100 Years Ago Today: Houdini Survived 71 Minutes Sealed in an Underwater Casket

 

On September 28, 1926 — exactly 100 years ago today — Harry Houdini climbed into an airtight casket and was submerged underwater for an incredible one hour and eleven minutes.

The remarkable endurance experiment took place in the swimming pool of the YMCA in Worcester, Massachusetts, and came during the final weeks of Houdini's life.

While Houdini is best remembered for escaping from handcuffs, straitjackets, jail cells and his famous Water Torture Cell, his later career also included experiments designed to test the limits of human endurance.

This was one of the most unusual.

Houdini Takes on the “Buried Alive” Challenge

Earlier in 1926, Egyptian performer Rahman Bey had attracted attention by claiming that supernatural abilities allowed him to survive for an extended period sealed inside a casket.

Houdini wasn't buying it.

A famous opponent of fraudulent supernatural claims, Houdini set out to demonstrate that such a feat could be accomplished through physical control rather than mystical powers.

On August 5, 1926, Houdini entered a sealed casket that was submerged in the swimming pool of New York's Hotel Shelton.

He remained inside for approximately 90 minutes.

Houdini attributed his success not to magic or supernatural powers, but to remaining calm and carefully controlling his breathing.

But he wasn't finished.

September 28, 1926 — The Worcester Experiment

Less than two months later, Houdini repeated the experiment.

On September 28, 1926, an audience gathered at the Worcester YMCA to watch as Houdini was once again sealed inside a casket and submerged underwater.

Reports indicate that the audience consisted largely of physicians and other scientifically minded observers.

Houdini remained submerged for an astonishing one hour and eleven minutes before the experiment ended.

There was no dramatic escape from chains or a last-second appearance on the other side of the room.

The challenge was simply to survive.

For 71 minutes.

Inside a sealed casket.

Underwater.

Part of Houdini's Fascination With Being Buried Alive

The concept of being buried alive fascinated Houdini for years.

He had experimented with a dramatically different version of the stunt in California in 1915, when he attempted to escape after being buried beneath several feet of earth without a casket.

That attempt nearly ended disastrously.

By 1926, however, Houdini had transformed the concept into an endurance demonstration involving airtight caskets.

Just two days after the Worcester YMCA experiment, he performed another airtight-casket test in Worcester, this time above ground and in public view outside Summerfield's Furniture Company.

Houdini was also developing a theatrical Buried Alive presentation involving a casket and a large quantity of sand.

An Eerie Connection to Houdini's Final Days

What makes today's anniversary particularly striking is how close it occurred to the end of Houdini's life.

The Worcester YMCA experiment took place on September 28, 1926.

Houdini died just over a month later, on October 31, 1926, at the age of 52.

His death brought an abrupt end to further development of his Buried Alive presentations and endurance experiments.

Today, a full century later, Houdini's name remains almost inseparable from the idea of impossible escapes.

But the Worcester experiment reminds us that Houdini wasn't always trying to escape.

Sometimes the challenge was simply seeing how long he could remain inside.

And exactly 100 years ago today, Harry Houdini climbed into a sealed casket, disappeared beneath the water of a Massachusetts swimming pool and remained there for 71 minutes.

It's another remarkable chapter in the career of the man whose name would become synonymous with escape itself.

On This Day in Magic History — September 28, 1926.

Happy Birthday to Comedy Magic Legend Carl Ballantine

 

Today, September 28, we celebrate the birthday of one of the most unique and influential comedy magicians of all time — Carl Ballantine.

Born September 28, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, Ballantine became famous for doing something wonderfully different: instead of presenting himself as a magician who could accomplish the impossible, he played a magician whose tricks seemed to go hilariously wrong.

Known as “The Great Ballantine,” his character would confidently walk onto the stage ready to amaze his audience, only to have props refuse to cooperate, tricks fall apart and virtually everything go wrong.

Of course, making magic look that disastrously funny required tremendous skill.

Ballantine understood timing, character and audience psychology. Rather than relying on the mystery of how a trick worked, he found comedy in the expectations surrounding magic itself.

His act made him a popular television performer, appearing on programs including The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show and many others. Outside of magic, television audiences also came to know him as Lester Gruber on the popular sitcom McHale's Navy.

