Harry Houdini spent years exposing mediums who claimed they could communicate with the dead. But before his own death on Halloween in 1926, he and his wife, Bess, reportedly agreed on a secret message—one only she would recognize if he ever found a way to reach her from the other side.

Ten years later, hundreds of people gathered on the roof of a Hollywood hotel for one final attempt to contact the world’s most famous escape artist.

Join host Robert Barber for this special Halloween edition of Fragments as we revisit Houdini’s secret code, the séance that captured the public’s imagination, and the question that remains one hundred years after his death: Did Harry Houdini ever find a way back?

Follow or subscribe to State of the Unknown so you don’t miss the next story.

Support the show

Support State of the Unknown

If you enjoy the show and would like to help support it, you can become a Sasquatch Supporter for $3 a month. Your support helps cover the costs of researching and producing the show, website hosting, distribution, and helping more people discover State of the Unknown.

Membership is completely optional, and the show remains free for everyone.

Become a Sasquatch Supporter on Patreon

🔍 New episodes every Tuesday
🌐 Visit stateoftheunknown.com for show notes and to submit your own story.
📬 Questions, theories, or story ideas? Reach out at contact@stateoftheunknown.com or @stateoftheunknownpodcast.

Some stories don’t stay buried.
We go looking anyway.