A Salute to Mark and Sheila

Cannon's Great Escapes is closing down this week.
Speaking for all the Handcuffs.Org community I want to thank you so much for all
that you have done for us over the years. We all wish you the very best in the future.
Do not forget us. We will not forget you.

Joe

All the best!

Cannon's Great Escapes is closing down this week.
Speaking for all the Handcuffs.Org community I want to thank you so much for all
that you have done for us over the years. We all wish you the very best in the future.
Do not forget us. We will not forget you.

Joe

I certainly agree with Joe!

Thanks to Mark & Sheila for all years in business and your great service and kindness.
It will be very empty without you!

Also thanks for hosting all great Conventions, what a great fun we all had! So many memories.
Like me, I'm sure all other who ever join a Conventions get a tear in their eye.

I wish you both all the best and hope to see you again one day!

Lars

Cannon's Great Escapes is closing down this week.
Speaking for all the Handcuffs.Org community I want to thank you so much for all
that you have done for us over the years. We all wish you the very best in the future.
Do not forget us. We will not forget you.

Joe

Once performing gets into your blood, it doesn't let you go--you can never really leave it.
They'll be back!
I will say this: I thought I could never love any art/craft/job as much as I love acting, but, over the years, you get into other things you can love as well.
I remember saying out loud once that I loved carpentry as much as I ever loved acting.
Writing--I aspire to that.
Some things I've tried to do all my life and never done terribly well: magic and tap dancing--I would never try to do both at the same time--they'd throw vegetables at me.
Still, not giving up.
Whit Hayden, Mark Felicetti and I will be appearing in "the Sunshine Boys" in the W. C. Fields Bar and Lounge in September.
This is after a long layoff for me (mostly spent writing and publishing "Houdini--the Key").
The Cannons will be back. Maybe doing things differently--they were doing a great escape act and I'm sure glad I got to see them do it several times.
Thanks to the Cannons I have met some amazing people and made some friends.
They broke the ice after a long freeze-out of escape artists at the Magic Castle--and they made good.
Their Great Escapes business was the best thing that ever happened to Escape Artists and, boy, does it hurt to see it go.
Anyway, I challenge Mark Cannon to allow me to assemble a packing case (pre-fabbed) with screws and put him in it on the stage of the Palace of Mystery, and he will then attempt to escape. Unless he's scared--you know--lost his nerve. . .
Patrick Culliton

Cannon's Great Escapes is closing down this week.
Speaking for all the Handcuffs.Org community I want to thank you so much for all
that you have done for us over the years. We all wish you the very best in the future.
Do not forget us. We will not forget you.

Joe

Thanks for your friendship and help to all of the handcuff collectors. The conventions were terrific. Be safe and enjoy a long and happy retirement and or whatever challenge is next.

Damon

Cannon's Great Escapes is closing down this week.
Speaking for all the Handcuffs.Org community I want to thank you so much for all
that you have done for us over the years. We all wish you the very best in the future.
Do not forget us. We will not forget you.

Joe

Sad to see them going out of business. =(

Mark and Sheila, it was great meeting you and thank you for all of your help and service over the years. Please know that if you ever change your minds and want to come back, you are more than welcome. Don't be a stranger; we would love to see you at any of the lock or Escape conventions in the future!

Cheers, Mike D~C/

Cannon's Great Escapes is closing down this week.
Speaking for all the Handcuffs.Org community I want to thank you so much for all
that you have done for us over the years. We all wish you the very best in the future.
Do not forget us. We will not forget you.

Joe

I met Mark and Sheila many years ago at the West Coast Lock Collectors, trying to be the first to snatch up good cuffs.
Then they performed some of their routines at the lock shows and this became the start of the Cannon Conventions.
It was enjoyable to even help set up the shows. I never knew what work a roadie did, but it was fun.

The Cannon Conventions made hanging out with Joe Fox, Joe Tanner, Gene Brogan, Ron Spitz, Kevin and Kristen (my favorite), Michael Busch, Lars, Mike Griffin, John Bushey, Bruce Thompson, Terry Roses, Fred Patela, Joe Lauher, Ian, Margarette, Elliot, Shawn, Pat C.,Stan and Mauri,Cliff, Jay L. (hey that comes out as Jail), Martin, Peter, Gordon, Mark Lundblad, Andrew Basso, Mario and so many others, possible.
Such a good time was had with these folks and meeting most of them would never happened if not for the Cannons.

