Harry Houdini: Centenary of the illusionist's death

The centenary of the death of Harry Houdini, the world-renowned Hungarian-born escape artist, is being commemorated this Halloween. On October 22, 1926, Houdini was visited at the Princess Theatre in Montreal by three university students. During the encounter, student Joscelyn Gordon Whitehead delivered several rapid punches to Houdini's abdomen to test the magician's claims of physical resilience.

Nine days after the incident, Houdini passed away at age 52. The official cause of death was an abdominal infection resulting from a ruptured appendix, an injury widely attributed to the blows received from Whitehead. His death shocked a global audience that viewed the performer as nearly invincible due to his famous escapes from locked boxes, submerged coffins, and straitjackets.

Over the decades, various theories have emerged regarding his passing, ranging from claims of arsenic poisoning to misconceptions inspired by cinematic depictions of his life.