​1926 HOUDINI PERFORMANCE ADVERTISEMENT WHERE INCIDENT OCCURED - PRINCESS THEATRE 

Original 1926 newspaper advertisement of performances where the incident occurred that ultimately caused the death of Houdini. The advertisement is for the week of October 18, 1926 at the Princess theatre in Canada. Houdini arrived in Montreal, Canada on October 18, where he gave lectures and performed in theatres. While visiting with fans in his dressing room at the Princess Theatre on October 22, Harry Houdini accepted one McGill University student’s invitation to endure repeated punches to the abdomen. The student, Jocelyn Whitehead, wanted to know if the rumors about Houdini being unaffected by sustained blows to the gut were true. Jocelyn Smith delivered one sharp & intense blow after the other to Harry Houdini’s abdomen until the famous stuntman asked to stop. Thanks to his broken ankle, Houdini was unable to stand. It was more difficult for Houdini to brace himself while laying down, and he could only take so much. The fans departed, but Harry Houdini’s discomfort lingered. Houdini complained of extreme & acute pain where Jocelyn Smith had punched him repeatedly. Still, he performed three shows in Montreal before taking a train to Detroit, where he had a two-week engagement. When Houdini arrived at the Garrick Theater in Detroit, Michigan, on October 24, 1926, for what would be his last performance, he had a fever of 104°. Despite the diagnosis, Houdini took the stage. He was reported to have passed out during the show, but was revived and continued. After the show ended Houdini was hospitalized at Detroit's Grace Hospital. An absolute incredible Houdini artifact.

​​1926 HOUDINI ILL NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

Original 1926 Detroit, MI newspaper article announcing an update of the illness and condition of Houdini. The article is from October 26, 1926. In Houdini's final days, he believed that he would recover, and Houdini performed in great pain. He was unable to sleep and remained in constant pain for the next two days but did not seek medical help. When he finally saw a doctor, he was found to have a fever of 102° and acute appendicitis and was advised to have immediate surgery. He ignored the advice and decided to go on with the tour. When Houdini arrived at the Garrick Theater in Detroit, Michigan, on October 24, 1926, for what would be his last performance, he had a fever of 104°. Despite the diagnosis, Houdini took the stage. He was reported to have passed out during the show but was revived and continued. After the show ended Houdini was hospitalized at Detroit's Grace Hospital. ​

1926 houdini, noted stage figure dies in detroit - chicago daily tribune

November 1, 1926 "Houdini, Noted Stage Figure Dies in Detroit." Chicago Daily Tribune. Rare Chicago Daily Tribune photo and article of the death of Harry Houdini. The incident occurred in Houdini's dressing room in the Princess Theatre in Montreal. Houdini's death was caused by a McGill University student, Jocelyn Gordon Whitehead, who repeatedly struck Houdini's abdomen. The accounts of the witnesses, students named Jacques Price and Sam Smilovitz, generally corroborated one another. Price said that Whitehead asked Houdini "if he believed in the miracles of the Bible" and "whether it was true that punches in the stomach did not hurt him". Houdini offered a casual reply that his stomach could endure a lot. Whitehead then delivered "some very hammer-like blows below the belt". Houdini was reclining on a couch at the time, having broken his ankle while performing several days earlier. Price said that Houdini winced at each blow and stopped Whitehead suddenly in the midst of a punch, gesturing that he had had enough, and adding that he had had no opportunity to prepare himself against the blows, as he did not expect Whitehead to strike him so suddenly and forcefully. Had his ankle not been broken, he would have risen from the couch into a better position to brace himself. Throughout the evening, Houdini performed in great pain. He was unable to sleep and remained in constant pain for the next two days, but did not seek medical help. When he finally saw a doctor, he was found to have a fever of 102° and acute appendicitis, and was advised to have immediate surgery. He ignored the advice and decided to go on with the show. When Houdini arrived at the Garrick Theater in Detroit, Michigan, on October 24, 1926, for what would be his last performance, he had a fever of 104°. Despite the diagnosis, Houdini took the stage. He was reported to have passed out during the show, but was revived and continued. Afterwards, he was hospitalized at Detroit's Grace Hospital. Harry Houdini died of peritonitis, secondary to a ruptured appendix, at 1:26 p.m. on October 31, 1926, in Room 401 at Detroit's Grace Hospital, surrounded by his wife and brother.

