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 Rodgers and James David, both members of IBM Ring 398. Mike Schroeder 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 Rodgers

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:

• The Official Houdini Séance 2023 (Charleston)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2022 (Providence)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2021 (Chicago)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2020 (Online)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2019 (Niagara Falls)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2018 (Baltimore)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2017 (Cleveland)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2016 (Milwaukee)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2015 (San Francisco)
• The Official Houdini Seance 2014 (Danvers)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2013 (Halifax)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2012 (Fort Worth)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2011 (Holyoke)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2010 (New York)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2009 (Melrose)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2008 (Madison)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2007 (New York)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2006 (New York)
• The Official Houdini Séance 2005 (Boston)

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.

Related:

• Houdini musical gets a reading and a name change
• "Your Special Son" from The Impossible Man
• New Houdini stage musical announced for 2021

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:

• Episode 146: A Voice from Beyond the Grave
• The Magic Word Podcast - All Houdini Episode
• The Magic Word is Wild About Harry

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.

Related:

• The Official Houdini Séance returns to Appleton