/oss/taxonomy/term/743/all en /oss/article/history-did-you-know/houdini-low-point <p>National Magic Day is celebrated annually on October 31<sup>st</sup> in memory of Harry Houdini who passed away on that day in 1926.</p> Fri, 27 Oct 2023 13:53:20 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9704 at /oss /oss/article/critical-thinking-history/remembering-houdini <p>For many years members of the American Society of Magicians gathered on October 31 at Machpelah Cemetery in New York to break a magic wand over the grave of the man whose name is synonymous with magic. They came to pay homage to Harry Houdini, performer extraordinaire, who passed away on Halloween in 1926, but never really left us. His exploits spawned books, movies and plays and inspired countless youngsters to take up the engaging hobby of prestidigitation.</p> Wed, 26 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz Phd 9269 at /oss /oss/article/videos/right-chemistry-beware-fake-photos <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-1"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-sykul-pfkl8" width="640" height="390" title="Dr Joe Schwarcz: Beware fake photos" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/sYkUL-pFkL8?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-sykul-pfkl8&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr Joe Schwarcz: Beware fake photos" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr Joe Schwarcz: Beware fake photos</iframe> </div> </p> Fri, 25 Oct 2019 14:43:25 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7970 at /oss /oss/article/history/happy-national-magic-day <p>Halloween is a time when witches fly, black cats prowl and zombies rise from the grave.  But it is also a time for magic.  No, not supernatural charms, spells or incantations but the time honoured practise of prestidigitation.  October 31 is not only Halloween, but it is also International Magic Day. Chosen because it was on this date in 1926 that the most famous magician who ever lived, died.  Harry Houdini, the man that no chains or cuffs could hold, quietly slipped out of this world in a Detroit hospital.</p> Tue, 31 Oct 2017 15:57:31 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 6803 at /oss /oss/article/history/celebrating-life-harry-houdini-who-died-october-31-1926 <p><span>For many years members of the American Society of Magicians gathered on October 31 at Machpelah Cemetery in New York to break a magic wand over the grave of the man whose name is synonymous with magic.  They came to pay homage to Harry Houdini, performer extraordinaire, who passed away on Halloween in 1926, but never really left us.  His exploits spawned numerous books, movies and plays and inspired countless youngsters to take up the engaging hobby of prestidigitation.  I wish I could tell you that the “Ritual of the Broken Wand” will be performed tomorrow as tradition dictates, but </span></p> Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:00:58 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2024 at /oss