In the 1980s, there was a famous "singles bar" in Venice Beach, California, called Merlin McFly's. The owner commissioned Bonny Doon Studios in Santa Cruz to create stained glass windows. According to the Los Angeles Times, McFly's became not just "a magnet for Westside singles, but soon also began drawing stained glass enthusiasts from throughout the country." Merlin McFly's closed its doors in 1992.

This art glass window is an artful representation that captures the essence of Harry Houdini and his dramatic prison escapes, which are the cornerstone of his performances and the key to his enduring fame. The setting is a dank and dimly lit prison cell, tightly enclosed by brick walls that give off a sense of claustrophobia and impenetrability, which only heightens the drama of the escape act that is about to unfold.

Harry Houdini, the legendary escape artist, is at the forefront, dressed in a purple suit that stands out against the drab surroundings, commanding the viewer's attention. His body language is poised and confident, and his eyes are keen and focused, betraying no sign of fear or doubt despite the daunting physical restraints being applied to him.

The second figure is a uniformed officer, denoted by the star badge on his arm, who is attentively fastening a complex array of chains and locks around Houdini's ankles. There's an air of seriousness and perhaps a hint of skepticism on his face as he performs this task, likely wondering if, this time, the restraints will prove too challenging even for the great Houdini.

A stark contrast is set between the officer's methodical application of the chains and the bold, boastful text emblazoned across the walls, proclaiming Houdini as the unparalleled "World's Handcuff King & Prison Breaker." The text serves as a narrative device, framing Houdini as a figure larger than life whose reputation precedes him and undeterred by any physical binds.

This scene is not just a depiction of a man being chained but a moment of suspenseful anticipation. The audience knows what is supposed to happen next: the miraculous escape. And yet, the tension is palpable, as the setting and the chains suggest an insurmountable challenge for any ordinary man.

Houdini's fame for these feats was due to the acts themselves and the narrative surrounding them — a narrative of daring, ingenuity, and a touch of the supernatural. The escapades were meticulously planned and rehearsed, yet they were presented to the public as spontaneous and perilous, with Houdini's life seemingly hanging in the balance each time. The image captures this narrative perfectly, frozen in the moment right before the escape, leaving the viewer in suspense, a snapshot of the legend that Houdini created around himself.