At the Fortune Telling Hearings:
Houdini flashed $10,000 in U.S. currency as a challenge to any medium to tell them what his father had nicknamed him, then Madame Maria jumped up and screamed, “That money belongs to me! …” [Kalush p 482]
Kalush source was the New York Times, February 27, 1926 where it mentions:
Once he issued a general challenge to them to tell just what his mother had called him when he was a boy, but no Spirtiualist ventured to furnish that information and Houdini did not offer it.
If you think you know the answer, of what either parent of Houdini nicknamed him, please email me.
H A P P Y F A T H E R ‘ S D A Y !
I believe I know the answer to what his mother called him, but I would encourage us to not put that online as it’s STILL a good question to challenge mediums with. 🙂
That is an excellent point and couldn’t agree more.
John, collect your $10,000 prize! The time machine will cost more than that!
The check is in the mail.