Report on the 278 séance event coming soon

Just a heads-up that I will be doing a full report on the incredible 100th Anniversary séance event held at Houdini's New York home (278) on Halloween. The event was filled with fantastic people, gratitude, tears, food, wine, and mysteries yet to be explained. I spent two days inside the house and...wow. The 100th of my dreams. I'll try to bring you all inside with my report, but it might not come until next week.

In the meantime, I shared a couple of short videos with my patrons to give a taste of what went down.

Thanks to Randall Bell for the top photo.

Related:

• TODAY, HOUDINI LIVES!
• In one week, Houdini comes home (maybe)
• Join the 100th Anniversary Séance at Houdini's home

2026 wand breaking ceremony at Houdini's grave

The SAM Parent Assembly #1 held its annual wand-breaking ceremony at Houdini's gravesite today. This year, it was live-streamed for the first time. The reading of the Broken Wands ritual was done by Rob Kirkpatrick, PA1's current chairman. The breaking of the wand was performed by Dean George Schindler. As always, Benjilini concluded the ceremony with the mourners' kaddish.

I was hoping to attend the wand breaking ceremony this year, which, for the 100th, I thought might be done on Halloween or the day after. However, it appears to have become dogma that it be done on the Jewish date of Houdini's death. Happily, that date was today, so it wasn't too far from Halloween, and being able to watch the live stream made me feel like I did indeed attend.

Related:

• S.A.M. wand breaking ceremony in 1976
• Houdini's grave is ready for its closeup!
• The Houdini-Weiss exedra turns 100

Houdini presentations at The 2026 Yankee Gathering

Halloween may be behind us, but the centenary year is not over, and Houdini will be making his next appearance at The 2026 Yankee Gathering in Nashua, New Hampshire. The convention runs November 5-7 and will include three important Houdini presentations as part of a packed program of events.

First up, on Friday, November 6, during the 1 PM session, our great friend and magic collector extraordinaire, Ken Trombly, will present a talk on "Houdini in Boston." Boston loved Houdini and Houdini loved Boston, so he spent a lot of time in the city and had many adventures. Ken knows his stuff, and this should be a fantastic talk.

Ken's talk will be followed by a reading of excerpts from The Other Side, a new play about Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I don't know much about this play. This could be its first public reading, so that's pretty exciting.

During the evening session on Friday, Tom Ewing will be giving a very special talk about the new book Houdini Revealed: His Life And The Way The World Was: 1874-1905. This manuscript, written by the late William Rauscher in the 1990s, is being published by Tom and David Haversat's 1878 Press. I believe Tom will have copies for sale at the convention.

While not Houdini-related, it's worth mentioning that the great William Kalush will be giving a talk on Saturday about "Rare Conjuring Books." Nashua is now home to Bill's magnificent Conjuring Arts Research Center.

You can view the full schedule of events on the official NEMCA website. 

UPDATE: Ken Trombly tells us: "For those who do not have time to attend the entire weekend of activities, there will be day passes available. This will include not only admission to lectures, but also access to the exhibition room as well as the always popular dealer's room, where the magic collectibles on sale (apparatus, books, posters, ephemera etc) WILL include some original vintage Houdini material."

Related:

• NEMCA announces 2026 Gathering in Nashua
• Exploring Houdini's Boston
• October surprise

HANDCUFF KING Premium Edition details

Today, I'm excited to share the first image and details about the PREMIUM EDITION of Handcuff King: The Conquests of Harry Houdini, 1900–1909.

The Premium Edition will be the regular hardcover housed in a bonded leather slipcase with gold foil stamping on each side and spine. As you can see above, it's a beauty. But it gets better. The books will be signed and numbered on an exclusive presentation page by me and DAVID COPPERFIELD.

David and his International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts played a significant role in the creation of The Ultimate Houdini Chronology (as you will read in his foreword), so having his signature is a perfect way to make the Premium Edition premium.

The Premium Edition will be limited to 250 copies and will ship inside a custom mailing carton. The stock will be split between Mike Caveney's Magic Words and my own store, Wild About Harry Press. I will be making 100 copies available for preorder starting November 16. (Members of my Patreon can preorder starting November 14.)

Unlike the Escaping Obscurity Collector's Edition, which sold out in 48 hours, I'm confident that everyone who wants a Premium Edition will get one, as long as you don't wait too long. There will be a limit of two books per customer during the first month of release, at least on my site.

Product pages showing details and prices for both the Regular Hardcover and Premium Edition are live at Wild About Harry Press. Have a look, and feel free to sign up to be notified when preorders begin. I can't wait to get this book into your hands!

