Harry Houdini (1874-1926)

The Jewish Hungarian American, whose real name was Ehrich Weiss, is widely regarded as one of the greatest magicians and escape artists of all time. His shows — where he freed himself from shackles, handcuffs, etc — were hugely popular. He was best known for his Chinese water torture cell act. In this, Houdini’s feet were locked in stocks and he was lowered upside down into a tank filled with water. The mahogany and metal cell had a glass front through which audiences could see Houdini clearly. The stocks were fixed on to the top of the cell. But once the curtain came down, Houdini dumbfounded his audience and managed to escape from the cell.

P.C. Sorcar Sr (1913-1971)

Considered to be the father of Indian magicians, Sorcar won national and international acclaim as a stunning illusionist and an inspired artist and showman. One of his most famous acts was the Water of India. He once impressed the then chief minister of Bengal, A.K. Fazlul Huq, by performing a magic trick on him. First he asked Huq to write something on a plain sheet of paper and then asked the other ministers to put their signatures under it. When Sorcar showed the paper to Fazlul Huq, he was amazed to see that the paper contained his entire cabinet’s resignation!

David Blaine (1973-)

This American magician, who made his name as a performer of magic up-close, has gone on to become one of the most spectacular endurance artists of our time. He is known for such jaw-dropping acts as Frozen in Time where he encased himself in a block of ice for 63 hours, 42 minutes and 15 seconds. When he was finally removed from the box, he was in a dazed and disoriented state. He later said in an interview that it had taken him a month to recover fully and that he would never attempt such a difficult stunt again.

David Copperfield (1956-)

Yet another American illusionist. He is famous for making the Statue of Liberty in New York vanish! He has also made a 747 jumbo jet disappear, floated over the Grand Canyon, and walked through the Great Wall of China. In 1982, Copperfield set up Project Magic, a rehabilitation programme to help disabled patients regain lost or damaged dexterity skills by using magic as a method of therapy.

Merlin.

A famous magician of British myth and legend, Merlin is said to have had supernatural powers. In the Arthurian legends of Medieval English literature, it is Merlin who engineers the birth of King Arthur (of the Round Table fame). He also leads Arthur to the wondrous Sword of Excalibur, which Arthur had to pull out of a stone to establish his right to rule. Later, Merlin became King Arthur’s chief mentor and advisor.