water torture cell escape
E897299
The water torture cell escape is a famous Houdini stunt in which he was suspended upside down and locked in a water-filled tank, dramatically escaping before drowning.
Observed surface forms (1)
| Surface form | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Water Torture Cell escape | 0 |
Statements (47)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
Houdini escape act
ⓘ
magic escape stunt ⓘ stage illusion ⓘ |
| alsoKnownAs |
Chinese Water Torture Cell
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Upside Down NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| associatedWith |
Houdini’s reputation as master escape artist
ⓘ
publicity posters featuring Houdini upside down in tank ⓘ |
| countryOfOrigin | Germany ⓘ |
| creator | Harry Houdini NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| designedBy | Houdini and his engineering collaborators ⓘ |
| era | early 20th century ⓘ |
| firstPerformanceLocation | Berlin NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| firstPerformanceYear | 1912 ⓘ |
| genre |
illusionism
ⓘ
stage magic ⓘ |
| hasInfluenceOn |
modern escape artists like David Blaine
ⓘ
stage water tank escapes in contemporary magic shows ⓘ |
| historicalSignificance | iconic symbol of escape artistry ⓘ |
| inspired | later escape acts involving water tanks ⓘ |
| involves |
glass-fronted cell
ⓘ
locks and restraints ⓘ stocks locking the performer’s ankles ⓘ suspension upside down ⓘ water-filled tank ⓘ |
| marketedAs | Houdini’s most dangerous escape ⓘ |
| notableFeature |
audience can see performer through glass front
ⓘ
combination of physical danger and secrecy of method ⓘ performer’s head submerged under water ⓘ |
| notablePerformer | Dorothy Young (as Houdini assistant) NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| performanceStyle |
daredevil stunt
ⓘ
escape artistry ⓘ |
| performer | Harry Houdini NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| promotionalClaim | Houdini could die if escape failed ⓘ |
| riskElement |
asphyxiation
ⓘ
drowning ⓘ |
| safetyMeasure |
hidden assistants and emergency procedures
ⓘ
tools concealed on performer ⓘ |
| subjectOf |
books on Houdini
ⓘ
documentaries about magic history ⓘ museum exhibits on Houdini ⓘ |
| typicalPresentation |
Houdini displayed to audience while being locked in stocks
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
cell filled with water after Houdini is suspended ⓘ curtain raised during escape attempt ⓘ dramatic time limit suggested to audience ⓘ |
| uses |
metal frame stocks
ⓘ
padlocks ⓘ steel and glass tank ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
subject surface form:
Harry Houdini