NOTES ON A STRANGE WORLD MASSIMO POLIDORO

The Search for Margery

hile researching material the book was "superb" but wanted to conversation between two people who for my book Final Stance: "point out, though, that it was not ever could have been "very close" to those The Story of the Strange proven that Mina provided 'sexual two giants. W favors' to members of the stance circle. Friendship Between Houdini and Conan Massimo Polidoro: Anna, I must say Doyle (Prometheus Books, 2001) I Ken is careful to point this out himself. that I am an admirer of Margery and I made several attempts at locating some Bird [Malcolm Bird, secretary of the think that the idea of her faking the phenomena was probably more a mat- Scientific American Commission] later of the relatives of the medium ter of a difficult relationship with her "Margery," whose role was so promi- made that claim, but I would argue that husband than an attempt to deceive the nent when Houdini and Doyle were a man desperate to salvage his own rep- public. What do you think? friends and later enemies. Margery (Mina Crandon was her real name) was the wife of Dr. LeRoi I made several attempts at locating some of Goddard Crandon, a wealthy Boston physician, who, in 1924, entered the the relatives of the medium "Margery," whose contest announced by Scientific American role was so prominent when Houdini and according to which $5,000 would be paid to anyone able to demonstrate psy- Conan Doyle were friends—and later enemies. chic powers under scientific controls. The only catch was that Houdini was a mem- ber of the committee, and that proved to Anna Thurlow: Please, do not feel be enough to scare away most tricksters utation and is willing to do so by com- any anxiety over offending me regard- eager to win die prize by any means. menting on such personal matters is ing whether she was "authentic" or not—I do not believe in supernatural I knew that Margery had a son and perhaps not the most trustworthy source phenomena. I am, however, fasci- that he was probably still alive, but of information." nated with the pageantry and ritual of though I tried many times to contact him I was quite excited to get a chance to it. I know that for whatever reason I was never able to get a reply. The dead- speak to someone who had had she started it (and I agree with you, I line for the book finally came and I Margery as grandmother and I thought do not think it was with intent to deceive but rather for reasons more closed it without the information I it would be very interesting to hear the psychologically complex), it con- wished to include. perspective of a member of the family quered her mentally in the end—after Then, in March of this year, I who was not as involved in the case as Dr. Crandon died (even though he received an e-mail from an Anna Dr. Crandon. To me it looked almost as was my great-grandfather, we've Thurlow, who introduced herself as if, eighty years later, the contemporary always called him "Dr. Crandon") she Margery's granddaughter. She was writ- "representatives" of Margery and ing me because she had read a review I Houdini had a chance to meet and dis- Massimo Polidoro is an investigator of the wrote for the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER on cuss what went on during those famous paranormal author, lecturer, and co- Ken Silverman's book on Houdini (SI seances in Boston. So, imagine you founder and head of CICAP, the Italian 21(3), May/June 1997). She thought could step back in time and listen to a skeptics group.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2002 19 continued automatic writing on her very dangerous game." His room at 10 judgment. But Mina did drink herself own, as if it was the only company Lime street was right next to the stance to death by her early fifties (although she had, which I find very sad. room, and he could hear everything. the toll of drink and depression, as I They locked him in every night (as gather, made her seem much, much MP: Did you have a chance when you well as the servants) to prove to the sit- older). But yes, my grandfather was were a kid to know Mina personally? ters that the seance circle was con- terribly ashamed of her, as I think AT: I never knew Mina, nor did my trolled. I think he was around twelve most children of alcoholics are, even mother, as Mina drank herself to years old. So I imagine, for him, how- without having had the whole world death so early on. But my grandfather ever much a rationalist he was, it must know very intimate things about her. John Crandon (Mina's son and my have nonetheless been absolutely terri- By the time she died, my grandfather mother's father) was greatly influ- fying. Seeing him re-live that was chill- was already married. enced and shaped by her. He was a ing enough for me to not ask again. MP: Could this Button you are refer- very unhappy man and both obsessed My mother told me that the public ring to be WH. Button, the then- with and ashamed by her. She was outcry on this arrangement was such President of the American Society for rarely spoken of in the family but my that Mina had to send my grandfather Psychical Research? mother gathered many stories and away, which they did—to Andover (a