In late October 1924, on a lecture tour debunking spiritualists, Harry Houdini visited the house at the invitation of Fred Faltersack, a San Jose State student who worked there as a tour guide. He sought out rooms said to be haunted and was impressed by the layout, but had no time for a full investigation. Some accounts say he suggested the name “Winchester Mystery House”; the phrase had already appeared in newspapers, and official ads under that name followed soon after.
Questions people ask
Did Houdini name the Winchester Mystery House?
Some accounts say he suggested the name in 1924, though newspapers had used the phrase before.