The first Houdini séance took place immediately after his death in 1926. They've been held annually ever since, but so far the escapologist has remained elusive. This year's séance takes place at the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, in Nova Scotia.
Commune with us —
The first Houdini séance took place immediately after his death in 1926. They've been held annually ever since, but so far the escapologist has remained elusive. This year's séance takes place at the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, in Nova Scotia.
william radner
Circa 1920: Hungarian-born escapologist Harry Houdini (1874-1926), whose real name was Ehrich Weiss.
Ever-elusive Houdini —
Circa 1920: Hungarian-born escapologist Harry Houdini (1874-1926), whose real name was Ehrich Weiss.
Edward Gooch/Getty Images
Houdini artifact collector Sidney Radner, father of WIlliam Radner, who will be attending this year's séance, shows off the cuffs that Houdini said he would open from the afterlife, if it existed.
Houdini cuffs live on, locked —
Houdini artifact collector Sidney Radner, father of WIlliam Radner, who will be attending this year's séance, shows off the cuffs that Houdini said he would open from the afterlife, if it existed.
william radner
William Radner had images of the Houdini cuffs cut into his parents' gravestone. "My father would be proud to know the image of his favorite cuffs are with him forever," Radner says.
Grave engraving —
William Radner had images of the Houdini cuffs cut into his parents' gravestone. "My father would be proud to know the image of his favorite cuffs are with him forever," Radner says.
william radner
Houdini's home in Appleton, Wisconsin, no longer exists. The city of Appleton has a plaza named Houdini Plaza near where Houdini lived. There's also a Houdini Historical Walking Tour of Appleton's downtown highlighting many of the places that were important to Houdini.
Houdini Plaza, Appleton, Wisc. —
Houdini's home in Appleton, Wisconsin, no longer exists. The city of Appleton has a plaza named Houdini Plaza near where Houdini lived. There's also a Houdini Historical Walking Tour of Appleton's downtown highlighting many of the places that were important to Houdini.
Tom Boldt
Houdini performs a straitjacket escape dangling from a crane in Manhattan in the 1910s.
Escape time —
Houdini performs a straitjacket escape dangling from a crane in Manhattan in the 1910s.
FPG/Getty Images
The magician know as Teller holds the Houdini cuffs at the conclusion of a séance in 2011 in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The cuffs remain locked.
Cuffs and Teller —
The magician know as Teller holds the Houdini cuffs at the conclusion of a séance in 2011 in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The cuffs remain locked.
william radner
Last year's séance took place in the Masonic Lodge in Fort Worth, Texas.
Séance room —
Last year's séance took place in the Masonic Lodge in Fort Worth, Texas.
william radner