In 1926 Harry Houdini preformed his last show at Detroit's Garrick theatre. The story goes; Harry Houdini was preforming in Montreal at the time, when a student J. Gordon Whitehead from McGill University, wanted to test Houdini's claim of being able to sustain, without injury, any blow delivered above the waist.
This is the scene described by fellow student, Jacques Price:
Houdini was reclining on his couch after his performance, having an art student sketch him. When Whitehead came in and asked if it was true that Houdini could take any blow to the stomach, Houdini replied groggily in the affirmative. In this instance, he was hit three times before Houdini could tighten up his stomach muscles to avoid serious injury. Whitehead reportedly continued hitting Houdini several more times and Houdini acted as though he were in some pain.
Unbeknownst to Price Houdini had been suffering from acute appendicitis for several days, Houdini being the consummate performer decided to continue to Detroit arriving at the Garrick theatre. With a fever of 104 ° he took to the stage, collapsing half way through the show but continued till the end.
Houdini passed away 1:26 p.m. in Room 401 of the Grace Hospital, on October 31, aged 52.
images
1. Original poster from Houdini's last show
2. Post card 1930s
3. Harry Houdini sparing with Jack Dempsey and Benny Leonard
4. Grace hospital post card circa 1907
