By Islam El-Sakka
A century after his death, Harry Houdini remains a subject of fascination. A rare essay by the escape artist about magicians of the past has been published for the first time, while a new book revisits longstanding questions about the cause and date of his death. Centennial events are taking place worldwide, from Budapest to Hollywood.
Rare essay published
The essay, "An Interesting Scrapbook," appears in The Strand Magazine. Houdini pays tribute to earlier magicians and laments the lack of historical records about them. He was inspired by playbills shared by cartoonist Kin Hubbard for 19th-century entertainers such as Robert Heller and H.J. Sargent.
Houdini's historical interest
Eric Colleary, author of "Houdini's Library," notes that Houdini visited the graves of other magicians and personally paid for their maintenance. In return, magicians' families gave him scrapbooks, playbills, and other items to preserve their memories.
Death theories persist
According to contemporary accounts, Houdini died on October 31, 1926, from diffuse peritonitis after appendicitis, possibly aggravated days earlier when a college student in Montreal punched him in the stomach. Alternate theories have thrived, including poisoning by a cabal of circus performers.
New book challenges official account
In "Houdini: The Man Who Died Twice," author Larrian Gillespie draws on medical records and a death certificate to argue that Houdini actually died on October 30. She contends the real cause was intestinal blockage resulting from a doctor's decision to allow Houdini to eat vegetables and sour cream while recovering from surgery. Houdini's great-nephew, George Hardeen, found the book "convincing and persuasive."
Experts express skepticism
Houdini scholars Bruce Averbook and John Cox doubt the death date was altered to land on Halloween. Averbook notes that Houdini's personal assistant recorded the death as October 31. Cox acknowledges the book contains valuable new information but calls for a second opinion on the cause of death.
Legacy beyond death
Centennial events include a "Grand Houdini Centenarium" in Budapest, a memorabilia auction in Hollywood, and seances in Chicago and Frederick, Maryland. His burial site at Machpelah Cemetery in New York City remains a Halloween gathering place.
