Category Archives: Cecilia

Blogcast #2: The Houdini Grave

Posted on February 23, 2019 by Houdini

By Tom Interval Blogcast #2: The Houdini Grave is now live on YouTube. I discuss my 1990 visit to Houdini’s gravesite in Machpelah Cemetery in Queens, New York.

Posted in Bess, Cecilia, Death, Dick Brookz, Dorothy Dietrich, Family, Gladys, Grandparents, Grave, Herman, Leopold, Machpelah Cemetery, Mayer, Nathan, Parents, Podcasts, Siblings, Theodore (Hardeen), Videos, William | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blogcast #1: Harry Houdini’s Dad Fired for Not Speaking English?

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Houdini

By Tom Interval Last June I wrote an article asserting that Harry Houdini’s father, Rabbi Mayer Samuel Weiss, was not fired by his congregation simply because he couldn’t speak English. I’ve decided to make that blog the first in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, Bernard C. Meyer, Bess, Biographies, Books, Cecilia, Family, Gladys, Herman, kenneth silverman, Leopold, Letters, Life Phases, Mayer, Nathan, Parents, Podcasts, Siblings, Theodore (Hardeen), William, Youth, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rabbi Weiss’s Farewell Sermon

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Houdini

By Tom Interval Listen to/watch this blog entry in video format → When Rev. Dr. Mayer Samuel Weiss arrived in the United States in 1876, doubt likely plagued his mind. At 47, he wasn’t a young man anymore, but he … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Bernard C. Meyer, Bess, Biographies, Birth, Books, Cecilia, Collections, Digital, Family, Gladys, Herman, Homes, kenneth silverman, Leopold, Literature, Mayer, Nathan, Parents, Siblings, Theodore (Hardeen), William | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Legends and Lore Persist in Houdini Miniseries

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Houdini

By Tom Interval It’s the dead of winter. Thousands of gawking spectators flood a bridge spanning the frozen river below. The crowd braves the bone-splitting cold for only one reason: to see a man die. Of course, they might not … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Bernard C. Meyer, Bess, Cannon, Cecilia, Death, Escapes, Literature, Mayer, Milk Can, Movies, Parents, Portrayals, Siblings, Straitjacket, Television, Theodore (Hardeen), Water Torture Cell | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Happy Birthday, Houdini!

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Houdini

By Tom Interval On March 24, 1874—140 years ago today—legendary escape artist and magician Harry Houdini escaped from his mother’s womb in Budapest, Hungary. Born as Erik Weisz in a room at Rákosárok utca 1. sz. (a street now known … Continue reading →

Posted in Birth, Buildings, Cecilia, Mayer, Parents, Rákosárok utca 1. sz. | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Cecilia Steiner Weiss (June 16, 1841–July 17, 1913)

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Houdini
Posted in Anniversaries, Cecilia, Family, Parents | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Happy Mother’s Day

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Houdini

Happy Mother’s Day in memory of Houdini’s mom, Cecelia Steiner Weiss (1841–1913), and Bessie Houdini’s mom, Balbina Biegel Rahner (1849-1938).

Posted in Balbina, Bess, Cecilia, Family, Holidays | Leave a comment

Houdini Grave Aerial Map

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Houdini

By Tom Interval Here’s an aerial map of the Houdini gravesite in Machpelah Cemetery in Queens, New York (see below; click to enlarge). It’s based on my visit to the site around 1990. Notice Leopold’s and Gladys’s headstones (Houdini’s brother … Continue reading →

Posted in Cecilia, Death, Family, Gladys, Grandparents, Grave, Hannah Steiner, Herman, Leopold, Maternal, Mayer, Nathan, Parents, Siblings, Theodore (Hardeen), William | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments