Editing Harry Houdini (section)

===Milk Can Escape===
In 1908, Houdini introduced his own original act, the Milk Can Escape.<ref name="randi-1976" />{{rp|175–178}} In this act, Houdini was handcuffed and sealed inside an oversized milk can filled with water and made his escape behind a curtain. As part of the effect, Houdini invited members of the audience to hold their breath along with him while he was inside the can. Advertised with dramatic posters that proclaimed "Failure Means A Drowning Death", the escape proved to be a sensation.<ref name="randi-1976">{{Cite book |author-link1=James Randi |last1=Randi |first1=James |author-link2=Bert Randolph Sugar |first2=Bert Randolph |last2=Sugar |url=http://archive.org/details/houdinihislifear0000rand |title=Houdini, his life and art |date=1976 |location=New York  |publisher= Grosset & Dunlap |isbn=978-0-448-12546-6}}</ref>{{rp|177}} Houdini soon modified the escape to include the milk can being locked inside a wooden chest, being chained or padlocked. Houdini performed the milk can escape as a regular part of his act for only four years, but it has remained one of the acts most associated with him. Houdini's brother, [[Theodore Hardeen]], continued to perform the milk can escape and its wooden chest variant<ref>{{cite book| last=Christopher| first=Milbourne| title=Houdini: A Pictorial Life| year= 1976| isbn=978-0690011524| page=[https://archive.org/details/houdini00milb/page/54 54]| publisher=Ty Crowell Co.| url=https://archive.org/details/houdini00milb/page/54}}</ref> into the 1940s.

The [[American Museum of Magic]] has the milk can and overboard box used by Houdini.<ref name="MACC-comment">{{cite web| url=http://www.marshallmi.org/attractions.taf?_function=detail&id=107| title=American Museum of Magic| access-date=April 20, 2008| publisher=Marshall area Chamber of Commerce| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011055130/http://www.marshallmi.org/attractions.taf?_function=detail&id=107| archive-date=October 11, 2007| df=mdy-all}}</ref>

After other magicians proposed variations on the Milk Can Escape, Houdini claimed that the act was protected by copyright and in 1906, brought a case against [[John Clempert]], one of the most persistent imitators. The matter was settled out of court and Clempert agreed to publish an apology.<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>