LINK: 120 years ago, Harry Houdini and a pair of handcuffs created controversy in Salem

A nice article here by Oliva Deng about Houdini's 1906 visit to Salem and the handcuffs that caused a bit of controversy at the Peabody Academy of Science (today the PEM). Click the headline or the handcuffs below to read.

You can view the Houdini handcuffs at the PEM's special exhibition, Houdini on Salem, on show now. The museum will also host a special "Houdini Halloween Magic Show and Curator Talk" on Oct. 31, 2026.

Related:

• Houdini exhibit at the PEM in Salem
• Salem will rename street "Houdini Way"
• LINK: The complete account of Houdini's visit to Salem, Massachusetts

Houdini exhibit at the PEM in Salem

A new exhibit, "Harry Houdini in Salem," will be on view at the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) from September 3 through November 2. Located in the Main Atrium, the installation tells the story of Houdini's 1906 appearance in Salem and his visit to PEM, including a poster advertising his performance and a pair of handcuffs that caught his attention in the museum. Below are details.

In April 1906, Houdini visited the Peabody Academy of Science, now PEM, before performing that evening at the Salem Theatre. Onstage, the master showman claimed museum curators had misdated a set of handcuffs and offered $1,000 to charity if anyone could prove otherwise.

Decades later, those same handcuffs resurfaced in another Houdini story. When the annual Official Houdini Séance was held in Salem in 1990, a PEM curator brought them along in hopes they might help summon Houdini’s spirit. No luck.

Now, "Harry Houdini in Salem," on view September 3–November 2, brings the handcuffs and other objects connected to Houdini into the spotlight for the centennial of his death on October 31, 1926.

PEM will mark the anniversary on Halloween with Houdini Halloween Magic Show and Curator Talk, featuring magician Anton Andresen recreating some of Houdini’s magic for a limited audience.

Visit the PEM website for more details.

Related:

• Salem will rename street "Houdini Way"
• Conjuring the Spirit World: Art, Magic, and Mediums
• LINK: The complete account of Houdini's visit to Salem, Massachusetts

Inside The Official Houdini Séance 2025

The Official Houdini Séance was held this year at the new House of Magic in Glenside, Pennsylvania. The medium was Scott Wells, and the seance was open to the public this year. Did Houdini return? Apparently not, but a good time was had by all. Below is a collection of photos courtesy of John Costello.

Waiting for Harry.

The Inner Circle gathers.

Tom Boldt, Bill Radner, and the Séance Cuffs.

Medium Scott Wells getting into the spirit.

Barry Spector's creations.

"We are a very determined group." - Bill Radner

Inner Circle attendees were Paul Rosen, Scott Wells, Bruce Averbook, Tom Boldt, Bill Radner, Marc DeSouza, Deborah Hardeen Bloom, Barry Spector, and Fred Pittella.

Here's looking forward to 2026 and the 100th anniversary of Houdini's death. Maybe Harry is too!

Past Official Houdini Séances:

• The Official Houdini Séance 2024 (Appleton)
• 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 Official Houdini Séance 2025 in Pennsylvania

The Official Houdini Séance will be held this year at House of Magic in Glenside, Pennsylvania. The seance is open to the public, but seating is limited. An old-fashioned spook show will precede the seance. Below is this year's press release.

Nearly a century after Harry Houdini’s death, a group of magicians, historians, and spiritualists with gather in Pennsylvania to attempt what the famed escape artist once promised: Can the dead return?

The Official Houdini Séance will be held at 10 pm on October 31, 2025, at The House of Magic in Glenside, PA.

Fifteen days after performing at the Chestnut Street Theater in Philadelphia, Houdini died on Halloween in 1926 at Grace Hospital in Detroit at 1:26 pm, the result of peritonitis. Before his passing, he promised that if communication from the beyond were possible, he would find a way to prove it.

After his death, Houdini’s widow Bess held annual séances for ten years, culminating in a nationally broadcast attempt from the rooftop of the Knickerbocker Hotel in Hollywood in 1936. Declaring, “Ten years is enough to wait for any man,” she ended her public efforts, but others have continued the tradition.

