The William W. Larsen Memorial Library

Chainletter 2010-2015, The

Author/Editor: Gerstman, Cliff

The Chainletter October 2010
What is T.I.E.S.
Wikipedia Honors Escape Artists
W.E.A.R. for art thou? – History of the Worldwide Escape Artist Relay

The Chainletter November 2010
Where to fo from Here? (Norman Bigelow)
What Makes a Great Escape? (Roslyn Walker)
Escape in the Media – The Escape Artist
Silver Cuffs Award

The Chainletter December 2010
Cable Tie Escape Techniques (Wolflock)
Perception of Escapology in the 21st Century (Roslyn Walker)
Don’t You Hate When That Happens? (Cliff Gerstman)

The Chainletter January 2011
Concealock (Shawn Ness)
Curtis Lovell Conquers Buried Alive (Wayne Kawamoto)
Misadventures (Cliff Gerstman)

The Chainletter February 2011
Prince Von Anhalt’s Revenge – W.E.A.R. 2007 (Great Cindini)
Zip Tie Gimmick (Shawn Ness)
Escapes for Teens review (Roslyn Walker)
Norman Bigelow’s Doors of Death History
I Can’t See the Future. Can You? (Cliff Gerstman)

The Chainletter March 2011
It’s All About You! (Norman Bigelow)
The Houdini Effect (Professor Spellbinder)
Photo Corner
Water Torture Cell
Philippe Petit – the Front of the House (Mike Booth)

The Chainletter April 2011
The Escape Game (Norman Bigelow)
T.I.E.S. Parade (Jonathan Bryce)
A Tribute to Mark and Sheila Cannon
Photo Corner
Escapes in the Media – The Manacled

The Chainletter May 2011
The Hand Writing Is On The Wall (Norman Bigelow)
13 Amazing Escape Artists You Probably Haven’t Heard Of (Lucia Peters)
Philippe Petit: The Magic Circle (Michael Booth)
Photo Corner
Escape in the Media – Salems Lot

The Chainletter June 2011
Warning (David Straitjacket)
Convention?
Escape in the Media – The Linguini Incident
Profile of the Month – Kristen Johnson
Making Handcuff King Breakers (Norman Bigelow)
Photo Corner

The Chainletter July 2011
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not
Escape Proof King Breakers (Norman Bigelow)
Escape in the Media – Blacke’s Magic
Profile of the Month – Dean Gunnarson
Photo Corner
Websites to Help You See and Open Locks
Are Escapes Dangerous? (The Great Moodini)

The Chainletter August 2011
Escape From Alcatraz
Teddy Bear Challenge (Professor Spellbinder)
Escape in the Media – Specific Gravity by J. Matthew Neal
Photo Corner
Publicity (Norman Bigelow)

The Chainletter September 2011
Steve Baker Press Kit
Warning (Norman Bigelow)
Rapping Darby Handcuffs (R. A. Wood)
Escape in the Media – Batman
Profile of the Month – Roslyn Walker
Misadventures (Cliff Gerstman)
Escape Masters (Norman Bigelow)
Photo Corner

The Chainletter October 2011
Houdini’s Missing Papers (Norman Bigelow)
Profile of the Month – Jonathan Goodwin
Escape in the Media – MacGyver
The One Escape (Jonathan Bryce)
Photo Corner

The Chainletter November 2011
Get-Away (Professor Spellbinder)
Profile of the Month – Arthur and Helen Coughlan)
Escape in the Media – Harry Houdini Mysteries: The Dime Museum Murders
Conventions?
Bigelow’s Bee Box Escape (Norman Bigelow)
Photo Corner
Houdini is Back! (Dorothy Dietrich)

The Chainletter December 2011
How to Escape Smith and Wesson Security Handcuffs (Norman Bigelow)
Profile of the Month – Alexandria the Great
Escape in the Media – Dorothy Dietrich and the Houdini Museum
Photo Corner
An Open Challenge (Cliff Gerstman)

The Chainletter January 2012
Jari: Escape Artist From Finland
Paper Rope Escape (Professor Spellbinder)
Profile of the Month (Ms. Morgan)
Escape in the Media – Gerald’s Game
Lock Picking (Norman Bigelow)
Photo Corner
Misadventures (Cliff Gerstman)

