Missing headstones at Houdini's grave solved! Not sold off as suggested by the Society of American Magicians

http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2013/08/......dys.html

What would be the best solution?

I blame The New York Times more for this than the SAM. That 1996 article, which is the only reference I can find, is very sloppy and filled with inaccuracies on all sides (evidenced by the lengthy corrections later posted at the end). As far as we know, some SAMer just threw out this comment about how the stones might have be "sold" and the Times ran with it.

The true scandal here, as you know, is that fact that the SAM has stopped paying for the upkeep of Houdini's grave. And that's something I confirmed.

Apparently one of my readers posted a query about this on the SAM Facebook page and it was deleted.

Perhaps the living Past Presidents (incl. George Schindler) of the S.A.M can immediately form a de facto Special Committee to research and produce solutions to the current President to remedy this deplorable situation?

Julie

Most likely nothing will happen from the SAM side of things. I was approached a couple months back with a quantity SAM/Houdini material for sale. Basically it was mostly of the early paperwork that formed the SAM, Bosco's deed for his plot that Houdini bought and gave to the SAM, etc.

I contacted what I think were 3 highest people in the SAM. They either passed it off on someone else, didn't know what to do or even that they could prove it was their material.

I think this material was at least as important to grave markers, etc.

Kevin;

Was the deed to the Houdini grave among that stuff? I doubt it or you would have mentioned it, I believe. Clearly this stuff was probably stolen from the Parent Assembly. Possibly by a past president, as they used to take that great book Bess gave to them home. It was loaded with great items as I recall.

What do you think happened to the deed to the Houdini grave?

Tom Klem might have some answers. We have not heard from him in quite a while.

D&D

Do not expect much from George Schindler.

Dorothy Dietrich and myself have been on him about this for years. Only lip service.

Although Houdini is responsible for the riches of the Society of American Magicians, there are many there who do not like him or are jealous and like to do or say things that shoot Houdini down, including this. When brought up, they turn the other way!

In doing research, it seems George Schindler and John Bohannon are not only the ones who brought the damage to the site by highly publicized yearly Halloween events at the Houdini grave that got them in the newspaper each year since the 1960's and attracted all the kooks, but I believe also the ones who stopped their SAM Houdini Grave Committee from paying for the upkeep of the Houdini grave site.

This will be the legacy for future generations that George Schindler and John Bohannon will be remembered by, but Houdini's reputation will prevail.

In a nutshell, it was Bohannon who ran the Broken Wand Ceremony, poorly. The SAM board back in the 70's didn't want to pay a fee wanted by the cemetery for the ceremony. The SAM thought it should be free and the cemetery people say they were incurring the extra cost every year.

So basically, this was handled very poorly by the SAM and could have easily been worked out. On the cemetery side, they were unpleasant too. There was much animosity between the two.

Bottom line, a long and rich magic tradition was terminated by ineptness.

What a shame! I'll bet that if every year's membership renewal notice had a box you could check to donate one dollar towards preserving Houdini's grave site (almost) every member would participate...

Julie

I like that idea, Julie.

Speaking of Machpelah, did you know that the old office building has been torn down? The view of and from Houdini's grave is now quite different. Here are some pics.

http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2013/09/......iew.html