Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Inside The Official Houdini Séance 2024


The 2024 Official Houdini Séance was held in Houdini's hometown of Appleton, Wisconsin, at the Trout Museum of Art in Houdini Plaza. Among the honored inner circle attendees this year included Debbie Hardeen-Bloom and Meg Hoppe, the great-granddaughter of Gustav Keller. Kellar was a friend of Houdini's who corresponded with him about his Appleton memories and exploits. Entertainment was provided by magicians Daryl Rogers and James David. Mike Schroeder, current president of IBM Ring 398, did a straitjacket escape. The seance was conducted by Cheryl Burch of DePere, Wisconsin.

Appleton's own Tom Boldt organized this year's seance. Items from his incredible collection were on display. The seance was by invitation only. Someone must have forgotten to send Houdini's invite because, for the 98th year in a row, he was a no-show. But the seance was once again a terrific tribute to Houdini and everyone appears to have had a great time.

Here are some photos from the event courtesy of New Normal Studios.

Seance table and program.
The Inner Circle
Medium Cheryl Burch leads the attempt.
Are you here, Harry?
The seance handcuffs remained locked.
Debbie Hardeen-Bloom
Magician Daryl Rogers
Magician James David
Escapist Mike Schroeder
Rarities from the Tom Boldt Collection.
Perfect day for a seance.

The seance received some nice press this year. Below is a report from WLUK-TV.


Want more? I've posted video of Bill Radner showing Houdini's modified Bean Giant handcuffs and the famed "Séance Cuffs" at the start of the seance on my Patreon


Thanks to Tom Boldt, Bill Radner, Bruce Averbook, and  New Normal Studios for the info and pics. 

Past Official Houdini Séances:

Monday, November 4, 2024

The Impossible Man is back


In 2019, we got news and sample songs from a new Houdini stage musical called The Impossible Man, which was to have its world premiere in Detroit in 2021. I really liked what I saw and heard. But then the pandemic hit, The Impossible Man underwent a name change to just Houdini, and all news eventually faded away.

But now The Impossible Man is back and scheduled for previews at the Sociale Theatre in Lake Como, Italy, in Spring 2025. Broadway star Ryan Silverman will portray Houdini. The play is said to feature more than 20 stage illusions, including the Water Torture Cell. Federico Bellone is the writer and director.

I think a big-budget Houdini stage musical is a great idea, so I have my fingers crossed for The Impossible Man.

For more, check out the official website and the video below.


Saturday, November 2, 2024

Catching up with Houdini on Halloween podcasts

Over the Halloween week, I had the pleasure of appearing on two of my favorite podcasts. First up is our friend Scott Wells and his very popular The Magic Word Podcast. Scott is now uploading his podcasts to YouTube, so if you can stand watching me, that is embedded below. But you can also get and subscribe to The Magic Word Podcast audio only at the official website or via your preferred podcatcher.


I also stopped in for a Halloween chat with my great pals Brian and Lauren at Transatlantic History Ramblings. Same drill. You can listen on their website or subscribe via a podcather. Brian wants me to warn folks that the first section of the podcast, in which he and Lauren discuss issues of the day, is NSFW. My interview starts at 36:00.


Related:

Friday, November 1, 2024

LINK: Still no sign of famed magician

WTAQ has a nice report on yesterday's Official Houdini Séance held in Appleton, Wisconsin. Did Houdini return? Click the headline or the image below to find out.


You can also watch a report on the seance at WLUK-TV on YouTube.

Thursday, October 31, 2024

The Official Houdini Séance mystery envelope


Here's a clip from the 1987 Official Houdini Séance, which was held live on television that year. Here we see Sidney Radner showing the seance handcuffs, which still play a role in Official Séances and will be on the table tonight in Appleton. But then Sid shows a sealed envelope that he says contains "a very interesting document from the date of February 27, 1897."

Unfortunately, Houdini did not come back to tell us what was inside that envelope, and as far as I know, it never reappeared at another Official Séance.

