Turns out Houdini answered that himself in an interview with the Dayton Daily News on September 26, 1925. It's a story that opens a door to a wider speculation, which I will get into in a moment. But first, here's that interview with the key paragraph excerpted:
Houdini, born in Appleton, Wis., has been actively experimenting with spiritualism since he was 17, soon after his father died."My father left his insurance papers in an usual state," said Houdini. "Innocent then, my mother and I went to a spiritualist."Three of the four mediums enabled us to talk with my father. He said he was perfectly happy. It seems strange to me that my father, knowing or pinch circumstances, would say any such thing."That's what started my suspicions and caused me to expose this cruel deception to the world."
So there we go. Houdini smelled a rat as early as the 1892. But for me this explanation has embedded within it something even deeper.
What I find most interesting here is his mother's participation. It begs the question: Did Cecelia Weiss believe in spiritualism? Could she even have been an ardent believer?
If so, this would explain the conflicting nature of Houdini's obsession with the subject. On one hand, he was committed to protect his mother by sussing out the frauds that he saw prying on grieving windows like herself. But was he also driven to redeem his mothers belief by finding the real thing. Hence, Houdini's search for a real thing was every bit as strong as his hunt for fakes.
Houdini was buried with all his mother's letters forming a pillow under his head, so no conversation between them survives. Therefore, we really don't know all that much about the most important person and most influential relationship in Houdini's life. How many of those letters discuss spiritualism, I wonder?
Food for thought!
I always thought an exhumation of Houdini to make photo copies of those letters would be highly important for Houdini history. Odds are they are all turned to dust by now. However if the casket remains hermetically sealed who knows?
ReplyDeleteI've thought the same thing.
DeleteOf course I’d do anything to be present for that exhumation! Perry from NJ.
ReplyDeleteI would have no objections to an exhumation as it would answer a few questions right out of the box (hehe):
Delete-Was he really buried in a trick casket?
-Is there really a bullet in his hand?
-Are the mama letters there and still legible?
-What was he buried in; suit or stage tuxedo?
And if one wanted to test for any toxins or poisons, I think that's worth doing.
Who specifically would need to provide permission?
ReplyDeleteThe short answer is family. But it can get thorny. Check out THIS VIDEO. She does a great job of explaining all the whatnot.
DeleteSo this would be Bess side of the family?
ReplyDeleteAs Harry and Bess didn't have any children, there's no direct line, so I don't know who could or would need to give permission. Maybe no one. Maybe everyone! I think the key is that no relative object. But I really don't know the legalities of all this.
DeleteYes, I expect that the idea that no one would object is the key.
ReplyDeleteIs that photo of Harry at the table taken inside 278?
ReplyDeleteAccording to Silverman, he had his mother's letters translated to English sometime after her death to make them easier to read. Who knows if those transcripts still exist somewhere? Maybe the Ransom Center has it boxed in their Houdini Collection?
I'm for opening the coffin and grabbing those Mama letters.
I think Silverman also said he had them put into a book form. I've thought about this often. Is this still out there? Or is it in the casket as well?
DeleteNot in the HRC according to their very excellent online finding aid.
Oh, and the full pic doesn't appear to be inside 278. It looks like a backstage area.
DeleteSomebody out there might have that notebook with the translated letters. Another missing piece of Houdini history like the Margery Box and Tatler Cuffs.
DeleteThere's white bedsheet behind Harry with an image of Mama on it. I thought it might have been 278.
Oh, haha, I put the mama image on there just for this post.
DeleteIn the full pic HH is sitting across from Bess who is writing something down. This is from a series of photos demonstrating seance techniques.
There's also a big cone behind Harry that I think might be for a flower production.
Oh that's sneaky. I though it was a bedsheet with Mama's image silkscreened on it. Something HH was capable of doing. I wouldn't put it passed him.
DeleteIt didn't occur to me until this very moment that what I created was a classic spirit photo. As HH said, anyone can do it!
DeleteIt’s not common but I’ve read of exhumations with the intent to check the integrity of the coffin and vault.
ReplyDelete