“Houdini told his brother that if he were able to return in a material way, he would open a unique set of handcuffs,” said séance director Bill Radner of West Springfield, MA. “Those handcuffs, along with other Houdini memorabilia, will be placed on the séance table this year.”

The séance will be led by trance medium Scott Wells of Ft. Worth, TX, with participants hoping for a breakthrough unlike any before.

“We are a very determined group,” Radner added. “We look forward to making contact this year.”

For more Official Houdini Séance information, please contact Bill Radner, 413-531-3333 or email rendar1@aol.com.

While Houdini never performed in Glenside, he did appear with the Welsh Bros Circus for three memorable days in nearby Norristown (covered in Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899). And, of course, Philadelphia was a major Houdini city where he appeared many times. So I'd say his spirit is in the air!

You can purchase tickets for The Official Houdini Séance 2025 at the House of Magic website.

Thanks to Ken Hallgring and Tom Boldt for the alert.

Related:

• Inside The Official Houdini Séance 2024
• The secret origins of the annual Houdini Seance
• When the Welsh Bros. came to town

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:

• 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)

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

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.

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?

Related:

• Inside The Official Houdini Séance 2023
• New Houdini Plaza opens in Appleton
• The secret origins of the annual Houdini Seance

Inside The Official Houdini Séance 2023

The 2023 Official Houdini Séance was held on Halloween at Holy City Magic in Charleston, South Carolina. According to this year's co-host, Howard Blackwell, "We saw some very interesting things happen, but Houdini did not make an appearance for the 97th year in a row. But, the official Houdini seance was an absolute success!"

Below are some images from the Holy City Magic Facebook page.

Howard Blackwell entertains at the sold-out event.

Tom Boldt delivers opening remarks.

The inner circle is joined.

Psychic Andrea St. Amand leads the effort.

Are you here, Harry?

The 2023 program and souvenir pin.

Here's a fun extra. Before the seance, the group went out for lunch at a local deli. Look what was on the menu. Maybe this is how Harry said "hello" this year?

Believe.

Thanks to Howard Blackwell, Tom Boldt, Bill Radner, and Fred Pittella. 

Past Official Houdini Séances:

• 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)

Will Houdini return?

Here's a press release detailing this year's Official Houdini Séance being held at Holy City Magic in Charleston, South Carolina. Could this be the year Houdini decides to join the circle?

Houdini Enthusiasts Meet for Annual Séance

Do the spirits return from the world beyond?

Houdini experts and magic historians will convene in Charleston, SC for the Official Houdini Séance® on the evening of October 31. The event has been a tradition since Harry Houdini, the magician and escapologist died on Halloween in 1926.

“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.

The Official Houdini Séance® has taken place at numerous locations throughout America and internationally with prestigious groups of Inner Circle members. This year is no exception. Inner Circle members include noted magic historians and collectors Fred Pittella, Arthur Moses, Dr. Bruce Averbook, Tom Boldt, Debbie Hardeen Bloom and Midge Markey.

The site of the Official Houdini Séance® 2023 will be Howard Blackwell’s Holy City Magic in downtown Charleston, SC. Blackwell, a longtime Houdini fan, has been interested in the exploits of one of the world's most famous magicians. “Since I was a kid, Houdini fascinated me,” said Blackwell. “I had always wanted to participate in The Houdini Séance. I’m thrilled we can do it in Charleston.”

Blackwell will entertain a sold out theater before the Séance. “We’re going to demonstrate the power of magic for this special group,” said Blackwell.

“The success of a séance is often determined by the skills of the medium. We are optimistic that our psychic medium will be effective”, said Radner. Well-known psychic, Andrea St. Amand, Charleston, SC will lead the participants as they explore the world of the afterlife in search of Houdini.

“I’m an optimist,” said Radner. “I want to believe Houdini can and will return.”

The Official Houdini Séance® 2023 is sold out. Members of the media may contact Bill Radner for additional information at 413-531-3333 (cell), rendar1@aol.com or Séance co-director Tom Boldt 920-428-2335 (cell), tom.boldt@boldt.com.

Here's wishing everyone a successful seance!

