Ferenc Dezső (Weisz) Hardeen (1876 - 1945)

Born 4 Mar 1876 in Budapest, Hungary

Died 12 Jun 1945 at age 69 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States

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Theodore (Weisz) Hardeen is Notable.

Biography

Ferenc Dezső Weisz was born on 04 March 1876 in Budapest, Hungary and was the son of Mayer Samuel Weisz and Cecília Steiner.

He was a younger brother of the famous magician, "Harry Houdini" and also a magician, illusionist and escape artist, under the stage name of Theodore "Dash" Hardeen. ^[1]

In 1893 Hardeen performed with Houdini at Coney Island as "The Brothers Houdini". While there, they met Wilhelmina Beatrice "Bess" Rahner. ^[2] It was Theo who first dated Bess, but it was Harry who married her. ^[3]

The brothers were very close and even lived together in Flatbush for several years. Hardeen was with their mother, Cecelia, when she had her fatal stroke in 1913. ^[3]

Theo married Elsie Fozzard and they had three children: Theodore Jr., Gladys, and Harry Houdini Hardeen.

His brother, Houdini, died in 1926 and willed all of his props to Theo ...

"Fourth, I give, devise and bequeth to my brother Theodore, professionally known as "Hardeen", all my theatrical effects, mysteries and illusions and accompanying periphernalia, to be burnet and destroyed upon his death". ^[1]

Hardeen continued to perform many of Houdini's routines after his brother's death.

He self-published an autobiographical booklet, "Life and History of Hardeen: 20 Years of an Eventful Career on the Stage". It includes the story of his escape from a straitjacket in full view of an audience.

In 1944 he founded the "Magician's Guild" of America.

During his final show on 29 May 1945 in Queens County, New York, USA Hardeen named his chief assistant, Douglas Geoffrey, as his official successor.

In 1945 Hardeen went to the Doctors Hospital in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA for a simple ulcer operation. While recovering from the procedure, he unexpectedly died of complications on 12 June 1945. He was buried at Machpelah Cemetery in Ridgewood, New York, USA. ^[4]

The television series "Houdini's Last Secrets" is hosted by his grandson, George Hardeen.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} [Houdini Relative Unlocks Some Family Secrets" by Daniel Kraker on 2011/Oct/31 on NPR.org; including 1901 photo of the brothers
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Hardeen
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Theodore "Dash" Hardeen
4. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #18567292 for Theodore Hardeen, b: 29 Feb 1876 Budapest, Budapest, Hungary; d: 12 Jun 1945 Manhattan, New York City, New York County, New York, USA; buried: Machpelah Cemetery, Ridgewood, Queens County, New York, USA; with persoal photo; accessed on 21 Jul 2020

• 1880 USA Census of Appleton, Outagamie County, Wisconsin; on ancestry.com citing roll#1440; ed#114; p28D; on Appleton Street; dwelling#97; which included ...

50 Weise Saml. M., b: c1830 Hungary; occ: minister

34 Weise Cecelia (wife)

17 Weise Armin M.

11 Weise Nathan J.

08 Weise Gottfried W.

06 Weise Erick

04 Weise Theadore

10m Weise Leopold D.

• 1900 USA Census of Manhattan, New York, New York; on ancestry.com citing FHL#1241119; ed#0848; sheet#1; on East 115th Street; house#51; visit#3; family#20; which included ...

Hungary 45 Weiss Cecilia

NY 24 Weiss Leopold, occ: salesman (single son)

NY 22 Weiss Theodore, b: Mar 1877; occ: doctor (single son)

WI 12 Weiss Carrie (daughter).

• 1910 USA Census of Ward#2, Manhattan, New York City, New York; on ancestry.com citing FHL#1375037; NARA# T624_1024; ed#1730; p3A; on West 108 Street; which included ...

34 Hardeen Theodore, b: 1876 WI WI/WI; occ: actor in theatres

26 Hardeen Elsie, b: c1884 England; immig: 1907 m: 6yrs (wife with 2/2 children living)

04 Hardeen Theodore

01 Hardeen Harry

40 Hill Lillie.

• 1920 USA Census of Assembly District #21, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York; on ancestry.com citing NARA# T625_1178; ed#1344; p3A; East 21 Street; which included ...

44 Hardeen Theodore, b: 1876 WI WI/WI; occ: actor in vaudeville

38 Hardeen Elsie, b: c1882 England; immig: 1898 naturalized (wife)

14 Hardeen Theodore

11 Hardeen Harry

19 Parsons Gladys.

• 1930 USA Census of Brooklyn, Kings County, New York; on ancestry.com citing FHL #2341273; ed#0867; p18A; on East 21st Street; block-G; house#537; dwelling#68; family#410; which included ...

52 Hardeen Theodore, b: 1878 WI Austria/Germany; m1@22yrs; occ: magieian in theatres

49 Hardeen Elsie, b: c1881 England; m1@19yrs; immig: 1907 naturalized (wife)

23 Hardeen Theodore

21 Hardeen Harvey.

• 1940 USA Census of New York, Kings County, New York; on ancestry.com citing roll# m-t0627-02614; ed#24-2570; sheet#8B; on East 21st Street; house#537; which included ...

65 Hardeen Theodore, b: 1875 WI; res1935: same place; occ: prop actor

60 Hardeen Elsie, b: c1880 England; naturalized (wife)

31 Hardeen Harry

22 Hardeen Ruth.