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evgulick New user 17 Posts |
I found this story from the AP today.
Craig NEW YORK (March 22) - For all of his death-defying stunts, Harry Houdini couldn't escape the Grim Reaper: the unparalleled performer, age 52, expired on Halloween 1926. Many of his trade secrets went with him to the grave - but rumors that Houdini was murdered soon took on a life of their own. Eighty-one years later, Houdini's great-nephew wants to exhume the escape artist's body to determine if enemies poisoned his renowned relative for debunking their bogus claims of contact with the dead. A team of top-level forensic investigators would conduct new tests once Houdini's body was disinterred, the legendary star's relative told The Associated Press. "It needs to be looked at," said George Hardeen, whose grandfather was Houdini's brother, Theodore. "His death shocked the entire nation, if not the world. Now, maybe it's time to take a second look." The circumstances surrounding Houdini's sudden death were as murky as the rivers where his act often found the virtuoso emerging unscathed from chains, locks and wooden boxes. The generally accepted version was that Houdini suffered a ruptured appendix from a punch in the stomach, leading to a fatal case of peritonitis. But no autopsy was performed. When the death certificate was filed on Nov. 20, 1926, Houdini's body - brought by train from Detroit to Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal - was already buried in Queens, along with any evidence of a possible death plot. Within days, a newspaper headline wondered, "Was Houdini Murdered?" A new biography, "The Secret Life of Houdini," raised the issue again and convinced George Hardeen and others that poisoning was a real possibility. A Friday morning news conference was scheduled for details on the exhumation plans. Prominent New York lawyer Joseph Tacopina is assisting the family in clearing any legal hurdles to the exhumation. The likeliest murder suspects were a group known as the Spiritualists, which became Houdini's bete noir in his final years. The magician devoted large portions of his stage show to exposing the group's fraudulent seances; the movement's devotees included Sherlock Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle. In the Houdini biography, authors William Kalush and Larry Sloman detail a November 1924 letter from Doyle that smacks of Professor Moriarty-style malevolence: Houdini, it said, would "get his just desserts very exactly meted out. ... I think there is a general payday coming soon." Two years later, Houdini - by all accounts an extraordinary physical specimen - was dead before his 53rd birthday. Kalush and Sloman noted that "the Spiritualist underworld's modus operandi in cases like this was often poisoning" - possibly arsenic. The biography additionally detailed the injection of "an experimental serum" into Houdini by one of his doctors at Detroit's Grace Hospital. While Houdini took the Spiritualists' repeated death threats seriously, he traveled without the security trappings now de rigeur for celebrities - no bodyguard, no posse, often just his wife Bess. "If someone were hell-bent on poisoning Houdini," the authors wrote, "it wouldn't have been very difficult." The team working on the exhumation includes internationally known forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, and Professor James Starr, a forensic pathologist who has studied the disinterred remains of gunslinger Jesse James and "Boston Strangler" Albert DeSalvo. Baden, who chaired panels reinvestigating the deaths of President John F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., pointed out a pair of oddities in Houdini's death certificate: It noted his appendix was on the left side, rather than the right. And the diagnosis of appendicitis caused by a punch was "very unusual." Starr said he was long familiar with the story of Houdini's death, and believed the fatal injury was the result of an accident. Details contained in the Houdini biography convinced him otherwise. "My eyebrows went up when I read this book," Starr said. "I thought, `This is really startling, surprising and unsettling, and at bottom, suspicious in nature."' The exhumation plan received support from a surprising source: Anna Thurlow, the great-granddaughter of "medium" Margery, whose husband Dr. Le Roi Crandon was one of the Spiritualist movement's biggest proponents - and one of Houdini's most virulent enemies. During a 1924 "seance," Margery channeled a "spirit" named Walter who greeted Houdini with a threat: "I put a curse on your now that will follow you every day for the rest of your short life." While the spirit was imaginary, the prediction of a short life was all too real. Thurlow believes there may be a connection. "With people that delusional, you have to question what they're capable of,"' she said. "If there's any circumstantial evidence that Houdini was poisoned, we have to explore that." |
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Kevin Connolly Inner circle New Jersey 1329 Posts |
There's supposed to be some kind of talk/discussion at the Jewish Museum tomorrow.
