The Australian Torture Crib, or the "ATC" as I call it, is one of the least talked about and least performed escapes today. I don't know who was first, the ATC or Abbott's "Ghost Walks"...I think it may be the ATC. My dear friend, Joe Tanner, sold me a book years ago about the ATC, it had photos of an EA whom performed it back in the 20's, press clippings, and the plans for the crib.

I had one made out of birdseye maple wood, I have to say...it was impressive. It was in the shape of the old time coffins like you'd see in the movies about the old west. It has everything an EA could ask for...solid wood, eyerings, and lots and lots of chains and padlocks.

When I was against the ATC being chained in...the noise of the chains was defining...but that is a good thing on stage. I wore a blindfold as per the suggestion in the ATC book. The only thing I didn't agree with was the fact that you had to cover yourself. I figured the audience would be much more entertained watching me struggle out of the chains. I did it to music...uncovered.

The only setback of my ATC was that it didn't fold in half for packing and travel...I thought it would make the construction far too weak...so it stayed solid. Every part of your body has chain holding you down...your head, upper chest, waist, arms, wrists, upper legs, lower legs, knees and ankles.

The ATC truly is and "EA's, EA's escape". I really wish more people did it.

If anyone knows the name of that book I spoke of or where I can get a copy, please PM me. I believe the EA in the book was from the Boston area and was actually white but put himself off as an east indian.

~Rick~

Sounds like the manuscript Wheeler-Tanner sold. The performer was Mariano Palhinha.

I did the Ghost Walks as a teen. I also made a homemade ATC in the 1990s. The board was in two sections, but had HEAVY supports/stands.

I might one day build yet another.

Steve

Dr.Steve...yes, that's him...do you remember the name of the book Joe sold ??

~Rick~

Any one got pitures of it? I have not even heard of it.

This is also described as the "Bohemian Torture Board" in the John Novak book, right?

Yours,

Paul

Yep, John Novak has an entire volume in his escape series on what he called his Bohemian Torture Crib. He gives credit to Mariano Phalhina’s “AUSTRALIAN TORTURE CRIB ESCAPE” (still available from Lee Jacobs for a mere $6.50 at http://www.leejacobsproductions.com/index-frame.html The booklet was a Lee Jacobs publication and resold through many dealers (Like Al Cohen and Wheeler-Tanner).

I believe that Mariano’s version predates the Abbott’s version. Mariano had performed it for two or three decades before releasing it. I don’t remember him crediting anyone with its development.

Of course the Australian Torture Crib Escape was the actual influence for Novak’s Bohemian Torture Crib. Both escapes are comparable to Bigelow’s, “Door of Death”, Markini’s “Electrified Mummy Lid Torture Board”, Trudel’s “Chinese Torture Board”, Cannon’s “Spike Table”, and Abbott’s “The Ghost Walks”. It was Bigelow’s genius that added an element of true danger to the board escape.

My Australian Torture Crib Escape was made from the instructions in the Phalhaina booklet back in 1966 or 67. It was made in Oak and stained with a dark-ish stain (cherry?). The chain holes were grommeted with brass. Like Rick’s it was made to not fold. I have used it as a coffee table and to hold a prop mummy in a haunted house.

I agree that this can be a very strong effect. The escape is done uncovered. It can be modified to be performed standing upright, laying down flat (Cannon's take on it), or even underwater.

It is inexpensive and easy to build. It can make a small show look big.

http://www.leejacobsproductions.com/index-frame.html

That's a working link

Daniel to the rescue ! Mr.Murphy...thank you, to ! Just for the heck of it, I'm going to order that book again...(good bathroom reading !) Mr.M, your crib must have weighed a ton if it was oak ??!!

I saw a version of it about 3 years ago...my EA friend's son did it...and I've never seen a more professional presentation of it than what that 14 year old kid gave that evening. He had the audience on their feet at the end !