What was in the envelope? I have an educated guess, but let's give Harry another chance. If he fails to manifest at any of today's seances, I will share my guess tomorrow.

Remembering
HARRY HOUDINI
on the
98th ANNIVERSARY
OF HIS DEATH
October 31, 1926


The reveal:
So I was all ready to share what I believed was inside the mystery envelope. Then, in a spooky Halloween coincidence, at the start of the Houdini Museum's Annual Houdini Seance online, Dorothy Dietrich showed this from their collection.


As it turns out, THIS is exactly what I think was inside the envelope. This is a reproduction of an advert in an early Houdini scrapbook that was owned by Sidney Radner. It advertises a spiritualist entertainment that Harry and Bess gave at the A.O.U.W. Lodge in St. Joseph, Missouri, on February 27 (the date "1897" is written on the ad, likely by Houdini himself). Dorothy wasn't aware of my post. It was pure coincidence that she decided to show this at the start of their seance.

Should we consider this a message from Houdini? I said that we would give him one more chance. Did he step in and reveal the contents of the mystery envelope via Dorothy? Believe.

However, there is a trick in this treat. The date on this is wrong. Houdini and Bess gave this show on February 27, but the year was actually 1898. Sid Radner didn't know this at the time. It's no wonder it took Houdini 37 years to figure this out!

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween.

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

The Houdini way to San Jose


It was 100 years ago today on October 29, 1924, that Houdini gave his spiritualism lecture at the Victory Theatre in San Jose, California. This was Houdini's only visit to the city. A review of the lecture in the San Jose Mercury News began:

    A missionary with a message of sanity and common sense, Houdini, a powerfully built little man in a dress suit, left no doubt in the minds of an audience at the Victory theatre last night that so-called mediums are despicable frauds. It was a wonderful evening's entertainment, the best San Jose has offered in a long time.

During the lecture, SAM member Fred P. Faltersack came onstage to assist Houdini in demonstrations. Faltersack worked at the nearby Winchester Mystery House, the world's most vivid example of how belief in spiritualism can overtake a person's life. After the lecture, Faltersack gave Harry and Bess a midnight tour of the sprawling property. Houdini was reportedly impressed with Mrs. Winchester's seance chamber. The next day, Houdini and company left for San Fransisco.


I recently took a quick trip to San Jose and had a chance to visit the various Houdini locations in the city. There's more than you might think!

First up was the site of The Victory Theatre at 45 N 1st Street (the address later changed to 57 N 1st). The Victory later became a movie theater and was renamed The Crest. In October 1953, it played the Tony Curtis Houdini biopic. So I guess Houdini returned after all! It's fun to think that someone who saw Houdini at The Crest may have also seen the real Houdini there in 1924.


The Crest remained a popular San Jose cinema until 1965, when it burned to the ground. The fire was attributed to two teenage boys. The theater was never rebuilt. 


Today, the site of the Victory/Crest is a parking lot. Ironically, an escape room currently sits at the end of the block.


Just one block over from the Victory is the site of the Empire Theater at 23 N 2nd Street. Hardeen appeared here twice in July and November 1908. The theater closed in 1926. Today, an attractive building stands on the spot, but it's unclear if this is the original theater building. (I don't think it is.)

San Jose Mercury, Nov 17, 1908

Not far from the sites of the Victory and Empire is the still-active Jose Theater at 62 S. Second Street. The Jose's vertical sign once hung outside the Victory/Crest. It was moved and re-lettered after the Victory's destruction in 1965. Theater lore holds that Houdini performed here, but I think it's being confused with the Victory. However, Terror Island played here in 1920, so it still qualifies as a Houdini location to me!

Evening News, June 11, 1920.

San Jose once again became the center of Houdini activity when the PCAM (Pacific Coast Association of Magicians) held its annual convention at the Civic Auditorium in July 1938. Bess was an honored guest and featured in their big show inside the Mongomery Theater. Here, on July 21, 1938, it was proclaimed that Halloween would henceforth be known as National Magic Day in honor of Houdini.