So many interesting stories and even more interesting cuffs were bought, sold, and traded here.
I am sad to know that we won't have these conventions to look forward to anymore.
I wonder if we will be ever see anything like this again in the states.
Thank goodness for the European conventions, but as fantastic as it is, it can't be the same as a Cannon Convention as most attendees won't be able to travel that far from the states.

I guess all we can say is that we were fortunate to have the few conventions that we did have and the memories (and videos) will be fond recollections of some very good times.

Mark
O--O

Cannon's Great Escapes is closing down this week.
Speaking for all the Handcuffs.Org community I want to thank you so much for all
that you have done for us over the years. We all wish you the very best in the future.
Do not forget us. We will not forget you.

Joe

DAMON TOO!

MARK

O--O

Cannon's Great Escapes is closing down this week.
Speaking for all the Handcuffs.Org community I want to thank you so much for all
that you have done for us over the years. We all wish you the very best in the future.
Do not forget us. We will not forget you.

Joe

I am sad to see The Cannon's go out of business. You have been great friends over the years.....and I hope continue to be friends, just not revolving around escape stuff. I still plan on traveling to California as often as I can. Many thanks for all the wonderful advice and all the great products! I'm just sad I never hit the Lotto so I could buy the stuff I REALLY wanted!!

Margarette

Cannon's Great Escapes is closing down this week.
Speaking for all the Handcuffs.Org community I want to thank you so much for all
that you have done for us over the years. We all wish you the very best in the future.
Do not forget us. We will not forget you.

Joe

Two nicer people you will never meet. They treated everyone with respect and friendship. We were lucky enough to have them put together several conventions and bring collectors and artists together, in many cases for the first time to meet and discuss our hobbies and lively-hoods. Prior to the conventions, we were just names on eBay bidding against each other. They brought a face and personality to the name.

By chance I ran into Mark and Sheila at the Houdini exhibition two weeks ago and they were just as friendly as ever.

Ron

Cannon's Great Escapes is closing down this week.
Speaking for all the Handcuffs.Org community I want to thank you so much for all
that you have done for us over the years. We all wish you the very best in the future.
Do not forget us. We will not forget you.

Joe

hi mark and sheila

sorry that you went out of (show)biz

i enjoyed it lots of years

as joe mention we wont forget you
please dont forget us

thanks for all those years

and all the best

patrick

Cannon's Great Escapes is closing down this week.
Speaking for all the Handcuffs.Org community I want to thank you so much for all
that you have done for us over the years. We all wish you the very best in the future.
Do not forget us. We will not forget you.

Joe

hi mark and sheila

sorry that you went out of (show)biz

i enjoyed it lots of years

as joe mention we wont forget you
please dont forget us

thanks for all those years

and all the best

patrick

Cannon's Great Escapes is closing down this week.
Speaking for all the Handcuffs.Org community I want to thank you so much for all
that you have done for us over the years. We all wish you the very best in the future.
Do not forget us. We will not forget you.

Joe

Dear Sheila, dear Mark,

I also would like to thank you very much for all you have done for us handcuff people! I will never forget the moment back in 2006 when I for the first time met personally all those great fellow collectors whom before I had only known from pictures or by the name. You, Sheila and Mark, have made it possible that we all came together in one place. Also my family always found a warm welcome at the conventions and we all look back to those meetings full of joy.

Whenever you are in Europe just let us know, you will always be welcome in our home.

With all good wishes,

Michael and family

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Cannon's Great Escapes is closing down this week.
Speaking for all the Handcuffs.Org community I want to thank you so much for all
that you have done for us over the years. We all wish you the very best in the future.
Do not forget us. We will not forget you.

Joe

Mark & Sheila:

Thank you for your many years of friendship!

Your Escape Conventions have united handcuff collectors from around the globe - resulting in many, many life-long friendships.

"Cannon's Great Escapes" will always be remembered in the lore of Escapology & collecting.

Best wishes on your future endeavors!

---Joe Fox

Cannon's Great Escapes is closing down this week.
Speaking for all the Handcuffs.Org community I want to thank you so much for all
that you have done for us over the years. We all wish you the very best in the future.
Do not forget us. We will not forget you.

Joe

To all of our "friends in cuffs" around the world: We are truly touched with all of your wonderful comments posted here on the forum. Running "Cannon's Great Escapes" this past 11 years has been a wonderful adventure. Specifically, we opened for business on October 31, 1999, and of course closed yesterday on June 30, 2011. Our original intent was to try and create a "one-stop-shop" for all things escape. We had no idea just how big it would grow, nor where it would all lead. One of those places was into the world of not only escapists, but handcuff collectors as well. This in turn lead to the creation of the Escape Artists Conventions, which really lead to the very best part of all: Meeting such wonderful and diverse people from all corners of the globe.

