Escape Artist Convention Unleashes in Ontario

Cannon's Great Escapes 4th Annual Escape Artist Convention kicked off its weekend with an impressive opening night. If you’re into escapology, the art of escape, Ontario, CA is the place to be.

Led by host Mark Cannon and MC Robert Baxt, the evening began with 77 participants bound in straitjackets, a potentially record breaking event. Local newscaster Hal Eisner covered the event for television (channel 13) and even allowed himself to be bound into a straitjacket, to the delight of the crowd.

The convention officially kicked off with an incredible performance by Kristen Johnson who escaped from an always-in-view water torture chamber. Johnson, who can hold her breath over three minutes while performing an escape, entranced the crowd. Her escape was the most dramatic and involving that I have ever witnessed. Johnson set a high bar for the other performers that will be difficult to match.

Saturday’s events will include lectures on such topics as opening padlocks by “bumping,” as well as padlock picking contests. At 4:00, none other than Criss Angel will be making an appearance. In the evening, there will be a gala show that’s open to the public that features: Robert Baxt, Bill Shirk, Matt Marcy, Mark & Sheila Cannon and Thomas Solomon.

Finally, the convention offers dealer who carry all manner of handcuffs, strait jackets and indescribable restraints. I enjoyed perusing the tables and imagining how the various and even bizarre cuffs, boxes and shackles were used. Vendor Mark Lyons showed me a set of cuffs that were used by Harry Houdini, the entertainer most associated with Escapology.

Cannon’s Great Escapes Convention will run through the weekend at Ontario’s Doubletree Hotel.

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