Related:

• The secret origins of the annual Houdini Seance
• Official Houdini Séance will be held in Charleston, SC
• Houdini Museum in Scranton invites you to their Houdini Seance

Official Houdini Séance will be held in Charleston, SC

The 97th Official Houdini Séance will be held this year at Holy City Magic in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, on October 31, 2023. I realize this is extremely early notice. But a limited number of tickets are being made available to the public and I want to make sure Houdini fans get a shot at them. Tickets can be purchased via the Holy City Magic website. Below are event details.

Harry Houdini died on Oct. 31, 1926. The first official Houdini Seance was arranged by Bess Houdini on the first anniversary of the death of her husband on Halloween, Oct. 31, 1927. Since then, every Halloween the official Houdini Seance has been hosted in a different city around the globe. This year, Holy City Magic is pleased to host the 97th Annual Official Houdini Seance. Holy City Magic is an intimate magic themed theater and bar located in downtown Charleston, SC. Our intimate 46-seat theater and speakeasy style bar is situated in the heart of the upper King Street district at 49 1/2 John Street (corner of King/John). Cocktail hour starts at 7:00 pm, followed by a short Houdini presentation, a show featuring Harry Houdini followed by the Official Houdini Seance starting at 8:00 pm. 

As far as I know, Houdini never appeared in Charleston. The closest he came was Greenville, South Carolina, where he gave his spiritualism lecture at Textile Hall on March 6, 1924. So maybe he'll make his Charleston debut this Halloween!

Related:

• Inside The Official Houdini Séance 2022
• 2021 seances keep Houdini's spirit alive
• The secret origins of the annual Houdini Seance

Inside The Official Houdini Séance 2022

By all accounts, this year's Official Houdini Séance in Providence, Rhode Island, was a very special event and a true post-pandemic return to form. Organizer Bill Radner tells me, "[It was] one of the best events we have ever produced. The room used for the séance was breathtaking by most people's standards, and I feel it was equal to Fort Worth in the atmosphere department."

This year's seance was a private event with attendees spending two days at the historic Edgewood Manor in Providence. "This allowed for the customary bonding after dinner that the Houdini enthusiasts love so much," says Bill. After a full-course dinner at one of the best Italian restaurants in the area, the event kicked off at 7pm on Halloween with an hour-long magic show by magician Joel Acevedo who, according to Bill, "fooled most or all of our members and got a standing ovation at the end of the performance."

At 8pm the seance was conducted in the beautiful Victorian dining room in the same serious and respectful manner that has been used by the Official Séance since 1948. This year's Inner Circle: Seance Directors William Radner from West Springfield, MA and Thomas Bolt from Appleton, WI; Houdini family member Deborah Hardeen Bloom from Canton, CT; Houdini Historian and Handcuff Expert Fred Pittella from Queens, NY; Houdini Collector and Expert Arthur Moses from Fort Worth, TX; Houdini Expert Midge Markey from Sammamish, WA; Houdini Collector and Expert Robert Somerdin from Deerfield Beach, FL; and the Great Grandniece of Medium Anna Eva Fay, Jennifer Yee, and her husband Gene Yee from Melrose, MA.

This seance was conducted by certified psychic medium Jodi-Lynne from Rhode Island. By all accounts she greatly impressed and even mystified the gathering. Arthur Moses tells me, "We're all still processing what we experienced."

There was even a bit of unexplainable phenomena. I'll let Bill tell you himself:

"My wife Lisa was taking the photos along with a few videos and at certain times a mysterious blue dot moved around the medium and attendees while being questioned. I can’t reproduce it and it has never been seen in any other videos taken with the same device. None of us can figure it out. I am going to investigate this further but I can tell you it was not any kind of reflection or flare from the lighting in the room."

After the event, the group had a wine and pizza party in the seance room while signing the Official Houdini Séance programs. This year's program was designed and printed by Tom Boldt's talented graphic artists and celebrates Houdini's many appearances in Providence. I love it!

Bill concludes, "The combination of the venue, fantastic dinner, the magician, the camaraderie and great location made this Séance one for the books."

The Official Houdini Séance is a great tradition and I'm so happy to hear this year's event was such a success, even if Houdini again decided to sit it out. Or did he?

