Hype for Houdini Seance

Harry would have been proud of all the publicity raised for the annual seance in Ft. Worth, Texas. There were several newspaper articles, blogs, television news and feature reports that helped to hype this event. It was a true media blitz.

There were two full, front page, full color features in the weekend editions of the Ft. Worth Star Telegram leading up to the seance. The Cutting Edge News also had a nice report on the upcoming event. Arthur Moses was interviewed in his home by WFAA-TV Channel 8 on Good Morning Texas in a clip that toured part of his collection. There was another video tour of Arthur's collection taped by CBS-DFW Channel 11 that takes you into other parts of the collection not seen in the previous clip. These videos may be as close as most will ever get to seeing his private museum.

The funny thing about that link to the last video is that their website refers to Sid Radner rather than Bill Radner "actually trying to talk with Harry Houdini". Since Sid has been deceased for well over a year, I suspect he has no trouble talking with him now whenever he wants.

In case you have problems linking to the above videos, you can view them here. This first video ran on CBS-DFW Channel 11 about a week before the Houdini Seance and features a look both upstairs and downstairs at some of the artifacts in the Arthur Moses collection.

This second news clip was also taped at the home of Arthur Moses and ran on the morning of the Seance on the Good Morning Texas program on WFAA Channel 8.

Harmonic Houdini Convergence in Ft. Worth, TX

The anniversary of Houdini's death finally arrived and so did many Houdini-ites, paranormal investigators, skeptics and believers who converged in Fort Worth for the "Official" Houdini Seance on October 31, 2012. The Seance is typically reserved for a few friends who gather from across the country. But this year for the first time in a long time it was opened to the public. When the word went out, people came from coast to coast to be a part of this historic occasion.

The Commandry Room of the Ft. Worth Masonic Center hosted the seance which was the perfect creepy venue. Built in the early 1930's, this historic Ft. Worth building has many of its own ghost stories to tell. But it was just one spirit that we sought on Halloween night...Harry Houdini.

Ash Adams served as the Master of Ceremonies for the Houdini Seance.

All attendees received a special printed program and collectible 3 1/2" custom made padlock embossed with a logo commemorating the seance. Those paying for the higher prices VIP seats also received a pair of metal bookends of a padlock also emblazoned with the embossed logo.

Bill Radner brought the historic "Seance Cuffs"

Scott Wells (Medium for the seance) being interviewed for one of the many television reports.

Jamie Salinas was one of the entertainers who performed during the evening's magic show portion.

Shel Higgens provided comedy relief as he stood atop a ladder while swallowing a sword.

The "Metamorphosis" statue by Richard C. Wolter that stands in Appleton, Wisconsin donated by the Boldt Development Company. Tom Boldt (CEO of the company) was one of those seated at the seance circle who has attended for over two decades.

073: Part 1 - The "Official" Houdini Seance in Ft. Worth, Texas 2012

As we prepared for the seance, I arrived in Ft. Worth on Tuesday October 30th where I first stopped by Magic, Etc. Ft. Worth Costume to talk with its owner, Derek Kennedy (co-producer of the seance) and Ash Adams (MC for the seance). I was fortunate to have the time to chat with these gentlemen especially since they were in the final two days of their busiest part of the year, Halloween. Downstairs was abuzz with customers buying last minute costumes, make-up, and assorted props. But upstairs in the office, all was calm as we talked about the upcoming seance and all the preparations.

I then had the distinct honor and privilege to be a guest in the home of noted Houdini collector, Arthur Moses (co-producer of the seance). Arthur has over 4,500 Houdini items in his astonishing collection. To see a news segment on WFAA-TV that features an interview and a walk-through of part of his collection, Click Here. This was but one of the many news clips and articles that helped promote the seance. You can read a newspaper account of the upcoming seance in the Ft. Worth Star Telegram by Clicking Here. I believe Houdini would have been proud of all the publicity that was garnered for this production.

Another guest in Arthur's home was John Cox, noted Houdini historian and blogger of all things Houdini at http://www.WildAboutHoudini.com/. I chatted with Arthur and John about the upcoming seance and you can sense our excitement in this podcast.

Later that evening at a BBQ dinner hosted in Arthur's home for the "Seance Circle of Friends" (as I like to call them), I chatted with Bill Radner who is the successor to the ownership of many Houdini's personal artifacts that was passed down to Hardeen then to Bill's father, Sid Radner.

Part 1 - The "Official" Houdini Seance in Ft. Worth, TX

Scott Wells

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