The REAL Great Escape! & Houdini’s Elephant Trick! (March 24th)
Have YOU heard that Houdini’s final performance was on March 24, 1918, where he made an elephant disappear on stage in New York? STAY TUNED!”
On this day in 1918, the legendary Harry Houdini performed one of his most spectacular illusions at New York’s Hippodrome Theater – making a 10,000-pound elephant named Jennie disappear! With 5,000 spectators watching, Houdini wheeled a large cabinet containing the elephant on stage. After some dramatic flourishes, he opened the cabinet to reveal… nothing! Jennie had vanished into thin air! Though the secret remained carefully guarded, it involved clever staging, lighting, and misdirection rather than actual magic. This spectacular illusion cemented Houdini’s reputation as the world’s greatest magician.
[SOURCE: Smithsonian Magazine – “Houdini’s Greatest Trick: Making an Elephant Disappear”]
Today is National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day! These tiny treats were first introduced by the Blumenthal Chocolate Company in 1927 and sold under the name “Raisinets.” Americans consume about 1.7 million pounds of these chocolate-covered gems every year! Whether you’re sneaking them at the movie theater or adding them to your trail mix, today’s the perfect day to celebrate this sweet-and-chewy snack. Fun fact: it takes about 1.5 pounds of grapes to make just one pound of raisins, making each chocolate-covered raisin a tiny powerhouse of concentrated flavor!
[SOURCE: NationalDayCalendar.com – “National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day”]
On March 24, 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, spilling approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil. The environmental disaster affected over 1,300 miles of coastline and killed hundreds of thousands of seabirds, otters, seals, and eagles. The silver lining? This catastrophe led to major improvements in maritime safety, including the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, requiring double-hulled tankers and comprehensive emergency response plans. Sometimes it takes our biggest mistakes to create our most important improvements!
[SOURCE: OnThisDay.com – “March 24, 1989 – Exxon Valdez Oil Spill”]
Did you know that on March 24, 1944, the Great Escape took place? 76 Allied prisoners of war tunneled out of the German Stalag Luft III prison camp in Poland. The prisoners spent over a year digging three tunnels nicknamed “Tom,” “Dick,” and “Harry,” using improvised tools made from stolen items. They even created a railway system inside the tunnels for faster movement of dirt! Though most escapees were eventually recaptured, their ingenious plan inspired the classic 1963 film “The Great Escape” starring Steve McQueen. Sometimes you just have to dig deep to find your freedom!
[SOURCE: TodayIFoundOut.com – “The Real Story Behind The Great Escape”]
And that’s all for today’s edition of Have YOU heard? PLEASE leave a comment if you learned something mind-boggling! I’m Troy W. Hudson, the voice over with personality! Until next time, STAY CURIOUS!
Watch, Learn and Enjoy!
Troy W. Hudson
💚🎤 #haveyouheard