We've just returned from the Official Houdini Séance in San Francisco. At Houdini's request, after his death séances were held every year, on Halloween, to try to communicate with his departed spirit. This year's was a wonderful magic lantern show, backgrounded by our friend John Cox, Houdini historian extraordinaire.
On his blog Wild About Harry, John presents an excellent blow-by-blow account of this year's doings. So we're going the impressionistic route instead.
First we were invited to a delightful party at the home of Robert Strong, producer and performer.
There we met the guardians of the flame, the Houdiniphiles who have helped keep Harry's name in lights until today: Bill Radner, Tom Boldt, Robert Strong, Dr. Bruce Averbook, Robert Somerdin, John Cox: members of the Inner Circle at the séance proper.
The séance itself, the following evening, did not, alas, produce anything resembling the ghost of Houdini.
We're sure the psychic atmosphere was destroyed by the eloquent skepticism of Jamy Ian Swiss and Michael Shermer, professional debunkers and notorious killjoys.
They gave a very convincing presentation beforehand.
The highlight for us was the smash hit magic show after the séance, by Justin Willman. His entire show was done with borrowed I-Phones and it killed. Here's a sample of his fine work from another occasion:
Houdini may not have appeared at the séance proper but he was definitely present in the audience, which was "hanging from the walls."
Eighty-nine years after his death, Harry Houdini still sells out the house.
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[Images © Dick Balzer. See more at www.dickbalzer.com. Photo by John Cox. Thanks to Sally Schneider at ImprovisedLife.]
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