i would love to know how this beauty is done.

masked magician exposed this trick years ago. the top of torture cell is a trap door that folds out then magician removes shackles, runs backstage to put on robe then runs onstage to "break glass' when curtain is pulled down showing empty torture cell. then magician removes hood. PRESTO!.

wrong!!!!!!!!

ah, yes. The water torture cell. Well, I don't know where you live, but most cities have a book about the history of magic in the library, mentioning Houdini, or possibly one of the 3 Houdini biographies out there. Otherwise, Chapters usually has some informative books, or you could order via amazon.

Do some research. It's fairly widely published.

And, yes, the top is a sort of trap door.

Joe