Related:

• TODAY, HOUDNI LIVES!
• Wild About Harry PRESS is open for business
• ANNOUNCEMENT: I'M DONE WITH HOUDINI!

TODAY, HOUDINI LIVES!

Today marks the 100th anniversary of Houdini's death on Halloween 1926. Understandably, this has been a year filled with talk and remembrances of his tragic and untimely death at 1:26 PM at Grace Hospital in Detroit. Will Houdini return to any of the many seances planned for this day? Maybe. I will be waiting for him at his own house, and I will certainly let you know if he shows up.

But when midnight strikes and we all turn out the lights and say "Goodnight Harry," I'm looking forward to beginning the next 100 years talking about his LIFE.

Let me kick that off by officially revealing the cover of my new book, Handcuff King: The Conquests of Harry Houdini, 1900-1909, the first in a series of volumes that will chronicle Houdini's amazing life like never before. This cover art is by the talented illustrator and designer Elijah Henry, and I think it looks sensational. The photograph comes from David Copperfield's International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts.

Handcuff King: The Conquests of Harry Houdini, 1900-1909 will be available for preorder on November 16. I figured this was the perfect day to open preorders because it was on November 16, 1975, that I first saw the movie Houdini (1953), and it was on November 16, 2025, that I announced the book and The Ultimate Houdini Chronology series.

Listings for the Regular Hardcover and Premium Edition are live at my store, Wild About Harry Press. There you can sign up to be notified when preorders begin. If all goes to plan, the first books should start shipping in late December.

I can't wait to get this into your hands and begin the next 100 years. Because if today teaches us anything, it's that Houdini will never die!

Remembering the LIFE of

HARRY HOUDINI

The Handcuff King

on this

100th ANNIVERSARY

Have a safe and Happy Halloween

We're just two days away from Halloween and the 100th anniversary of Houdini's death. Hopefully, everyone has a special event or séance to attend. There is certainly no shortage to choose from! I'll be traveling to New York to attend the 100-Year Séance event at 278, and I couldn't be more excited. Will Houdini join any of us? We'll see!

If you get a chance, come back here on Halloween and take a look at the cover art for my new book, Handcuff King: The Conquests of Harry Houdini, 1900–1909. I've not kept the cover a big secret. I've shown it at speaking events and have been offering a special cover-reveal postcard in my store. But the book is being printed in China as we speak, so I thought Halloween was the perfect day to share the cover and preorder date with everyone.

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween. Here's to the next 100 years!

Related:

• A rundown of October 2026 Houdini events 🎃
• In one week, Houdini comes home (maybe)
• HANDCUFF KING cover reveal in Appleton

LINK: Houdini's First Diary Reveals a Lost World of Turn-of-the-Century Magic

Here's a pleasant October surprise. National Geographic has an article today by Nina Strochlic about Houdini's first diary and our book, Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899. It's excellent! Unfortunately, it is paywalled. But if you are a subscriber to Nat Geo, click the image below to have a read.

The little red book, which contains Harry Houdini's recently deciphered notes, charts his rise as a performer and the key role of his wife, Bess, in turning his act from dime-store vaudeville into international stardom.

As good as this article is, it never actually says this is a book that people can buy. However, you can indeed buy Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899 from Mike Caveney's Magic Words. Get the book and learn how Houdini got his big break before the next chapter arrives.

Psst. There might be a way to read this if you are a member of my Patreon. Just saying...

Related:

• YOU CAN NOW OWN HOUDINI'S FIRST DIARY
• Escaping Obscurity reviewed by David Byron (great review!)
• How we made the Deluxe Edition deluxe

Land artist creates massive Houdini portrait

I really don't know if this is an AI fake, but according to the Melbourne Weekly Times, a "Land Artist" in Verona, Italy, has created a massive portrait of Houdini to honor him on the 100th anniversary of his death. Hey, if this isn't true, it should be! CLICK HERE to see the full video.

Below is some more Houdini artwork in the wild.

Related:

• Wild
• Houdini apparition appears in Visalia?
• Houdini's boater floats in the 23rd Street subway

'Houdini: Escaping Scranton' at the Everheart Museum

This one slipped past me when it opened earlier this month. The Everhart Museum in Scranton, PA, currently has an exhibition devoted to Houdini. Below are details.