Ballantine's influence on comedy magic continued long after his own performances. Generations of magicians discovered that an entertainer didn't necessarily need to present every illusion as a flawless demonstration of supernatural ability. Sometimes pretending everything has gone completely wrong can be even more entertaining.

He was also recognized by the magic community for his remarkable career. The Academy of Magical Arts honored Ballantine with awards including its Performing Fellowship and later its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Fellowship.

Carl Ballantine passed away in 2009 at the age of 92, but “The Great Ballantine” remains an important part of magic history.

Videos of his routines continue to introduce new generations to his wonderfully chaotic style of comedy magic, and his influence can still be seen in performers who combine magic, character and comedy today.

So today, on what would have been his 109th birthday, Magic News Daily remembers a performer who proved you could become one of magic's greats by hilariously pretending you couldn't do magic at all.

Happy Birthday, Carl Ballantine!

September 28, 1917 – November 3, 2009

Magic History: Watch Siegfried & Roy’s First Television Appearance

 Long before the white tigers, enormous Las Vegas productions and international fame, Siegfried & Roy were two young entertainers building an act that would eventually change the scale of magic in Las Vegas.

This remarkable vintage footage, titled Siegfried & Roy’s First TV Appearance, gives magic fans a chance to see the legendary duo near the beginning of that journey.

Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn originally met while working aboard the German luxury liner TS Bremen. Siegfried was already performing magic for passengers, while Roy eventually became involved in the act.

Roy then proposed an idea that would help define their careers: incorporating an exotic animal into Siegfried's magic.

Roy had a cheetah named Chico, and the animal was added to the act. The response helped convince the pair that they had discovered something different. Siegfried would later explain that in show business it wasn't enough simply to be good—you had to be different.

That philosophy would eventually become one of the defining characteristics of Siegfried & Roy.

An Early Look at Two Future Las Vegas Legends

Historical accounts identify a 1968 French television appearance connected with the Lido in Paris as their first appearance on French television.

Watching footage from this early period is fascinating because viewers can see elements of the performers they would eventually become.

The theatrical presentation, costumes, choreography, magic and use of animals were already helping distinguish Siegfried & Roy from traditional magic acts.

But their biggest accomplishments were still ahead of them.

After performing throughout Europe, the duo made their way to Las Vegas. In 1967 they appeared at the Tropicana's Folies Bergère, and their presence on the Strip continued to grow during the following decades.

Eventually, Siegfried & Roy became synonymous with Las Vegas spectacle.

Their productions combined large-scale illusions, elaborate scenery, dancers and exotic animals in a way few magic acts had attempted on such a scale.

From Early Television to The Mirage

Perhaps the greatest chapter of their career began in 1990 when Siegfried & Roy opened their production at The Mirage.

The show became one of the signature attractions of the Las Vegas Strip and continued until 2003.

It's remarkable to compare that massive production with footage like this.

Every legendary career has a beginning.

Before the custom theater, before the white tigers became internationally famous and before their names were permanently associated with Las Vegas entertainment, there were performances like this one.

For students and fans of magic history, early footage is especially valuable because it allows us to see that evolution rather than simply reading about it.

You can see two performers developing the style, image and ideas that would eventually make Siegfried & Roy two of the most recognizable magicians in the world.

Watch the Historic Performance

Take a trip back to the early days of Siegfried & Roy and watch this fascinating piece of magic history.

Siegfried Tieber Fools Penn & Teller With Incredible Sleight of Hand

 There are plenty of great performances on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, but every so often an act comes along that leaves even Penn & Teller without the answer.

Magician Siegfried Tieber accomplished exactly that.

Originally from Ecuador and now based in Los Angeles, Tieber brought his distinctive style of close-up magic to the Fool Us stage in a performance built around playing cards, audience interaction, humor, and some seriously deceptive sleight of hand.

What makes the performance so much fun to watch is Tieber's personality. Rather than presenting the routine as a demonstration of impossible skill, he keeps everything playful and conversational while the mystery continues to build.

And underneath that relaxed presentation is some exceptionally polished card magic.

Penn & Teller watch closely as Tieber works through the routine, knowing that somewhere along the way there must be a method behind what they're seeing.

