Houdini had souvenir programs made to be sold during the 1925-26 season and 1926-27 season. This post will focus on the 1925-26 program variants and contents.
In 1979, Lee Jacobs first sold an actual reproduction of the souvenir program sold at Houdini’s shows in the lobby of the theaters during the 1925-26 season where he was presenting his performances on a coast-to-coast tour of North America.
It also included a protective cover/tissue sheet, plus How Houdini Really Died and an Introduction by Lee Jacobs, plus a Houdini 1914 Broadside Challenge.
Later, Geno Munari (copyright 2006) sold a reproduction of just the Houdini Souvenir Program for the 1925-26 tour.
The 1925-26 Houdini Souvenir Program was 16 pages, not including the front and back inside covers.
The 16 pages included a Houdini Biography, Some of the Wonderful Feats Accomplished by Houdini, Houdini’s Greatest Thrill, Magical Tricks and Illusions How to Perform Them by Houdini, Challenge to Any Medium in the World, A Few Personal Facts, NYC Police Department Lecture June 18, 1925, Houdini Reveals He “Reads” Minds.
At the McCord Museum, I found a Houdini Bibliography References compiled by Stephen Forrester that included the following,
which implies the 1925-26 season actually had 2 variants, 1925 season – no cover price, 1926 season – “25 cents” cover price and the Lee Jacobs Production had both 1925 (outside) & 1926 (inside) covers. Does a 1925 original with no cover price exist?
Next week, I will share parts of the rare 1926-27 program from my personal collection and discuss what changed from the 1925-26 program.
Good stuff as always, Joe. While I have the Lee Jacobs repro (very nicely done), I’m ashamed to say I don’t have an original. I’ve been waiting on finding a 26-27 season for a good price. I did know about the non cover price variant. I guess we can assume that was the first printing? I’m not aware of any differences inside, but I’ve never looked through one apart from my Lee Jacobs, so I look forward to your next part!
I passed on the Geno Munari reprint as it’s a pretty poor reproduction. But I might grab one next time I’m a Houdini’s Magic Shop and use it as my new research/scan copy. Starting to think I need to protect the Lee Jacobs repro as a collectible now.
I don’t recall ever seeing the non-cover price variant at auction, but I do recall Kevin Connolly mentioning there are 3 variants during my visit but at the time assumed it was the contents; So for all I know the non-cover price variant was right in front of me and I didn’t realize it.