"I wanted to share some of my experiences on January 15th, 2003... the day that Criss Angel did the straight jacket escape for the Miller Brewing Company's 30th Anniversary Celebration here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was also the 80th anniversary of Houdini's similar escape from a straight jacket here in Milwaukee. Rex Sikes had the good fortune of being asked to be a part of the event, and he was kind enough to invite me to come along. (Thank you so much, Rex)

Rex and I arrived at the Miller Inn at 6:30 A.M.. (That's right, A.M.) We hooked up with a local television reporter, Gus Gnorski, in the room next to where Criss was engaged in interviews with different television personalities around the country via satellite. They had started around four in the morning and Criss had conducted roughly 30 interviews.

While that was going on in the other room, Rex was interviewed by Gus and shared with the local viewing audience some of his expertise on the history of Houdini. A few minutes after the interview, Criss entered the room. We had a little time to chat with Criss after his interview. Criss instantly struck me as a very likeable and amiable person, and it was truly a pleasure talking with him.

We left, and Rex and I hooked up again in the afternoon and headed back to see Criss perform. We arrived at the Brewery around 5 o' clock. An hour and a half before Criss was to attempt the escape. That's when I really saw Criss work his magic.

As he was doing his pre-performance check, he would stop and talk with the workers as they attended to their various tasks. And he not only talked with them, he showed sincere interest in what they had to say and gave them his appreciation for being there helping him.

The escape went beautifully. A little after 6:30 P.M., Donald Driver from the Green Bay Packers and a Miller employee strapped Criss into the jacket as tightly as they could. Rex was the official Houdini Club representative and checked to make sure that the straight jacket was secured properly. Then Criss was hoisted 100 feet above the crowd. This was all done outdoors, and the temperature was just above zero. As Criss began to wriggle and writhe, starting to free himself from the straight jacket, still and moving images of Houdini performing the same escape were projected on the brewery wall. Laser lights danced all around. And as Criss freed himself from the jacket, balls of fire shot up all around him as the crowd burst into thunderous applause. Truly a spectacular spectacle.

Criss was escorted to an awaiting ambulance and given a clean bill of health. There were more interviews with television reporters and then he mingled with his fans, talking with them and signing autographs. Some of them were yelling "Mindfreak, Mindfreak" And when Criss threw his hat up into the air as a memento for whoever caught it, it went straight up and came back down, right towards him. It looked as if he was going to be crushed as thirty people surged in on him trying to catch the hat. Criss actually ducked down and covered his head. The guy that caught the hat was on Criss's back when he caught it. So next time Criss, for your own well being, throw the hat as far away from you as you can.

I also had the opportunity to talk with Criss's brother, Costa. He is just as gracious as Criss, if not more. Costa told me that Criss will be doing a few more corporate shows before they start their Nationwide tour in Biloxi Mississippi.

I cannot express enough what a gentleman Criss is. I watched the faces of those who had the privilege of getting close to him, those who talked with him and those who got his autograph. Every one of them walked away with a smile on their face. And it seemed that it was not because they had just been with a celebrity or someone famous, it was because of the warmth and caring of Criss's personality. If Criss Angel is the future of magic, it is in good hands."