I just don't think it's that easy to exhume someone.
Please visit my website.
www.houdinihimself.com Always looking buy or trade for original Houdini, Hardeen and escape artist items. I'm interested in books, pitchbooks and ephemera. Email [email]hhoudini@optonline.net[/email] |
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Cliffg37 Inner circle Long Beach, CA 2491 Posts |
If houdini were alive today to see how people are still talking and speculating about him, he would be very very proud.
Magic is like Science,
Both are fun if you do it right! |
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Tony Chapparo Special user Albuquerque, NM 704 Posts |
Wouldn't that be spectacular if they tried to exhume Houdini and his body was nowhere to be found??
Tony Chapparo
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JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
hehe - that would be spectacular Tony!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070322/od_u......humation -JoeJoe
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
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Bryan Gilles Inner circle Northern California 1732 Posts |
I just read this story as well! It will be interesting to see the popularity of Houdini's lifestory and works ufnold and be retold through the media buzz...
-Bryan |
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CARNEGIE Loyal user 267 Posts |
Is this 'George Hardeen' person really related to Houdini? He claims to be Hardeen's grandson. Did Hardeen have kids? Curious about it all. I'm with Tony, I think it would be awesome to open the casket and Houdini isn't there. But for historians, remember Houdini was buried with his mothers letters under his head/pillow. This would be the first time those might be examined. The possibilities are huge but I kinda don't think it's going to happen.
Carnegie |
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Eddie Garland Inner circle Hells Kitchen, New York City 4207 Posts |
Open the casket, surprise it is Elvis!
So we have to then dig up Elvis to reveal Houdini. Seen it before. |
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Wolflock Inner circle South Africa 2257 Posts |
LOL. Tony, we both think alike. I was constantly thinking the same thing while reading this. Or open the casket and Houdini is alive and well, Escaping even death.
Agreed that they would have new facts if he was dug up but what good would it do? Will they call up the spirit of the murderer if this was true and arrest them? Regards Wolflock
Wolflock
Pro Magician & Escapologist Member of JMC (Johannesburg Magic Circle) South Africa |
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Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
Why the heck can`t they let the guy rest,,,,he worked hard all of his life to be hounded in death.
At the end of the day it will all be down to cash (How much can be made out of him,,,,,) The parasites are out to pick the bones! Ken |
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Kevin Connolly Inner circle New Jersey 1329 Posts |
Carnegie and Kondini are right on track. Curiuos that this so-called "revelation" comes out two days before his birthday.
Must be a movie or documentary deal someone is trying to push. This is more Barnum than Houdini.
Please visit my website.
www.houdinihimself.com Always looking buy or trade for original Houdini, Hardeen and escape artist items. I'm interested in books, pitchbooks and ephemera. Email [email]hhoudini@optonline.net[/email] |
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Jason Purdy Regular user 140 Posts |
Here is a short video clip:
http://us.video.aol.com/?pmmsid=1873648 |
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Dave Dorsett Veteran user Macomb, Illinois 345 Posts |
Carnegie-
George Hardeen was born in 1952 and is the son of Harry Houdini Hardeen, Hardeen's son who died in 1988. He also has two sisters. Mr. Hardeen has been a free-lance writer and has most recently been the public relations man for a Native American nation. He also has publicly shown little interest in family history until now. Which is, I guess, a refreshing change from those who make it their full time job.
Dave Dorsett
Douglas~Wayne Illusioneering |
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Kevin Connolly Inner circle New Jersey 1329 Posts |
Dave,
It's not nice to punch someone between the eyes with reality. I'm glad you did. Kevin
Please visit my website.
www.houdinihimself.com Always looking buy or trade for original Houdini, Hardeen and escape artist items. I'm interested in books, pitchbooks and ephemera. Email [email]hhoudini@optonline.net[/email] |
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CARNEGIE Loyal user 267 Posts |
On one hand I do think it's interesting from a historical perspective, and if the guy is really a relative then perhaps he'll be able to get this exhumation to go through. On the other hand, Kondini's comment makes sense, why can't they just let the poor guy rest. Though I have no doubt Houdini wouldn't be complaining, front page press 81 years after he died, totally amazing.
