Harry Houdini, one of the world's most famous magician, died on Halloween in 1926 from peritonitis and a ruptured appendix.
Harry Houdini was a famous escape artist, illusionist, stunt performer, and mysteriarch who was born in Hungary. He originally gained notoriety in vaudeville in the United States, and then on a tour of Europe as "Harry 'Handcuff' Houdini," where he challenged police forces to keep him locked up. He soon added chains, ropes slung from skyscrapers, straitjackets submerged, and escaping from and holding his breath inside a sealed milk container with water to his repertoire.
Thousands
watched in awe in 1904 as he attempted to break free from special
handcuffs commissioned by London's Daily Mirror, which kept them waiting
for an hour. Another stunt saw him buried alive and barely managed to
fight his way to the top before collapsing in a state of near-death.
While many people felt the escapes were staged, Houdini portrayed
himself as the scourge of imposters. He was keen to protect professional
standards and expose fraudulent performers as President of the Society
of American Magicians. He was also quick to sue anyone who tried to copy
his daring escapes.
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