Has Elvis Really Left the Building? A Short History of Celebrity Séances

Writer and Broadcaster Dr Kate Cherrell discusses the persistent connection between celebrity culture and supernatural phenomena, particularly séances. It highlights how mediums and psychics have capitalized on the deaths of famous individuals, fuelling public imagination and para-social relationships that extend beyond death. The talk will explore the history of celebrity séances in the West, from alleged Elvis sightings to Mark Twain’s supposed posthumous writings, suggesting that these practices reveal more about our own desires and societal needs than about the celebrities themselves.