Houdini, Harry - Revision history

Mflorea at 20:33, 28 September 2026

2026-09-28T20:33:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:33, 28 September 2026
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	In three packed shows at the Salem Theater, Houdini escaped from a large secured wooden box, and a strapped locked barrel. He also escaped from inside a police cell at the Salem Police Station.		In three packed shows at the Salem Theater, Houdini escaped from a large secured wooden box, and a strapped locked barrel. He also escaped from inside a police cell at the Salem Police Station.

	In 1926, Houdini died (on Halloween) of a ruptured appendix caused by blows from an overzealous fan. When dying, he made his wife promise to have an annual seance on the anniversary on his death. His wife did this for 10 years. In 1990 a group of organizers in Salem held a seance on Halloween to call Houdini back.		In 1926, Houdini died (on Halloween) of a ruptured appendix caused by blows from an overzealous fan. When dying, he made his wife promise to have an annual seance on the anniversary on his death and gave her a codeword that only she would know. His wife did this for 10 years. In 1990 a group of organizers in Salem held a seance on Halloween to call Houdini back.

			In 2026, the PEM announced that they would display a pair of handcuffs stemming from Houdini's April 1906 visit to Salem. The display is titled, ''Harry Houdini in Salem''. In 1906, Houdini visited the ''Peabody Academy of Science'' (now the ''Peabody Essex Museum'') where he saw a pair of handcuffs that were being displayed at the PEM labeled as being from a sailor from the Wilkes Expedition. Houdini claimed that while the handcuffs were labeled as being from the 1840's, they were actually from the 1880's and offered to donate $1,000 to a charity of the mayor's choice if he was wrong.
			Acting Director of the ''Peabody Academy of Science'', John Robertson, was interviewed where he confirmed that the handcuffs had only been used as an example of the type of cuffs used by sailors and were not necessarily from the 1840's. Houdini had moved on to his next tour stop by the time the story was published by ''The Salem News''.
			The handcuffs were used in a Hawthorne Hotel Halloween seance in 1990 in attempts to contact Houdini. The display will include the handcuffs along with other photographs and memorabilia from Houdini's visit to Salem.

	==See Also==		==See Also==
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	*[http://Salem.noblenet.org/Record/3017553 Hidden History of Salem] by S. Saville, p. 88-91		*[http://Salem.noblenet.org/Record/3017553 Hidden History of Salem] by S. Saville, p. 88-91

	*"Seance called to bring famed escape artist back" ''Salem Evening News'', Sept. 21, 1990, p. 13		*"Seance called to bring famed escape artist back" ''Salem Evening News'', Sept. 21, 1990, p. 13

			*"Master showman - New display at PEM commemorates Houdini's historic visit to Salem" ''The Salem News'', Aug 27, 2026

	[[Category:Browse Index]]		[[Category:Browse Index]]
	[[Category:People]]		[[Category:People]]

Jstrom at 18:39, 6 October 2025

2025-10-06T18:39:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:39, 6 October 2025
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	*"Handcuffs could not hold Houdini" ''Salem Evening News'', April 17, 1906,		*"Handcuffs could not hold Houdini" ''Salem Evening News'', April 17, 1906,

	*[http://~~evergreen~~.noblenet.org/~~eg/opac/record~~/3017553~~?locg=63~~ Hidden History of Salem] by S. Saville, p. 88-91		*[http://Salem.noblenet.org/Record/3017553 Hidden History of Salem] by S. Saville, p. 88-91

	*"Seance called to bring famed escape artist back" ''Salem Evening News'', Sept. 21, 1990, p. 13		*"Seance called to bring famed escape artist back" ''Salem Evening News'', Sept. 21, 1990, p. 13

Jstrom at 15:51, 14 November 2024

2024-11-14T15:51:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:51, 14 November 2024
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	==See Also==		==See Also==
	*Vertical File in Salem Collection - '''Houdini, Harry'''		*Vertical File in Salem Collection - '''Houdini, Harry'''

	*[https://www.historybythesea.com/2016/12/harry-houdini-salem-massachusetts.html Harry Houdini] blog "History by the Sea"

	*"Handcuffs could not hold Houdini" ''Salem Evening News'', April 17, 1906,		*"Handcuffs could not hold Houdini" ''Salem Evening News'', April 17, 1906,

Jstrom at 17:36, 14 February 2019

2019-02-14T17:36:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:36, 14 February 2019
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	==See Also==		==See Also==
	*Vertical File in Salem Collection - '''Houdini, Harry'''		*Vertical File in Salem Collection - '''Houdini, Harry'''

			*[https://www.historybythesea.com/2016/12/harry-houdini-salem-massachusetts.html Harry Houdini] blog "History by the Sea"

	*"Handcuffs could not hold Houdini" ''Salem Evening News'', April 17, 1906,		*"Handcuffs could not hold Houdini" ''Salem Evening News'', April 17, 1906,

Jstrom at 17:21, 22 November 2017

2017-11-22T17:21:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:21, 22 November 2017
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	'''Harry Houdini''', (Mar.24,1874-Oct. 31, 1926) the famous escape artist, visited Salem in 1906.		'''Harry Houdini''', (Mar.24,1874-Oct. 31, 1926) the famous escape artist, visited Salem in 1906.