Houdini: Escaping Scranton is on display at the Everhart Museum in Scranton, PA, from October 14 through November 29, 2026. The exhibition is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM and explores legendary magician Harry Houdini’s fascinating connections to Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Presented in collaboration with Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz of Scranton’s Houdini Museum, the exhibition highlights Houdini’s early travels with the Welsh Brothers Circus and his performances throughout the region. Visitors will learn about his legendary 1915 escape at Scranton’s Ritz Theater, formerly the Poli Theater.

The exhibition features rare artifacts related to Houdini’s daring escapes, historical memorabilia, photographs, and video footage of his unforgettable performances. It also explores his interest in spiritualism and the supernatural, themes closely associated with his death on Halloween in 1926.

Houdini: Escaping Scranton offers a fascinating look at the legendary escape artist’s life and local history in Scranton.

The Everhart Museum is located at 1901 Mulberry St. in Scranton, PA.  For more information, visit their official website.

Top image from the Everhart Museum's Facebook page.

Related:

• Ambassador's Tour
• Houdini visits The Office
• Scranton honors Dorothy Dietrich and Houdini Museum

Eric Colleary talks Houdini's Library, Oct 28

Our good friend Dr. Eric Colleary, Cline Curator of Theatre and Performing Arts at the Harry Ransom Center, will discuss his new book, Houdini's Library, during a FREE online presentation at Untapped Cities this Wednesday, October 28, at 6 PM ET. Click the image below for details and to register.

For my money, Houdini's Library is THE must-buy Houdini book in a year filled with great Houdini books. It's meticulously researched, expertly written, and beautifully designed. It's also a serious work that truly provides new insight into Houdini. It's certainly the book Houdini would be most pleased with, as his collections meant so much to him. And the number of unseen images is breathtaking.

You can pre-order Houdini's Library on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. The HRC exhibition, Houdini's Library, is on show now through January 24, 2027.

Thanks to Leo Hevia for the alert.

Related:

• Houdini's Library hits #1 on Amazon
• Experience "Houdini's Library" starting this weekend
• Eric Colleary on The Magic Detective Podcast

New Houdini historical marker in Appleton

A new historical marker honoring Houdini and his impact on Wisconsin's history has appeared in Houdini Plaza in Appleton, Wisconsin. A special dedication ceremony is planned for Halloween. Below are details from the Facebook event page:

10:30 - 11:00 a.m. - Historical Marker Dedication: Be part of this special moment as we formally dedicate the official Wisconsin State Historical Marker in Houdini Plaza, celebrating Houdini’s lasting connection to Appleton and his mark on history.

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Free Family Event: Directly following the dedication ceremony, head over to Fox Commons (10 E College Ave Appleton) for an afternoon of live entertainment featuring... Music, Magic & Variety Acts by Prof. Pinkerton Xyloma and Dead Man’s Carnival.

Appleton Downtown Inc. Executive Director Jennifer Stephany said, "You think about the history and the mark that he made on the art and industry of magic, and it's really unmatched. And it's really an honor for the community of Appleton and the Fox Cities to be able to honor that legacy right here in downtown Appleton."

Related:

• New historical marker coming to Houdini Plaza
• Houdini LIVED in Appleton last week
• A rundown of October Houdini events 🎃
  

The Magic Castle celebrates Houdini 100

The Magic Castle is celebrating Houdini all week with a Halloween layover themed "Houdini 100." I went with fellow blogger Joe Notaro for lunch on Friday to check it out, and it's great. Houdini is everywhere! Margery also gets a bit of equal time for some reason. Maybe the ghost of Dai Vernon was on the decoration committee.

This is a pretty busy week at the Castle, but if you can get a reservation, it's a great week to visit. Of course, you can't take photos inside the Castle, but I was able to photograph the outside and lobby decorations. I've shared those on my Patreon below.

Related:

• The Official Houdini Séance 2026 to be held at The Magic Castle
• Magic Castle announces a New Houdini Séance
• Escaping Obscurity at the Magic Castle

Celebrating Houdini and National Magic Week

Yesterday, Tom Gentile and the SAM hosted a six-hour Zoom event celebrating Houdini and marking the start of National Magic Week. Yesterday also happened to be the 100th anniversary of Houdini last performance at the Garrick Theatre in Detroit on October 24, 1926. The countdown to Halloween has begun!

It was a terrific event with presentations by many prominent Houdiniites, including Joe Notaro, Eric Colleary, Tom Ewing, Jeff & Debbie Blood, Charles Greene III, Bill Radner, Bruce Averbook, Dean Gunnerson, Trudy Monti, Joe Devlin, Houdini II, Robert Kirkpatrick, John Hinson, Scott Wells, Wayne Alan, and more. I was also invited to give a brief presentation. I had planned something history-based and a little unique, but then I received a package in the mail and decided to change things up.

