100 years later, the mystery of Houdini's death endures

Harry Houdini, the legendary escape artist, has been the subject of numerous books and films. Born Erik Weisz in Hungary in 1874, the family moved to Wisconsin when he was four. As a teenager, he performed magic tricks in sideshows and beer halls. Houdini built an impressive physique and adopted the name Houdini, inspired by French magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin.

Houdini's magic tricks were not particularly impressive, according to Houdini historian Roger Dreyer. However, his Metamorphosis Trunk trick brought him international fame. Houdini's popular escapes involved being locked in a trunk, handcuffs, and even the live jumbo water tank. His performances often symbolized escaping death and challenging authority.

In 1904, at 30 years old, Houdini bought a townhouse in Harlem where he lived with his wife, Bess, and his family. The house is now a tourist attraction. In the mid-1920s, Houdini turned his attention to exposing fake spiritualist mediums, as many women sought to contact their lost loved ones from World War I. Houdini died in 1926 at age 52, but the cause of his death remains a mystery.

While the usual account involves college students punching him, surgeon and medical researcher Larrian Gillespie believes Houdini died from an intestinal blockage aggravated by appendicitis. Houdini's death certificate has been altered, suggesting a potential cover-up. A new book, "Houdini: The Man Who Died Twice" by Gillespie, presents an alternative explanation.

Some speculate Houdini may have attempted to communicate with his wife through séances after his death.