Joe Alcatraz, the stage name of Ghent-born André de Boever, broke through in the late 1970s as the greatest escape artist in Belgium. His greatest source of inspiration was Harry Houdini.
Visual reference
The Belgian Houdini
He deliberately chose an English first name and a surname with an 'a' in it — and so Joe Alcatraz was born, not coincidentally also the name of the notorious prison.
On his promotional cards he was billed as 'Boeienkoning – Le roi brise-chaînes', the chain-breaker. He gave hour-long shows full of stunts.
Escape at the Eiffel Tower
Together with his close friend John Massis he showed his art throughout the Low Countries.
He was unique in the world with his escape from a straitjacket at the Eiffel Tower — a stunt that sealed his fame as the 'Boeienkoning' (king of escapes).
A tangible legacy
At Het Huis van Alijn in Ghent hangs a straitjacket that the Ghent native managed to wrestle free from, alongside a lockable water can from which he repeatedly escaped. His milk can, handcuffs, straitjacket and other escape devices can be seen at the Bardelaere Museum in Lembeke.
The few written sources about him are gathered in 'Chapeau, de geheime goochelgeschiedenis van België' by Christ and Kobe Van Herwegen (Manteau, 2014).
Joe Alcatraz proved that nerve and suspense can hold an audience completely in their grip. You will recognise that same daring to keep an audience on the edge of their seats in the work of Sudesh Roman.