The ChillX Zone

Salem’s 1990 Séance at the Hawthorne Hotel

October 30, 2025

On October 30, 1990, in the candlelit ballroom of Salem’s historic Hawthorne Hotel, a crowd of believers and skeptics gathered for what was billed as one of the most ambitious séances of the century. The goal was bold: to summon the spirit of Harry Houdini, the master escape artist who had vowed to send a secret message from beyond if such a thing were possible.

A Century of Silence

Since Houdini’s death on Halloween night in 1926, séances have been held annually to test his promise. For decades, magicians, mediums, and historians have attempted to bridge the gap. By 1990, Salem’s Hawthorne Hotel — with its colonial architecture and ghostly reputation — seemed the perfect setting to try once again.

The Gathering at the Hawthorne

As dusk fell over Salem, dozens took their seats around a long oak table. A single candle burned at its center. The appointed medium recited Houdini’s code phrase, whispered to his wife years before: “Rosabelle believe.” Outside, the wind rattled the windowpanes; the room fell silent. Reporters noted the air felt heavy, as if charged.

For forty minutes, the participants waited. A few claimed to feel sudden cold drafts. One observer swore he heard the faint clinking of chains, though no movement was seen. The medium’s voice trembled as she repeated the phrase again and again — but Houdini did not reply.

The Verdict That Night

When the séance concluded, the crowd left quietly. Organizers called it “another failed attempt,” but many attendees said they had sensed something — a presence, a shadow, an energy. For them, Houdini’s silence was not proof of absence, but of mystery.

Why It Endures

The Salem séance of 1990 became one of the last large-scale public attempts to contact Houdini. In the years since, the event has become part of local folklore, woven into the Hawthorne’s long history of reported hauntings. Room 612 and the sixth floor remain favorite talking points for ghost-hunters, and each Halloween, guests still whisper the magician’s name — just in case he finally answers.

Closing Thought

Whether or not Houdini’s spirit lingers in that grand old hotel, the night of October 30, 1990, stands as a testament to humanity’s oldest curiosity: what lies beyond the final escape.