Houdini Anti-Spiritualism Lobby Display Board.

Houdini Anti-Spiritualism Lobby Display Board. American, 1926. One of several lobby displays owned and used by Houdini during his final tour. The board reproduces a Los Angeles Record story reporting on Clarence Tomson, alias Allen Thompson, manager of his wife Mrs. Liza Tomson, the medium, and her psychic daughter. The family was sentenced to jail and fined for “mediumistic fakery” and obtaining money under false pretenses. The bold headline reads, “Jail For Medium.” Sold together with the original wooden and canvas shipping crate and bearing Houdini’s name stenciled in bold letters along its lid. Crate shows wear from regular use. Front panel 34 x 80”. Minor damage and wear to front panel of board, new hardware at rear; good condition overall. The story includes lines likely near-and-dear to Houdini’s anti-spiritualism crusading heart: “When a highwayman sticks you up, you know what he wants. When these people prey upon a subject, the subject is at a loss to comprehend how he is getting other than the truth. The vicious nature of it is that it permits things more serious than the crime of highway robbery.”