The Chainletter February 2012
Mr. Miracle
Convention & Challenge?
Profile of the Month – Rick Maisel
Escape in the Media – Houdini by Kate Bush
Photo Corner
Opening a Jail Lock (Norman Bigelow)
Bayshore Broadcasting Corporation Escape Artist at Heritage Place (Kevin Bernard)
T.I.E.S. Parade
Hugh Jackman & Aaron Sorkin Teaming for Houdini Musical (Kimberly Potts)

The Chainletter March 2012
Santini on Ripley’s
Fear and Dangerous Escapes (Norman Bigelow)
Profile of the Month – Arian Black
Escape in the Media – The Great Houdini
Cartoon Escape – Whiz Kid Qua-Fiki
Photo Corner
T.I.E.S. Parade (Cliff Gerstman)
What Could Go Wrong? (Joseph Burrus)

The Chainletter April 2012
Mario’s Magazine
Get Real review
Profile of the Month – Kristi Toguchi
Escape in the Media – Houdini Said by Gilbert O’Sullivan
Houdini-ism (Norman Bigelow)
The BBC Needs to Hear From You
Photo Corner
What Could Go Wrong? – Dr. John Booth

The Chainletter May 2012
On the Set (Cliff Gerstman)
Profile of the Month – Michael Lee
Escape in the Media – Deals from the Darkside
Being Believed (Norman Bigelow)
Photo Corner
Misadventures (Alexandria the Great)

The Chainletter June 2012
Escape in Vietnam (Bill Martin)
Profile of the Month – Katalin
Escape in the Media – Alan Parsons’ Wine From the Water
Steranko’s World of Escapes (Norman Bigelow)
Photo Corner
Be Prepared (Professor Spellbinder)

The Chainletter July 2012
Escape Art (Stuart Burrell)
Profile of the Month – Alan Rabinowitz (Alan Alan)
Escape in the Media – Escape Artist by Ed Ifkovic
Freedom (Norman Bigelow)
How Tall is Houdini? (Cliff Gerstman)
Mario Manzini helps wake up the 2011 Kewanna Fall Festival
New Water Torture

The Chainletter August 2012
The Psychology of Music in Magic Performances & Escape Magic (Wolflock)
Profile of the Month – Melinda
Escape in the Media – The Escapist
School Shows (Norman Bigelow)
Photo Corner
Wipeout
Brooms of Doom (Professor Spellbinder)
Press Release – Curtis Lovell II

The Chainletter September 2012
Curtis Gets Interviewed
Profile of the Month – Wolflock
Escape in the Media – Exit for Nintendo D. S. (Mr. Impossible)
Houdini & Dante (Norman Bigelow)
Photo Corner
Getting Started (Robo)
Norman Bigelow visits Margery’s grave

The Chainletter October 2012
Morgan Strebler vs. Criss Angel
Card Escapes (Professor Spellbinder)
Profile of the Month – Morgan Strebler
Escape in the Media – The Great Simpsina
Instant Knowledge Equals Instant Failure (Norman Bigelow)
Photo Corner

The Chainletter November 2012
In the Trenches (Roslyn Walker)
Profile of the Month – Michael Griffin
Escape in the Media – Mr. Miracle
Photo Corner
General Stuff & Stuff in General (Norman Bigelow)
Talon (Mr. Impossible)

The Chainletter December 2012
In the Trenches (Roslyn Walker)
Profile of the Month – David Straitjacket
Escape in the Media – Escape From Shadow Island
Photo Corner
Chambers (Norman Bigelow)
Pronounce It
Living Illusions

The Chainletter January 2013
In the Trenches (Roslyn Walker)
Profile of the Month – Sof Strait
Escape in the Media – Houdini’s Box
Houdini’s Lost Vault (Norman Bigelow)
Odds ‘n Sods (Robert)

The Chainletter February 2013
In The Trenches (Roslyn Walker)
Profile of the Month – David Merlini
Escape in the Media – Straitjacket by Alanis Morissette
Photo Corner
The Secret of Fake Lock Picking (Norman Bigelow)
10 Greatest Escape Artists in History (Brainz.com)
Odds ‘n Sods (Arioch)

The Chainletter March 2013
In the Trenches (Roslyn Walker)
Profile of the Month – Curtis Lovell II
Escape in the Media – The Escape Artist by Teel James Glen
Photo Corner
Mystery of the Museum (Norman Bigelow)
The Adventures of Rick Maisel
New World Records?