~Rick~

Just thought I would let know that the crib in the book is still around.
I owned the original Mariano Phalhina’s “AUSTRALIAN TORTURE CRIB” featured in John Novak’s book for many years. It still had all the original shipping labels you see in the booklet too. When I bought, it came with one of John Novak’s books that was actually signed by Mariano Phalhina’s and John Novak. It was really beautiful.
I never used it though because it was too old and I didn’t want to damage it. I always liked the effect but I felt I had stronger materiel in my show, so I never built a new one. About a year ago I was making some room in my warehouse space when John Bushy asked me if I still had it. I had originally got it from John and I felt bad it was packed away so I sold it back to him. I know he takes good care of it!
I will look for a photo of the A.T.C. and try and post if any body is interested in seeing it.
Always escaping,
Dean

Dean, man oh man I wish the Café had existed back when you decided to get rid of the original board! That would have been a treasure for a collector/collection (er…me!)! Hummmmm I wonder if John would...

Daniel thanks for the working link. The one in my post is working now (go figure!).

Rick, LOL!!! Yep, my oak board does weigh a tad more than a sheet or plywood. But then it was made to my proportions and I am on the “under-tall” side, LOL. My rig is 5’8” tall/long (I’m a smidgen over 5’3”!!!) and 32 inches wide (at the widest point) by an inch thick. The board itself travels in a quilted canvas bag and usually tied to roof rack of the car. The supports unbolt and fit into a second carry bag and get put in the trunk. There was a time when I was carrying a milk can and the board. In those days I had a pick-up truck and towed a small trailer (remember the shorty Airstreams?). The can and Airstream are long gone but the board remains (now if I could just remember where I put the chains!).

Dean...you make me drool at the fact that you owned that wonderful piece of escape history. Mr.Murphy, do you still have and use your crib ? Do you have a photo of you doing the escape for my website, please ?

I think the ATC is a very nice item and as I said, I'd like to see more EA's doing it.

~Rick~

The torture crib. goes back to the 1920's but who is the originator of it. or whom first performed it.

I believe that Mariano Palhinha was the inventor of the effect. Mr. Palhaina also invented the interlocked fingers card production that was later used by Channing Pollock, Jeff McBride and a host of others.

Rick, I may have an old photo of me performing the board back in the late 60's. I'll have to hit the storage boxes in the warehouse. Of course it will show a skinny, short man with long hair (boy those days are long gone! The only thing that remains the same is the short part!!!). If I run across it I’ll send it to you.

By the way, Denny has a copy of the Mariano Palhinha booklet for a big $6.50! Check it out at:
http://www.dennymagic.com/cgi-bin/hazel.......m=004544

Denny Lee's also has the John Novak books as well.

LATE TO THE PARTY

I bought all the rights to Novak escape books and have a “few” in boxes. The Palahinah pamphlet “Australian Torture Crib” in the blue 8 by 11 booklet which is among them. Please come to make if you need this as I spent a few thousand, securing the rights and have only sold about 30 dollars worth.

Thank you.
Jay

This was my take on it that I performed all across Canada on my tours years ago. I was chained in, blindfolded and lifted about 16 feet off the stage deck. I added a head block and foot block to avoid me simply “slipping out” while was in the air. On one side of me on the stage was a large sandbag hanging from a rope which went up to a pulley, across the stage to another pulley then down to a hanging metal contact plate. Under it was a cord going to two metal contacts separated by about a foot on a small table. As the sand ran out, the contact plate would lower eventually making a connection with the table which would set off explosive charges all over the board. I had to escape an do a high fall own to a small pad beneath me b fore the charges went off. My feeling was always that I never like a “timer” as it was too predictable. No drama there. The other thing I always loved was wearing the blindfold as until I got that off…I had no idea just how much time I had left. As always , as I was falling to the ground the explosions would go of showering me with sparks as the lights blacked out. It was all the drama I wanted. The main subtlety I built into it was stretching the time frame for maximum tension. Also, to start the sand bag leaking, they would plunge a knife into the bag and rip it open. It could change slightly each show. In fact, it was tightly controlled. The sand bag would drop the most (at least half way) in the first third of the track, then would flow down more and more until the final foot or so would be the last third of the routine. It was a very subtle ay of drawing out the suspense that no one caught. Of course I had a small pick in one hand that I would use to get to them first lock… until it slipped and fell to the floor, Then my only other solution was just a desperate physical struggle. I loved that effect! As I was climbing out of it to get free at last, I would slip and fall hanging by one leg with the contact plat about an inch from making the connection. I did my best to make it into a story. It was always one of my favorite routines to do on stage!

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