Quest to find the Spirit of
Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini was born as Erich Weiss on March 24 1874 in Budapest. When he was four years old his family moved to the USA. Houdini's parents were called Samuel and Cecilia and he had a sister Carrie and four brothers Theodore (Theo), Leopold, Nathan and William.
Houdini met his wife, Wilhelmina Rahner (Bess) while he was working at Coney Island, New York as a double-act with his brother Theo. After they became married his brother was dropped from the act and Bess stepped in. From then on they were known as the "Houdini's".
The marriage itself is reported to have caused a few problems within his Jewish family because Bess was infact a Catholic. So, even though Houdini made it known it was his wish that he wanted his wife Bess buried alongside him when the time came, the Machpelah Cemetary would not allow it.
Consequently Bess, who died while she on a train travelling cross-country between Los Angeles and New York was buried in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne New York. J
Houdini's death has been the subject of any different stories and in the movie "Houdini" which starred Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh (1953) it was portrayed that Houdini died whilst performing the Water Torture Cell trick. This isn't the truth however. Harry had been experiencing stomach pains for a while but because of work commitments he didn't visit a doctor and carried on performing. He was giving a talk at McGill University to some youngsters and while he was there one of the students was testing Houdini's well documented ability to withstand punches and blows to the body. Harry died from a ruptured appendix, it is said, brought on by this punching. Houdini was 52 when he died. He was brought back to New York in the coffin which he used in his stage act and he was taken to Grand Central Station, where there were hundreds of mourners waiting to pay their respects.
A strange fact is that Houdini's death took place on Halloween, October 31st 1926. For ten years afterwards, Houdini's wife Bess held regular seances to try and contact her husband, but to no avail it seems. At the end of Dead Famous they played the last ever recorded message of Bess Houdini talking which said:-
I do not beleive that Houdini can come back to me or to anyone using every type of medium and skill. It is now my personal and positive belief that spirit communication in any form is impossible. I do not beleive that ghosts and spirits exist.
One of the guests that spoke on Dead Famous said that because Bess wasn't successful in her attempts to contact her husband it left her somewhat bitter which was understandable and might explain why she chose to record that message. Today, every year, at the same time of Houdini's death 1.26pm, the official seance is held to try and contact him by his relatives.
Investigation
Chris - Sensitive
Gail - Sceptic
Gail and Chris started off in Scranton, PA and spoke to Johnny Bravo who is a magician and co-founder of the Houdini Museum in Coney Island. Johnny explained the story behind Houdini's death and then spoke about the Side Show By The Sea (museum). He spoke about paranormal happenings, presences and cold spots.
Basement: Chris asked Johnny for the usual temperature which was abour (60º). Chris' thermal scanner is used to check for drops in temperature. To start with a few noises were heard. Chris called out to any spirits that may be present and he felt a tingling sensation. The scanner strangely then started to rise from 60º to 88º and then it stopped working altogether. Usually spirits make the temperature drop so this was very strange. Gail decided that Chris should remain there in the basement with a camera and she would go upstairs alone to the Stage Area. Nothing much happened so Chris joined Gail in the Stage Area, he sat down in a chair and asked for any spirits to show themselves. At one point he asked is your name Harold? Then they heard banging. Chris asked for it to bang again, one for yes and two for no. Chris jumped out of the seat as he felt a vibration go right through him the same time as banging occurred and said he never experienced anything like that before in all his investigations. Next back in the basement Chris could feel a spirit presence there and he took his recorder with him. He asked who are you? Both Gail and Chris had the strong feeling they were being watched. Later on while investigating the recorder a whisper was heard in response to Chris' earlier question "who are you?" - the whisper clearly says "what?".
Chris and Gail met up the following morning for breakfast and a chat about what had happened. Chris had been in touch with Technical Support about his thermal scanner. The engineer told Chris that disturbances to it can be caused if there is something moving between you and say a wall, which can cause fluctuations. Radio Waves, electromagnetic disturbances can all cause interference. Chris said that it was an old basement with old equipment and plumbing so he was certain it was paranormal activity that had made the thermal scanner react the way it did and then stop working (altho it resumed working afterwards).
Next stop Palace Theatre, Times Square, NY
Houdini had performed here. Numerous reported ghosts. Figures and lights seen.
Gail thought the theatre was beautiful but eerie. Chris said he was picking up movements out of the corner of his eye. Gail went to the dressing room area and walked around with her camera. Walking around in the pitch black Gail said it was very eerie as there were mirrors all around her and reflections. She asked if anyone was with her and she felt a cold blast of air like someone breathing on here. Panic set in and Gail rushed around trying to find her way out calling for Chris. Chris meanwhile was on the stage but was not sensing much so decided to go to the 2nd level. He sat down and soon afterwards caught a cracking picture of an orb in motion! As he sat he felt he was being pulled. He felt sadness and voices saying help me, help us and crying. Gail was still finding her way out, calling to Chris getting very agitated. Chris was then in the upper lobby and said he felt "chills". Amazingly he then shouted out because there in the woodwork appeared the words "help us" seemingly engraved in the wood. As he explored further he found the words "too late" and then "leave". It was amazing. Then Gail found Chris and she wasnt very happy asking him where had he been?? Chris told her about the words he had found.
Both arrived and agreed how spooky it was with its decaying walls and crumbling paintwork.They met with Shaun Kelly who runs the place as a museum. He said at the time it was built, it was easily the largest and most expensive place in the USA. When it first opened there was a feeling of great optimism that this was going to the be the place where they could finally conquer crime. The idea behind it was that when people were "penned in" for long periods of time in isolation people would reflect on their crimes and would become better people etc etc. He further told a story of a locksmith who visited one of the cells recently and whilst he was examining an old lock they had unearthed, he was thrown against the cell wall and fell to the floor and said he felt an overwhelming evil presence there and was unable to move for a few minutes. Said he felt like he was being watched and looked at by things above him. When he could move, he headed for the exit!!
Chris took in walkie talkies for himself and Gail, EMF dectors and 2 tape players.
Hospital Wing: Chris felt something lurking. His camera went dead and he felt something touch his back.
Gail and Chris went up to one of the cells which was partially fenced off. This is the cell which features in the video clip where something is caught on camera (see link). Gail said she felt strange. Chris spoke to Gail and asked if she was ok and she said yes she was. Chris asked her to turn around and look at him and when she did he said "those are not your eyes Gail" - she said to him dont say that or you will freak me out, but if you watch the footage Gails eyes do look strange. This concerned Chris alot so he told Gail to come with him and got her away from that cell. She still felt dazed and her vision was blurry. They replayed the video and I personally felt her eyes looked strange....
Next Gail felt ready to go to the cell alone that the locksmith had been in. She asked for a sign if anyone was with her and she heard a loud noise. Gail said she felt trance-like. Then she dropped her flashlight on the ground and it seemed to be flickering. She asked for whoever was there to make a sign and make her flashlight flicker - it seemed to do this. The she heard a loud noise which could'nt be explained and made a hasty exit.
The next morning they met for breakfast and spoke about what had happend. Chris spoke about Gails eyes and explained that this was a "walk-in" where a spirit can just walk into your body. He said when he looked into her eyes it was like there was another person there and he didnt like what he saw. I think it freaked him out.
Last stop: Scranton, Houdini Museum for the Official Halloween Seance with the Houdini Family.
Dorothy Dietrich and magician and so-called female Houdini conducted the seance. Although it made riveting viewing nothing happened and Houdini did not come through at the seance.
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