And here we are now, blessed with so many friends from virtually every continent. No amount of money could ever buy the riches we possess in the true friendship we have with all of you. First and foremost, thank you to Joe Lauher for creating this wonderful website so there will always be a meeting-place for everyone, and of course for this particular thread. Thank you again, Joe.

And to everyone else out there who, without your help, the conventions absolutely could never have occurred. You were always willing to help with the very hard work that goes with putting together a convention: Fred Pitella, John Bushey, (Fred and John, thanks for all of your volunteerism and just plain hard work, and Freddy, thanks for pitching in at the very last moment and being our "Wash-Machine motor!), Ian McColl (thanks for creating such great products over the years), Richard Rink, Jay Leslie, Vaughan Rees, Russell Eaton, Margarette LeClair, Mark Lyons, Bruce Thompson, Doc Auchter, Cliff Gertsman (thanks for picking people up at the airport and taking folks to the Magic Castle), Bill & Janet, Dave & Barbara Hintz, Bill Shirk, Dave Goodsell (thanks for all the great coverage in M-U-M Magazine), Hal Eisner (thanks for all the great coverage on FOX TV throughout the years), Dick Wolfsey (thanks for the TV coverage in Indiana), Criss Angel (thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule and flying out just to meet, greet and provide a lecture to all our conventioneers), Damon Shields, Peter Pensaert, Martin Kirstein, Mick Hanzlik, Danny & Annette, and of course the pride and joy of our lives, our two children, Rachel & Josh, who each year helped in tremendous ways, (and put up with the stress of mom & dad leading up to the conventions!).

Those attending our convention (and also helping out) and helping to fill it with fun and laughter, some even providing lectures or act for our Gala Shows, or dealer tables over the years would certainly include Lars Holst, Michael & Nele Busch and their beautiful children, Bill Martin-A REAL AMERICAN HERO - and his lovely wife Charlene, Ron Spitz, Patrick Culliton (By the way, I ACCEPT your challenge Patrick! Oh boy, now I'm in for it...), Gordon Gluff, Terry Roses, Joe Marotta, Robin Fox, Joe Holland, Jack Agee, Brad Darling, Tom Gross, Sheryl & Ryan Aguilar, Marvin Garrett (Rest in Peace Marvin), Morris Moore (Rest in Peace Morris), Todd & Adam Brown, Mark Lundblad, Elliot Cutler, Marty & Carla Fuchs, Joe & Lisa Patire, Patrick, Kevin & Kristen, Arthur & Helen Coghlan, Andrew Basso and his manager Dennis, Robert Baxt, Matt Marcy, Thomas Solomon, Gay Blackstone & Harriet Jacobson, Dean Gunnarson, Jonathan Goodwin, Michael Griffin, Thomas Blacke, Mario Manzini, Stephen Bargartze, Danny Thompson, Rick Maisel, The Amazing Michael, Chris Patzer, Gene & Gloria Brogan, Bill Pearce, Stan & Mauri, and many, many more. Again, if we missed anyone, we are truly sorry.

And of course, we must specifically mention our very close friend, assistant, and a great performer in his own right, Mr. Joe Fox. We'll never forget the year you entertained our conventioneers with your "The EscapED Artist" act. Joe, without you pal, none of this would have ever happened. You have always been, and continue to be, the greatest "secret agent" in the world of escapes. We love you Joe.

To anyone that we missed, please accept our apology, and please know that it was not intentional. You have ALL been important in our lives, and will continue to be. We will continue to perform our escape show, and do hope to meet up with you in our travels.

Until then, God Bless each and everyone of you. And thank you for the ride. It has truly been an "E" - Ticket adventure all the way.

With love and respect,

Mark & Sheila Cannon
Cannons Great Escapes

Cannon's Great Escapes is closing down this week.
Speaking for all the Handcuffs.Org community I want to thank you so much for all
that you have done for us over the years. We all wish you the very best in the future.
Do not forget us. We will not forget you.

Joe

Anyone have a tissue? I needed one after reading Mark and Sheila's post!!!

Cannon's Great Escapes is closing down this week.
Speaking for all the Handcuffs.Org community I want to thank you so much for all
that you have done for us over the years. We all wish you the very best in the future.
Do not forget us. We will not forget you.

Joe

I was thinking the same thing....a very heart felt post.

Cheers, Mike D~C/