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x-treem Inner circle 1133 Posts |
I think Bigelow first alluded to the poisoning and called for an exhumation in the 80's in the manuscript Death Blow, kind of crazy that it is all coming up again
A direct from text adaptation : The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Starring Mickey Rooney in his final role.
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Marshall Thornside Inner circle chicago 2016 Posts |
Where's Bramwell when you need her!
you will remember my name
World's Youngest Illusionista 7th greatest pianist in the world Go Red For Women and Stroke Ambassador www.mai-ling.net |
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magicusb Inner circle 1135 Posts |
CBS National News sent a film crew to The Houdini Museum in Scranton and filmed all day. The interviewed nationally known magician Dorothy Dietrich who explained some of the mysteries and threats that surrounded Houdini's death. She has been writing a book about it for several years. She said she felt it might be a good idea if it is directly linked to his family, to help clear up some of the mysteries about his death. Plus of course it helps keep his name in the front of the public's eyes, which in turn helps all magic. It is scheduled to be shown on Saturday March 24 on their national morning news show from 9 to 11 eastern. May also be on the web, but not sure how to find it.
Regards and best to all Dorothy Dietrich & Dick Brooks Dick Brooks Houdini Museum Houdini Tour & Magic Show "Haunted, Mind Mysteries and THE Beyond!" Scranton PA
Check out http://HoudiniOpoly.com
Houdini Museum Tour & Magic Show. Only building in the world dedicated to Houdini. http://Houdini.org http://HoudiniDisplays.com http://PsychicTheater.com Scranton, Pa (570) 342-5555 "The truth shall make you free, but first it will make you angry." -Robert Ingersoll-Atheist (on the mind of Houdini when he died.) We are thrilled we were able to bring The Grim Game to the world! Thanks TCM. |
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Banester Special user 669 Posts |
[quote]
directly linked to his family, to help clear up some of the mysteries about his death [quote] What do you mean by that? He doesn't have any direct decendants left does he? Or would you call his great nephew a direct decendant? And does this nephew actually have any information that Bess or Hardeen did not have? [quote] which in turn helps all magic [quote] Does it? Would it be good press if the Magic Community would want his body exhumed? I don't agree with it and several of my non magic friends think it is all a stunt to make some money. Has his name diminished all these years that it is important to revitalize it? I am sure Dorothy Dietrich's book will be excellant and I look foward to when it comes out, but I have to disagree that exhuming his body is a good thing for the magic community.
The art of a magician is to create wonder.
If we live with a sense of wonder, our lives become filled with joy -Doug Henning- |
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Mick Hanzlik Special user Mick Hanzlik 588 Posts |
I posted this on another associated forum, but I thought that Café members would be interested;
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This will run and run. Here's a guy who's been dead for over 80 years and we're still talking about him! What sort of showman is that?!!! I was giving my Houdini presentation to a room full of doctors a few years ago. There must have been 75 of them in the room. It was a meeting of the county Medical Association. At the end, I had a group of about a dozen come up to me, asking if I had the story straight about the cause of death, appendicitis. I said that's on the death certificate. They all said OK, but ALL said it wouldn't be brought on by a blow to the stomach. Ruptured spleen, yes, but not burst appendix. I'm not sure if I want a scientific answer. I agree that it's grandstanding, but I think I'd like to see it kept a mystery. After all, that's what Houdini's life was all about, so why not his death? What would be achieved if we had proof that he was murdered? Whoever did it is no longer around to be punished, so no-one would benefit from the news. Obviously the Hardeen part of the family would like to know, but is it really worth it? Just my thoughts..... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One other thing.....Can anyone tell me when Houdini's brother changed his surname? Theodore Weiss was called "Hardeen" in his performance career, but did he officially change it to the family name? If not, George Hardeen should be George Weiss, surely. On a lighter note, let's take this "is he in the grave?" idea even further. Let's suppose they open up the coffin and instead of Harry, we find Bess. Then they open up Bess's grave, hundreds of miles away and there's Harry! The ultimate Metamorphosis/Sub Trunk routine! |
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