The Chainletter April 2013
New Houdini Poster
Sometimes It Hurts (David Straitjacket)
Profile of the Month – Theodore Hardeen
Escape in the Media – The Great Kandinsky
Photo Corner
Dreaming? (Norman Bigelow)
Boo Snopes! Editorial/ Opinion (Cliff Gerstman)
Living Illusions Again!

The Chainletter May 2013
The Amazing Maisel (Brenda Kay Dunagen)
Profile of the Month – Dayle Krall
Escape in the Media – The Incredible Mr. Goodwin
Photo Corner
Exploitation (Norman Bigelow)
Your Turn
Stranger than Fiction

The Chainletter June 2013
Dennis Loois R.I.P.
Criss Angel to be Eaten by Alligators
Profile of the Month – Glendini
Escape in the Media – Elementary
Photo Corner
The Mirror & the Cuffs (Norman Bigelow)
Ian McColl’s Lapsus Lock (Cliff Gerstman)
Presto’s Magic Shop closing

The Chainletter July 2013
Flashback 2005 – Cannon’s 3rd Escape Artist Convention
Profile of the Month – Jason Escape
Escape in the Media – Houdini and the Space Cuckoos
Photo Corner
Inside the World (Norman Bigelow)
Boo N.A.S.A. (A Sad Story) (Cliff Gerstman)

The Chainletter August 2013
High Tech Handcuffs
Flashback 2006 – Cannon’s 4th Escape Artist Convention Part 1
Profile of the Month – Richard Sherry
Escape in the Media – Watson and the Dark Art of Harry Houdini
Photo Corner
Always Hold Back a Little (Norman Bigelow)
Magic Babe Ning Water Vault Escape
Shocking Next-Gen Law Enforcement Handcuff System Revealed

The Chainletter September 2013
Flashback 2006 – Cannon’s 4th Escape Artist Convention Part 2
Profile of the Month – Clementina Starr
Escape in the Media – Death & Harry Houdini
Three Mile Buried Alive (Norman Bigelow)
The Jewish Superhero (Loren)
Escape News (Roslyn Walker)
Magic Babe Ning Water Vault Rehearsals

The Chainletter October 2013
Flashback 2006 – Cannon’s 4th Escape Artist Convention Mark Cannon Thank you
Profile of the Month – Stephen Mollett
Escape in the Media – History’s Houdini Mini-Series
Photo Corner
Theories (Norman Bigelow)
Curtis Lovell in L.A. Magazine
The Power of a Backdrop (Norman Bigelow)
Dont’ Lose Your Head (Kirstan Conley)

The Chainletter November 2013
Flashback 2007 – Cannon’s 5th Escape Artist Convention
Profile of the Month – Magic Babe Ning
Escape in the Media – The Man From Beyond
Photo Corner
Backdrops, Props and Perception (Norman Bigelow)
Found on the Internet (Rober M. Puhalla)

The Chainletter December 2013
Flashback 2007 – Southern California Escape Artist Dinner
Profile of the Month – Consentino
Escape in the Media – Holmes & the Houdini Birthright by Val Andrews
Photo Corner
The Rain Barrel Escape (Professor Spellbinder)
The Other Stuff (Norman Bigelow)
90 Seconds (Anthony Britton)

The Chainletter January 2014
Escape for Life – Escapology on Sea Part – Honoring the Past (Stuart Burrell)
Profile of the Month – James “The Amazing” Randi
Escape in the Media – From Death He Departs by Dixie Dooley
Photo Corner
The AD Papers (Norman Bigelow)
Flashback 2008 – Escape Artist Dinner
Lion Cage Challenge (Wolflock)
Setting a Mood From the Magic Cafe (Roslyn Walker)

