Houdini revolutionized magic by shifting focus from traditional conjuring to dramatic escapes. His most famous acts included:
After his mother's death in 1913, Houdini became obsessed with contacting her through spiritualists. Disillusioned by the fraud he uncovered, he devoted years to exposing fake mediums, even testifying before Congress in 1926 supporting a bill to outlaw fortune telling in D.C.
Born Erik Weisz on March 24, 1874 in Budapest, Hungary, the boy who would become Harry Houdini immigrated to America with his family at age 4. Growing up in poverty in Appleton, Wisconsin, young Ehrich (as he was called) took odd jobs from age 8 to help support his family, developing the physical strength and discipline that would later define his performances.
On October 22, 1926, while resting backstage in Montreal, Houdini allowed a university student to punch him in the stomach to test his famed abdominal strength. Unbeknownst to them, Houdini was suffering from appendicitis. He performed through excruciating pain that night before being hospitalized. Despite emergency surgery, peritonitis set in and he died on October 31, 1926 at age 52.
His final words to Bess were reportedly: "I'm tired of fighting... I guess this thing is going to get me." He was buried in Machpelah Cemetery in Queens, New York, under a bust that had been sculpted from his lifeless face.
Driven by grief after his mother's passing in 1913, Houdini embarked on a relentless quest to communicate with her spirit. He attended countless séances, hoping to find a genuine medium who could bridge the gap between the living and the dead. However, his experiences only led to disillusionment as he uncovered widespread fraud and deception among spiritualists.
Despite his skepticism, Houdini never fully abandoned the hope of reconnecting with his mother. His deep longing fueled his crusade against fraudulent mediums, as he sought to protect others from the pain and exploitation he had experienced. The memory of his mother remained a powerful force throughout his life, shaping his views on the supernatural and his enduring quest for truth.
Since 1989, the Harry Houdini Organisation has continued Houdini's legacy by holding an annual séance on October 31st, the anniversary of his death. Following in the footsteps of his wife Bess, who held séances for a decade after his passing, we attempt to contact the great escape artist using the original Houdini code.
Each year, precisely at 1:26 PM EST—the exact hour of Houdini’s death—we gather at our headquarters to perform the ritual exactly as Houdini specified. While the great magician has yet to make contact, we remain hopeful that one Halloween, he will finally fulfill his promise to communicate from beyond the grave.
Join us this Halloween as we attempt what Houdini promised: communication from beyond the grave.
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