spiritualism

In 1926, world-famous magician Harry Houdini died of peritonitis following a ruptured appendix. Before his death, he had planned to write several books on varied subjects, including his own career and magical secrets. Fortunately, he had discussed these ideas and shared his notes with Bernard Ernst, president of the Society of American Magicians. Ernst arranged for Walter B. Gibson— a fellow magician, the creator of the pulp fiction character The Shadow, and Houdini's ghost writer— to prepare Houdini’s Escapes.