Harry Houdini: Magic Among The Spirits on KRCB, Jan. 28

The documentary, Harry Houdini: Magic Among The Spirits, will air on PBS station KRCB in Northern California this Thursday, January 28 at 8:00 pm. This is a 2012 documentary made by Tom Wyrsch originally titled The Annual Harry Houdini Séances.

This program tells the story of how Houdini's magic led to his involvement in seances, his untimely death, and the pact he made with his wife Bess to try to reach him in the hereafter. The film details how the Houdini seances made their way to Sonoma County in 1964 and continued every Halloween night until 2002. Viewers will see the secret locations where they were held, the people who attended, and if contact was made. This 37-year annual Halloween event celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Interviews, historical film footage and photographs tell the complete story.

Harry Houdini: Magic Among The Spirits first ran on KRCB in 2014. Because it deals so specifically with local history, I don't expect it will air on PBS nationally. It is available on DVD under the original title, The Annual Harry Houdini Séances, although it's tricky to find. (Joe Notaro recently reviewed the DVD at Harry Houdini Circumstantial Evidence.)

Thanks to Dave Sikula.

Related:

• New Houdini documentary to screen in Sonoma, November 3
• New Houdini documentary on KRBC tonight
• Niles Museum holds Houdini event