Hundreds of magic enthusiasts descended upon Houdini Plaza in Appleton, Wisconsin, to witness death-defying escapes and make history. The event was held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the death of Harry Houdini, a renowned magician and showman.
A World Record Attempt
Over 200 magicians from the Society of American Magicians performed the classic Houdini escape, the Siberian Chain Escape, at the same time, in an attempt to set a new world record. According to escape coordinator Jeff Sikora, there is no established record for this feat, but the event was a huge success.
Houdini Historian John Cox participated in the event, saying it gave him a sense of what it must have been like to see Houdini perform. Famous escape artists also recreated the Houdini Milk Can escape, and magician Houdini II made history by escaping from a straight jacket dangling 100 feet in the air.
A Celebration of Peace and Magic
The event was not only a celebration of Houdini’s legacy but also a message of peace and unity. Magician Houdini II emphasized that his escapes are all in the name of peace, saying, “If I’m escaping and got the platform to talk about it, it’s escaping for peace. Me, you, everybody. And we can get along, watch this. Give me a hug!”
The event is not over yet, with the Magic Opera scheduled to take place on Friday at the Communication Arts Center in Menasha, with showtimes at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
