My favourite Houdini trick was one time when he visited some one-horse town in the States to demonstrate his jail-breaking skill. The local sheriff locked him in the jail and everyone then waited outside the building for the great magician to emerge. All the townsfolk were there to witness the great event. Inside Harry was doing his usual trickery. He had a lock pick hidden on his person (best not to ask where). Now the locks were placed too far away for a man's arm and hand to reach so should have been secure. But Houdini had developed his dexterity to such a degree that he could use his legs and feet to manipulate the pick. In this case however, despite his best endeavours spending hours trying to work the mechanism, he completely failed. He was about to give up and call in the witnesses when he leant against the cell door and it swung open. He then realised that the sheriff had been so overawed by having a mega celebrity in town that he'd completely forgotten to lock the door.
Houdini emerged to an ecstatic crowd who cheered and clapped an astonishing feat. But there had been no trick at all in reality; it was all illusion. Fantastic!
