This report is for our October 2026 meeting. Normally, that clarification isn’t required, but in this case, not only is this the month of All Hallows’ Eve (pls forgive the overtly Christian reference), but also the 100th anniversary of the passing of Harry Houdini, the most important magician of the twentieth century (in my opinion anyway).
Not an evening to take lightly; not an event to trifle with.
Ring 49 certainly did not trifle. The evening called for a gathering to confront the moment and we met that call. For years believers attempted to contact the late Houdini from beyond the grave, and so on this 100th anniversary, we too called to the great beyond.
Hyperbole you say; of course, were magicians, have you learned nothing from the King of Cards? But we did hold a séance.
Paul Pacific, Southern Ontario’s own Barefooted Psychic, led our group in calling to the late Houdini, and not without some success. Paul explained that often a medium prepares for two presentations, one in the light and the other an actual séance in pitch darkness.
But I jump ahead. Before the ‘guests’ even arrive, the presenter needs to ‘set the stage’. Low lighting, mystic décor, appropriate music, and even incense burning to create an environment conducive to the experience. Despite the limitations of our facilities, Paul did an excellent job of putting the room together to enhance our experience and demonstrate the importance of ambiance.
For a ‘light’ show, Ouija board style presentations can be very useful, including swinging pendants, and even just fingers on a table to get it to sway and move. These effects can be very spooky and happen right in the audience’s hands. Other simple tricks known to magicians can also be re-themed for a séance effect.
Paul also talked about gaining information about attendances using casual pre-show banter and then using that information during the show. A big part of psychic performances has always included using stooges both in ‘light’ shows and hidden people in dark rooms.
Speaking of the dark, Paul used a volunteer to illustrate the type of effects that Houdini was known to have revealed. We kept the lights on, but the volunteer closed his eyes to simulate a dark room. The rest of us enjoyed seeing how, despite seeming to have both hands and both feet held down, the medium was able to create several ‘occurrences’ (ringing bells, dropping objects, etc.). The idea of using items with fluorescent paint so that they could ‘appear’ in the dark was also discussed.
This presentation was fantastic; Paul did a great job illuminating this fringe aspect of our art – highly recommended!
Rene Chouinard