Kreskin with Daniel of Haunted Hamilton

PART 2: Kreskin's Life Stories

Haunted House for sale
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Kreskin decided we were the best ones to break an exclusive story. Hopefully it’s still exclusive after a year since the interview was originally done in 2008. He was excited because it was about ghosts and he knew we would love to hear it. He was right.

Kreskin was performing at Harrah’s casino in Atlantic City when he got a phone call. A friend and news broadcaster told him about a haunted house that just went up for sale in Nyack, New York (near the Brooklyn Bridge).

The broadcaster thought it would be great news if Kreskin setup an investigation of the ghosts in that house. Kreskin agreed and soon they were all driving to Nyack to meet with the current owners, a woman named Helen Ackley and her son.

“{Helen} was a gracious woman”

The investigation was great. Kreskin walked through the house and accurately conveyed many impressions. He pointed out areas and described in detail experiences the Ackley’s were having with the ghosts of this historic Nyack home. At the same time, he disproved many of the experiences by finding natural occurrences for strange sounds and movements.

Kreskin connected with the house, so much so he decided to purchase it with a guarantee to the Ackley’s that nothing would be changed.

NYTimes article by James Barron

Kreskin’s idea was to turn the haunted place into a museum of the paranormal. He would move a lot of his spooky collectibles, gathered over the years, to the house and open it to the public. The idea of a really haunted house with a lot of information about other really haunted houses was exciting for Kreskin.

In his dealings, Kreskin could see that the Ackley’s weren’t the best types for dealing with the immense media created by the Kreskin buzz. He warned Helen to be careful, to not “abuse the press’s attention”. The message got through, but only to Helen Ackley.

Word spread and many media outlets were coming to Kreskin for information on the house. The most interesting idea came from a local New York shock jock named Howard Stern. Howard wanted to setup a séance in the house with Kreskin at the lead. He was so excited about the event that he and co-host Robin Quivers were planning to make the trip to Nyack and broadcast from the home.

Kreskin loved the idea. He respects Howard’s sense of entertainment and is very fond of Robin,

“She’s a wonderful person!”

Then another phone call was made by Helen’s son just before the séance. Kreskin was told that things had changed and all taping at the house for TV, news or radio … must pay! The range was set from $2,000 to $10,000 depending on the show’s popularity. Later on the price went up to $50,000.

NYTimes CHRONICLE by Susan Anderson & James Barron

Dollar signs did the Ackley’s in. All of the attention faded away and Kreskin pulled his offer on the house. The Ackley’s moved on, selling their house privately to another buyer.

That’s not the end of this story. The Ackley’s were forced to move back after the buyer found out about the ghosts. He retained a lawyer and sued Helen, demanding all his money back because the Ackley’s misrepresented the house by not disclosing it was haunted.

It was the first and only case of this type in New York State. This isn’t a new idea in countries like Britain. It’s even found its way into Canadian market contracts.

“I have nothing against attorneys; I just wish most of them had been on the titanic.”

Kreskin feels that frivolous lawsuits are anti-freedom.

“Did you know there is one attorney for every 300 people in the United States? There are only seven attorneys for every 100,000 people in England!”

Kreskin is ready for the next life
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Johnny Carson once told Kreskin that he wanted his epitaph to say, “I’ll be right back”. This didn’t happen after Johnny’s death when his wife had him cremated in 2005.

After 88 Tonight Show appearances, we could believe Johnny and Kreskin would be close. It’s believed that Johnny’s famous character Carnac the Magnificent (a comedic fortune-teller) was created after Johnny saw Kreskin trip and fall while appearing live on The Steve Allen Show.

“Merv Giffin wanted {the epitaph}, I will not be right back after this message.”

This seemed to get Kreskin thinking about his tombstone.

“I have to send you… you’re getting a picture in the mail that Entertainment Weekly did a story about. My gravestone has already been designed. We have photographs of it.

“The stone has on it my date of birth, no passing is recorded so don’t look forward to it!

“I have instructed that the grass not be kept around by tombstone. Picture this, you go up to the stone, there with your kids. You tell them this is where Kreskin is buried, and then notice oh… there’s something else written here. And they part the grass, at the bottom it says,

“Even now, I know what you’re thinking.”

“Alford Hitchcock would have loved that! I’m hoping a few people would say,” let’s get out of here”, while looking around for me.”

Kreskin at his gravestone

When asked how Kreskin could possibly top his storied life at his own funeral,

“Wouldn’t it be dramatic if I just got up and walked away?”

The Funeral Gig
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A man called Kreskin about a very strange opportunity. He wanted Kreskin to perform at a funeral.

Being raised Roman Catholic, Kreskin was hesitant. He knew his show, although very entertaining everywhere else, would be disrespectful at a funeral. He was ready to refuse when the man quickly explained. Kreskin agreed to do it on the spot.

The funeral took place at Westwood Memorial Park cemetery in Los Angeles. This is the final resting place of many known names in TV, movies and music, including Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin and Roy Orbison. Kreskin attended the funeral and readied for his performance which was to happen come afterwards at a special ceremony.

No expense was spared. An old-style Carriage Hearse was pulled out by two Clydesdales through a large crowd of people all trying to see through the glass into the casket. Casket was open and upon the silk rested not a person, but a sign displaying the name a large American company. The funeral wasn’t for the dead, it was a corporate stunt designed to announce the company’s new name by burying the old one.

Soldiers marched behind the hearse to music, with Reverend Al Sharpton by their side, and passed the awed looks of thousands of people and press in attendance. The company owner wanted the scene to not disrespect a real funeral, but instead look like an old-fashion horror movie. Kreskin knew he would be a perfect headline for the event.

At the ceremony, his performance went off perfectly. A powerful suggestion act was done by Kreskin. He spoke some special words to a few dozen employees, ending with,

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m going to leave first, but I’m going to leave my impression here.

“I walked out {of the room} and I don’t know how many of them just collapsed to the floor.”

“{The company owner} said to me, “I wanted something dramatic, but I didn’t know you were going to do that!””

Kreskin wanted to make sure we didn’t think badly of the man for the funeral idea. The unique nature of the event gained a lot of media and made the transition to a new company name seamless. Later on that same man became the head of one of the largest recording companies in the United States.

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© Photos by Stephanie Cumerlato
© Gravestone photo provided by Kreskin and his team