1926 houdini obituary - the billboard publication

November 6, 1926 "Houdini obituary. The Billboard publication. Sparse Harry Houdini obituary from The Billboard publication. The incident occurred in Houdini's dressing room in the Princess Theatre in Montreal. Houdini's death was caused by a McGill University student, Jocelyn Gordon Whitehead, who repeatedly struck Houdini's abdomen. The accounts of the witnesses, students named Jacques Price and Sam Smilovitz, generally corroborated one another. Price said that Whitehead asked Houdini "if he believed in the miracles of the Bible" and "whether it was true that punches in the stomach did not hurt him". Houdini offered a casual reply that his stomach could endure a lot. Whitehead then delivered "some very hammer-like blows below the belt". Houdini was reclining on a couch at the time, having broken his ankle while performing several days earlier. Price said that Houdini winced at each blow and stopped Whitehead suddenly in the midst of a punch, gesturing that he had had enough, and adding that he had had no opportunity to prepare himself against the blows, as he did not expect Whitehead to strike him so suddenly and forcefully. Had his ankle not been broken, he would have risen from the couch into a better position to brace himself. Throughout the evening, Houdini performed in great pain. He was unable to sleep and remained in constant pain for the next two days, but did not seek medical help. When he finally saw a doctor, he was found to have a fever of 102° and acute appendicitis, and was advised to have immediate surgery. He ignored the advice and decided to go on with the show. When Houdini arrived at the Garrick Theater in Detroit, Michigan, on October 24, 1926, for what would be his last performance, he had a fever of 104°. Despite the diagnosis, Houdini took the stage. He was reported to have passed out during the show, but was revived and continued. Afterwards, he was hospitalized at Detroit's Grace Hospital. Harry Houdini died of peritonitis, secondary to a ruptured appendix, at 1:26 p.m. on October 31, 1926, in Room 401 at Detroit's Grace Hospital, surrounded by his wife and brother. The first issue of Billboard was published in Cincinnati, Ohio, by William Donaldson and James Hennegan on November 1, 1894. Originally, it covered the advertising and bill posting industry, and was known as Billboard Advertising. Later it changed it from a monthly to a weekly paper with a greater emphasis on breaking news. The Billboard improved editorial quality and opened new offices in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, London, and Paris, and also re-focused the magazine on entertainment such as fairs, carnivals, circuses, vaudeville, and burlesque shows. Today, Billboard is considered one of the most reputable sources of music industry news.

harry houdini death certificate

A copy of the death certificate of Harry Houdini. (Harry Houdini, born Erik Weisz, later Ehrich Weiss or Harry Weiss; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926). Harry Houdini died of peritonitis, secondary to a ruptured appendix, at 1:26 p.m. on October 31, 1926, in Room 401 at Detroit's Grace Hospital, surrounded by his wife and brother. Houdini was only 52 years of age. Houdini's funeral was held on November 4, 1926, in New York City, with more than 2,000 mourners in attendance. 

