n this episode of Haunting History, Cat delves into the life and legacy of the legendary Harry Houdini. Born Erik Weiss in Budapest in 1874, Houdini rose from humble beginnings to become the world’s greatest escape artist, captivating audiences with his daring feats of escape from handcuffs, straightjackets, and locked water tanks. However, his remarkable career was not just about physical skill—he also became a staunch skeptic of spiritualism, a movement he was drawn to in his later years. While Houdini devoted much of his life to debunking fraudulent mediums and psychics, his personal loss of his beloved mother led him to secretly hope for an afterlife.

Cat explores the personal and professional journey that led Houdini to fame, including his partnership with wife Bess, his relentless work ethic, and his eventual crusade against spiritualism. But even in death, Houdini remained a figure shrouded in mystery, with stories of his ghost continuing to captivate the public. Following his death on Halloween in 1926, Bess Houdini held annual séances, hoping for a sign from her husband, culminating in a decade-long search for the secret word they had agreed upon—a final proof of life after death. Did Houdini, the ultimate escape artist, escape the grasp of the afterlife? Tune in to hear the full story of Houdini's fascinating life and the eerie haunting that followed his death.

Join Cat as she unpacks the incredible journey of Houdini, the magician who defied death, and the legend that lives on through eerie tales and unfulfilled promises from beyond the grave.

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Below is a list of resources used during the research and telling of this story. (partial)

Episode Sources

Books:
- Finstad, Suzanne. Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood. New York: Random House, 2001.
  - This biography is one of the most detailed accounts of Natalie Wood’s life. It includes in-depth interviews with her family, friends, and colleagues, and covers her complex relationship with her mother, Maria, her marriage to Robert Wagner, and her career highs and lows. This book provided background on Natalie’s family, her early life, and the pressures she faced, as well as details about her first and second marriages to Wagner.
- Davern, Dennis and Rulli, Marti. Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour. Medallion Press, 2009.
  - Co-written by Dennis Davern, the captain aboard Splendour during Natalie’s last weekend, this book provides Davern’s account of the events surrounding her death, Wagner’s involvement, and his later testimonies. It was a primary source for understanding Davern’s relationship with the couple and details of the fateful Thanksgiving weekend.
Articles and Websites:
- Vanity Fair: "Natalie Wood’s Fatal Voyage" by Sam Kashner, March 2012.
  - This in-depth article investigates Natalie Wood's life, the influence of her mother, her relationship with Wagner, and her final days. It provided insight into the challenges Natalie faced balancing family and career in the years before her death.
- The Los Angeles Times: “After 30 Years, Natalie Wood’s Death Remains an Open Case” by Richard Winton, February 2018.
  - This article covers the 2011 reopening of Natalie Wood’s case, with statements from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and updates on Wagner’s status as a “person of interest.” It was useful for understanding the ongoing investigation and Wagner's relationship with the authorities.
- Town & Country: “The Mystery Surrounding Natalie Wood’s Death” by Sam Dangremond, February 2018.
  - This article provides an overview of Natalie’s relationships with Wagner, her family dynamics, and new witness statements from people on Catalina Island that night, contributing details about the Thanksgiving weekend on Splendour and interactions between Natalie, Wagner, and Walken.
Documentaries and Media Coverage:
- HBO Documentary: Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind (2020)
  - Produced by Natalie’s daughter Natasha Gregson Wagner, this documentary offers a personal perspective on Natalie’s life, her role as a mother, and her relationship with Robert Wagner. It includes family interviews that gave context to Natalie’s life in 1981 and her family’s evolving feelings toward Wagner.
- CBS News – 48 Hours Special: Natalie Wood: Death in Dark Water (2018)
  - This news special includes interviews with witnesses, Dennis Davern, and law enforcement involved in the reopened investigation. It was a source for additional details on Davern’s testimony, Walken’s role in the weekend, and Wagner’s interactions with law enforcement.
Public Records:
- Los Angeles County Coroner’s Report on Natalie Wood’s Death (1981, with updates in 2011 and 2012).
  - Available in public archives, the coroner’s report was crucial for understanding the official causes, injuries, and suspicions surrounding Wood’s death. This report, along with the revised statements from 2011, provided foundational details about the circumstances of her death and the inconsistencies that led to the case’s reopening.

and of course Ancestry.com, MyHeritage.com, Newspaperarchives, FamilySearch.org

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Ancestry.com, MyHeritage.com, Newspaperarchives, FamilySearch.org

This presentation is protected by US & International copyright laws. Reproduction & distribution of the presentation without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.

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