Thanks to Bill Radner and Tom Boldt. Check out my coverage of past seances below. I will be sharing more photos from this year's seance on my Patreon. 

Official Houdini Seances past:

• 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 (New Jersey)

The Official Houdini Séance to be held in Providence

The Official Houdini Séance will be held this year at the historic Edgewood Manor in Providence, Rhode Island, on October 31st. Organizers Bill Radner and Tom Boldt have arranged to have the entire house for attendees. The seance will again be a private event.

This year's seance will be conducted by certified psychic medium Jodi-Lynne from Rhode Island. Magician Joel Acevedo from Boston will provide entertainment. Houdini family member Debbie Hardeen will be among the Inner Circle guests. 

Houdini certainly has connections to Providence, so this sounds like a great choice of location and venue. Will it be the key to Houdini's return? We'll see!

Thanks to Tom Boldt and Bill Radner.

UPDATE: Inside The Official Houdini Séance 2022

Related:

• Houdini arrives in Providence
• Did Houdini do a "bag jump" in Providence?
• Suspended straitjacket escape in Providence? (UPDATE)

2021 seances keep Houdini's spirit alive

The 2021 Houdini Seance season is complete. This year saw The Official Houdini Seance held in Chicago at Potter & Potter auctions. Once again Harry decided to skip the event, but all the other usual suspects were on hand. According to Bill Radner, who kindly provided the below images, it was another grand evening in celebration of Houdini.

Meanwhile, The Original Houdini Seance by Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz was held virtually from the Houdini Museum in Scranton. The stream attracted some 200 viewers at its peak. There were some strange goings on. A picture of a Water Torture Cell poster fell over and the museum was hit with a mysterious blackout mid-seance. Was that Harry trying to be heard? (You can read more about this seance at Interval Magic.)

Guess we'll all try again next year. But these seances and their popularity just prove Houdini is alive and well in 2021!

Related:

• The Official Houdini Seance will be held in Chicago
• Join The Original Houdini Seance live on Zoom
• The secret origins of the annual Houdini Seance

The Official Houdini Seance will be held in Chicago

The Official Houdini Seance for 2021 will be held at the Potter & Potter Auction house in Chicago, Illinois. It will be a live (non virtual) seance, but it will not be open to the general public as in years past. Below is the full press release.

Houdini Enthusiasts Meet for Annual Séance

Do the spirits return from the world beyond? 

Oct. 21, 2021--Houdini experts and magic historians will convene in Chicago, Illinois for the Official Houdini Séance® October 31, 2021. The event has been a tradition since Harry Houdini, the world’s greatest magician and escapologist, died at 1:26 p.m. on Halloween in 1926. 

“Houdini made a pact with various magicians that if there was a way to return from the dead, he would do it,” said séance director, William Radner of West Springfield, Mass. Radner’s father, Sidney was a protégé of Houdini’s brother, Hardeen, and attended seances beginning in the 1940s. 

“This annual tradition is very important in the world of magic. As I have come to know the real Houdini story, I am even more intrigued. Houdini was a very determined man, and we owe it to his memory to continue our attempt until he breaks through,” William Radner said. 

The Official Houdini Séance® bears the legacy of Houdini’s brother Hardeen, who said his brother would open the unique séance cuffs after his death. The cuffs have been placed on each Official Houdini Séance Table since 1948 hoping for a positive result. 

The Official Houdini Séance® has taken place at numerous locations throughout America and internationally with prestigious groups of Inner Circle members. This year is no exception. Aside from Radner, he will be assisted by co-séance director, Tom Boldt, who worked closely with the senior Radner for many years. 

Handcuff expert Fred Pittella, Houdini collectors Dr. Bruce Averbook of Ohio, and Robert Somerdin of Florida will be joined by Houdini historians Midge Markey from Washington, and Paul Rosen from Delaware, who will also take part. 

The invitation only Official Houdini Séance® will take place at Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago, Illinois. 

Coincidently, on October 30, Potter & Potter will host a significant auction of magic collectables from the historic collection of Ken Klosterman. Up for sale are French magician Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin’s light and heavy chest, numerous vintage posters, and important memorabilia from the golden age of magic. Robert-Houdin was the inspiration for Houdini’s stage name. 