Evening News, July 19, 1938.

The San Jose Civic Auditorium and Mongomery Theater still stand today. So does the Hotel Sainte Claire (today the Westin), where Bess and Ed Saint stayed during the convention. The hotel sits just across the street from the Auditorium at 302 South Market Street.


Finally, the Winchester Mystery House still stands and is a very popular San Jose landmark and tourist attraction. They are proud of their Houdini connection. In their archives, they have a 1924 newspaper clipping that Houdini signed and sent to the house after his visit. A large Houdini poster also hangs in one of their dining rooms.

George Hardeen at the Winchester Mystery House in 2024.

There was a plan to hold a Houdini Seance at the Winchester Mystery House during the 1938 PCAM convention to be attended by Bess and conducted by Ed Saint. The seance was announced in newspapers and magic magazines. But it never happened. In 1976, a local SAM chapter held a 50th Anniversary Houdini seance in the house. 

Genii, July 1938. The seance never happened.

This week, Houdini seances will be held in Appleton, Scranton, Las Vegas, Chicago, and more. But if you ask me, I think this year Houdini's spirit is in San Jose!


Related:

Monday, October 28, 2024

When Houdini met Dracula (for real)

I'm kicking off Halloween week with a tale of Houdini and Dracula. This spooky speculation is a Patreon "History Exclusive" that you can read by clicking below.


This is a great week to join my Patreon as I'm planning something special for Halloween. You can join the fun and get access to a wealth of past content for as little as $5 a month. Cancel anytime. You will also be supporting all the work I do here on WILD ABOUT HARRY.

DO NOT subscribe via Apple's iPhone iOS or you will incur a 30% upcharge.

Related:

Sunday, October 27, 2024

Houdini’s Library will also be a book!

Last week, I shared the exciting news of a 2026 exhibition at the Harry Ransom Center showcasing Houdini's Library. Here's more good news: Houdini's Library will also be a book!

Dr. Eric Colleary, who is organizing the exhibition, is also penning the companion book. Eric is currently back east doing research at major institutions, such as the Library of Congress, New York Public Library, and Harvard. As the Cline Curator of Theatre and Performing Arts at the Harry Ransom Center, Eric knows how to navigate large archives and has already unearthed treasures. We will all get to enjoy his discoveries in 2026!

You can read the details about Houdini's Library at the Harry Ransom Center.

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Houdini Museum's annual Houdini Séance online

Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz of the Houdini Museum in Scranton and the Society of American Magicians are once again holding their annual Houdini seance tribute live online. Details below.

HOUDINI SÉANCE 
JOIN US FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE EVENT!

YOU'RE INVITED

As a valued member of the Houdini Museum community, we invite you to join us for a special event steeped in mystery and history—Houdini's Séance on October 31, 2024, at 12:30 PM EST.

Every year on the anniversary of Harry Houdini's passing, we gather to honor his legacy with a traditional séance in an attempt to connect with the master illusionist himself. This tradition has been held since Houdini's death, and we continue to uphold it with respect and curiosity. 

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday, October 31, 2024
Time: 12:30 PM EST
Location: Zoom

The actual Houdini Seance will begin at 1:26 PM Eastern, the time Houdini died on Halloween in 1926. This event has always been FREE. 

CLICK FOR ZOOM DETAILS

Whether you're a dedicated fan of Houdini or simply intrigued by the world of magic and mystery, this séance promises an experience you won't want to miss. We look forward to seeing you for an unforgettable afternoon. 

Hope to see you there!

Appleton's Houdini 10K run 2024

The city of Appleton, Wisconsin, will hold its annual "Houdini 10K" run next Saturday, November 2. The run starts at Houdini Plaza. Below are details and this year's finishers medal.

    The Capital Credit Union Houdini 10k recognizes Appletons iconic resident Harry Houdini and ushers in the beauty of a Wisconsin fall with a scenic course including the Newberry Trail and Appleton Locks. Participants will start at Houdini Plaza and finish in Jones Park to enjoy post-race food & beverage including Copper State Brewing Co. beer to those 21 & older. Additionally, there will be Magicians strolling throughout the morning performing for you to enjoy before and after your run. This event is part of the 4imprint Race Series.

