Official Houdini Seance 2014 to be held in Danvers, MA

Details for the 2014 Official Houdini Seance have just been released. The seance will be held this year in at Glen Magna Farms in Danvers, MA, the country estate owned by the Danvers Historical Society. Danvers is about 20 miles north of Boston and adjacent to Salem. Danvers was originally known as Salem Village. Here is the full press release from our friend and seance organizer William Radner:

To Mark Halloween Death of World’s Greatest 

Illusionist

Public invited to join in 88th anniversary bid to reach 

Harry Houdini

DANVERS, MA (Oct. 6, 2014) – The world’s leading Houdini enthusiasts will gather on Halloween Oct. 31 north of Boston at the original Salem Village for The Official Houdini Séance – a public event to contact Houdini, the world’s greatest illusionist, escape artist and magician, who died Oct. 31, 1926.

Members of the Houdini Inner Circle from throughout the world will be joined by Anastasia Zimeris, an Aboriginal medium trained in the Australian Outback. Also participating will be a descendant of Anna Eva Fay of Melrose, MA. Ms. Fay was a world famous medium and stage mentalist who performed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and who entertained Houdini at her Melrose home.

The Official Houdini Séance is considered the only genuine Houdini séance. It was founded in 1948 by Sidney Radner of Holyoke, MA, a protege of Harry Houdini's brother Hardeen. The Official Houdini Séance has been conducted annually at locations inside and outside the United States, including London, UK; Niagara Falls, Canada; Los Angeles; and in Houdini’s former home in Harlem, New York City.

This year, The Official Houdini Seance will be Oct. 31, 7 p.m. at Glen Magna Farms in Danvers, the country estate owned by the Danvers Historical Society. Danvers is about 20 miles north of Boston and adjacent to Salem, MA. Danvers was originally known as Salem Village and was home to the 1692 Salem witch trials.

Admission to the séance is by ticket only. Tickets are $40 each and include a cocktail party with roving magicians. The event will include magic from Evan Northrup, escapes by Eric Robitaille, and a grand finale by Dr. Gene Yee and his wife, Jennifer. Jennifer Yee is the great-grandneice of Anna Eva Fay.

Vince DeAngelis of Diamond’s Magic in Peabody, MA has provided local oversight for the Danvers setting for the séance. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Diamond’s Magic Inc., 515 Lowell St., Suite 4, Peabody, MA 01960, T: 978-535-8950.

Tom Boldt of Appletown, WI, co-organizer/director of the event, said it promises a unique experience. “For many years, Sid Radner brought his admiration and respect for Houdini to The Official Houdini Séance, which has thrilled audiences and those who shared our love of magic, escape artists and the mastery of illusion. We hope to make this Halloween’s the best séance ever.”

Bill Radner of West Springfield, MA, also co-organizer/director, said, “Since my father passed away in 2010, Tom and I have continued to bring The Official Houdini Séance into the lives of people from all over who share our admiration for Houdini. Houdini is truly the most important icon in the worlds of magic and escape and illusion. We promise, as always, to honor that with an entertaining and thrilling Halloween evening to likely never be forgotten.”

Great to see the tradition of the Official Houdini Seance continues. The most recent seances have been held in Fort Worth and Halifax. I'm sure this year's seance will be just as spectacular as those events. And, who knows, maybe this will be the year Houdini joins the show...

Believe.