A century after Houdini’s death, accounts revisit its causes and legacy
Culture · First reported 31 Oct, 09:00 · Updated 09:15
Harry Houdini died on Oct. 31, 1926, after his appendix ruptured; accounts describe a stomach-punch incident nine days earlier and the séance attempts that followed. They also revisit his career, his final Detroit performances and why his story still draws interest.
- Houdini died in Detroit on Oct. 31, 1926, after doctors found a ruptured appendix; the right-side account says his official cause of death was peritonitis.
- Both accounts connect his illness to punches to the stomach in Montreal, but the right-side account says a causal link was never proven and describes the punches as possibly delaying medical attention.
- Houdini’s wife, Bess, held séances seeking contact after his death; both accounts say the attempts ended without contact.
Summary written by Lux AI from 2 articles
Key facts
- Date of death
- Oct. 31, 1926.
- Age at death
- 52, according to the right-side account.
- Punch incident
- Occurred in Montreal on Oct. 22, 1926, nine days before Houdini died.
- Official cause listed
- Peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix.
- Detroit performances
- Houdini performed in Detroit 19 times between 1894 and 1926.
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