#TodayILearned that, when he was in Leeds, Houdini was sponsored by Tetley’s Bitter to perform his ‘escaping from a locked milk churn full of water’ trick with the milk churn instead filled with beer

The trick depended on air being trapped in the domed lid of the churn, and in that instance the air was largely replaced with CO2 and alcohol fumes

The escape failed and Houdini was rescued by his assistant

Timewatch, 2000-2001: The Houdini Myth: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001xqqn via @bbciplayer

Also www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opin…

Houdini in his milk churn, surrounded by policemen