On August 5, 1926, master illusionist Harry Houdini shocks reporters at the Shelton Hotel in New York City, when he climbs into an airtight metal casket and is lowered into a swimming pool. With only a limited supply of oxygen, the escape artist remains submerged for a record-breaking 91 minutes.
Houdini, born in Hungary as Erik Weisz, took on the challenge after rival magician Rahman Bey had spent nearly an hour locked in a partially submerged coffin on July 2. Houdini was determined to beat him. He ran two trial runs, which lasted about 70 and 73 minutes, to practice shallow breathing for oxygen preservation.
He drew a crowd for the big stunt at the hotel. Houdini stripped down to a pair of shorts to show his audience he wasn’t wearing a secret breathing tube. Then he lowered himself into an airtight iron coffin. His assistants kept the coffin submerged and only communicated with him through a telephone line. The coffin was wired with a buzzer in case Houdini was in distress.
