Conan Doyle (Far Left) and Family, Houdini Center and Lady Doyle (Far Right)
On June 17, 1922, Houdini and Bess joined Conan Doyle and his family for a weekend break at the Ambassador Hotel in Atlantic City, a then popular family resort some 125 miles down the coast from New York.
During the weekend, Lady Doyle gave Houdini a private sitting, where she endeavored to obtain for him a message from his beloved mother, by means of automatic writing.
According to Sir Arthur’s account, Houdini himself requested this sitting; according to Houdini’s, it was volunteered by Lady Doyle. Whatever may be the truth concerning this, the fact remains that Lady Doyle gave Houdini a sitting, in which “messages” were obtained, claiming to come from his deceased, or, as he would say, “sainted” mother.
What mistake(s) did Lady Doyle make when she supposedly contacted Houdini’s mother during their Atlantic City séance in 1922?
A. Lady Doyle made the sign of the Cross
B. Lady Doyle wrote in English
C. Lady Doyle failed to mention the fact that it was Houdini’s mother’s birthday
D. A and B
E. A, B and C
Let’s look at the evidence for the answer.
Below is a reproduction of the first two pages of the “automatic message written by Lady Doyle at the sitting which she gave for Houdini in an effort to communicate with his mother that clearly shows the sign of the Cross and that she wrote in English.
When, he saw the Cross on the top of the paper, and the lengthy message in English which followed, he at once became convinced, in his own mind, that it certainly did not emanate from his mother, but rather from the subconsciousness of Lady Doyle herself.
That’s two mistakes in Houdini’s mind, but what about not mentioning mama’s birthday. Describing the Atlantic City “miracle” in A Magician among the Spirits (1924), Houdini said:
“I especially wanted to speak to my Mother, because that day, June 17, 1922 was her birthday. If it had been my Dear Mother’s Spirit communicating a message, she knowing her birthday was my most holy holiday, surely would have commented on it.”
Sounds reasonable, except for the fact that the séance took place on the eighteenth of the month and her birthday was really on June 16th, so the answer is D (Lady Doyle made the sign of the Cross and wrote in English).
Sources:
- A Magician Among The Spirits (1924)
- Houdini and Conan Doyle (1932)
Houdini was never very good at keeping accurate dates. Perhaps beneath the lines he meant that his mother’s birthday should have been mentioned, since it was close to the date of the séance. This whole séance with Doyle’s wife was a train wreck waiting to happen. Perhaps Houdini should have politely pointed out his concerns right after the seance instead of waiting for this to stew to a boiling point.
Agree that he was not good with dates and could have confused the day of the séance but he definitely knew when his mother’s birthday was. As far as I can tell the birthday concern was not documented by HH until 1924, however the Cross and English concerns were documented by HH in 1922. The birthday concern seems to be a much later after-thought and addition for his 1924 book.
HH was deeply and emotionally influenced at the time of the séance, and only afterwards [that he had some time to think about it], did he come out with a statement that there was “nothing to it”.