The Mysterious Death of Harry Houdini

Harry Houdini, one of the most famous magicians in history, died October 31, 1926 from a ruptured appendix. And yet this seemingly mundane cause of death still resulted in an enduring mystery. Had the magician and escape artist, in fact, been murdered? The History Guy recalls the strange circumstances of the death of a legend.

This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.

You can purchase the bow tie worn in this episode at The Tie Bar:

All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.

Find The History Guy at:

The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered is the place to find short snippets of forgotten history from five to fifteen minutes long. If you like history too, this is the channel for you.

Awesome The History Guy merchandise is available at:

Script by THG

#history #thehistoryguy #Houdini

[TheHistoryGuyChannel]

As numerous viewers have mentioned, in two places I say November 22, when the correct date is October 22. I apologize for misspeaking.

[edwardatkinson]

I love that second or two at the end of these videos where history guy just looks at the camera and smiles after his final statement

[williamevans]

Thanks for adding to my understanding of a childhood idol. Did not know he was reclining when hit. Appendicitis is nothing to ignore!
Amazing man, Harry Houdini.

[willyeverlearn]

“Never try to fool children, they expect nothing, and therefore see everything...”-- Harry Houdini

[mroriginal]

This was a good one. I was very interested in Houdini and read a few books about him as a child. I knew a lot of this but as usual you still taught me a few new facts. Hats off to you.

[trj]

As an avid watcher of everything you put out, this was one of your best THG. Thankyou.

[wanderingangelstudio]

Outstanding episode! I survived appendicitis thanks only to an alert doctor and emergency surgery. That kind of cramping pain is horrid. Houdini must have had one heck of a pain threshold. I've read a great deal about the man and often wondered if his death was natural. Thanks again for another great episode.

[brucemartin]

I thought that Houdini considered himself an escape artist rather than a magician. You should do one on his escape from under the ice of the Detroit river. That is a fascinating story. Keep up the great work!

[schroedingersdog]

Madame Marsha: "I can call spirits from the vasty deep."
Harry Houdini: "Why, so can I; or so can anyone; but will they come, when you do call for them?"

With apologies to Will Shakespeare.

A quite interesting and timely video! Thanks very much, History Guy!

[reddrockingeezer]

I always enjoy your history lessons. Please do a story detailing the incredibly long journey of Abraham Lincoln from laying in state to his final permanent interment over 35 years later.

[doonsbury]

Only the History Guy could take a subject as fascinating as the death of Harry Houdini and make it yet more fascinating and more of an ongoing mystery! I had read (And believed) the "Whitehead" theory....up until today, when the History Guy gave me pause to think again. Superbly presented as always! Cheers, Doons

[glennlaroche]

Madame Marsha was no medium--she was a large, at least.

Ba-dum-tiss.

[robertpierce]

My life is richer because of your “show”

[delurkor]

I had to look it up on IMDB; Tony Curtis played Houdini in "Houdini", with a more Hollywood styled death scene. The movie costarred Torin Thatcher, one of those actors you recognized and can't remember their name.
Thank you THG for another informative video.

[josephpicogna]

Another splendid job, thank you. Like most, I would wager, I had only peripheral knowledge of Mr. Houdini, gleaned mostly from an uncle who was a fan and believed that Houdini was distracted and could not prepare for the blows. Of course there was the movie, which was enjoyable but it just occurred to me that since we really don’t teach history very much in the public schools, the knowledge of folks in the coming generations may be based solely on the Hollywood version of events.

[wisconsinman]

My son back in 07 while in Iraq, started feeling like crap and his fellow soldiers thought he wanted to get out of going on a mission, so he went, again the next day, felt worse but went. The 3rd day he couldn't take it, went in, had a 105 fever and his appendix had busted, they said if he had waited 1 more day he would have died. They had ti remove a foot of his intestines. He got sent back to the states and he came home for 3 weeks on leave, they let the scar from cutting him open, heal inside out. So each day he had ti clean it. it was nasty.

[kennethlupo]

Learned more about the appendix than I knew before. Thanks!

[Youre_Right]

I remember someone told me when I was a kid that one of his known acts was letting anyone punch him in the stomach. He had built up his abdominal muscles to the point he could take such massive blows. He had to be prepare and flex his muscles. A man decided to test his abdomen strength without letting Houdini know. So he wasn’t prepared for a punch to the gut. The punch helped in rupturing his spleen and appendix

[kenjimac]

Houdini set the bar for all magicians that followed.

[kathyhester]

Thanks for the history lesson. Wonderful as always. Houdini has always fascinated me. Maybe be cause he lived for a time in Wisconsin where I am from. Always thought that it was interesting that he died on Halloween. Thanks also to Ms. HG for her help and I know that History Cat had to help with this episode. Happy Halloween to all!