Houdini, Harry: Difference between revisions
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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 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. | ||
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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*"Handcuffs could not hold Houdini" ''Salem Evening News'', April 17, 1906, | *"Handcuffs could not hold Houdini" ''Salem Evening News'', April 17, 1906, | ||
*[http:// | *[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 | |||
*" | *"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]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:33, 28 September 2026
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, 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 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
- Vertical File in Salem Collection - Houdini, Harry
- "Handcuffs could not hold Houdini" Salem Evening News, April 17, 1906,
- 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
- "Master showman - New display at PEM commemorates Houdini's historic visit to Salem" The Salem News, Aug 27, 2026
