On Halloween, Holyoke Hosts Houdini Seance

Harry Houdini enthusiasts from around the world converge on the Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke Monday evening for their annual seance.

The famed magician and escape artist died on Halloween 85 years ago.

Wisconsin construction CEO Tom Boldt says he and a dozen other Houdini fans led by a medium will attempt to contact Houdini beyond the grave utilizing artifacts from the magician's life.

"There's a very famous set of handcuffs, called the seance cuffs. These cuffs would be opened if Houdini came back in a material way," Boldt said.

In prior years, participants have reported strange noises or cold drafts, but no more dramatic manifestations.

This will be the first seance following the death of longtime organizer Sidney Radner, a Holyoke magic buff who collected many of Houdini's classic props. Radner was 91 when he died of cancer in June.