Harry gave her the credit for his success, and developed the habit of writing her a love note every day. He depended on her to care for him and handle the necessities of life. Harry and Bess remained devoted companions for the rest of his life. (Theo started a solo career as a magician under the name Hardeen). Harry and Bess married in 1894 and Bess joined the act as Harry's new partner. This changed when Harry met Beatrice Raymond, a teenaged singer and dancer who was also attempting a career in show business. For a time he worked with his brother Theo as The Houdini Brothers.

“Huge.Harry Houdini began his professional career at age 17 doing magic shows before civic groups, in music halls, at sideshows, and at New York's Coney Island amusement park, where he sometimes performed 20 shows each day. “His reputation was so big,” Vachon said.

But the curator of the McCord is ecstatic to ponder what it could look like, almost like someone about to watch magic.

The exhibit that could result from the acquisition isn’t slated to open until 2017. “He actually dies in Detroit but the punch that causes his death happened in Montreal,” Greenberg said. A student confronted him who struck him in the abdomen, answering a challenge that Houdini had frequently made and the magician died two weeks later from complications that arose. “You’ll never see devils or crosses in his stuff,” Greenberg said.ĭuring a stop in Montreal he made one of those lectures at what was then McGill’s student union and is now the same McCord Museum where his memorabilia is housed. And he would give talks alongside his acts debunking the supernatural myth of magic. He made waves among other magicians because he stressed that his illusions, escapes and tricks were incredible because they were real and physically possible. Houdini, however, rejected mysticism as a part of his act.

Magic of houdini