The Great Escape

You display two small, black boxes. One is quite unremarkable; the other is clearly marked with the skull-and-crossbones and the warning: DANGER!

The boxes, you explain, are there to duplicate in miniature the astounding escape trick performed by the master of all magicians, Houdini! You hand the spectator a card that features the likeness of Houdini, bound hopelessly (it would seem) in chains and manacles. You tell the spectator to place the card in the plain black box while explaining that when Houdini performed this amazing stunt on stage, the audience was instructed to count to 10. The spectator does likewise.

Then have your spectator open the box. Amazingly, Houdini has vanished. In his place is a card bearing the chains, but no Houdini. In large letters the card reads: GONE! The card is handed to the spectator, who may examine it.

Next, ask the spectator where Houdini could possibly be. Quite naturally, the spectator will assume the obvious: that Houdini is in the box marked “DANGER!”

When the spectator opens the box, it explodes with a loud BANG! At that point you produce the Houdini card from your pocket (or wherever you wish), noting that the image of Houdini is now FREE of the chains!