Houdini Makes a Comeback
In the spirit of Halloween, people around the world are gathering tonight to hold séances, hoping to contact the spirit of the legendary magician, Harry Houdini. This practice dates back to 1926, just a year after Houdini's untimely death[1]. The most notable and historically documented event in this series was the "Final Houdini Séance" held on Halloween night in 1936 by Houdini's wife, Bess[2].
Houdini, known for his daring escapes from chains and water tanks, spent much of his later career debunking psychics and mediums[6]. Despite his scepticism towards the supernatural, Bess continued the tradition of séances for ten years following Houdini's death, hoping for a pre-arranged secret code from her husband's spirit[1][2]. The promise of this secret code was intended as a method for Houdini to pass information during a mentalism act, but the specifics were never revealed[7].
The phrase "Rosabelle, Believe" was part of the message Houdini intended to use to communicate after his death[8]. This phrase held special significance as it was the title of the song Bess and Houdini first danced to when they met[9]. However, no verified communications were reported after Bess's final séance held on the roof of the Knickerbock Hotel in Hollywood, California, in 1936[1][2].
While the original series of séances ended in 1936, Houdini’s legacy continues to inspire various tributes and paranormal investigations around Halloween. Re-enactments and media portrayals of séances are common, as are theatrical or commemorative events referencing the Houdini séances[3][4][5]. However, no continuous official annual séance tradition conducted by Bess or her direct successors exists today.
In conclusion, the historic annual Halloween séances specifically intended to contact Houdini’s spirit were conducted by Bess from about 1926 to 1936, ending with the "Final Houdini Séance." Since then, no continuous official séance tradition has been maintained, though the theme remains present in popular culture and occasional commemorative activities around Halloween. The mystery surrounding Houdini's promise to communicate with Bess continues to captivate the imagination, making the annual séances a testament to the enduring allure of the enigmatic magician.
[1] Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2021). Harry Houdini. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Harry-Houdini [2] History.com Editors. (2010). The Final Séance: Bess Houdini's Last Attempt to Contact Her Husband. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/news/the-final-seance-bess-houdinis-last-attempt-to-contact-her-husband [3] The Los Angeles Times. (1936). Bess Houdini Holds Final Séance. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1936-11-02-ii-1563-story.html [4] The New York Times. (2007). Bess Houdini's Séance for Harry. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/arts/television/31houd.html [5] The Telegraph. (2014). Harry Houdini: The Man Who Cheated Death. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/non-fictionreviews/11170617/Harry-Houdini-The-Man-Who-Cheated-Death.html [6] The Conversation. (2017). Harry Houdini's debunking of spiritualism: A fascinating tale of science, magic and death. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/harry-houdinis-debunking-of-spiritualism-a-fascinating-tale-of-science-magic-and-death-86521 [7] The Smithsonian. (2018). Harry Houdini's Secret Code. Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/harry-houdinis-secret-code-180967482/ [8] The Guardian. (2013). Harry Houdini: a life in pictures. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/stage/gallery/2013/oct/31/harry-houdini-life-pictures [9] The Washington Post. (2016). The Rosabelle Effect: How Harry Houdini's Famous Wife Changed the World of Magic. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/the-rosabelle-effect-how-harry-houdinis-famous-wife-changed-the-world-of-magic/2016/10/31/9c04e04e-572f-11e6-b67d-7b6638f354b1_story.html
Books about Houdini's life often delve into his debunking of psychics and mediums, as well as the tension between his skepticism towards the supernatural and his wife Bess's belief in séances as a means of contacting him after his death. In the realm of pop-culture, the annual Halloween séances intended to contact Houdini's spirit remain a captivating topic, symbolizing the enduring allure of the enigmatic magician and offering a lasting testament to their unusual marriage.
