Modern-Day Escapologists and the Legacy of Harry Houdini

If you’re anything like us at Krakit Vancouver Escape Room, then you’re plenty excited for the new Houdini & Doyle TV show. A grand mixture of Sherlock, illusion, and the supernatural, the series is right up our escape-room alley.

Even though it’s been nearly a century since his death, Harry Houdini still continues to dominate the world of escapology. Although Houdini, and his impressive list of illusions and escape stunts, cast a mighty big shadow over the genre, most escape artists embrace the legendary illusionist, often making nods to him in their shows.

While you may not be able to use the tricks of an escapologist to break out of escape rooms (remember: physical strength is never needed to solve an escape game!), we can all take inspiration from their tactics.

Dorothy Dietrich

Dorothy Dietrich (b. 1969) was the first woman to gain fame as an escape artist and has been called “the Female Houdini.” In addition to her straitjacket escapes (hanging from a burning rope, no less!), Dietrich has also paid homage to Houdini through her Houdini Seances, which she holds each Halloween—the date of the master escapologist’s death. She also regularly performs at the Houdini Museum in Pennsylvania.

Doug Henning

Born in Winnipeg, Doug Henning (1947–2000) was a multitalented man: on top of being an illusionist and escape artist, he was also a politician (no comment on their relatedness). He performed his first magic show at age 14, and went on to study psychology before becoming a professional illusionist. Henning took a page directly out of Harry Houdini’s book when he performed the Water Torture Escape live on television, to an audience of more than 50 million viewers.

Criss Angel

Although perhaps best known for his street magic and television show Mindfreak, Criss Angel (b. 1967) is also one of today’s top escapologists. He’s performed several escape stunts live on television, including the Houdini Death Escape, which had him escape from a straitjacket while hanging upside-down in midair. As a reminder that we shouldn’t try this stuff at home, Angel also once had to rescue a fellow magician, Spencer Horsman, from a water-tank escape trick gone wrong.

Gopinath Muthukad

This India-born escapologist and magician—otherwise known as “India’s Houdini”—performs with a goal loftier than gaining television viewers. With a motto of “Magic with a Mission,” Gopinath Muthukad (b. 1964) uses his feats to spread messages of peace, including spreading anti-terrorism and the ideals of Gandhi. Although he failed to complete his Propeller Escape in 2002, Muthukad tried, tried again in 2012, and wowed fans with his successful mid-air escape.

Feel the thrill of escape by booking a game at one of our four escape games, located next to Lougheed SkyTrain station, here: http://www.krakit.ca/book-now.php.