Roy Mizia, age 11, of Cudahy, Wis., for his question:

WHO WAS THE GREAT HOUDINI?

One of the world's greatest magicians was a man named Harry Houdini. He became famous because he performed sensational and dangerous feats of magic. He was able to free himself from ropes, handcuffs, boxes that had been nailed shut and other restraints.

The magician, who was born in 1874 and died in 1926, was named Ehrich Weiss when he was born in Budapest, Hungary. He took his name from a French magician who lived in the 1800s.

Houdini started as a circus trapeze performer but then took up magic with his wife as his assistant. At first he appeared in small theaters and dime museums across America. After he became known for his escape magic, he became very famous and appeared in the world's largest auditoriums.

Houdini said anyone of normal intelligence would be able to figure out his tricks. He didn't believe in spiritualism or supernatural powers.