The Chainletter February 2014
Escape for Life – Escapology on Sea Part 2 – The Roller Coaster (Stuart Burrell)
Profile of the Month – Connie Boyd
Escape in the Media – Under the Pyramids
Photo Corner
Lock Picking & Jail Breaks (Norman Bigelow)
Who’s Next? (Richard Sherry)
Lion Cage Challenge (Wolflock)
Misadventures (Glendini)
Circus Surprise Challenge

The Chainletter March 2014
Escape for Life – Escapology on Sea Part 3 – Straitjacket on the Ferris Wheel (Stuart Burrell)
Profile of the Month – Valentine Agustus Walker
Escape in the Media – Houdini the Musical
Photo Corner
The Master Series (Norman Bigelow)
Misadventures – Charlie Myrick
Tiny Inconspicuous Handcuff Key (TIHK)
Circus Surprise Challenge (Wolflock)

The Chainletter April 2014
Escape for Life – Escapology on Sea Part 4 – The Guinness World Record
Profile of the Month – Dean Carnegie
Escape in the Media – Fraud! From Houdini the Musical
Photo Corner
Journeyman (Norman Bigelow)
S.A.M. Does the Right Thing (Robert)
Hi-Jacked Challenge (Wolflock)

The Chainletter May 2014
Flashback 2009 – Escape Artist Gathering
Profile of the Month – Les Cole
Escape in the Media – Houdini’s Last Illusion
Photo Corner
Mastering Your Fears (Norman Bigelow)
Harry and Bess Close-Up Together Again (Wiz Kid Qua-Fiki)
Apartment Lock-Out Challenge (Wolflock)

The Chainletter June 2014
Flashback – Cannon’s Convention 2009
Profile of the Month – Andrew Basso
Escape in the Media – Zoe Keating Escape Artist
Janet’s Warning (Janet Bigelow)
Photo Corner
Things (Norman Bigelow)
Jungle Challenge Escape (Wolflock)

The Chainletter July 2014
William Ash Obituary (Douglas Martin)
Profile of the Month – Jack Sheppard
Escape in the Media – Escape Artist by Garland Jeffreys
Interesting Thoughts (Norman Bigelow)
Rapunzel’s Challenge
Photo Corner

The Chainletter August 2014
The Fenton Lock (Allan & Rebecca Taylor)
Profile of the Month – Vidocq
Escape in the Media – Escape (1971)
I Believe (Norman Bigelow)
Rapunzel’s Challenge
Women in Magic – Margarette LeClair (Wayne Kamamoto)

The Chainletter September 2014
10 Who Died (Robert Grimminck)
Profile of the Month – David De-Val (Rebecca Taylor)
Escape in the Media – Jay Leslie: Jail Escape (Tikvah Feinstein)
Do you Think you can Escape FEMA? (Norman Bigelow)
Photo Corner
Escape Masters

The Chainletter October 2014
College Dorm Psychology (Cliff Gerstman)
Profile of the Month – Brian Rudo
Escape in the Media – Houdini (2014)
From the Mind of an Escape Artist (Norman Bigelow)
Photo Corner
70 Years Old and Still Going For It

The Chainletter November 2014
In the Trenches (Roslyn Walker)
Profile of the Month – Steve Mollett
Escape in the Media – Terminally Ill by Melissa Yi
The Problem With Bessie (Norman Bigelow)
Carnegie on Houdini (Dean Carnegie)
Photo Corner
Dean Gunnarson on TV
Castle Prison Escape Attempt (Stuart Burrell)

The Chainletter December 2014
York Cell Escape – Tribute to David De-Val (Stuart Burrell)
Profile of the Month – Steve Santini
Escape in the Media – Escape or Die by Anthony Martin
Did Margery Speak?
Agents and Business Part 1 (Norman Bigelow)
My First Escape (Rook)
Photo Corner
Like Secret Agents (Steve Mollett)

The Chainletter January 2015
How to Start a Career in Escapology (Bryn Young-Roberts)
Profile of the Month – Thomas Soloman
Escape in the Media – Escape Artist Entertainment
Agents and Business Part 2 (Norman Bigelow)
My First Escape (Steve Mollett)