passed them on to me. I've been wor- boarding school). When 1 asked him AT: You are right! I was shocked to ried about the veracity of the stories, once about how it was done, he said, realize that he was the head of the but where I've been able to verify "mirrors." But he didn't explain more ASPR—my mother had thought he diem, they've turned out to be true. than that. was a lawyer. All of the papers I have More immediately, however, the psy- from later in Mina's life were archived, MP: Did you have other chances to chological impact of my greatgrand- sorted, and stored by him—the talk about Mina with John? parent's dysfunctionality and the envelopes all have his name and conflict with Houdini was deeply im- AT: I've asked my grandfather about address on them. I am now curious as printed on the family. Mina over my whole life, but he really to what date he starts the archiving as didn't like to talk about it. The conver- opposed to Dr. Crandon. I never MP: Is John still living? sation I relayed to you took place in really thought about it, but Dr. Crandon's papers seem to peter out AT: Yes, my grandfather is still living 1997, I think, just before he really slipped mentally; he must have been in around 1926 (presumably around the although not mentally competent; time that Dr. Crandon no longer even before, however, he rejected any- his early eighties, and I was in my late twenties. The question about the mir- believed in Margery?) even though he one's attempt to contact the family— didn't die until 1938. I wonder if which is why you wouldn't have been rors was the same day—I asked him it he believed in it (no) how they did it Button "took up the cause" and per- able to find any of us. My mother, on haps that is how Mina and he became the other hand, was fascinated by (mirrors) and how he felt about being in the room next door (wouldn't say). involved with each other. She moved Mina and was preparing to write a to New York to be with him. book about women, spirituality, and He was very rattled and the nurse told me that he had nightmares all that Coincidentally, she lived on W. 116th class in Boston, with Mina as the cen- street, and of course Houdini had tral figure. My mom died of cancer in night. Sid Radner (of the Houdini seances) was very interested in talking lived on W. 113th street. My mother 1995, just before Ken's book came and I also lived on W 113th street for out—she would have been thrilled to with him, but after that, I really felt that he couldn't remember enough for almost fifteen years, only two blocks read it, as he uncovered so much away! more than we knew. I've been very it to be worth the emotional turmoil it grateful to him for answering so many obviously caused him. of the questions that my grandfather MP: Since you are talking about never would. There is only myself and MP: Dr. Crandon died in 1939 and houses: While on my search for mate- my mother's brother. Mina in 1941, however we know that rial and information for my book I she went into depression and drank went to Boston and tried to locate the MP: It must not have been easy for a quite heavily. What were those two house where Mina lived and where kid like J o h n , your grandfather, to live years alone like for her? the famous seances with Houdini and in a house were all those strange the Scientific American team took AT: After Dr. Crandon died Mina had things went on. What did he think place. However, due also to time con- an affair with their lawyer, Mr. about his mother's fame? straints, I was not able to find it. Does Button, and I believe she moved in the house still exist, I wonder? AT: It made my grandfather very with him in New York City. However, angry to talk about Mina (die Rand my mother and grandmother (my AT: Yes, 10 Lime street is still there. I side of the family only knew her as grandmother was rather horrified by have written to the owners to ask if I Mina, people outside of the family or the whole thing and never really knew could meet them but they've never Houdini specialists always refer to her how to handle Mina) always hated responded. My mother was born there as Margery; my mother and I refer to him. I am not sure why but I think my and I'd like to see it for personal his- her as both). I asked him several years grandfather felt Button stole her tory, but no luck. I am dying to find ago what he diought about the whole money or he otherwise took advantage out if they found any secret passages, thing, and he said that he knew when of her. Button certainly supported her etc. As an interesting note, the photo she started die seances that something continued "experiments" so I wouldn't of her most often reproduced (stand- was not right with her, mentally. be surprised if he was hoping to recrc ing in a doorway) was actually of the However a few minutes later he turned ate some of the notoriety of before. building next door. 10 Lime doesn't to me and said in a way that made my However, I haven't found a thing have a recessed doorway. I understand hair stand on end: "They didn't know about him that confirms that he was a that the photo was taken by Houdini, what diey were playing with. It was a bad person, so I have to reserve my and I saw a note somewhere asking

