As a child, I had lots of fears about being trapped. Harry Houdini became a childhood idol of mine after I did a book report on him in fourth grade. I really thought it essential to learn how to get out of a straightjacket or a locked coffin underwater. Although I still don't know how to do it (it involves, it seems, a lot of wiggling) here's a little gem of a clip showing the real Houdini doing one of his escape artist tricks.