The Chainletter February 2015
The Grim Game is Back
Profile of the Month – Michael Turco
Escape in the Media – Extreme Escapes
College Audiences – Young Audiences (Norman Bigelow)
Castling
Westminster Community Theatre Fundraising Show (Cliff Gerstman)

The Chainletter March 2015
Just how old is the Pillory Escape?
Gawain’s Girdle (Professor Spellbinder)
Profile of the Month – Billy Kidd
Escape in the Media – The Travel Channel: Mysteries at the Museum
The Essential Escape Artist (Norman Bigelow)
You Can’t Take It With You (Mary Mowder)

The Chainletter April 2015
Escape Artist Goes to the Gallows – Santini
Profile of the Month – Nick Janson
Escape in the Media – The Escapist
What If… (Norman Bigelow)
Sad Discovery (Cliff Gerstman)
Qua-Fiki – Friend to You, Me & The Castle (Cliff Gerstman)
Dean Gunnarson Escapes from Tomb – Buried Alive Escape Act (Flavin D’Souza)

The Chainletter May 2015
Escape Artist Puts Act on Ice – Dean Gunnarson
Profile of the Month – The Davenport Brothers
Escape in the Media – Harry Houdini Detective
Getting Started (Norman Bigelow)

The Chainletter June 2015
A Renaissance Faire Escape Artist (Andrew Bedno)
Marketing Escapology in 2015 (Steve Mollett)
Profile of the Month – Jackson Rayne
Escape in the Media – Young Harry Houdini
Chain Link Handcuffs (Norman Bigelow)
Current in Zionsville – Bill Shirk retires (Mark Ambrogi)

The Chainletter July 2015
Happy 4th of July from Uncle Sam
The Illusionists Storm Los Angeles
Profile of the Month – Doc Weiss
Escape in the Media – Angel Killer by Andrew Mayne
Jail Breaking (Norman Bigelow)
Riley’s Ripon Challenge (Rebecca Taylor)

The Chainletter August 2015
Andy Robertson – Scottish Jacobite
Underwater Pool Escape (Andy Robertson)
Profile of the Month – Criss Angel
Escape in the Media- The Confabulist (Gianna DeCarlo)
Criss Angel & Spencer Horsman (Norman Bigelow)
Spencer Horsman – Concrete Tomb Escape

The Chainletter September 2015
Norman Bigelow: Rest in Peace
Profile of the Month – Franz Harary
Escape in the Media – Houdini in Hollywood with John Cox
Finger Crux (Jim Gerrish)
Editor’s commentary on Finger Crux
Try Something New? (Cliff Gerstman)
Remembering Norman (Barry Yiengst & Jim Saylor)
The Houdini Museum Adventure (Joyce Basch)

The Chainletter October 2015
Life of Riley! (Allan & Rebecca Taylor)
Profile of the Month – Mario Manzini
Escape in the Media – Thomas Blacke Lecture at the Magic Castle
Russell’s Thunder
The Trip (Norman Bigelow)
Rescuers Revive Escape Artist (Damien Gayle)
Baltimore Illusionist Hospitalized (Marcus Washington)
Our “Houdini” takes on 4 death defying feats for Hospices (Stuart Burrell)

The Chainletter November 2015
Grim Game on TCM
Escapology and the Challenges of Harry Houdini: The View From the Stage (Stuart Burrell)
Profile of the Month – Pinetti
Escape in the Media – Escape Artists
3 Cheers for Roslyn Walker
Norman Bigelow’s I.B.M. Obituary
Norman Bigelow’s Last Chainletter Column
Rest in Peace: Mick Hanzlik (Stuart Burrell)

The Chainletter December 2015
Hardeen! A Leather Straitjacket?
Passing the Torch (Cliff Gerstman)
Profile of the Month – Professor Brindamour
Escape in the Media – Sherlock Holmes in America
A Fair Job
Jay Leslie: Into Leather!
Stephan Mangan cast as Sherlock Holmes
Quick Escape Handcuffs

The Chainletter January 2016
The Ice Coffin (Professor Spellbinder)
Profile of the Month – Frank “The Great Reno” Renaud (Leo Renaud)
Escape in the Media – The Illusionists TV Special
Misadventures
TVtropes.org on Escape Artists
The Lock Picking Orangutan (K. Montagne)