2 0 November/December 2002 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER him to keep that feet rather secret, for bly not a person it would be wise to suspect that in combination with too fear of their "reputations"—I presume get too intimately involved with. many sexual escapades with the female to keep it a secret that they actually got Would she even dare get involved staff, he was argumentative with his along long enough to take a picture! I with such a person, if her highest pri- peers. Plus I think Ken Silverman may do suspect that they were quite similar ority was to keep Dr. Crandon happy? have mentioned that Dr. Crandon was in the aspect of having been hard Of course, relationships do not always not as wealthy as he appeared to be. working class and yet outsmarted a lot make sense, but Bird sets off alarm This also makes sense to me, as he had of very self-satisfied people. Plus they bells even for me, eighty years later. several previous wives and was likely to each had some aspect of themselves have some financial pressures on that that society used to dismiss them—he MP: As with many of those who have end, which may have complicated being Jewish and her being female. studied the Margery story and the things. There have been disappoint- Neidicr of which were qualities held in Scientific American investigation, you ments for me in learning more about high value by many of the participants, don't seem to have a great opinion of my greatgrandfather; he was a racist from what I can tell.... Malcolm Bird. and a sexist. (My grandfather inherited

MP: Was Houdini and the Scientific American investigation ever talked about in your family? When the Boston Globe stated that Houdini AT: I didn't know anything about the Scientific American episode other than announced Margery to be a fraud, my grandfather it had been a scandal, until I read Ken's book. Houdini was a respected name went out and bought all of the newspapers in the household but his name also held a great aura of sadness and shame. so that she wouldn't read it. I remember my mother telling me that when the Boston Globe stated that Houdini announced her to be a fraud, my grandfather went out and bought AT: I think he was a rather duplicitous those traits. However the both of them all of the newspapers so that Mina person himself. He basically moved hid it fairly well under the veneer of wouldn't read it. While 1 agree widi into 10 Lime street, and I suspect may upperclass manners and propriety, but Houdini that one can only explain the have been given money by my great- when pushed or angered, you can see stances as a combination of theater grandparents (although I can't prove it, and it is ugly.) But there have also and audience participation, the seances that—there is just a reference to a been two things of which I am sur- he was at were pretty simple. I would blank check to him from Mina, to prised to say I am rather proud: one, really like to know how they managed which he teases her: "what would it he was staunchly atheist and did not the more complicated seance events. I look like if certain people saw this?") let social mores pressure him into also don't feel that Houdini was quite and there may have been plenty of per- believing certain things —I believe his up front himself—he seemed to be sonal reasons for them to all grow belief in spiritualism to be genuine, playing his own games. However, he quite tired of each other's company. 1 and to be based in a combination of was treated terribly by Dr. Crandon find, however, I am quite curious to hope and science, but not in religion. and some of the others and that pretty know what happened to him. He That must have made his disappoint- much entitles Houdini to act however strikes mc as a rather sad person as ment later all that more devastating. he wanted, to my mind. well, not quite able to handle the The second thing I am proud of him demands of the situation he found for is mentioned in your last chapter. I don't know that he assisted women MP: You said that after 1926. Dr. himself in . .. although I suppose the situation got the better of most of the with abortions for a fact, but I had Crandon presumably no longer heard it before, and it makes sense to believed in Margery. What do you participants.... By the way. the pic- ture in your book of Mina in the me, and I am proud to think that one think of him? Did he help her in doorway is the picture I was referring of my ancestors did something like some of her trickery or was he really a to earlier. I believe it was taken by that gave women more autonomy over complete believer? Houdini and she asked him not to themselves, particularly in a time when women had so few choices. Sexism I AT: I think Dr. Crandon must have reveal that fact (a collector at one of find not an absolute quality but exists been convinced of the experiments— the Houdini seances showed mc the by degrees, and although I think he I don't think anyone can write so con- same picture and told me Houdini thought of women as less capable than sistently to intimate friends for so had taken it, and I have a copy of a let- men, I think he also thought women many years and have it be a lie. 1 ter from Mina asking Houdini not tell should have some autonomy over their think that Conan Doyle (whose anyone he was the one who took pic- bodies or minds. To his credit, he friendship was dearly valued by my tures of her). It is of her standing in warmly welcomed my grandmother greatgrandparents) and Dr. Crandon the doorway of 11 Lime, not 10 Lime. into the family—a doctor herself, and truly thought they were foraging at the only woman to graduate from the frontiers of science, as strange as McGill Medical School in 1939. that seems now. ... I take Bird's testi- MP: On reading about the story from mony regarding a sexual relationship some of the original documents, what with a grain of salt. He strikes mc as a do you think now of Dr. Crandon's rather charming but unbalanced and role and character? MP: Thank you for sharing with our not entirely trustworthy person— readers your very interesting thoughts tragic, too—as he disappeared (from AT: I'm pretty sure I know what Dr. and comments on one of the greatest what I know) after all this ... proba- Crandon's problems at the hospitals historical figures in the history of psy- were—women. He was a philanderer. I chical research.

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