Hampstead, MD. Local magician Dave Thomen was among more than 200 performers who gathered in Appleton, Wisconsin, on July 2, 2026, for a unique tribute to legendary escape artist Harry Houdini.
The event featured a mass performance of Houdini’s famous Siberian Chain Escape, with hundreds of magicians attempting the routine at the same time. In an impressive display, every participant successfully freed themselves in less than a minute. Organizers believe the gathering may have set a record for the largest number of magicians ever to perform the escape simultaneously.
Thomen was recognized for his participation with an official Certificate of Participation from the Society of American Magicians (SAM).
The event held particular significance this year as 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Houdini’s death. Appleton was chosen as the site because of Houdini’s longtime connection to the Wisconsin city, where he spent part of his youth and considered home.
The day was officially proclaimed “Houdini Day” by Appleton Mayor Jacob A. Woodford and included several other spectacular demonstrations. Among them were a milk can escape and a straitjacket escape performed four stories above the city plaza.
Weather added another memorable element to the celebration. Rain had been falling throughout the morning and was expected to continue, but just as the mass chain escape concluded, the clouds broke and sunshine appeared. The change in weather did not go unnoticed by the magicians and spectators, with some joking that Houdini himself may have been lending a hand.
For Thomen, being part of the Appleton gathering offered a rare opportunity to join magicians from across the country in celebrating one of the most influential figures in the history of magic and escape artistry.
Sources
Official City of Appleton proclamation: https://appletonwi.gov/Documents/Mayor/Proclamations/Houdini%20day.pdf
