What led Harry Houdini to be famous?

Answer 1

His straight jacket escapes- since most used trick ones at the time and his were real, he could also control his breathing, some died while trying to duplicate his underwater stunts. He also had more flair than others even when using the same tricks, always claiming he was the originator of them. He probably gained the most notoriety when he was put on trial in Germany. He claimed he could open any lock and the press called him a liar. He opened some in court and they were forced to apologize publicly. Many real magicians claim Houdini's tricks were not all tricks and that he could actually pass over. Some of them have never been duplicated. Although he did reveal many of his secrets he never revealed them all.