The Forum at Handcuffs.Org

David DeVal's Roller Coaster Escape, 1984, now availabe for all to see!

27 visible archived posts · 27 preserved total · topic ID 2042

Mick Hanzlik 20 May 2007

You might be interested is seeing a rare clip of David DeVal's escape from the Revolution Roller Coaster, at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, here in the UK back in 1984. I supplied the locks. Please excuse my sideburns! They were in fashion in 1984!

Here's the link; Enjoy;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E0jwmAEd08

Anonymous 20 May 2007

Sideburns? More like hedgerows.

Mr Burns 20 May 2007

In fashion in 1984? LOL. A decade late there, Mick.

Mick Hanzlik 20 May 2007

C'mon guys, lay off the sideburn gags! I was kind enough to find the movie clip for you all!

I was just young and didn't know any better!

Anonymous 20 May 2007

Didn't look all that young either Mr. Sensitive.

joe tanner 20 May 2007

hey man, at least MICK had a life.... ANNON can you say the same ??? i doubt it.... here it comes ....joe

The Amazing Michael 20 May 2007

Mick thanks so much for posting this.....I love David DeVall and footage of him performing is so rare! Was the lock you provided a Chubb? It looked very MASSIVE! Gerat footage!

Cheers, Mike

Anonymous 21 May 2007

hothead joe tanner. talk about got no life.

Mick Hanzlik 21 May 2007

Michael....The big lock was an old warded 4 lever padlock if I recall correctly, which as you saw, needed 4 key turns to open. The other was a Dutch Sailors lock, very similar screw type key to a darby cuffs.

Both would be awkward to open when in those conditions.

Even though we became friends after the escape, David never told me how he opened those locks. We did share many secrets, but he said he wanted me to remain mystified on that challenge so I would always remember it. His plan worked, and I still respect him for that decision.

I too would like to see more DeVal footage if anyone out there has any.

Anonymous 21 May 2007

#10

From the vid, it seemed pretty clear he had keys to everything except the thumbscrews, which he loosened the wing nut on by hand. Also, it looked like he got the keys from the inside of the thumscrew block. So, did he supply the equipment? I think it was an obvious and unconvincing work.

Nonetheless, it would be difficult to escape under those conditions even with the keys or proper tools.

If they really wanted to make things difficult, the would have locked his arms around both posts instead of one - arm cramp or not.

Funny how the presenter had to instruct him on opening the helmet latch after he had opened all the locks.

Chris Gower 21 May 2007

#11

Thanks Mick for the link, I remember seeing it back in 1984. Did not have a video recorder in those days so was unable to record it. Seem to remember he made several apperances on the show including his escape from a Rochdale Prison Cell where he was nailed into a packing crate, is that clip available?
Chris Gower

Mick Hanzlik 21 May 2007

#12

Anonymous (I wish people would be brave enough so they didn't have to hide under that name)

Here are the answers to your questions and comments. I supplied the 2 padlocks. There was only 1 key for each which were held by the producer as soon as he was locked in. The mask and the thumbscrews were supplied by the other guy, and the cuffs by the lady.

The key to the cuffs was quite big, so it wouldn't have fitted inside a cavity in the thumbscrews, even if there was one, but there wasn't, as I examined them and even tried them on.

Regarding the presenter"Helping" him out of the mask, David got the lock open, and out of the shackle on the hasp. His difficulty was in lifting the hasp from the shackle, as it was quite stiff and David was disorientated after going upside down 3 times. She just lifted the hasp as she could see it and David couldn't.

I hope that has answered your comments.

Anonymous 21 May 2007

#13

No it didn't answer my questions, because I asked no questions.

Anonymous 21 May 2007

#14

Now that I re-read my post, I see I did ask a question. Please forgive me, I'm an ass. I have no life. I don't even do escapes.

Anonymous 21 May 2007

#15

LOL. Another hothead. Pretending to be someone else and anonymous at that. That's worse than being anonymous. Questions is plural, dumbass. BTW, I do escapes (as if that makes one a somebody). I escaped from your old lady last night. Witch has got some claws, let me tell ya'.

Sebastian 21 May 2007

#16

The question about who supplied the equipment I took as rhetorical. Another EA supplied them? Gee, EA's never gaffe their gear do they? The question was answered before it was asked. I'd also say it was a "work." Why don't EA's stop pretending to believe in magic when they know everything they do is with keys and gimmicked gear? That's a better question.

Anonymous 21 May 2007

#17

I can't post anymore, because my Mommy is coming home. As soon as I run her bath, I'll be back. I might even get enough backbone and use my name.

Patches 21 May 2007

#18

I think that this thread and it's contents (well some of it anyway) presents a fair contrast to those who maybe finally see the difference between a Locksmith and an Escape artist. How many Locksmiths have TV Cameras on them picking locks open while on Roller coasters?
Get the picture?

mickey hanzlik 21 May 2007

#19

hi, my name is mickey hanzlik and i'm a hypersensitive imposter stuck in the '70's with bad facial hair. but i have a life as i am a real escape artist with big locks.

Anonymous 21 May 2007

#20

go mickey!

Mick Hanzlik (the REAL ONE) 21 May 2007

#21

In response to one of the anonymous postings, I did supply the locks, but at the time I was just a Locksmith and not into escapes. My background is as a Houdini historian, and I was not into gimmicking locking devices. I can now categorically state that those locks were not gimmicked.

Also, as this was meant to be a serious posting, can we get back to the serious stuff please?

Thanks.

I won't be responding to any more anonymous posts.

Anonymous 21 May 2007

#22

And, presumably, not pretending to be someone else.

Stuart Burrell 21 May 2007

#23

Thank you for posting the video, it is nice to see some of the escape work of David DeVal again.

Johan Ahlberg 21 May 2007

#24

Thank you Mick for putting the video on the Tube.

David deVAl was a master escape artist. He didnt use gaffed locks it was a challenge. David had an extensive knowledge of locks. I remeber to have seen a video of the escape from the Rochdale cell and it was a tripple escape and impressing at that. Sometimes David was challenged by the police and still he managed to open the fetters. An other escape was from the Dick Turpin cell, Houdini wouldnt do it David did it and thats enough.

ropeologist 21 May 2007

#25

thanks mick for posting this escape on you tube, im new to the whole escapology thing, but i can see it was a difficult thing to do!, (pity some of the critics cant see that!). did the lady ever get her police box, and if so where is it now, does she still have the pub and the interesting contents?, thanks again, chris.

The Amazing Michael 21 May 2007

#26

Mick, thanks for the info......and don't bother with the "phantom nay-sayers", you were there and know more than anyone else what went on that night.

I believe that David picked the handcuffs; anyone who has been in and escaped from Hamburg 8 handcuffs knows the movements required to accomplish said feat and David looked like he was doing that very thing. It looked like he had the thumb stocks beat quickly and was "playing it up" a bit for the camera. But as far as the mask goes, perhaps only David knows how he opened those locks. I have a few guesses, but they are only guesses. I will say, however, that David DeVall did know quite a bit about locks and lock picking (un-like some so called escape artists who couldn't tell a lock pick from a guitar pick). Just my two cents.

Thanks again for posting the video footage Mick!

Cheers, Mike

Mikeintightpants 22 May 2007

#27

That's a great video clip Mick, thanks for sharing it with us. If only video cams and digital equipment had been available in the days of the earlier escape artists ....!