Harry Houdini (1874-1926) born Erik Weisz (which was changed to Ehrich Weiss when he immigrated to the United States) was a Hungarian American magician, escapologist, stunt performer, as well as a skeptic and investigator of spiritualists, film producer, and actor. He immigrated with his family to the United States in 1878, as a child. He took several jobs and then became a champion cross country runner. He made his public début as a 10-year-old trapeze artist. Weiss became a professional magician and began calling himself "Harry Houdini" because he was influenced by French magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin. Initially, Houdini"s magic career resulted in little success. He performed in Dime Museums and sideshow. He focused on traditional card tricks, but soon began experimenting with escape acts. Houdini explained some of his tricks in books written for the magic brotherhood throughout his career. His works include: The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin (1908), The Miracle Mongers and Their Methods (1920) and A Magician Among the Spirits (1924).