Plaque

Hippodrome - Harry Houdini

Erection date: 3/10/2013

Inscription

Escape artist, Harry Houdini, appeared here February to April 1904, with the Mirror handcuff challenge.
The Hippodrome Theatre
"My brain is the key that sets me free"

The plaque refers to the London Daily Mirror newspaper which challenged Houdini to escape from special handcuffs. On 17 March 1904 during a matinee performance Houdini took the challenge and, apparently, struggled for an hour to escape. He succeeded but there is debate still about whether the Mirror colluded in the trick.

Site: Hippodrome performers (4 memorials)

WC2, Cranbourn Street, Hippodrome casino

Left to right down the plaques are: Forsyth, Davis, Garland, Houdini, which we think is the sequence of erection.

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Hippodrome - Harry Houdini

Subjects commemorated i

Daily Mirror newspaper

Tabloid newspaper.  Created by Alfred Harmsworth, initially as a paper for wo...

Read More

Harry Houdini

Escape artist.  Born Erik Weisz in Budapest.  Later names include: Ehrich Wei...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Hippodrome - Harry Houdini

Created by i

London Hippodrome

From Hippodrome Casino: "Originally opened in 1900 by the renowned theatre ar...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Hippodrome - Harry Houdini

Also at this site i

Hippodrome - Bruce Forsyth

Hippodrome - Bruce Forsyth

Sir Bruce appeared eight times between May 1964 and February 1981 and unveile...

Read More

Hippodrome - Judy Garland

Hippodrome - Judy Garland

Judy Garland, 1922 - 1969, "The greatest entertainer who ever lived" performe...

Read More

Hippodrome - Sammy Davis Jr.

Hippodrome - Sammy Davis Jr.

Unveiled by Bruce Forsyth.

Read More

Nearby Memorials

National Provident - north

National Provident - north

EC3, Gracechurch Street, 48 - 51

The foundation stone to which this plaque refers reads "National Provident Institution for Mutual Life Assurance. This stone was laid on ...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Harrow clock, WW2 - plaque

Harrow clock, WW2 - plaque

HA1, West Street

Our Latin consultant, David Hopkins, provided the translation and adds: "The quote at the top, 'Sapiens qui prospicit', is the school mot...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
National Theatre foundation - 1976

National Theatre foundation - 1976

SW1, Belvedere Road, National Theatre

This group of plaques is in the ground floor seating area.

3 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Henry Doubleday

Henry Doubleday

CM16, High Street Epping, 271

The plaque is at the side of the building, in Buttercross Lane.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Peacock Inn

Peacock Inn

N1, Islington High Street, 11

A London Inheritance gives: "The large brick building was the final version of the Peacock and dates from 1931. The small building on the...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator