HHCE Collection: Oct 31st 1976 Semicentennial Broken Wand Ceremony with the honors going to Irvin Bernstein, President of S.A.M.

The first-ever Broken Wand Ceremony was held in 1926 following the death of Harry Houdini.

It was designed specifically to honor him—proving to the world that while the physical wand may break, his legacy remains the ultimate illusion, ensuring his magic never truly dies.

The Houdini Broken Wand Ceremony is held annually by the Society Of American Magicians Parent Assembly of New York City at Houdini’s gravesite.

In 1986, after a broken wand ceremony conducted at Houdini’s grave at Machpelah Cemetery in New York, on October 31st, Larry Weeks gave a lecture on Houdini and showed “The Grim Game” at the Glendale Public Library which is a short distance from the cemetery.

HHCE Collection: Courtesy of Fred Pittella

Historically, the ceremony was held on Halloween (the anniversary of Houdini’s death). However, due to massive crowds, disruptions, and recurring vandalism at Machpelah Cemetery in Queens, the cemetery began closing entirely on Halloween starting in 1994.

The Society of American Magicians traditionally holds its annual broken wand ceremony in early November or on the Hebrew anniversary of Houdini’s death (for context, the 2025 ceremony took place quietly on November 14).

Houdini Lives in 2026!