Houdini Wasn't Here, But His Wife Was.

 Wilhelmina Beatrice Rahner, known as "Bess," met and married Harry Houdini fairly quickly in 1894. Bess had performed in vaudeville herself, so she was no stranger to show business. She became his partner on stage for awhile, until he hit it big with his escapes from handcuffs and other stunts.  The couple had no children and traveled the world with Harry's shows.






After he died in 1926, Bess did all she could to keep his memory alive.  In 1932, she appeared in Defiance at the Valentine Theater along with a troupe called the Mantell-Houdini production.  It was one stop on her first tour since his death.

The Crescent-News reported on November 28, 1932:

"Widow of Houdini Performs Here on First Tour Since Husband's Death

The Great Mantell, producer of the Mantell-Houdini mystery production at the Valentine theater tonight, spoke to Rotarians today noon.  He gave his hearers some of the history of magic and the practice of the magician's art...

Mr. Mantell stated that in presenting the production which will be on at the Valentine tonight tonight, Mrs. Houdini is making the first tour since the death of her husband, Harry Houdini, the internationally known wizard of magic, and with whom she worked before his death.

Bess Houdini

The acting of the first act in tonight's production is 'A Night in a Haunted Chinese Castle.'  The entire act is woven into a dramatization of magic with its many illusions.  Mr. Mantell holds the leading role in this phase of the program.

There are many other feats of magic such as the 'Spirit Hands of Madame Golum' with Mrs. Houdini appearing as the medium.  Another spectacular creation which is said to arouse the interest of all who see it is the 'Dematerialization of Majah.'

...Mr Mantell freely states that all the magic illusions are tricks obtained through skill and the use of high priced equipment.  In answering questions of Rotarians, he stated that all of the illusions which he presents could probably be done as well by any of his hearers if they only knew how."

No review could be found of the program, so we don't know how it was received in Defiance, Ohio.

Bess Houdini died in 1943, having given up on the seances to contact her deceased husband.  Her family objected to her burial with Harry (Erich Weisz, his real name), who was Jewish and buried in Queens, New York.  So Bess, a Catholic, was buried in Hawthorne, New York in an acceptable cemetery to the family.