Last week, I shared the Houdini Souvenir Program variants from the 1925-26 season. Reproductions can be found on eBay or from Geno Munari’s Houdini’s Magic shop.

But The 1926-27 Houdini Souvenir Program is a different story. AFAIK, a reproduction has not been published and originals are rare. That said, I am fortunate enough to have an original in my collection.

So what changed in the 1926-27 Houdini Souvenir Program from the 1925-26 program? Well before we get to that, let’s look at what is similar.

They both include a Houdini Biography, but the section Some of the Wonderful Feats Accomplished by Houdini has been rearranged in a different order with some additional sub-headings (i.e., ADDITIONAL EXPLOITS, WIDE RANGE OF HOUDINI’S MYSTERIES) but the content is essentially the same.  That said, the photos from his movies have been removed.  The section HOUDINI’S GREATEST THRILL has also been rearranged in a different order with some additional sub-headings (i.e., HOUDINI’S PERSONAL EXERTIONS PUZZLE MANY, LECTURER AND MEMBER OF SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEES) but the content is basically the same. That said, the photo of Mrs. Harry Houdini is different.

The section Houdini Reveals He “Reads” Minds is similar.

The June 18, 1925 NYC Police Academy Letter and photo is the same.

The section Magical Tricks and Illusions How to Perform Them by Houdini [15 tricks] has been condensed in a section now called Houdini Magic for Your Spare Moments [11 tricks].

The full-page CHALLENGE TO ANY MEDIUM IN THE WORLD and A Few Personal Facts Section is not found in the 1926-27 program.

So what new material is in the 16-page 1926-27 program? Pages 9 thru 14 is where the new material (1926 Newspaper Editorials on Crusades of Houdini) appears.

Page 9 has an editorial, titled Panic and Poison from the San Diego Union, August 7, 1926.

Page 10 has two editorials. One titled Houdini At It Again from New York, World, Aug 7, 1926 and one titled A Dispeller of Humbug from New York Herald-Tribune, Aug 9, 1926.

Page 11 also has two editorials, plus a letter from the clergy.  One editorial titled, The Indispensable Houdini By Arthur Capper (U.S. Senator from Kansas) from The Topeka Daily Capital August 13, 1926 and the other titled A Valuable Citizen from The News Scimatar, Memphis, Tenn Tuesday August 10, 1926.  The letter is from the Second Congregational Church (Unitarian) Organized 1715 Marblehead, Mass.

Page 12 has an article titled Houdini A Modern Crusader, Does Not Combat Religion, But Fights the Charlatans Who Prey Upon the Gullible.

Page 13 has two articles.  One article titled Houdini Seeks Genuine Medium, Discovery Will Amply Repay Him for Years Spent in Search and the other titled National Spiritualistic Association Ordained Minister Confesses Trickery After Thirty Years of Mediumship.

Page 14 has the continuation of an article from page 13 and an article from The Philiadelphia Record, June 24, 1926 titled SLATERS BLUFF CALLED BY HOUDINI, “Millionaire Medium” Ducks When Magician Dares Him to Undergo Test.  $10,000 Offer is Scorned. Houdini’s appearance Flusters Spiritists; Near-Riot Follows Meeting.

Next week, I will share Pages 9 to 11 which cover Houdini’s crusade against Rahman Bey, the fakir.

And the week after that, I will share Pages 12 to 14 which cover Houdini’s crusade against Fraudulent Mediums.