After reading the telegram, he fainted once revived, he sobbed inconsolably, moaning in grief for his dear mother. At a press conference, Houdini received a trans-Atlantic telegram containing the news of his mother's death. He once threw a party at which his mother presided over the guests as 'Queen Cecilia', wearing a dress made for the Queen of England and sitting on a throne, lavished with gifts and adoration.Ĭecilia died on Jat age 72 of a fatal stroke while Houdini was performing in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is impossible to say which one of his sweethearts he cared for more. They managed to get along despite religious differences, and Houdini once called them his 'two sweethearts'.

At this point, Houdini had married Wilhelmina Beatrice 'Bess' Rhaner, a Catholic who must have surprised Cecilia, a staunch Jew. He bought Cecilia a home in a well-to-do part of town with many foreign residents so that his mother could speak with her neighbors (she never learned English very well). Houdini's father's last wish on his deathbed was that his son would take care of Cecilia, and after Houdini broke through to fame, he made sure to keep this promise. Houdini called her his 'angel on earth' and his 'guiding beacon of life'. Houdini would even sit on his mother's lap at times 'to re-enact the story of the calming influence she had on him as a child'. They frequently wrote to each other, and Cecilia helped select his costumes even after he became famous.

When Erik, now Harry Houdini, struck out with one of brothers in a magic act performed at city carnivals, museums, and beer halls, he relied on his mother for encouragement. According to Cecilia, she just had to hold Harry to her breast to get him to immediately stop crying. The two shared an intense bond since Erik was just an infant.

Harry Houdini was born Erik Weisz to Mayer Samuel Weisz and Cecilia Steiner Weisz when Cecilia was 33 years old, 'somewhat late by 19th century standards'.

Harry houdini mayer samuel weisz