Now the masked magician confronts one of man's darkest fears, being buried alive.
Houdini performed this escape over 80 years ago. Legend has it that when he
died his body was buried in the coffin he used for this very escape.
Let's hope the same thing doesn't happen tonight.
The magician raps on the coffin to prove that it's solid. It's solid all right.
200 pounds of ponderosa pine.
He steps inside and sits down hoping this won't be his final resting place. A
blindfold is placed around his eyes.
I wouldn't want to look either. His assistants shackle him inside the coffin
with thick leather straps and heavy steel buckles. First his arms are pinned
down by his side's and his ankles are bound securely in place.
Hold all calls. This guy's all tied up.
The lid of the coffin is then nailed shut.
Through the shadow proof plexiglass window we can check on a magician's
progress.
You have to be still in there along with only three minutes of oxygen.
Better hurry.
Here comes the crane.
Nothing magical about that it's just there to lower the mass man's coffin six
feet into the cold and clammy ground.
This is one secret he may take to the grave.
One more check on the magician.
Looks like there's no way out. At this point he's been in the coffin for almost
a minute.
Even I'm getting a little claustrophobic. Down he goes.
Next the grave is filled with dirt. 6,000 pounds to be exact.
Those shovels would take all day so the girls get a little help from some heavy
equipment.
It's a dirty job but someone's got to do it.
Ashes to Ashes,
Dust to dust.
Many magicians have died while attempting this escape.
Let's not make it one more.
By this point the magician is probably feeling a little lightheaded.
If he panics it's all over. Let's hope he keeps his cool.
The magician has now been down there for two minutes.
And the girls keep right on shoveling to fill that six-foot grave.
He should be out of the restraints by now if not we'd better start looking for
a new magician.
By now the air in the coffin is almost gone.
To conserve his energy the magician must control his breathing and lower his
heart rate. That won't be hard.
He's probably half dead by now anyway.
Another 2,000 pounds of dirt.
That's a big hole
I assure you that the magician is still under the ground. Remember no camera
tricks have been used to pull off this or any other illusion on tonight's show.
We're just past three minutes and still no sign of him.
Rest in peace masked man.
But what's this? Could I be wrong? Is that our magician rising from the grave?
It's him all right!
A little dirty and a little out of breath
but lucky to be alive.
The masked magician has escaped an early grave and the great Houdini couldn't
have done it any better.
Have you figured it out? Here are the secrets.
The magician climbs into the coffin and his assistant strap down his arms and
legs.
Those are impressive looking restraints except they're attached to the coffin
with velcro.
Once the lid is nailed shut and he's lowered into the ground
the magician frees himself from the straps and slips out a trap door
that's built into the side of the coffin.
But where does he go?
Next to the grave a small wooden room is concealed in the ground.
Complete with fresh air and the light.
What, no TV?
While the grave appears to be an eerie 6-foot deep hole in the ground
it's really an elaborate set piece made of wood and covered with fabric and dirt
to make it look realistic.
That's Hollywood.
Inside the room is a sliding shelf that pushes out into the grey. This shelf is
about two feet beneath the surface and will provide the step the magician needs to
climb up out of the grave. As the first load of dirt is being poured into the
hole. He re-enters the grave slipping through a secret panel.
He pulls himself onto the shelf and waits until the hole is filled before
standing up and revealing himself.
Of course the audience thinks he's still in a coffin. When the dust clears you can
see that the magician lightly covered in dirt is actually crouched on the shelf.
He takes his last gasp of breath while the final load of dirt fills the grave.
Inside the room a stage hand nervously stands by with oxygen should anything go
wrong. It will be almost two full minutes before the magician will be able to take
another breath of air. With all that weight crushing his lungs,
there is a real danger of suffocation. After what must seem like an eternity
for the magician
the hole is finally filled and it's time for his dramatic reappearance. A
suspense-filled pause and the masked magician stands up on the shelf.
He slowly pulls himself out of the ground. First one hand appears then the
other.
Finally his whole body and though he badly needs air
our magician stands proud at his accomplishment.