Figuring out that method proves to be another matter.

When it comes time for Penn to discuss the performance, he attempts to communicate what he believes may have happened using the show's familiar coded language. Tieber understands exactly what Penn is asking—but Penn & Teller haven't found the correct solution.

Siegfried Tieber fooled Penn & Teller.

The appearance became an important moment in Tieber's career. He would eventually be invited back to Fool Us for a second appearance, further establishing himself as one of the show's memorable close-up performers.

Tieber's career has extended well beyond television. His work has taken him to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, New York and numerous other venues, and his approach to magic combines sleight of hand, psychology, humor and storytelling.

There's also something worth noticing here beyond whether Penn & Teller figured out the secret.

Watch how comfortable Tieber appears throughout the performance. The technical work serves the presentation rather than becoming the presentation. That's an important distinction—and one of the reasons this routine remains entertaining even after you already know the outcome.

For magicians, it's a great example of how personality, timing and strong technique can work together to turn a card trick into a memorable piece of television magic.

And for everyone else?

Just enjoy trying to figure out how he did it.

Trapped: No Escape From Sin – Gospel Magic

 Now available at www.magiciansmagicshop.com

Trapped: No Escape From Sin is a visual Gospel magic/object lesson originally offered by Truths and Treasures.

Designed for Christian magicians, children’s ministry performers, Sunday school teachers, youth leaders, and other Gospel presenters, Trapped uses a magical illustration to communicate a simple but powerful message: we cannot free ourselves from sin, but the Gospel offers a way to freedom.

The routine combines an entertaining visual demonstration with a ready-made Christian message, allowing the performer to capture the audience’s attention before connecting the effect to a spiritual lesson.

The original packaging describes it as:

“There is no escape from the truth that this object lesson shares the Gospel in a powerful way.”

This is especially suitable for church programs, Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, youth ministry, Gospel magic shows, and Christian family programs.

Features: Older/discontinued Truths and Treasures release; visual Gospel object lesson; designed around the theme of escaping from sin; suitable for children and adults; easy to incorporate into a Christian magic program; and new old stock in original packaging.

Condition: New old stock/sealed. 

Retail price $20.00 

Our Price $10.00 

Kevin James

 Kevin James is an American magician, illusionist, inventor, and magic creator known for combining original visual effects with comedy, theatrical storytelling, and an unconventional approach to stage magic.

Often described as a magician’s magician, James has spent decades creating effects that have been performed both in his own shows and by some of the biggest names in entertainment.

James was born in France to American parents and later grew up in Michigan. His fascination with magic began at an early age and eventually developed into a professional career that took him around the world.

Rather than simply performing traditional illusions, James became known for creating unusual pieces of magic that audiences had rarely, if ever, seen before. His performances often mix strange imagery, comedy, and moments of genuine wonder.

One of his most recognizable creations is the Floating Rose, a beautiful routine in which a paper rose comes to life, floats through the air, and ultimately transforms into a real rose. The effect became internationally known and has been associated with several major performers, including David Copperfield.

James has also become famous for his Sawing a Man in Half routine. Unlike the traditional illusion involving a large box, James presents an apparently severed man in a startling and highly visual sequence that combines illusion with comedy.

Another memorable creation is his Snow Animator, which produces a magical swirling snowfall around the performer and has become a popular theatrical effect among professional magicians.

James’s creativity has made him an important behind-the-scenes figure in magic as well. His original ideas, illusions, and magical inventions have been used or adapted by performers around the world.

His television appearances have introduced his unusual style of magic to millions of viewers. He competed on America’s Got Talent and has appeared on numerous international television programs.

James has also appeared multiple times on Penn & Teller: Fool Us. His relationship with Penn Jillette and Teller extends beyond simply appearing on their television program, and his creative work has earned considerable respect within the professional magic community.

Over the course of his career, James has performed internationally, including extended engagements in major productions and appearances at prestigious venues. He has also been closely associated with The Magic Castle in Hollywood, where his creativity and distinctive approach to magic have made him a familiar figure within the magic community.

What separates Kevin James from many illusionists is his ability to think like both a performer and an inventor.

Instead of asking only how an existing trick can be performed differently, James frequently starts with an impossible image or idea and then works backward to determine how it might be accomplished.

