Editing Escapology (section)

==History==
The art of escaping from restraints and confined spaces has been a skill employed by performers for a very long time. It was not originally displayed as an overt act in itself but was instead used secretly to create illusions such as a disappearance or transmutation.<ref name="Dawes">{{citation
 |last = Dawes
 |first = Edwin A
 |title = The Great Illusionists
 |publisher = Chartwell Books (New Jersey)
 |year = 1979
 |page = [https://archive.org/details/greatillusionist00dawe/page/193 193]
 |isbn = 0-89009-240-0
 |url-access = registration
 |url = https://archive.org/details/greatillusionist00dawe/page/193
 }}</ref> In the 1860s, the [[Davenport Brothers]], who were skilled at releasing themselves from rope ties, used the art to convey the impression they were restrained while they created spirit phenomena.<ref>Dawes, 'The Great Illusionists', p. 157.</ref>

Other illusionists, including [[John Nevil Maskelyne]], worked out how the Davenports did their act and re-created the tricks to debunk the brothers' claims of psychic power. However, the re-creations did not involve overt escape, merely a replication of tricks with the statement that they were accomplished by secret magicians' skills rather than spirits. It took another thirty years before the pure skill of escape began to be displayed as an act in itself. The figure most responsible for making escapology a recognized entertainment was [[Harry Houdini]], who built his career on demonstrating the ability to escape from a huge variety of restraints and difficult situations.<ref>Dawes, 'The Great Illusionists', p. 193.</ref>

Houdini made no secret of the fact that he was an expert on restraints and the skills needed to overcome them but he often concealed the exact details of his escapes to maintain an air of mystery and suspense. Although many of his escapes relied on technical skills such as [[lock-picking]] and contortion, he also performed tricks such as [[Metamorphosis (illusion)|Metamorphosis]] and the [[Chinese Water Torture Cell]], which are essentially classic stage illusions reliant on cleverly designed props. Houdini's feats helped to define the basic repertoire of escapology, including escapes from [[handcuffs]], [[padlock]]s, [[straitjacket]]s, [[mail bag]]s,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m_-UQ8pUg_4C&q=Houdini+Mailbag+escape&pg=PA39 |first1=J. C. |last1=Cannell |title=The Secrets of Houdini |pages=36–41 |location=New York |publisher=Dover Publications |year=1973|access-date=August 17, 2012 |isbn=0486229130}} {{ISBN|9780486229133}}</ref> [[beer barrel]]s, and [[prison cell]]s.

A succession of performers have added new ideas and created variations on old stunts, but it is common for even the best contemporary escapologists to be dubbed modern day "Houdinis". During his lifetime, Houdini argued his main escape acts were copyrighted, and sued competitors such as [[John Clempert]], who in 1906 apologized and settled out of court. <ref>{{cite book |last=Tait |first=Derek| date=2018 |title=The Great Illusionists|location=Barnsley South, Yorkshire |publisher=Pen and Sword History |pages=260–274|isbn=978-1473890763}}</ref>

Because St. [[Nicholas Owen (martyr)|Nicholas Owen]] successfully escaped the [[Tower of London]] and arranged the escape of two [[Jesuit]] inmates from the prison, the 16th-century Christian martyr is considered by [[Catholic]] escapologists as their patron saint. Along with St. John [[John Bosco|Don Bosco]], the two are considered the primary patrons of Catholic [[Gospel Magic]]ians.