Designer: Franz Harary
Builder: Franz Harary Illusion Team

Harary designed the Houdini box in 1986 as a tribute to Harry Houdini. It was later used in the Broadway musical “Ragtime” for several years.

The magician is restrained and locked in a large steel box. His hands are shackled outside of the box (similar to stocks). The box is then hoisted into the air high above the stage. Immediately after he frees his hands, one of the four cables/chains suspending the box in the air breaks causing the box to swing wildly. The magician falls out of the box, and struggles to get back inside. Once inside, the whole thing explodes and the performer is shown to have vanished. He reappears in the audience.