“This is a significant collection of magic history,” said auctioneer Gabe Fajuri of Potter & Potter. “The quality of these pieces, especially the Houdini material, is amazing.” 

The Chicago area was important to Houdini’s professional life. He had relationships with the local magicians as president of the Society of American Magicians and often performed his escape and magic act in Chicago while touring on various vaudeville stages. During his last trip to Chicago in 1925, Houdini presented his “3 in 1 Show of magic, escapes, and spiritualist phenomenon.” 

“The success of the séance is often determined by the skills of the medium. We are optimistic our psychic medium will be effective,” said Radner. Well-known Chicago psychic, Nolan Webster, Chicago’s most mysterious person, will lead the participants as they explore the world of the afterlife in search of Houdini. “We are all optimists,” said Radner, “I want to believe Houdini can and will return.” 

As always, I will report if Harry decides to come back!

Related:

• The secret origins of the annual Houdini Seance
• Houdini Seances go virtual for 2020
• When Houdini went LIVE

Houdini Seances go virtual for 2020

Due to Covid, The Official Houdini Seance and The Original Houdini Seance were both held virtually this Halloween. But this all-new stage seemed to finally rouse Harry with both seances claiming paranormal activity...if we Believe.

The first seance of the day was Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz' Original Houdini Seance. This was held via ZOOM at 1:26 PM (the time of Houdini's death). The seance was open to the public, hitting a high of 201 viewers by mid seance. The S.A.M. hosted the event with Dorothy and Dick conducting the seance from Scranton, PA.

But it's what happened at 1:29 PM that has us all scratching our heads. A printers block that was used by Houdini toppled over on the seance table in a way that seemed utterly inexplicable. I spoke with Dorothy and Dick afterwards, and they assured me there was no trickery involved. Luckily, it was all captured on video. Below is the moment. The printer's block is propped against the photograph of Harry, Mama, and Bess on the right. This is pretty weird!

Next came The Official Houdini Seance run annually by Bill Radner and Tom Boldt. This was also conducted via ZOOM, but was a private invitation only event. Always a class production, the seance featured a performance by Benjilini, brief talks by myself, Gay Blackstone, George Hardeen, and David Muller. Bill Radner showed the seances cuffs and Tom Boldt hosted. Teller was also among the virtual attendees. The Official Houdini Seance always invites a professional medium to conduct their seance. This time it was Robyn Fritz, a "certified past life regression specialist" and author.

Unlike recent Official seance mediums, Robyn had no problem instantly contacting "Mr. Houdini," whom she said she had been "working with" all week in preparation. She explained Houdini was trapped in a grey area of the afterlife (her version of purgatory) and was searching for his wife. Roybn was able to bring forth Bess and reunite the two, who then traveled off together into what Roybn calls the "party."

Roybn seemed nice and I think she believes in her abilities. But I was far from convinced. At one point she asked the group if we had any questions for Houdini, and I volunteered a few test questions to verify it really was Houdini we were speaking to. I explained Houdini himself would understand this and demand it of any seance. But Houdini was unable or unwilling to answer a single question. 

This was the first Official Seance I've attended in which the medium actually claimed clear and unequivocal contact. But I don't think she appreciated my test. Or was it Houdini who didn't like it? Either way, I'm convinced no one was convinced.

Finally, while it wasn't a seance, another virtual highlight of this Halloween weekend was the Magic Collector's Corner #29, which focused on Houdini for the third time. I thought this was the best of the three Houdini specials, with appearances by myself, Fred Pittella, Dorothy Dietrich, Mike Caveney, and, best of all, Houdini's Ghost himself, Patrick Culliton! If you saw it I know you enjoyed it as much as I did. If you want to watch a replay (or see the full video of Fred Pittella's amazing collection), you can check it out by joining the Magic Collectors' Corner Facebook group.

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!

UPDATE: Dick and Dorothy have shared with me a photo of the phantom printer's block to show this was not a trick (not a Telekinetic Timber). This came out of 278 in 1980.

Related:

• The secret origins of the annual Houdini Seance
• Join the virtual Houdini Seance on Halloween
• Magic Collectors' Corner Houdini Part 3, Sunday