Tag: Escape

Escape Artistry News, Magic News

Michael Griffin: To Live or Die at Noon Today

Inside Magic Favorite Michael Griffin is also known to fans by his well-earned title, “America’s Escape Hero.”

He could add a third appellation to his business card this afternoon, “Not Criss Angel.”

Of course that assumes he survives a very dangerous escape; otherwise he will be known as Michael Griffin “The Angel.”

Michael is, as far as we know, the only two-time winner of the World Magic Awards Best Escape Artist.

Readers know we have a tough time watching underwater or underground escapes. The elements of earth and sea do not always cooperate with a performer: currents shift, burial plots cave in. Like a lion tamer, the escape artist can perform only if the adversary behaves or at least behaves predictably.

Michael Griffin will sink to the bottom of the strong-willed Ohio River at noon today.

A committee will bind him in shackles, chains, and more chains all locked to a 20 pound cinder block designed to pull him from the surface to the river bed where he will either escape or stay forever.

If you are in the Marietta, Ohio area, you can see the stunt at the Public dock located at the ends of Front and Post Streets by the Lafayette Hotel.

And speaking of the Lafayette Hotel, Michael is performing a full show tomorrow (Saturday) night at 8:00 pm. He hopes the escape will give an enticing taste of what will be served in full courses tomorrow night.

But other than promoting his show, why would Michael Griffin risk his life?

As a special sneak preview for his show Saturday night 8:00PM Oct 30 at the historic Lafayette Hotel http://www.thelafayettehotel.com.Why is Michael Griffin willing to challenge death by drowning handcuffed, shackled and weighted down?

We hear Michael wants to perform the escape to show people what a real escape artist does for a living. Once he sinks into the rapid current of the watery boundary between Ohio and West Virginia, his survival depends on his ability to stay calm and execute the escape. There are no camera angles, no re-takes, no stooges or hidden assistants with keys and spare canisters of air.

In short, Michael Griffin will perform a very real escape with very real risks before a very real audience. Not, he points out, some scene created for TV, “a Chris Angel style camera tricks and paid stooges.”

Continue reading “Michael Griffin: To Live or Die at Noon Today” →

Magic News

Devin Stewart Attempts Unique Jail Escape

Magician and Escape Artist Devin Stewart“A lot of people have told me I’m crazy,” magician Devin Stewart told The Paper of Crawfordville, Indiana.

“They tell me it’s impossible, but they say that you aren’t a real escape artist until you escape from jail. My career is on the line.”

The young man will put his career on the line this Friday, September 18 at the Montgomery County (Indiana) Old Jail Museum.

The Paper reports Houdini did the same feat in four hours, and Criss Angel allegedly pulled it off in half that time.

Mr. Stewart hopes to escape from a straight-jacket and his jail cell, in front of a live audience, in under 30 minutes.

The magician/escape artist/fire eater/illusionist/hypnotist learned of the jail from his girlfriend. During their tour of the museum, Mr. Stewart told the guide he could escape from the unique rotating cells.

This is no ordinary jail cell. He will don a straight jacket before being placed in the steel-barred cell. The jail was the very first of seven “rotary jails” built in the United States and the only one still in operation.

Continue reading “Devin Stewart Attempts Unique Jail Escape” →

Latest Magic News

Aaron Radatz to Perform Wild Escape

aaron radatz and crateThe Valdosta Daily Times of beautiful Valdosta, Georgia went all out in its coverage of Aaron Radatz participation in the town’s Wild Adventures All-American Weekend.

Mr. Radatz told the reporter he is kicking it old school.  Actually, that is our interpretation of his quote.  “This is a straight-forward Houdini-style escape,” Mr. Radatz said. “Some contemporary magicians use steel boxes and other materials. But I like it old school, using wooden crates like Houdini used to use.”

And like Houdini, Mr. Radatz’ restraints will not consist solely of a chained box submerged in the Wild Adventures Lake.

Mr. Radatz will confound his efforts to escape the crate.

He intends to be chained and handcuffed within the box before being dropped into the Lake.

Officials have ensured that the crate will sink quickly by drilling holes to allow water to replace the limited air space in the box.

Mr. Radatz noted that when Houdini performed the escape, it was a test of the Showman’s ability to escape quickly from one restraint.

Continue reading “Aaron Radatz to Perform Wild Escape” →

Magic News, Magician Feature

Is Curtis Lovell Crazy?

Curtis Lovell III and Beautiful AssistantInternational escape artist Curtis Lovell II invites you to witness him strapped into a straitjacket and lifted 170 feet into the air — as the rope is set on fire.  When Lovell frees himself, he immediately will be lowered, handcuffed and sealed into a box of water — secured with Master locks.

Through wind, fire and water in his performance of “Hang-Man,” Lovell must face his fear of heights and his fear of drowning.  Neither Lovell nor any other escape artist — including the great Houdini — has ever combined these elements for a stunt of this magnitude.

The City of Grand Terrace, California, will host Lovell’s death-defying stunt as part of its Halloween Haunt in Pico Park, slated for 8 p.m. on Oct. 30, 09.  Last year’s theme element was Earth, during which Lovell faced the universal fear of being buried alive.  The stunt attracted more than 1,500 visitors and national media.

“It was spine-tingling last year with Lovell being buried alive,” said Steve Berry, Acting Manager of Grand Terrace, “We are looking forward to Hang-Man, his next death-defying feat.”

Lovell conceived the idea of Hang-Man as he studied the works of his childhood hero Harry Houdini.

“I always wanted to perform an aerial, upside-down straitjacket escape, but I wanted a twist,” Lovell said.  In addition to the danger of this stunt, Lovell truly fears heights and drowning. “I believe this will help me overcome both of these fears and bring me closer to nature and life,” he said, confidently.

Continue reading “Is Curtis Lovell Crazy?” →

Magic News

Curtis Lovell Escapes Death on Halloween

Curtis Lovell is well-known to television audiences.  He cut Paris Hilton in half on her show The Simple Life, provided instructions to escape from handcuffs on the Spike TV show Manswers.  He called out David Blaine and John “I talk to dead people” Edward.

Neither performer had the guts to take him up on a magic duel.

Mr. Lovell made a great impression with his performance of his Cube of Death on the USA Network’s Road Characters.

On the 84th anniversary of Houdini’s passing, Mr. Lovell literally went underground.

By performing an escape Houdini himself said was too dangerous to repeat, Mr. Lovell took an enormous risk — an not just to his career.

The Buried Alive escape is a test of physical endurance and mental focus.  Oxygen is in short supply and panic is a constant enemy; ready to steal the limited amount trapped within the sealed coffin.

Mr. Lovell attempted the escape as part of The Halloween Haunt in Grand Terrace California’s Pico Park. Continue reading “Curtis Lovell Escapes Death on Halloween” →