These two men are brilliant showmen. Throughout his life, Houdini performed first in carnival sideshows, then in vaudeville, where he would share the stage with all manner of entertainers, and later, in his thrilling show, where he became the greatest magician and escape artist of all time. Phineas Taylor Barnum was a successful small business owner, entrepreneur, newspaper editor, museum owner, sideshow operator, touring promoter for opera singers, theatrical producer, circus owner, congressman, mayor, and philanthropist. He had an influence on virtually every aspect of American life and it cannot be underestimated. Inside you'll read about Harry Houdini. First Attempts at Performing Harry Houdini. The Early Escape Act: The "Risey Incident" Harry Houdini. The Great Illusion: Metamorphosis How Houdini Died Phineas Taylor Barnum. The Variety Shows Phineas Taylor Barnum. Jenny Lind Phineas Taylor Barnum. After Jenny Lind Phineas Taylor Barnum. Politics And much more! A brilliant showman, deeply interested in human psychology, and Houdini's life and work reflect these many interested, and he must have known the cachet being born in America would give his act. More than a little daredevil, Houdini performed feats never matched by any other person. Phineas Taylor Barnum's name has been associated with circus sideshows and freaks and jokes for more than a century, but the truth is that he was a great man and a visionary who shaped the country he loved so much.