Aberdeen's secret history: The 'wizards of the North East' who inspired Harry Houdini

In Aberdeen in 1909, the legendary escapologist Harry Houdini was in town.

Shackled in heavy chains and handcuffs, he made a death-defying jump into the icy North Sea as thousands anxiously watched his audacious escape.

He arrived in the North East in the middle of his British tour, having built a reputation worldwide for his sensational escape stunts.

Magician and escapologist Dave Goulding told STV News: “There were enormous crowds. Everybody was there.

“You could see Houdini for free up on Torry Battery, get a glimpse of this little figure coming out, jumping off the tug boat, climbing back out of the water and getting rapturous applause.

“It was unmissable.”

Houdini hangs upside down in famous stunt Aberdeen City Library

But decades before Houdini’s memorable stunt, it was one of Aberdeen’s very own who was the master of magic.

John Henry Anderson – born near Aberdeen in 1914 – was known as the ‘great wizard of the north.’ A pioneer of modern stage magic, Anderson invented famous illusions like the bullet catch and led the way for the theatrical advertising campaigns that helped shape showbusiness.

During his 1909 visit to the Granity City, Houdini visited the entertainer’s neglected grave in St Nicholas Kirkyard, later arranging for its care and restoration.

Mr Goulding said: “Anderson became the No.1 name in variety in the mid-19th century, toured the world, made and lost fortunes. No one had seen anything like Anderson.

“His props were beautiful. He was skilled. His creativity was fantastic.

“Houdini knew about his publicity stunts, what he did, how he did it and thought ‘right, that is the way to go.’

“Without John Henry Anderson, there would have been no Paul Daniels, no Houdini as we know him.”

Houdini performs in Aberdeen Aberdeen City Library

The current image has no alternative text. The file name is: d860805cc6fd37a4169cf40a3feb3fdc-1788528222.jpeg — Houdini visited John Henry Anderson’s grave while in the city and paid for its restoration

A quarter of a century later, Walford Bodie – or the ‘Electric Wizard’ – from Banff, became one of the world’s highest paid entertainers of the Edwardian era.

Famous for mock electrocutions and his controversial ‘show cures’, he eventually became a close personal friend of Houdini himself.

“He was brash – he called himself Dr Bodie MD,” Mr Gouldie said. “He claimed it stood for Medi-‘Devil.’ He had medical students rioting in his shows. He was famous all over Britain.”

'The Electric Wizard' Walford Bodie — ‘The Electric Wizard’ Walford Bodie Aberdeen City Library

Aberdeen Magical Society is celebrating a century since its founding and the death of Houdini.

The group say their ambition is to raise awareness of the city’s legacy.

“These guys were giants of magic. We must never forget that history. We wouldn’t be here without them.”

Garry Seagraves has been a magician for nearly 40 years.

He said: “It’s an honour to be a part of the whole magic scene in Aberdeen. Little did the guys who started this off 100 years ago know, we’d be carrying the flag into 2026. They were great showmen.

“We’ve got all this technology, but I still revert back to the tricks to what Houdini and Walford Bodie were performing all those years ago.

“People still love being there and watching something mystical happen in front of their very eyes.”