Considered by many to be the greatest magician of all time, Harry Houdini amazed Yorkers when he performed at the Orpheum Theater for four nights in 1926.  His visit  included feats of mystery and illusion, a challenge from a chain company, debunking fakirs and mediums  and an appearence before Congress.

Listed are some of the illusions performed on opening night: The crystal casket, Alladin's Lamp, the magic rose bush, the mystic huntsman, Fleurette's transition, the exchange of human beings locked and sealed in a corded trunk, the prisoner's lament, the fountain of youth, summertime, wintertime, the radio of 1950, the miracles of Mahatma, the card sleights and the East Indian needle mystery.

A new feat involved Houdini throwing several alarm clocks into the airwhere they catch and then hang by chains in the air.

Deemed as a "spectacular mystery" was the water torture cell. Houdini was hung upside down over a container of water with his feet locked in a strong frame. He was lowered into a glass watertank and inside a steel cage. He was able to escape in exactly one minute.

On the first night Houdini was issued a challenge by employees of the American Chain and Cable Company that read: "This being your first visit to York and as we understand you are famous the world over in making escapes from various contivences,, we, the undersigned packers and shippers of the American Chain Company, Inc. hearby offer you the following proposition.

"We challenge you to allow us to make an ordinary packing case of heavy lumber, and we will guarantee to nail you in this case and rope it, so you will not, we believe beable to escape from same.

"If you accept this challenge, we will construct the box and send it to the theatre for examination. But, we demand a right to re-nail each and every board before you enter the box to prevent any preparation on your part."

Houdini accepted the challenge. The next night Houdini entered the box, which had passed the inspection of several local judges. The Acco crew renailed the top with 55 nails.

"After the box had been placed on the front of the stage and before the curtains were lowered the floor beneath the surrounding case was examined and no traps found.  The curtains were then lowered and within the above stated time (six and one half minutes) the curtains were raised and Houdini was standing alongside the box  which was apparently in the same condition  as when the curtains were lowered,"said the Gazette and Daily. 

Houdini pronounced the box stronger than when he entered it.In the interest of proving that there was no double involved, the box was destroyed with an axe. 

(I wonder, was  the bottom of the box was checked? Perhaps Houdini removed the nails from the bottom prior to the show. After all, the story does say the box was sent to him for inspection.)

After the show Houdini left by train for Washington where he was to appear before Congress. Houdini spoke to two session of Congress in favor of a bill banning mediums and fakirs from charging fees for promising talks and contacts with dead loved ones. Houdini hated them and ended each show, including those in York, with a routine exposing  how it was done.

Afterwards, Houdini returned to York to finish his run at the Orpheum.

to be continued.