Houdini never revealed the secret of his mind reading feat. But after his death, his nephew, Louis Kraus, did. In doing so, he also revealed one of the secrets of 278. Kraus's lengthy explanation was reprinted in Houdini The Key by Pat Culliton. Below is a key excerpt:
"The whole house at 278 West 113th Street was wired. The room in which the committee sat was so completely wired that the least whisper was picked up and carried electrically to an operator concealed in the basement. The operator held a transmitter in his hand and repeated all he heard. His repetitions were carried by other hidden wires to the top floor, terminating in loops under the carpet. In this way, the spoken thoughts of the committee in New York, were actually carried to the magician, invisibly through wire and air, but the method was electrical not telepathic..."
So is this mysterious wire part of Houdini's secret mind reading system? I think it almost certainly is. And while a few pieces of wire needed to be removed, most of it will remain as a historic part of Houdini's 278.
UPDATE: The following is from a lengthy profile of Amedeo Vacca in the December 1947 The Linking Ring. In it Vacca says he was the man who wired the walls of 278 for Houdini's mind reading trick. It then says:
Wow! Incredible. Who is doing the restoration, why, and with what money? Sincere question
ReplyDeletePrivate owners. Bought the house last year and are making a beautiful new home for themselves. They've been generous in sharing some of the Houdini history they are uncovering.
DeleteOh this is a really big discovery! It would be even better if they could locate the hidden microphones or transmitters.
ReplyDeleteThe gadgets attached to the wires must have surely been removed and taken away long ago. Probably around the time Bess was liquidating the things inside 278.
DeleteAs I pointed out in my book, Houdini's Final Incredible Secret, the sound surveillance system originally installed by Louis C. Kraus, the nephew of Houdini, was rewired and upgraded by Amedeo Vacca.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! Check out my update re Vacca.
DeleteLooks like the Curse put on Houdini DID work ... Less than a year off....
ReplyDeleteWhat curse exactly? Was that Marg?
DeleteInteresting how Houdini performed telepathy experiements. He was known to practice it in the Houdini House in LA as well as The Westerfeld in San Francisco where his friend Guglielmo sent the first radio waves from the same upper tower. Does anyone have pictures of Houdini doing telepathy experiments?
ReplyDeleteI've never heard anything about experiments in SF and LA. Would love to hear more.
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