Houdini Block Escape by Magic Wagon

Another strong effect from Magic Wagon for 2020 and this time based upon the amazing Jack Hughes’ Cuban Release c. 1951.  As with all the big hits from Magic Wagon there are no shortage of Video entries and I’ve also included a great version of Cuban Release by Brotherbor.

This effect is easy to do but it to do it well it does require some attention to the timing and the angles.

The final three photos are part of John M. Talbot’s routine – John is a big fan of Magic Wagon and really goes to town in making these pieces his own!  He has added a hand cut Houdini silhouette decal he made for it and a fake certificate indicating it was made from wood from the Houdini house that he uses in his presentation.

Effect: The performer displays a block of wood which has a hole running through its center and a length of rope. The rope is now threaded through the block, which is then locked into an elevated wooden frame while still allowing the ends of the rope to remain in full view. Despite this restrained situation, the performer, without any cover, pulls the block forward until it is completely clear of the frame and unattached from the rope! The block is then tossed into the air while the rope can still be clearly seen through the frame where the block was imprisoned only a moment earlier! It is an incredible illusion.

Houdini Block Escape has been inspired by Jack Hughes’ Cuban Release which is still one of the very best block and rope penetrations in magic.

What elevates this far more than similar effects is that it only uses one rope with no looping or threads involved. The rope can also be immediately removed from the frame at the end of the performance!

The frame stands approximately 13cms high, 15.5cms wide, 6.5cms deep and the block is 2.5” square. This effect has been completely hand-crafted from genuine teak wood with a lightly distressed oil finish.

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