THE LIBERATIONIST

Peter Vuono

     Have you ever wondered why when people see an escape artist perform, they identify so closely with the performer? It's simple; every one of us caries a burden of our own. At some period of our lives, we are all plagued with a calamity which may stem from illness, disease, injury, emotions , family problems or just being prejudiced against for merely wanting to be ourselves. Yes, we are all burdened , some far worse than others, at least once in our lives and every time an escape artist extricates himself from a restraint, it sparks a small ray of hope within our hearts that maybe we too can go home and do likewise with all our burdens.
     In 1991 my wife and I went to the Canton, Ma fair to see a magical legend. Norman Bigelow started by allowing himself to be shackled to the stage floor by a non-gimmicked pair of Smith and Wesson handcuffs. A metal open pipe was put under his face and it ran for about 20 feet from him. The pipe was filled with gunpowder and ignited. Bigelow had 10 seconds to open the cuffs with a wire pick(not a key) before the powder blew up in his face. The crowd gasped. Without a second to rest, he continued to liberate himself from cuffs, ropes and a strait jacket as "warm-ups" to a true exercise in courage and horror.
     Many have said that Houdini was the greatest but this author can assure you that Houdini did not and would not have attempted the ultimate instrument of torture known as the "Doors of Death". Two seven foot doors were rolled out which were hinged together. Bigelow was cuffed, strapped and chained to one door. At the end of exactly 3 minutes and 4 seconds, the second door which was laden from top to bottom with 8 inch knives would snap shut on the other door as it was connected with several strong springs.
    As the clock approached  two minutes and thirty seconds, the audience was talking. They were worried that there was NO fail safe to this escape; no way out. It did not seem that this middle aged man from Fitchburg would make it until the final 4 seconds when he slid from beneath the restraints. As the doors slammed shut, the audience gasped and was then speechless. The silence was followed by a loud and prolonged standing ovation.
   The "Doors of Death' would give the authors of "Saw" nightmares and Bigelow went on to thrill more audiences in so many more ways. He caught the attention of the great Copperfield who hired Norman to devise an escape for him. David's famous escape from a falling elevator was planned and constructed by Bigelow.
   Sadly, on August 16, 2015, Norman succumbed to something that even one so gifted as he could not escape from- leukemia. I'll never forget the time he invited me to his Fitchburg home. We spent hours talking escapes and training with handcuffs. There was never anyone in the field more knowledgeable or more generous in sharing  that knowledge.
   Norman was my hero. Yes, I was in awe of his talent but also because he was so kind, generous and gracious with it. These are the things we tend to remember forever even  beyond his great gift.
   And for Norman's many audiences, they will remember the thrills, the struggles and finally the liberation. More importantly, however, they will remember that just like the great Bigelow , perhaps they too can liberate themselves from that which burdens them.
   Harry and Bessie Houdini's favorite song was "Annabelle Believe" It is the word "Believe" that most interests me. It is hoped that all those who experienced the self liberation of Norman Bigelow will look at their own burdens   and continue to believe.


"Given a reason, a man can walk through walls"--Harry Houdini