Harry Houdini, a hero of my childhood died on this day in 1926. Famous for inviting people to give him their most ferocious punch to his stomach, he died after receiving several in rapid succession from a college student. One version of the story says he hadn’t “prepared” to take the punch. In any case his appendix ruptured and he died a while later, today, from peritonitis…
As a child I was fascinated with magicians, and of that crowd, I was most enamored of Houdini.
As my interest in magic waned I continued to find him interesting, mostly for his relentless campaign to debunk spiritualists, who had mortally offended him when one purported to convey messages from his dead mother. Over the years he exposed numerous mediums, and was never stumped by one. Ironically, his own ability to replicate their feats of spirit communication led some to believe he really was a medium, himself. These included Arthur Conan Doyle, a fervent believer…
The video clip below contains Houdini’s actual voice, if a “stage” version, announcing one of his renowned escapes.
It is followed by his wife Bess speaking of the annual seance that took place on the anniversary of his death. She conducted it herself for ten years. He had promised if it were possible to pass the veil of death, he would. He didn’t.
I gather that admirers, mostly professional and high end amateur magicians continue to honor his memory with Houdini seances on this day observed around the world…
The irony alone is rather charming.
And, as life and death are one thing, may they continue to celebrate his absence while recalling his presence…
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In