    Friday, October 25, 2024

    Jeremy Dimick brings Houdini to Marysville, Oct. 28


    Jeremy Dimick, the director of collections and curatorial at the Detroit Historical Society, will host a presentation about "Houdini in Detroit" at the Marysville branch of the St. Clair County Library System on Oct. 28 at 6 p.m.

    "The talk is really centered on how Houdini’s 19 different performances in Detroit mirror the trajectory of his career as a whole," Dimick tells The Voice. "He started out performing small Detroit venues, and as his fame grew, he eventually booked larger and larger venues until 1926, his last trip through Detroit, he was headlining his own three-hour long, one-man show. He performed all of his signature tricks for Detroit audiences and by looking at these performances you come away with a really good idea of what it was like to see him perform,"

    The presentation will include images, video, and audio of Houdini. Dimick has been hosting presentations about Houdini since 2018.

    The Marysville Library is located at 1175 Delaware Ave. in Marysville, Michigan. You can register HERE.

    Thursday, October 24, 2024

    The Official Houdini Séance returns to Appleton

    The Official Houdini Séance returns this year to Houdini's adopted hometown of Appleton, Wisconsin. Below are details.

    Houdini Fans to conduct annual Halloween Séance in Houdini’s Hometown

    Houdini experts and magic historians will convene in Appleton, WI, for The Official Houdini Séance® at 7:30pm on Oct. 31. The event has been a tradition since Harry Houdini, the world’s greatest magician and escapologist died on Halloween in 1926. The private affair will be conducted at the Trout Museum of Art in downtown Appleton.

    “Houdini made a pact with various magicians that if there was a way to return from the dead, he would do it,” said Séance co-director Bill Radner, West Springfield, MA. Radner’s father, Sidney, a protégé of Houdini’s brother, Hardeen, conducted many seances including two in Appleton in 1986 and 1988. “My father was a devoted fan of Houdini his entire life. Houdini’s rise from humble beginnings to world fame inspired him and inspires us today. Houdini was a very determined man and we owe it to his memory to continue our attempt until he breaks through.”

    The Official Houdini Séance® has taken place throughout America and internationally with prestigious groups of Inner Circle members. This year is no exception. Dr. Bruce Averbook, noted Houdini collector from Cleveland, OH will lead a distinguished delegation. Besides Radner and Averbook, Debbie Hardeen Bloom-Hardeen’s grandniece, Houdini author Arthur Moses, Houdini enthusiast Midge Markey, handcuff expert Fred Pittella, Meg Hoppe- the great granddaughter of Houdini’s Appleton friend and postmaster Gustav Keller and Houdini collector Robert Somerdin will attend. Séance co-director Tom Boldt will provide the history of Houdini and his family’s ties to Appleton.

    “Before Houdini Plaza was created, most people believed Houdini left and never returned to Appleton. Our research proves this was not the case,” said Boldt. “He and his family were always fond of Appleton. Houdini would claim to be born here. He performed here in 1896. He was interviewed by Edna Ferber in Appleton after his European triumphs, visited here numerous times and maintained contact with friends in the city throughout his life.”

    The séance venue is also important in the Houdini-Appleton story. The Trout Museum of Art literally sits in the backyard of where Houdini and his family lived between 1878 and 1882. It’s a featured location of the Houdini Walking Tour of downtown Appleton. The museum formerly was a funeral home and Trout Museum staff have reported several unusual occurrences over the years.

    The séance will be conducted by medium Cheryl Burch of DePere, WI. She is known for her ability to conduct group seances.

    The Official Houdini Séance ® is by invitation only. Members of the media may contact Mr. Radner at rendar1@aol.com or Mr. Boldt at tom.boldt@boldt.com for press passes and additional information.

    Sounds like another first class event. How can Houdini resist?

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