Wand breaking ceremony at Houdini's grave 2025

The SAM Parent Assembly #1 held its annual wand-breaking ceremony at Houdini's gravesite on November 14. This long-standing tradition dates back to Houdini's funeral in 1926. Rabbi Noah Valley conducted the Hebrew portion of the ceremony for many decades. It is now conducted by magician Benjilini, who kindly provided these images.

The SAM used to do the wand-breaking ceremony on Halloween. But it was feared that the ceremony was drawing too much attention to the gravesite and was leading to vandalism. It was decided to hold the ceremony on the date of Houdini's death on the Jewish calendar. But I am hoping the ceremony moves back to Halloween for the 100th next year.

Related:

• S.A.M. will honor Houdini in Appleton next year
• S.A.M. wand breaking ceremony in 1976
• The Houdini-Weiss exedra turns 100

Houdini in new Ryman Auditorium exhibit

The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville has a new exhibit, "Unexpected Company," showcasing famous names who have appeared at the historic venue. Houdini appeared at the Ryman with his spiritualism lecture on March 11, 1924, and a pair of handcuffs he is said to have used are part of the display.

 

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“Unexpected Company” is now open as part of the Ryman’s daytime tour experience. Tickets and tour information are available at Ryman.com/Tours.

Related:

• Houdini (Himself) in Nashville
• Nashville remembers Houdini
• Houdini's Spiritualism Lectures

Houdini vs. The Spiritualists: A Battle on Capitol Hill

Here's a late-in-the-year treat. Our friend Chuck Romano from My Magic Uncle has published a new book, Houdini vs. The Spiritualists: A Battle on Capitol Hill. Below is a description:

A gripping account of the world's greatest magician, Harry Houdini, as he waged war against the spiritualists on Capitol Hill. Here magic met politics and illusion collided with truth.

In 1926, a dramatic conflict arose in the chambers of the United States Congress concerning not tariffs or taxes, but the regulation of fortune telling and the supernatural. What began as a seemingly obscure piece of legislation soon drew national attention as the famed magician and escape artist Harry Houdini stepped into the spotlight to lead a crusade against fraudulent spiritualists.

This book provides the complete transcript of the four days of hearings and offers a detailed examination of the proceedings and individuals involved. Its contents shed light on these extraordinary hearings, where belief and skepticism clashed, and Congress became an unexpected venue for one of the most unusual confrontations in American history.

Houdini vs. The Spiritualists: A Battle on Capitol Hill can be purchased at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

Related:

• Chuck Romano wins April Fools Day
• Guest blog: Mr. Houdini Goes to Washington
• Lincoln's Ghost by Brad Ricca released today

ANNOUNCEMENT: I'M DONE WITH HOUDINI!

Today is an important anniversary for me. It was 50 years ago, on November 16, 1975, that I saw the Tony Curtis Houdini biopic on television. Two hours later, I was a changed person. The story of Houdini had captivated me. But even at the age of 10, I knew movies were just entertainment. They didn't offer the truth. So I set out to learn as much as I could about this amazing man.

Fifty years later, I'm here to tell you that I'm DONE. Yes, I learned everything about Houdini! Now it's time to get it out of my head and into your hands.

I'm therefore thrilled to announce THE ULTIMATE HOUDINI CHRONOLOGY, a three-volume set of books in which I will follow Houdini through every engagement he ever played, every escape he ever performed, and every significant moment of his life. If you enjoyed Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini 1897-1899, know that was just an appetizer for the multi-course meal I'm cooking up now!

But wait, it gets better.

These books will be official presentations of David Copperfield's International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts. As such, David has given me carte blanche to use anything in his collection to realize my dream of creating the most complete and accurate account of Houdini's life and career ever published. This, combined with material from several other major collections, has enabled me to gather a truly mind-bending amount of unseen Houdini images to bring the text to life.

The good news is that this is not some far-off future project. The first volume, HANDCUFF KING: THE RISE OF HARRY HOUDINI, which chronicles the years 1900-1909, is largely complete and will be released in 2026. It runs 600 pages and is packed with new information and more photos than I can count. I'm designing the book myself and working hard to make it the Houdini book of my dreams. I think it will be the Houdini book of your dreams as well.

My plan is to publish these books as limited edition hardcovers under my own imprint, Wild About Harry Press. I will soon be launching a new retail website where you can buy the books directly from me. I'm talking to Mike Caveney about offering a Deluxe Edition, because no one does Deluxe Editions like Mike!

Watch this blog and my Patreon in the coming months for more details. I'm excited about launching this new era and completing what I set out to accomplish fifty years ago today. Because I'm still wild about Harry! And so are you.

Related:

• November 16, 1975
• Into The Copperfield Zone, Part I | Part II
• Book Work (Patreon)

LINK: Decades after the 'final' seance, hundreds still hope to contact Harry Houdini

Here's a nice article by Brianna Morris-Grant at ABC Australia, which ran on October 30. It quotes me, so I'm returning the favor! Click the headline or the image below to read.

Related:

• Halloween 1936: The Final Houdini Seance
• Inside The Official Houdini Séance 2025
• The secret origins of the annual Houdini Seance

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT INCOMING

This Sunday, November 16, at 5PM PT, I will be making a major announcement here on WILD ABOUT HARRY. This one has been 50 years in the making!

