When El Cerrito Went ‘Insane’: The Ouija-Mania Incident of 1920
>> Want to see our Top Picks for this week instead?
El Cerrito Community Center | 7007 Moeser Ln, El Cerrito, CA
Event Details
Submitted by the Event Organizer
A presentation by historian Chris Sterba
This is the Society’s annual meeting. The talk follows a brief business meeting with elections of officers
Our program focuses on one of the strangest events in the history of El Cerrito, one that brought our small city national attention. In March 1920, seven people were arrested on charges of insanity after conducting Ouija board sessions and engaging in bizarre rituals to ward off evil spirits. Many others were also involved. Chris will discuss how El Cerrito’s “Ouija-mania” incident reflected changes in American life after World War I and the influenza epidemic of 1918.
Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.
Cost: FREE*
