The skill has been used as a form of magical entertainment since at least the 1860s, although it didn’t become recognized as a performance act in its own right until later in the century. UPDATE: Houdini aquarium revealed on Tanked.Escapology is the art of escaping from restraints of some kind - be it handcuffs, straightjackets, cages or coffins. It's kind of fun that after 100 years the Water Torture Cell has returned to its original purpose as a private clubhouse aquarium.

This is my challenge, in the rough of course. In it a 'multimillionaire sportsman' named Tim Connor eyeballs his clubhouse aquarium and concocts the idea of locking Houdini inside it.Ĭonnor: Well, my idea is to put this Houdini fellow into that aquarium head first, understand me, head first, with his feet in the air, then put a lid or cover on, fasten his feet to this cover and lock him in. The purpose of the playlet, which was performed only once, was to copyright the new effect. It's worth noting that the earliest version of Houdini's Water Torture Cell presented the apparatus as, yes, an aquarium! On ApHoudini performed the escape as part of a one-act play in London called Challenged or Houdini Upside Down. But I have heard chatter that a reality show about custom aquariums ( Tanked?) did a segment on the Castle tank, so keep a watch out for that. Unfortunately, one isn't allowed to take pictures inside the Castle, so I don't have any photos of it to show.

This week they've installed a custom fish tank in the Inner Circle made to resemble Houdini's Water Torture Cell. The Magic Castle in Hollywood continues to make post-fire improvements and Houdini-themed additions.

Harry houdini water tank