1926 how houdini died newspaper article

1926 original newspaper account of the death of Houdini by his manager, Mr. Stuckel.. Witnesses to the incident at Houdini's dressing room in the Princess Theatre in Montreal speculated that Houdini's death was caused by a McGill University student, Jocelyn Gordon Whitehead, who repeatedly struck Houdini's abdomen. The accounts of the witnesses, students named Jacques Price and Sam Smilovitz, generally corroborated one another. Price said that Whitehead asked Houdini "if he believed in the miracles of the Bible" and "whether it was true that punches in the stomach did not hurt him". Houdini offered a casual reply that his stomach could endure a lot. Whitehead then delivered "some very hammer-like blows below the belt". Houdini was reclining on a couch at the time, having broken his ankle while performing several days earlier. Price said that Houdini winced at each blow and stopped Whitehead suddenly in the midst of a punch, gesturing that he had had enough, and adding that he had had no opportunity to prepare himself against the blows, as he did not expect Whitehead to strike him so suddenly and forcefully. Had his ankle not been broken, he would have risen from the couch into a better position to brace himself. Throughout the evening, Houdini performed in great pain. He was unable to sleep and remained in constant pain for the next two days but did not seek medical help. When he finally saw a doctor, he was found to have a fever of 102° and acute appendicitis and was advised to have immediate surgery. He ignored the advice and decided to go on with the show. When Houdini arrived at the Garrick Theater in Detroit, Michigan, on October 24, 1926, for what would be his last performance, he had a fever of 104°. Despite the diagnosis, Houdini took the stage. He was reported to have passed out during the show but was revived and continued. Afterwards, he was hospitalized at Detroit's Grace Hospital. It is unclear whether the dressing room incident caused Houdini's eventual death, as the relationship between blunt trauma and appendicitis is uncertain. One theory suggests that Houdini was unaware that he was suffering from appendicitis and might have been aware had he not received blows to the abdomen. Rare...

1926 houdini to lie in trick coffin - chicago herald and examiner

November 1, 1926. "HOUDINI TO LIE IN TRICK COFFIN." Chicago Herald and Examiner. The body of Houdini will rest in the special air-tight bronze coffin Houdini had made to prove his contention that any one could live without air for an hour if not overcome by fear. It was Houdini's wish that he be buried in this coffin. Excellent piece of preserved Houdini information.

1926 houdini funeral photogragh

Houdini's funeral was held on November 4, 1926, in New York with more than 2,000 mourners in attendance. He was buried in Queens New York at the Machpelah Cemetery with the crest of the Society of American Magicians inscribed on his grave. In fact, the Society continues to hold its "Broken Wand" ceremony every November at Houdini's gravesite. Scarce news photograph.

1926 harry houdini memorial - The Society of american magicians

November 30, 1926. "Houdini Memorial." The Society of American Magicians held the Memorial Service in honor of their late Most Illustrious President, Harry Houdini. It was held at the beautiful Hotel McAlpin and was filled members in tribute to the loving memory of their great leader. A rare document regarding the Houdini Memorial and intimate thoughts of the members and friends of The Great Houdini. The Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) is the oldest fraternal magic organization in the world. Its purpose is to advance, elevate, and preserve magic as a performing art, to promote harmonious fellowship throughout the world of magic, and to maintain and improve ethical standards in the field of magic. To promote these endeavors the S.A.M. presents awards and fellowships in recognition of outstanding achievement in the Art of Magic. The Society Of American Magicians expanded under the leadership of Harry Houdini during his term as National President from 1917–1926. Houdini sought to create a large, unified national network of professional and amateur magicians. The S.A.M. now embraces over 5,000 members and almost 300 assemblies worldwide. In July 1926, Houdini was elected for the ninth successive time President of the Society of American Magicians. Every other president has only served for one year. ​The Society of American Magicians inscribed his grave, and the Society continues to hold its "Broken Wand" ceremony every November at Houdini's gravesite.

1926 houdini's wife, brothers and sister to get houdini estate - Chicago daily news

November 12, 1926. "WIFE, BROTHERS, AND SISTER TO GET HOUDINI ESTATE." Chicago Daily News. The information pertaining to the wishes and will of Harry Houdini. The Houdini collection of writings on occultism was bequeathed to the American Society for Psychical Research 'absolutely and forever." Incredible informative Houdini relic.