Theodore Hardeen

Theodore Hardeen
File:Theodore Hardeen 1905.jpg
Born	Ferencz Dezso Weisz (1876-03-04)March 4, 1876 Budapest, Austria-Hungary
Died

Theodore (Dash) Hardeen (born Ferencz Dezso Weisz, March 4, 1876 – June 12, 1945), known simply as Hardeen, was a Hungarian magician and escape artist who was the younger brother of Harry Houdini. Hardeen, who usually billed himself as the "brother of Houdini", was the founder of the Magician's Guild. Hardeen was the first magician to conceive escaping from a submerged straitjacket in full view of the audience, rather than behind a curtain.

Early life

Hardeen was born as Ferencz Dezso Weisz or Weisz Ferenc Dezső in Budapest, Hungary, and went by the name of Theodore Weiss when the family was living in Appleton, Wisconsin. He was known as "Deshi" and later "Dash" by his parents.

In 1893, Hardeen performed with Houdini at Coney Island as "The Brothers Houdini". While there, Harry met and married Wilhelmina Beatrice (Bess) Rahner.

Magical career

File:Houdini brothers 1901.jpg

Hardeen with his brother, Houdini (seated left) c. 1901.

File:Hardeen-newspaper-advertisement 1911.jpg

A poster for a performance at a theater, c. 1911.

Will Goldston, English stage magician and editor of the Magician Annual, wrote that:

Hardeen learned his business from Houdini, and he learned it well, as no man could have failed to do with such a master. But the natural ability was always there. Even if Houdini had not existed to point the way, it is quite likely that Hardeen would have become an escape artiste. I have seen him perform several times, and have marvelled at his achievements. The huge chains in the cartoon are hardly an exaggeration of those from which he breaks loose. The handcuffs but a simple thing compared with those with which he is used to toy. Hardeen, like his more famous brother Harry Houdini is a great favourite in the magical world. He is a man of considerable culture and one of the best raconteurs I have ever met. Like Houdini, he is willing to expend both time and money freely to further the cause of magic. Both the amateurs and the professionals of our number regard him as a friend. And the general public regard him as a brilliant artiste and a thrilling entertainer.

After his brother's death in 1926 Hardeen played the vaudeville circuit, doing many of Houdini's routines. From 1938 to 1941, Hardeen was featured in Olsen and Johnson's Broadway revue, Hellzapoppin, and during World War II he performed for the troops (as his brother had done during World War I).

In 1936 Hardeen starred in a Vitaphone short film for Warner Bros. called Medium Well Done. In it, Hardeen played a "hardboiled detective" on the case of a bogus medium. The film was directed by Lloyd French, who directed many of the early Laurel and Hardy shorts.

Planning on writing a book about his brother, in 1945 Hardeen went to New York's Doctors Hospital for a simple operation. He unexpectedly died of complications while recovering from the procedure. He was 69 years old.

Legacy

File:Tombstone of Theo Hardeen.jpg

Hardeen's tombstone at the Houdini gravesite at Machpelah Cemetery in Queens. The inscription reads: "He went about doing good. We miss you, dear."

During his final show on May 29, 1945 in Ridgeway, Queens, Hardeen named his chief assistant, Douglas Geoffrey, his official successor. Geoffrey went on to perform as "Hardeen, Jr." for many years. He died on January 14, 1990 at age 82.

Richard Valentine Pitchford (1895–1973) took over the Magicians' Guild after Hardeen's death. Sidney Hollis Radner received the Houdini collection from Hardeen.

Hardeen has been featured in HBO's Emmy award-winning series Boardwalk Empire. He was portrayed by Remy Auberjonois (son of actor René Auberjonois).

Further reading

• Goldston, Will. The Magician Annual (1911–1912)

External links

• Theodore Hardeen at Find a Grave