	His given name was Erich Weiss. He was of Hungarian heritage ~~and he immigrated~~ with his family to the U.S. at the age of four.		His given name was Erich Weiss. He was of Hungarian heritage, emigrating with his family to the U.S. at the age of four.

	In three packed shows at the Salem Theater, Houdini escaped from a large secured wooden box, and a strapped locked barrel. He also escaped from inside a police cell at the Salem Police Station.		In three packed shows at the Salem Theater, Houdini escaped from a large secured wooden box, and a strapped locked barrel. He also escaped from inside a police cell at the Salem Police Station.

Jstrom at 17:20, 22 November 2017

2017-11-22T17:20:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:20, 22 November 2017
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	'''Harry Houdini''', (Mar.24,1874-Oct. 31, 1926) the famous escape artist, visited Salem in 1906.		'''Harry Houdini''', (Mar.24,1874-Oct. 31, 1926) the famous escape artist, visited Salem in 1906.

	His given name was Erich Weiss. ~~His background~~ was Hungarian and he immigrated with his family to the U.S. at the age of four.		His given name was Erich Weiss. He was of Hungarian heritage and he immigrated with his family to the U.S. at the age of four.

	In three packed shows at the Salem Theater, Houdini escaped from a large secured wooden box, and a strapped locked barrel. He also escaped from inside a police cell at the Salem Police Station.		In three packed shows at the Salem Theater, Houdini escaped from a large secured wooden box, and a strapped locked barrel. He also escaped from inside a police cell at the Salem Police Station.

CDavis at 14:17, 6 December 2012

2012-12-06T14:17:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:17, 6 December 2012
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	*"Handcuffs could not hold Houdini" ''Salem Evening News'', April 17, 1906,		*"Handcuffs could not hold Houdini" ''Salem Evening News'', April 17, 1906,

	*[http://~~innopac~~.noblenet.org/record=~~b3017553~S24~~ Hidden History of Salem] by S. Saville, p. 88-91		*[http://evergreen.noblenet.org/eg/opac/record/3017553?locg=63 Hidden History of Salem] by S. Saville, p. 88-91

	*"Seance called to bring famed escape artist back" ''Salem Evening News'', Sept. 21, 1990, p. 13		*"Seance called to bring famed escape artist back" ''Salem Evening News'', Sept. 21, 1990, p. 13

Jstrom at 16:12, 29 February 2012

2012-02-29T16:12:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:12, 29 February 2012
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	In three packed shows at the Salem Theater, Houdini escaped from a large secured wooden box, and a strapped locked barrel. He also escaped from inside a police cell at the Salem Police Station.		In three packed shows at the Salem Theater, Houdini escaped from a large secured wooden box, and a strapped locked barrel. He also escaped from inside a police cell at the Salem Police Station.

	Houdini died (on Halloween) of a ruptured appendix caused by blows from an overzealous fan. When dying, he made his wife promise to have an annual seance on the anniversary on his death. His wife did this for 10 years. In 1990 a group of organizers in Salem held a seance on Halloween to call Houdini back.		In 1926, Houdini died (on Halloween) of a ruptured appendix caused by blows from an overzealous fan. When dying, he made his wife promise to have an annual seance on the anniversary on his death. His wife did this for 10 years. In 1990 a group of organizers in Salem held a seance on Halloween to call Houdini back.

	==See Also==		==See Also==

Jstrom at 17:05, 28 January 2011

2011-01-28T17:05:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:05, 28 January 2011
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	*"Handcuffs could not hold Houdini" ''Salem Evening News'', April 17, 1906,		*"Handcuffs could not hold Houdini" ''Salem Evening News'', April 17, 1906,

			*[http://innopac.noblenet.org/record=b3017553~S24 Hidden History of Salem] by S. Saville, p. 88-91

	*"Seance called to bring famed escape artist back" ''Salem Evening News'', Sept. 21, 1990, p. 13		*"Seance called to bring famed escape artist back" ''Salem Evening News'', Sept. 21, 1990, p. 13

Jstrom at 15:43, 24 September 2010

2010-09-24T15:43:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:43, 24 September 2010
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	==See Also==		==See Also==
	*Vertical File in Salem Collection - Houdini, Harry		*Vertical File in Salem Collection - '''Houdini, Harry'''

	*"Handcuffs could not hold Houdini" ''Salem Evening News'', April 17, 1906,		*"Handcuffs could not hold Houdini" ''Salem Evening News'', April 17, 1906,

	*"Seance called to bring famed escape artist back" ''Salem Evening News'', Sept. 21, 1990, p. 13		*"Seance called to bring famed escape artist back" ''Salem Evening News'', Sept. 21, 1990, p. 13

	[[Category:Browse Index]]		[[Category:Browse Index]]
	[[Category:People]]		[[Category:People]]