074: Part 2 - The "Official" Houdini Seance in Ft. Worth, Texas 2012

The “Night of Nights” finally arrived. The table was set and the cast of characters were in readiness. The usual group expected to sit at the séance included; William Radner, Séance Director; from Springfield, MA; Thomas J. Boldt, Séance Director and Houdinite from Appleton, WI; John Cox, Screenwriter and Houdini Historian from Los Angeles; Robert Somerdin, Houdini Collector from Deerfield Beach, FL; Fred Pittella, Houdini Historian and Handcuff Authority from Queens, NY, and: Larry Weeks, Houdini Historian from Brooklyn, NY.

Unfortunately this year due to Hurricane Sandy, Fred Pittella and Larry Weeks could not escape the severe weather. So their replacements came from the Ft. Worth area: Ash Adams, Collector and MC for the evening, and; Kathy Tayefeh, Houdini Enthusiast. Rounding out the Inner  Séance Circle were: Derek Kennedy, Magic Collector and Historian from Ft. Worth; Arthur Moses, Houdini Collector, Archivist, Biographer and Historian from Ft.  Worth, and; Scott Wells, Medium.

There were two levels of tickets for this seminal event. The “regular” tickets went for $35 who received a commemorative, 3 ½” custom-made padlock emblazoned with a special Ft. Worth Houdini Séance logo. The “VIP” tickets sold for $100 each. They received the padlock, too, but also a pair of metal bookends shaped like large padlocks. They also enjoyed a social hour talking with other devotees while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and wine.

At the appointed hour everyone was ushered into the Commandry of the Ft. Worth Masonic  Center. The ushers were appropriately attired in turn of the 20th century clothing complete with top hat and white gloves. Built in the 1930’s, this creepy old building has enough of its own ghosts to wade through to find Harry Houdini.

You can download the evening’s program here to enjoy reading an outline of the evening’s planned activities plus other interesting information about Houdini’s earlier visits to Texas.

The first clip in this podcast features a Keynote® presentation on Houdini which covered a lot of territory with 90 slides in the brief time allotted him. I was seated in the back of the room so the sound quality is not the best, but you will have the feeling you were there.

Next is an audio clip of Bill Radner’s presentation who brought the famed “Séance Handcuffs”. He introduced a short video of his father, Sid Radner. Then finally is the complete Houdini Séance featuring me, Scott Wells, as the Medium. You will hear the Master of Ceremonies, Ash Adams give the “Rules of the Séance” before introducing me.

Following the séance, I sat down with Tom Boldt who discussed his involvement and participation in the Houdini Séance over the past 25 years. The following morning during  breakfast in the home of Arthur Moses, we recorded a recap of the whole experience with him as well as with Jamie Salinas, Houston magician who performed the straight jacket escape as part of the evening’s entertainment; and John Cox, Houdini historian and blogger about “all things Houdini” at http://www.WildAboutHoudini.com/ and also with Joe Notaro who blogs about Houdini’s film, “The Grim Game” at http://harryhoudinicircumstantialevidence.com/

Download a MP3 file of this podcast by Clicking Here then right click to save the file. You can also download the MP3 media file directly from the RSS feed by Clicking Here.

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.