What's in the mystery box behind me? If you were on the Zoom, you know. If not, I'll soon be sharing it here on the blog.

Congratulations to Tom Gentile, Robert Dadras, and Joel "Batman" Zaritsky for an outstanding event and wonderful six hours celebrating Houdini!

Photo courtesy Charles Greene III.

Related:

• Six-hour Houdini online celebration, Oct 24
• Houdini takes the stage for the last time
• The Garrick after Houdini

In one week, Houdini comes home (maybe)

I can hardly believe that in just one week I will be waking up inside Houdini's New York home (278) and preparing for a day of historic séances. No séance has taken place inside 278 since 1971, so this is special. Of course, there are many other Houdini séance events happening on Halloween, but nothing could keep me away from this one. Heck, even if there weren't any séances, 278 is where I would most want to spend this 100th Anniversary. And it's still not too late to join us.

This event is the brainchild of magician Reynold Alexander and the homeowners, Niro Anandasabapathy and Vincent Toms. All proceeds will be donated to a new "Make cancer disappear" fund at Weill Cornell Medicine for cancer vaccine and immunotherapy research (time of death seance), and to the restoration and preservation of the house (evening seances). Every effort is being made to create a special environment and vibe with a pianist, wine and cheese, and lots of Halloween atmosphere. Photos of Houdini inside the house will be displayed, along with some Houdini artifacts discovered during the restoration and others brought by attendees. The evening séances will be black-tie!

I will be giving a short talk on Houdini, the house, and what this séance signifies. I'll then give the house tour. I'll point out where some of the famous photos were taken and share a few house secrets. The séance will be held in the dining room, which was once Houdini's library. This was Houdini favorite place in the world to be, and some say he's still here!

There has been one change regarding who will be leading the séances. Originally, it was announced that Jodi Lynn, a certified psychic, would conduct all three séances. She impressed the attendees of the Official Houdini Séance in 2022, and she was excited to try again. However, a family matter has made Jodi unavailable in October.

Instead of bringing in an untested psychic or medium, we decided to return to the great tradition of the Annual Houdini Séance. The legendary Dorothy Dietrich will lead the 1:26 charity séance. Walter B. Gibson, who knew Houdini and spent a lot of time inside 278, handed Dorothy the séance tradition in 1976, and she has kept it going for 50 years alongside her partner Dick Brookz. It seems fitting that Dorothy should do her famous scene inside the house on this 100th anniversary. It's history on top of history!

Dorothy is passed the mantle by Walter B. Gibson 

and Milbourne Christopher in 1976.

For the 6:30 PM and 9:30 PM séances, magician Jessica Jane will take the reins and conduct the séances. Jessica has a deep love and understanding of Houdini and was educated in séance traditions by the late Rev. William Rauscher, a close family friend. Jessica will be trying some things no other séance has ever thought to try. I'm really excited for Jessica to bring a new approach and energy to the Houdini séance tradition. She is the next generation.

Jessica Jane has a message for Harry. Will he answer?

Every attendee will receive a Houdini house brick, a mini wand made from 278 wood by Barry Spector, and a few other special mementos of the evening. I'm so excited to be part of this and to be among a confluence of people who love and honor Houdini. How can the man himself not drop by?

The 6:30 PM and 9:30 PM séances have been sold out for months, but someone recently had to cancel, so two seats are now open for the 6:30 PM séance (as of this writing). If you want to be part of history, I'd grab one of these seats now. There are 5 spots open on the 1:26 PM charity séance. All proceeds from that séance go to cancer research.

Visit the official Houdini Anniversary Séance website, houdini.nyc, for more information and to reserve a seat. Whether Houdini joins us or not, this will be a memorable and historic gathering.

See you inside.

UPDATE: The 6:30 PM séance is now sold out! There are still seats left for the Time of Death charity séance. Also, if you cannot attend but would like to make a separate contribution to cancer immunotherapy, please send a check payable to Weill Cornell Medical College to the address below and include in the memo line: "make cancer disappear fund."  

 

Mailing Address:

Weill Cornell Medicine

Attn: Hailey Kieltyka

Office of External Affairs

P.O. Box 22497

New York, NY 10087-2497

Thank you!

Related:

• Inside Houdini's 278
• The haunting of Houdini's 278
• New 278 owners committed to preserving Houdini history