Harry Houdini

n this episode of Haunting History, Cat delves into the life and legacy of the legendary Harry Houdini. Born Erik Weiss in Budapest in 1874, Houdini rose from humble beginnings to become the world’s greatest escape artist, captivating audiences with his daring feats of escape from handcuffs, straightjackets, and locked water tanks. However, his remarkable career was not just about physical skill—he also became a staunch skeptic of spiritualism, a movement he was drawn to in his later years. While Houdini devoted much of his life to debunking fraudulent mediums and psychics, his personal loss of his beloved mother led him to secretly hope for an afterlife.

Cat explores the personal and professional journey that led Houdini to fame, including his partnership with wife Bess, his relentless work ethic, and his eventual crusade against spiritualism. But even in death, Houdini remained a figure shrouded in mystery, with stories of his ghost continuing to captivate the public. Following his death on Halloween in 1926, Bess Houdini held annual séances, hoping for a sign from her husband, culminating in a decade-long search for the secret word they had agreed upon—a final proof of life after death. Did Houdini, the ultimate escape artist, escape the grasp of the afterlife? Tune in to hear the full story of Houdini's fascinating life and the eerie haunting that followed his death.

Join Cat as she unpacks the incredible journey of Houdini, the magician who defied death, and the legend that lives on through eerie tales and unfulfilled promises from beyond the grave.

None of the photos on this page belong to Haunting History Podcast. No copyright infringement intended and are only used as enhancements to the story told. 

At times when reporting facts regarding a true crime, (and photos) multiple sources  use the same wording. Every effort is made to avoid any copyright infringements and no single work  was intentionally plagiarized when reporting the facts of the crimes. 

Below is a  list of resources  used during the research and telling of this story. (partial)

Episode Sources

1. Books:
   • Finstad, Suzanne. Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood. New York: Random House, 2001.
     • This biography is one of the most detailed accounts of Natalie Wood’s life. It includes in-depth interviews with her family, friends, and colleagues, and covers her complex relationship with her mother, Maria, her marriage to Robert Wagner, and her career highs and lows. This book provided background on Natalie’s family, her early life, and the pressures she faced, as well as details about her first and second marriages to Wagner.
   • Davern, Dennis and Rulli, Marti. Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour. Medallion Press, 2009.
     • Co-written by Dennis Davern, the captain aboard Splendour during Natalie’s last weekend, this book provides Davern’s account of the events surrounding her death, Wagner’s involvement, and his later testimonies. It was a primary source for understanding Davern’s relationship with the couple and details of the fateful Thanksgiving weekend.
2. Articles and Websites:
   • Vanity Fair: "Natalie Wood’s Fatal Voyage" by Sam Kashner, March 2012.
     • This in-depth article investigates Natalie Wood's life, the influence of her mother, her relationship with Wagner, and her final days. It provided insight into the challenges Natalie faced balancing family and career in the years before her death.
   • The Los Angeles Times: “After 30 Years, Natalie Wood’s Death Remains an Open Case” by Richard Winton, February 2018.
     • This article covers the 2011 reopening of Natalie Wood’s case, with statements from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and updates on Wagner’s status as a “person of