endangered elephant
Houdini staged this illusion only once, on January 7, 1918, at the Hippodrome Theater in New York. The magician guided the elephant around the circle, drove it into a specially built cage, and a white blanket was tossed over the creature. Houdini fired a pistol, the blanket was lifted, the cage doors opened, and the elephant had vanished.
This feat resisted easy explanation because it was a one‑time appearance and the cage itself seemed to disappear. For years the mystery of the missing elephant remained unsolved.
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On site The great Harry Houdini is noted as having performed at a venue that no longer exists, though photographs reveal a vast hall with 5,697 seats arranged in three semicircular sections. The audience’s view of the elephant cage was limited because the cage sat far from the stage edge.
The construction of the illusion sparked debate. Stage engineer R. D. Adams asserted that a fabric panel was concealed beneath the frame, giving the impression of drapery behind the trellis. The fabric was affixed to a roller with a powerful spring that required two people to wind it. At the exact moment Houdini fired his pistol, the audience blinked, and the roll of fabric opened in front of the elephant, making the disappearance appear instantaneous.
chinese water torture chamber
In 1911, Houdini introduced the Chinese water torture chamber, a centerpiece of several performances. Unlike the vanished cage illusion, this trick follows a known mechanism and its operation is well documented.
Houdini purchased a custom cage for ten thousand dollars and patented the design. It resembled a rectangular aquarium tipped on its side, framed in mahogany and nickel-plated steel, with brass plumbing fixtures. The dimensions were 67 cm wide, 150 cm tall, and the weight reached about three tons. The front glass plate measured 1.5 cm and was tempered.
At curtain, Houdini invited the audience to name any part of the setup and He directed attention there, proving no cover was used. He allowed the crowd to inspect the room and offered a thousand dollars to anyone who could demonstrate oxygen access inside.
Houdini lay on his back, his legs chained to a mahogany lid in the middle, and was lifted into the air then lowered into a water tank. The lid was locked and the setup hid behind a curtain while an assistant stood nearby with an ax, ready to break a window if needed. The orchestra played a mournful tune and two minutes later Houdini emerged from behind the curtain, with the lid and pads still in place on the tank.
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Two crucial details define the focus. First, when submersion began, a portion of the water overflowed the top edge, creating a small air pocket above the padded lid. Second, the mahogany side planks forming the ankle restraints were slightly spread when buckles were locked. As the curtain rose, Houdini used the tank walls to maneuver his legs upward, turned to the side, and slipped his legs through enlarged gaps in the restraints. He then lifted his chest to draw air above the water.
The two straps rested on concealed hinges; Houdini could open them, slip out, and reappear before the spectators.
unboxing
Houdini began performing one of his simplest and most beloved numbers in 1901. He urged the audience to inspect a meter‑long milk carton and even kick it to verify solidity. The lid fastened with six buckles to six rings on the box rim. The container held water, and Houdini changed into a bathing suit before reappearing. He then invited the audience to count how long they could hold their breath. Only a few exceeded sixty seconds. With a smile, Houdini climbed inside and water spilled out as the lid closed.
While the box was sealed, Houdini remained entirely submerged. The lid was secured with six buckles and several locks, sometimes supplied by spectators. By this point, he had been underwater for at least a minute. A screen surrounded the box. Two minutes later Houdini emerged from behind the screen, dripping and winded, with the locks still fastened.
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Years after Houdini’s passing, a friend revealed a secret: The neck of the box was actually removable and could be opened from inside. While no observer could remove or move the neck, the interior could simply be lifted out to release the performer.
Escape from the Underwater Box
In 1912, Houdini pioneered an escape from a closed box resting on the river’s bottom, followed by the first ascent from a barge on the East River in New York. The performer wore handcuffs, entered a wooden box that was nailed, tied, chained, and lowered into the water. The box sank, and 150 seconds later Houdini resurfaced. Scientific American praised it as one of the most remarkable demonstrations ever performed.
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The trick’s secret lies in the box design. Small breathing holes allowed air while waiting for the dive, and the box’s cubic shape used four boards per side, with two boards not nailed to a single face. A hinged trap was closed with a latch. According to Adams, Houdini removed the handcuffs as the box was clamped, then waited for the device to become fully submerged before pushing the escape and swimming to the surface.
The performance almost turned dangerous: a plan to open the box at the river’s bottom nearly ended in disaster when the door collapsed. Houdini saved himself by forcing the box to invert and scramble free. From that moment, he vowed to open the box earlier before it reached the water’s floor.
East Indian needle trick
The earliest known performer of this illusion hailed from India and named Ramo Sami. It is believed Houdini suggested Sami be involved in demonstrations in 1899 and then began employing the routine himself.
The setup required the audience to examine 50 to 100 needles and 18 meters of thread. A single spectator also examined Houdini’s mouth. He then swallowed the needles and thread, washed them down, and a minute later regurgitated them with a thread bearing all the needles attached.
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Three years after Houdini’s death, Adams explained the mechanism. A packet of pre‑threaded needles lay between the cheek and teeth. Knots on the thread were positioned so needles could move freely. The thread was wrapped in a flat bag and placed under the tongue.
When Houdini allowed close examination of his mouth, he used his fingers to pull the lips away from the gums and teeth. The pocket was hidden under a finger as viewers pressed for visibility. Houdini could easily slide the packet under the tongue when needed.
He then pretended to swallow the needles and thread while drinking water. In truth, the items were dropped into a glass, with just enough water left to mask them by reflection. If observers stayed nearby, Houdini would push the fallen needles under his tongue and keep them in place until the end of the routine. After finishing, he would take another sip, spit out the needles, and pass the glass to an assistant.