On this day in 1926, the great magician Harry Houdini passed away.

To honor his memory, the Society of American Magicians established October 31 as a day dedicated to Houdini, calling it National Magic Day. In addition, the week of October 25-31 was designated as National Magic Week, a period dedicated to the art of magic, during which events and performances are held to promote magic as an art, honor the artists in the field, and continue the legacy Harry Houdini left behind.