She said the dressing room attack on Houdini was not a accident Whitehead (she called his Whitestille) just rushed in and 'bam!' She also told me Houdini loved making Chicken Paprika, which made me smile because I do too. (!) She said Bess died on the train in Needles while her sister (Marie's mother) was feeding her chicken gumbo. Weiss told Bess's mother that Houdini was 'born on the boat' to America. 'Bess smoked!!!' I wrote down at the top of my notes. In 1995 this was completely unknown, and it blew my mind. One bit of bombshell info was that 'Aunt Bess' smoked.

But Bessie lived on for another 17 years, and even lived with Marie and her mother (Bess's sister) for a while. Marie's memories of Houdini are limited as he died when she was still a child. Interestingly, I found myself asking more questions about Bess than Houdini.

We settled into the hotel lobby near a large fireplace and chatted for an hour or more. Marie said she was impressed that I had come all this way just to hear her speak, and invited me to her hotel where we could talk more in private. Her talk was delightful, filled with first hand memories of her Uncle Houdini and Aunt Bess, and she brought along a few precious artifacts, including a children’s book given to Houdini by his half-brother, Herman.Īfter the talk I introduced myself. I had exchanged letters with Marie, so she knew I would be there. I was excited to hear the remembrances of Houdini's last living relative. In July 1995 I traveled to Colorado Springs to hear the late Marie Blood speak. If anything, it draws her more into focus and helps us understand all the demons she was fighting. It's nothing bad, and it certainly doesn't diminish the memory or legacy of this great woman. What I have here is an important (maybe even critical) puzzle piece that helps further complete her portrait. We just don't know all that much about her. But she's even more elusive than her husband.

Why now? Well, anyone who's followed this blog knows I celebrate Bess here and find her fascinating. As far as I know, it's never been revealed in any book or article. It's the answer to why Harry and Bess Houdini never had children, and it was told to me by Marie Blood, Houdini's niece on Bessie's side. It's something I've shared with fellow Houdini buffs over lunches at the Magic Castle, but because of the personal nature of it, I've never felt I should 'publish' it online or elsewhere. I've been sitting on this information for a long time.

Bess houdini