


Ehrich was the fourth boy in a family that would ultimately total seven children (including one child from a previous marriage). His parents were Cecelia Steiner and Mayer Samuel Weiss, a rabbinical lawyer and sometimes soap maker. Bess Houdini died in 1943 but was not allowed to be buried alongside her husband as she had requested, because she was not of Jewish descent.Harry Houdini was born Erik Weisz (later spelled Ehrich Weiss) in Budapest, Hungary on March 24, 1874. In fact, the Society continues to hold its "Broken Wand" ceremony every November at Houdini's gravesite. He was buried in Queens New York at the Machpelah Cemetery with the crest of the Society of American Magicians inscribed on his grave. Houdini's funeral was held on Novemin New York with more than 2,000 mourners in attendance. On Octosurrounded by his wife and brother, Harry Houdini died. Harry relented and had his appendix removed, however it had already ruptured and doctors did not have much hope for his survival. He continued to refuse medical care until the next morning when Bess insisted he go to the hospital. When the curtain closed, Harry collapsed where he was standing and had to be carried back to his dressing room. By the middle of the third act, Houdini asked his assistant to lower the curtain as he could not go on. Audience members reported that Harry missed his cues and seemed in a hurry. He was tired and in pain and his assistants often had to step in and offer help. However, Harry decided to complete his show as planned that night.īy the time Harry arrived on stage, his fever had risen to 104 degrees. He was advised to go to the hospital for immediate surgery. When he finally saw a doctor, Harry was found to have a fever of 102 degrees and acute appendicitis. He was unable to sleep and remained in constant pain for the next two days, though he did not seek medical help. Throughout the evening, Houdini performed in great pain. Harry responded that he could, if given time to brace himself, at which point Whitehead hit Houdini four times in the abdomen, under the impression that Houdini had indeed braced himself for the blows. Gordon Whitehead, asked Harry if he could indeed withstand any blow to the abdomen, as the magician had previously proclaimed. According to reports, Houdini was looking through his mail, when one of the students, J.

On the afternoon of October 22, 1926, two McGill University students visited Houdini's dressing room. A séance held to contact Houdini's spirt
