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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Houdini's 2012 Return to Ft. Worth, Texas

Houdini's appearances across Texas were chronicled in the book, "Houdini's Texas Tours, 1916 & 1923" by Ron Cartlidge. Both tours included stopovers in Fort Worth. He was invited to return in 2012.

On the anniversary of Houdini's death in 1926, seances have been held to see if Harry can break the bonds of death and manifest himself in a physical way. A dedicated group of afficianados travel across the country to different locations in hopes of making contact with the greatest escape artist who ever lived. This year the group convened in Fort Worth, Texas.

John Cox, Tom Boldt and Bill Radner visiting the Houdini colledtion in the home of Arthur Moses. (photo credit to Bill Radner...well, Scott Wells took the photo with Bill's camera)

Arthur Moses poses in front of one of Houdini's original straight jackets in the background alongside one of two known sidewalk signs from Houdini's last live tour in 1926. The other sign is in the collection of David Copperfield.

A panaramic view of one room containing part of Arthur's collection of over 4,500 Houdini artifacts.

This is a microcosm of Arhur's vast collection. Above is a picture of the cloth pocket from pajamas worn by Houdini when he was admitted into the Detroit hospital on the night he died.

I sat down for a podcast with Ash Adams (MC for the Houdini Seance in Ft. Worth) and Derek Kennedy (one of the producers of the Houdini Seance in Ft. Worth) along with several other people. This is an extensive podcast so I have broken it up into two parts.