attackontitan

As a child, Eric Weiss had several jobs, making his public debut as a nine-year-old aerialist, calling himself "Ehrie, Prince of the Air." He was also a champion cross-country runner in his youth. In 1892, he adopted the pseudonym Houdini in honor of the French magician Robert-Houdin, whose surname he pronounced according to the rules of the English language, not the French. Later, the name Harry was added to the surname in honor of Harry Kellar, although, according to testimony from relatives, even as a child his friends called him Ehrie or Harry.