Born Ehrich Weiss
The immigrant showman who became Harry Houdini transformed escape into modern spectacle.
Be part of history — will he come back?
The 100-Year Houdini Séance
On Halloween 2026, Houdini's former New York home opens for a once-in-a-century gathering honoring the life, death, and enduring mystery of Harry Houdini.
1926
Houdini dies on October 31 in Detroit.
10
Years later, his wife Bess stages the final public séance.
100
Years later, the vigil returns to Houdini's House.
The pact
Not a theme party. A historical vigil.
Houdini spent his later years exposing fraudulent spirit mediums while leaving one question unresolved: if communication after death were possible, could he prove it? He and his wife, Bess Houdini, arranged a private code, remembered as “Rosabelle, believe,” that would authenticate a message from beyond.
After Houdini died on October 31, 1926, Bess kept the pact alive in public and private ways. Her famous final public attempt took place on Halloween 1936, and the annual Houdini séance tradition later grew into one of magic history's most enduring rituals.
Halloween death
Houdini dies on October 31, turning Halloween into the permanent date of the vigil.
Bess closes the pact
At the Knickerbocker Hotel in Hollywood, Bess declares the ten-year pact finished.
The annual ritual expands
Detroit magicians revive the idea, helping shape the modern annual séance tradition.
The centennial séance
A hundred years later, the anniversary is observed inside Houdini's former New York home.
At Houdini's House
A formal vigil, a century to the day.
On the hundredth Halloween since Houdini's death, his former New York home opens for an evening of remembrance held on the exact anniversary of his passing. Each séance is intimate by design — just thirteen guests at the table.
- Guided tour of Houdini's House
- A talk by the foremost Houdini historian, John Cox
- Wine & cheese reception
- Séance led by Dorothy Dietrich or Jessica Jane Peterson
- A brick from Houdini's House
- A magic wand carved from the wood of Houdini's House
Date
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Venue
278 West 113th Street, New York City
Seats
13 per séance
Dress
Formal afternoon · Black tie evenings
Sessions
Choose your séance.
Three séances will be held on October 31, 2026, each limited to thirteen guests. Dorothy Dietrich leads the 1:26 PM “Time of Death” séance; Jessica Jane Peterson leads the 6:30 PM and 9:30 PM séances.
All proceeds benefit cancer research and the restoration and preservation of Houdini's House.
1:26 PM
“Time of Death” Séance
Led by Dorothy Dietrich
$2,500 per seat
Begins at the minute Houdini died. Includes the tour, talk, reception, and keepsakes.
Arrive 12:50–1:00 PM · Formal attire
Your 1:26 PM guide & directions →6:30 PM
Evening Séance
Led by Jessica Jane Peterson
$1,000 per seat
Includes the tour, talk, reception, and keepsakes.
Arrive by 6:00 PM · Black tie
Your 6:30 PM guide & directions →9:30 PM
Late Evening Séance
Led by Jessica Jane Peterson
$1,000 per seat
The final séance of the night. Includes the tour, talk, reception, and keepsakes.
Arrive by 9:00 PM · Black tie
Your 9:30 PM guide & directions →Working magicians: write to us about a professional rate.
Keepsakes
Every guest takes home a brick from Houdini's House and a magic wand carved from a piece of the House.
Give by check
To make a gift by check, make it payable to Weill Cornell Medical College and write “Make Cancer Disappear Fund” in the memo line. Mail it to:
Weill Cornell MedicineAttn: Hailey Kieltyka
Office of External Affairs
P.O. Box 22497
New York, NY 10087-2497
Research basis
Built on the core historical record.
Wild About Houdini: annual séance origins and lineage
Wild About Houdini: Bess Houdini's final public séance in 1936
Wild About Houdini: 278 West 113th Street, Houdini's Harlem home
Official Houdini Séance history and annual tradition
Encyclopaedia Britannica biography and death date
History.com account of Houdini's death
Public-domain Houdini image reference
Hero image: McManus-Young Collection / Library of Congress, cph.3g03277