Unpublished Houdini book by William Rauscher will appear in 2026

One of the exciting pieces of news to come out of the 99th anniversary celebrations was Thomas Ewing's announcement that next year he and David Haversat's 1878 Press will publish a hitherto unknown Houdini manuscript by the late William V. Rauscher. The book is called Houdini Revealed and was written by Rev. Rauscher in the 1990s. Here's a preview:

How did Houdini become the magical folk hero, the symbol of escape from the chains of oppression, poverty and rejection? What circumstances brought him into the final spotlight of world prominence? What was the force behind his aggressive personality? Can we really understand the mind of the driven master mystifier? In exhausting efforts to sculpture his own image, did he leave us the mystery of himself?

You are invited to journey back in time, to a different way of life to grow up living as he did, searching for opportunity in an era we may have forgotten. His countless escapes and magic tricks on and off stage were but the surface of a whole world of happenings. We may never know all the hidden side of Houdini’s mind but in this book, I will attempt to reveal some workings of his inner self.

Houdini Revealed joins a growing list of new Houdini books scheduled or released for 2026 (12 by my current count). It's going to be a big year!

Related:

• William V. Rauscher (1932-2024)
• William Rauscher's Hardeen book released
• Guest blog: William V. Rauscher on Houdini and the Hippodrome

The end begins

We are now officially inside the 100th anniversary of the final year of Houdini's life. Where did Houdini (unknowingly) begin his final year? Ironically, he spent Halloween sick in bed with a cold. But the next day, he opened his 3 Shows in One at the Hanna Theater in Cleveland, Ohio.

It was a typically eventful week. Houdini faced off with a challenge packing a case from the Bailey Company. He also battled Cleveland's mediums and performed for children at the Sunbeam School for Crippled Children.

This was Houdini's first and last appearance at the Hanna (which still stands today). But this was to be the theater Houdini would have played after his Detroit engagement in 1926.

 

Related:

• The next stop
• A tour of Houdini's Cleveland
• Appleton launches "Year of Houdini" celebration

Another way to Escape

Heads up that Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini 1897-1899 is now available at Potter & Potter's Quicker Than The Eye store. Just click below to make the escape.

Of course, you can also still get the book directly from Mike Caveney's Magic Words.

Related:

• ESCAPING OBSCURITY: Reviews & Reactions
• YOU CAN NOW OWN HOUDINI'S FIRST DIARY
• Escaping Obscurity now available in the UK

Houdini's curious request

When Houdini died on Halloween 1926, his brother Theo Hardeen inherited his show and came out of retirement. Dash had a healthy career as a "Handcuff King" from 1900 to 1917. He then hung up the handcuffs to help run Houdini's ill-fated film factory. But now he was headed back to the stage. As far as I know, this poster was the first touting Hardeen as Houdini's successor. This appears in Ken Trombly's new book The Art of Magic.

Ken Trombly Collection

However, Hardeen's inheritance was not unconditional. Houdini's Will contained a curious stipulation that I rarely see discussed. Hardeen could only inherit the show if his sons were confirmed in the Jewish faith within three months. I recently came across an article in which Hardeen himself explained the reasons behind this.

The Herald Statesman, Nov 16, 1926.

Hardeen appears to have adhered to his late brother's wish, and he began his tour on January 17, 1927, in Bridgeport, CT. He continued to perform as "Houdini Legal Successor" until his own death in 1945.

While none of Hardeen's children or their offspring went into magic, we are fortunate today to have his grandson, George Hardeen, son of Harry Hardeen, looking after the legacy of Houdini and his grandfather. 

Related:

• Theo Hardeen
• Hardeen's new job
• NPR unlocks the secret of Houdini's bloodline

Inside The Official Houdini Séance 2025

The Official Houdini Séance was held this year at the new House of Magic in Glenside, Pennsylvania. The medium was Scott Wells, and the seance was open to the public this year. Did Houdini return? Apparently not, but a good time was had by all. Below is a collection of photos courtesy of John Costello.

Waiting for Harry.

The Inner Circle gathers.

Tom Boldt, Bill Radner, and the Séance Cuffs.

Medium Scott Wells getting into the spirit.

Barry Spector's creations.

"We are a very determined group." - Bill Radner

Inner Circle attendees were Paul Rosen, Scott Wells, Bruce Averbook, Tom Boldt, Bill Radner, Marc DeSouza, Deborah Hardeen Bloom, Barry Spector, and Fred Pittella.

Here's looking forward to 2026 and the 100th anniversary of Houdini's death. Maybe Harry is too!

Past Official Houdini Séances:

• The Official Houdini Séance 2024 (Appleton)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2023 (Charleston)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2022 (Providence)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2021 (Chicago)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2020 (Online)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2019 (Niagara Falls)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2018 (Baltimore)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2017 (Cleveland)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2016 (Milwaukee)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2015 (San Francisco)
• The Official Houdini Seance 2014 (Danvers)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2013 (Halifax)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2012 (Fort Worth)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2011 (Holyoke)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2010 (New York)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2009 (Melrose)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2008 (Madison)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2007 (New York)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2006 (New York)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2005 (Boston)

Appleton launches "Year of Houdini" celebration

Halloween and the 99th are behind us. Now begins our march toward the 100th and the "Year of Houdini." Looks like the History Museum in Appleton is already taking the lead.

Related:

• Let's all go to Appleton next year!
• S.A.M. will honor Houdini in Appleton next year

Marking the 99th on The Magic Word Podcast

It was my great honor to once again be a guest on Scott Wells' The Magic Word Podcast. And this time Banjoe got in on the action! Or at least he tried.

Related:

• Catching up with Houdini on Halloween podcasts (2024)
• The Magic Word Podcast - All Houdini Episode (2021)
• The Magic Word is Wild About Harry (2017)