Daily Star's paranormal columnist Brocarde visited Hollywood's Magic Castle Club and Hotel to hunt for Harry Houdini's ghost, who promised to contact the living from beyond the grave. Despite exploring the venue's séance room and encountering its resident ghost, Houdini did not make contact.
A Promise to Contact the Living
Before his death, Houdini made a pact with his wife, Bess: whoever died first would attempt to contact the other using a secret code spelling out "BELIEVE." Houdini died on October 31, 1926, Halloween.
The Magic Castle Club opened in 1963, long after Houdini's death, but his spirit is said to remain within its walls. The Houdini Séance Room houses some of his personal treasures, including his metamorphosis trunk, straight jacket, magic wand and the handcuffs he famously failed to open during one stunt. The collection exists thanks to founder William Larsen Sr., who was Bess Houdini's attorney and welcomed her into his family circle.
Annual Séances and a Fraught Legacy
After Harry's death, Bess continued their pact, holding annual Halloween séances on the roof of Hollywood's Knickerbocker Hotel. Hundreds gathered, including mediums and reporters, hoping to witness a message from beyond. Year after year, nothing came. On the tenth anniversary, Bess called time, declaring ten years was long enough to wait for any man.
Ironically, Houdini spent much of his life exposing fraudulent mediums. After losing his beloved mother, he sought to contact her, only to discover the lies and tricks used by supposed spiritualists. One claimed his mother had written him a letter headed with a Christian cross. Houdini spotted the scam immediately: his mother was Jewish and didn't speak English.
Fire, Ghosts and the Popsicle Hotline
In 2011, a fire tore through the Magic Castle, with some attributing the blaze to Houdini's ghost. His séance room reportedly escaped fire and water damage.
The hotel has its own resident magician and a World Famous Popsicle Hotline: a phone line that delivers free ice lollies around the clock. Inside the club, no phones, photos or videos are allowed. To enter, visitors must whisper "Open Sesame" into the ear of a stone owl, which activates a secret sliding bookshelf.
Behind the bar, a piano plays by itself, supposedly performed by Irma, the castle's resident ghost. An invisible bird sings from an empty cage. Legend has it Irma was the daughter of Rollin Lane, who lived at the property when it was a private residence in 1910. Obsessed with playing piano, she was supposedly banished to the attic and remained there until her death in 1932.
So, did Houdini show up? Sadly, no. One hundred years on, Brocarde is still waiting for him to say the magic word: Believe.
