his father’s death Ehrich became concerned about fitness and he was constantly finding ways to stay in shape. He stole an apple pie from it!Įhrich’s father died in 1892 and Ehrich was more aware than ever that he had to keep bringing money into the household.

He still had time to get into mischief and one of the first locks that he learnt to open was on his mother’s cupboard. Working as a photographer, a messenger boy, a cutter in a necktie factory, an electrical driller and an apprentice to a locksmith, Ehrich was no doubt a tireless young man. They had moved to a new home in New York City and Ehrich worked several jobs at once to bring money into the household. At this stage he was dabbling with magic and had a new name to grab the audience’s attention – Eric the Great.Įhrich travelled for a year and then met up with his family again. Times were still tough for the family and when Ehrich was 12 years old he moved away for a year to try to make money with travelling circuses. He performed on the trapeze and as a contortionist and his title was Ehrich, The Prince of the Air. In 1883 Ehrich appeared before his first audience. But it was when he was taken to see a show performed by a travelling magician Dr.Lynn that Ehrich became interested in magic and performance. He started to sell newspapers and polish shoes at the age of 8 years old. The family had to move around a lot as times were tough for most immigrants to America and Ehrich started work at an early age to help his family. His father was a religious teacher and scholar and secured work as a rabbi. The third of five children, Ehrich was aware that his family were not rich.

Perhaps the most famous person of all to have risked his life and lived to tell the tale at Niagara Falls is Harry Houdini.īorn in Hungary in 1874, Ehrich Weisz moved to the USA with his family in 1878. Many daredevils have tried their luck at tightrope walking over the Niagara River, plunging over the Falls in a barrel or swimming in the rapids.

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