That philosophy has resulted in some of modern magic’s most recognizable visual moments.

Whether making a paper rose float through the air, creating an impossible snowfall, presenting bizarre comedy illusions, or developing magic for other performers, Kevin James has built a career around one fundamental idea:

Show audiences something they haven’t seen before.

His contributions as a performer, creator, and inventor have helped influence modern stage magic, making Kevin James an important figure in contemporary magic history.

On This Day in Magic History: Harry Blackstone Sr. Was Born

 On September 27, 1885, one of the great names in American stage magic was born: Harry Blackstone Sr.

Born Harry Bouton in Chicago, Illinois, Blackstone would become one of the most celebrated illusionists of the 20th century, building a career around spectacular stage magic, a massive touring production and illusions that would become part of magic history.

Long before television and social media could make a magician famous overnight, performers like Blackstone built their reputations one audience—and one city—at a time.

And Blackstone did it on an enormous scale.

The Great Blackstone

Performing professionally under the name Harry Blackstone, and eventually known as The Great Blackstone, he became a major touring attraction during an era when large magic shows traveled from theater to theater.

Blackstone’s production reportedly required trucks of equipment and a sizable company of assistants and technicians.

Audiences weren’t simply coming to watch someone perform card tricks.

They were coming to see a spectacle.

Blackstone presented illusions, comedy, audience participation and theatrical magic as part of a full evening’s entertainment.

His career eventually stretched across decades, making the Blackstone name synonymous with American stage magic.

The Floating Light Bulb

Among the many pieces associated with Blackstone, perhaps none became more famous than his Floating Light Bulb.

A glowing light bulb appeared to come to life, floating mysteriously around the stage and even traveling out over the audience.

The image of an illuminated bulb moving through a darkened theater became one of the signature moments of the Blackstone show.

Years later, Harry Blackstone Jr. would continue performing the effect as part of his own successful career.

The illusion became so closely associated with the Blackstone family that it remains one of the most recognizable pieces of classic American stage magic.

Magic on a Grand Scale

Blackstone was also associated with large theatrical illusions including vanishes, productions and dangerous-looking feats.

One of his famous presentations involved a large buzz saw apparently passing directly through an assistant.

But Blackstone understood something equally important: bigger didn’t always mean better.

Some of his most remembered moments relied on relatively simple ideas presented with tremendous showmanship.

One famous example was his Vanishing Bird Cage.

Blackstone would invite children onto the stage, allowing them to gather close before the cage seemingly vanished in an instant.

The combination of proximity, impossibility and audience participation turned the effect into a memorable part of his performances.

Entertaining the Troops

Blackstone’s career also continued through World War II, when he entertained American servicemen.

Like many entertainers of the era, he used his talents to provide moments of escape and entertainment for troops during an extraordinarily difficult period.

By this point, Blackstone had already spent decades developing his craft.

Yet his career was far from finished.

He continued performing well into the postwar era and remained one of the best-known names in American magic.

The Blackstone Legacy Continues

Harry Blackstone Sr. died in 1965, but that wasn’t the end of the Blackstone name in magic.

His son, Harry Blackstone Jr., became a major illusionist in his own right.

Rather than simply preserving his father’s name, the younger Blackstone introduced classic stage magic to another generation through theatrical performances and numerous television appearances.

Several effects associated with his father—including the famous Floating Light Bulb—became important parts of Blackstone Jr.’s performances.

As a result, the Blackstone name stretched across generations of American entertainment.

Remembering Harry Blackstone Sr.

More than 140 years after his birth, Harry Blackstone Sr.’s place in magic history remains significant.

His career represents a remarkable era of the profession.

There were no viral videos.

No television talent competitions.

No social-media followers.

A magician built a reputation by traveling from town to town, putting people in theater seats and delivering a show impressive enough that audiences would tell others about it.

Blackstone did exactly that for decades.

His illusions helped define large-scale American stage magic, while his presentation demonstrated that spectacle and personality were just as important as the secret behind an effect.

So today, September 27, Magic News Daily remembers the birthday of Harry Blackstone Sr.—The Great Blackstone—and celebrates his lasting contribution to the art of magic.